Smiles from Sean

We are getting a lot of smiles and laughter, but they are hard to catch on camera. Here is one I got recently. Beware, it will melt your heart.

Thanksgiving in Hanford

We spent Thanksgiving this year with my brother Jeremy and his family in Hanford. Hanford is a small town where I grew up, and is located in the Central Valley, in California. You know where you smell all the cows off I5, midway between San Francisco and LA? Turn left there, and you will end up in Hanford. It is dusty, has smelly water, and not a whole lot to do, but I love it, and my family has grown to love it too. Here are my top 10 reasons why we love Hanford.

1. We get to visit my family.
2. Superior Dairy (The best ice cream ever. If there were awards for ice cream this place would get the award for best ice cream ever.)
3. Superior Dairy
4. Superior Dairy
5. Raven's Brand Beef Jerky (Sorry no picture of this place, maybe next trip.)
   
6. My brother Jeremy pulls out the go-kart to ride in the church parking lot.
   
7. Santa arrives on a fire engine at the end of the holiday parade.
   
8. Black Friday shopping is a little more manageable in this small town then in the Bay Area. (Yes I was up and out shopping at 4am, crazy I know.)
   
9. When we need to escape our summer fog, we can go swim in 100 degree weather at my mom and dad's house.
10. The movie theaters are never crowded or sold out.Our favorite place.

Tom, Sean and myself waiting for the parade to start.
The cousins enjoying the parade.

Jennifer with her perfect turkey. It was really yummy!Andrew driving the go-kart with Michaela.

Meet My Co-Workers

I have worked in sales for an online company, http://www.branders.com/ and I have been there for 10 years in January. I spent 6 months in the Philippines in 2005 working for our office there, and have been going to our office in San Mateo everyday since returning to the US. Life was great with Kira and Andrew both in school. I could drop them off in the morning, and head off to work. Needless to say there was a lