Sunday, October 31, 2010

The beginning of an era...


There are few things in life more exciting than watching your son's first hockey game.  And I promise you, the experience did not disappoint.

Khai was fantastic!  He scored 2 goals (one of which he scored while sliding directly into the net himself).  And, they don't keep score at this age, so it's all about having fun and learning the skills.  And that kid has SKILLZ (yes, I just used a Z at the end of that word.  I'm cool like that. ) He is such a quick skater and is fairly steady on his feet.  I was so proud of him! He played a few different positions, including goal during the hour long game, and though my behind was cold the majority of the time, I was thoroughly entertained.  Especially during Khai's turn in net.  He decided that the best thing to do, while his team was at the other end of the ice, was to skate circles around the net.  So funny. 


Michelle kept making references to figure skating.  Khai turns himself in circles to stop.  The best triple sow cows I've ever seen!

And, as we were walking out to the car, he was drinking his water from his water bottle, and he spit it out on the ground.  Helmut told him not to do that (spit that is, we have no problem with drinking water) and Khai said, "Dad, that's just what hockey players do!"



Well then.  You learn something new every day!

Friday, October 22, 2010

The Perfect Marriage Tool

I have to admit, I am completely enamoured with the chalkboard thought bubble.  I decided, after using it for our photo session, to take it over to our friend's place for the evening.   We get together every once in awhile to watch Nascar (well, Brad and Helmut watch Nascar, Nichole and I chat and eat!) and, as it turns out, the bubble was even more fun when:

1) you use it indoors and don't freeze your fingers off trying to write something and
2) when you use it as a communication tool!

Helmut started it all with this:


because I asked him to get the chalk bubble from the van! And that kicked it off for the evening!

We decided that the chalkboard would be the best marriage tool ever! You could write whatever you wanted, without fear of repercussion and it was HILARIOUS! I really think we could have entire conversations with these things!


Helmut and Nichole are behind that statement.


Brad and I disagree.


It can be used to convey promises. (By the way, Brad is THE MAN, because he delivered on this promise...on his BIRTHDAY no less!)


It can be used like Twitter when your Wi-Fi signal drops.




It can be used over and over to emphasize your message.


or to keep a running tally on your drinks for the evening. 

Thanks for the great evening guys and for helping to perfect the use of the greatest marriage tool ever!

 

Thursday, October 21, 2010

It's all in your perspective....

Do you ever have conversations with your little ones and realize that they've seen an event a bit differently than you did? Or that they have their own spin on what actually happened?

Khai was playing around with the thought bubbles last Sunday (the day after our family photo shoot) and he decided to draw us getting our picture taken.


Now, let me break it down for you, as he broke it down for me...
The bottom row, from left to right are supposed to be Justin, Declan, Brett, Khai and Kelsey.  Two notes here:
1) Declan is the only person with a frown, because he was sad most of the photo shoot....


2) Kelsey is on the end, and was too short, so he erased her and re-drew her, which is why she sort of  looks like a blurry stick.


Then, on the top right, are Kyle and Magda...that part is fairly straight forward.

But, I noticed that there is another person in the photo, so I asked who that was (top left).  He said, (and I quote) "That's your friend Mum, the one who took our pictures.  Oh, I guess I should give her arms, or else she can't hold the camera."

Those are arms coming out the side of her head.

Perspective is a wonderful thing.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Boo at the Zoo 2010

So, after freezing our behinds off during family photos Saturday morning; we decided we hadn't had quite enough punishment, so we went to Boo at the Zoo in the evening.  For those of you who don't live in the Winnipeg area, this is a Halloween event that the Zoo puts on every year.  They have different vingnettes of scary stuff, rides, mini donuts and it's lots of fun for the kids.
My sisster was kind enought to procure VIP tickets again this year, so we were able to get in early and be first in line for most of the rides. 

First up - PONIES! ***I should probably clarify here that pony rides are supposed to be fun and that Declan rode a pony, no more than 3 weeks ago AND LOVED IT - because you won't be able to tell from the pictures of him here. ***


Khai had a blast, and wanted to know his pony's name (Silver, I think?)

.
You can see my arm in this photo, because I had to walk beside him the entire time.


Pose much???


Next up were the fake ponies on the carousel.  Funnily enough, Declan LOVED this ride and we had only one moment of concern when he got disoriented and couldn't figure out where Daddy was!


Finally one of him looking at the camera!!!



These two are my favourite shots from the evening. I love the light at dusk and these three are just adorable.

Aliens!



Declan giggled the entire time he was on this ride! We actually got a short video clip of them going around, it's so cute!  I showed it to Dekkie and he laughed again!



Loved this truck ride! The kids had a hard time deciding whether to sit in the back of the truck, or the front!!

Now, I guess I should preface these next couple pictures by asking that you read my post about my 6 guilty pleasures (notice the date on it, by the way).  My number one guilty pleasure was Star Trek.  This first photo is of a character named Seven, from Star Trek Voyager.  I was so excited to have my picture taken in front of this cardboard cut out, that I actually couldn't stop smiling.  I wanted to come home right away and see how the photo turned out!  YES! I AM A GEEK! I almost even did the pose she was doing, but I thought that would be taking it too far.



Captain Jack Sparrow.  Man, we make a gooooooood looking couple. HA! At least he would be the good looking HALF of the couple.  


Khai wanted his picture taken in front of this guy (I know his name, but I don't know how to spell it, so at the risk of offending another Star Wars fan, I will refrain from even attempting!)  There was someone dressed up like him, but Khai was too scared to have his photo taken with him. Cute!




These birds were right at the exit.  I think they are both such magnificent creatures.  I love owls in particular, but they were both pretty amazing.  I actually had asked the guy to take a photo of us together (as in the four of us Schuster's who went), and he said sure, you can take their pictures...so then I kind of had to!


I asked another gentleman to take this photo...he understood what I meant!  Too bad Khai's eyes are closed and Declan isn't even looking at the camera!  A fun night overall!  Thanks Michelle!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Objects in the rear view mirror...



...are closer than they appear.

For just a moment, instead of fighting, they were laughing with each other and playing nicely together.

**captured on the way to Boo at the Zoo, October 16, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Birthday Party and A Photo Shoot.


This past weekend was one of the busiest we've had in a long time!  Friday night was our co-worker (and good friend's) 50th birthday party.  I had SUCH a good time.  It was a much needed adult evening with my husband and some good friends.



Saturday was COMPLETELY insane!  At 10 am we had family photos in the exchange district of downtown Winnipeg. The lovely Erin of Erin Keown Photography took our family pictures this year and I'm so excited to see the peeks (they are up already on her blog!!)  The kids were real troopers (despite it being the coldest day of October so far, and the fact that the wind was so strong that my feather earrings would not stay in place) and I think we got some good pictures of everyone, (even Declan, who decided that having his hand in front of his face for each picture was his best pose), and I think we got some great family shots as well.  I was so pleased with how great Erin was with the kids and with me (I needed to be relaxed, several times).  It was a wonderful experience overall. 

Of course, my creative busrts came on both Thursday and Friday, so I had some ideas about what I wanted the kids to bring/do for the photoshoot.  I got them to make some self portraits and bring some props that they felt described them.  Kelsey brought a Tinkerbell mug, Justin, Kyle and Brett pretended to play XBOX with their controllers, while Khai looked over their shoulders, Brett, Khai, Declan and Kyle all had pictures taken with their skateboards, Magda held her dance beads while wearing a dance scarf and I had pictures of myself taken with a book.  Helmut, naturally, didn't have a prop.  I thought it would be hilarious to have pictures of him taken with a power drill or something like that (you know, reminiscent of Debbie Dunning in Home Improvement?)


But, we just got some of him standing.  It's okay.  He's sexy any way you look at him.
I have been eyeing these over at Red Velvet Art for quite some time.  But, they are NEVER in stock when I try to buy one. And while I give full credit for the idea to Rachel Denbow, a girl can only wait so long!  So, seeing as I work a a cabinetry company, I asked one of our guys to cut me the shape out of whatever sized scrap he had and he cut me three! I quickly painted them with chalkboard paint (on Friday night before the party), and I took them on our photo shoot.  It was SO COLD that we really didn't use them as much as I thought we would, but they sure came in handy later on in the evening... more on that to come!

I'll be back with Boo at the Zoo fun and the best marriage tool ever.

Happy Monday!

and, just a side note, I think the Lego camera is just about the coolest thing ever!  It actually is a digital camera!!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Bright Lights.


Not bad for a Blackberry photo!

As we sat and got ready to watch Khai play soccer at half time of the Bomber game Friday, September 24th, I was struck by how excited he was.  How excited everyone was.  It was infectious. 

I realized how much I like actually attending sporting events.  I realized how much I was enjoying having that experience with both Helmut and Khai.  I realized how much I liked that Helmut and Khai were having that experience together (Helmut was his coach for soccer this past season, so he got to go down on the field with him...he even got to wear a lanyard that said "Coach Helmut")

In between cheering our Bombers on (and helping Khai to cheer for the correct team) and  keeping Khai occupied (with the camera...some of the pictures/video he took were h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s) and taking pictures with my good camera and experimenting with my blackberry's camera capabilities, I actually managed to thoroughly enjoy the entire experience.


Thursday, October 14, 2010

If boots could talk...


Where am I? My camo rubber boots have made me invisible!

.
Rubber boots? We're too cool for rubber boots.  Or we just forgot to bring them, after being reminded. Twice.


Not those rubber boots. These ones Mummy.  I won't wear those ones. But, I don't want these ones to get muddy, so Daddy will have to carry me the whole time.


What's that? I'm supposed to put my pants INSIDE my boots so they don't get muddy? 


I'm pretty. And I kept the mud and water out. Mission accomplished.

**all photos taken on Saturday, September 25th as part of Helmut's mom's birthday celebration...more posts on that to come!**

Thursday, October 7, 2010

6 Guilty Pleasures





1. Star Trek. The original, The Next Generation and Voyager. I would love to get into Enterprise, but I just don't have time for yet another series! Perhaps I should buy the DVD's. 



2. Starbucks Grande Non-Fat White Mocha (with whip).  Yes, it's 470 calories (even fat free) but I LOVE them.  In winter, I also love the Creme Brulee Latte.



3.  Say No To Joe?  I read this book at least 3 times a year.  Often more.  It's a "fluff" book that I can get lost in.  I feel a special connection to the heroine, and I love the relationship (once it gets real) between the hero and heroine.  *sigh*  If I could live in a book for a summer I'd live in this one.


4.  Helmut and I aren't big drinkers.  But, when I do have a drink, this is my drink of choice.  1 oz. mixed with Diet Coke and a cherry.  I *heart* amaretto.




5.  Fabric.  I LOVE pretty fabric.  I have to stop myself from going into fabric stores, because I could literally spend hundreds of dollars there. 



6. Cashews.  A completely underrated nut. By far my second favourite.

What are your guilty pleasures?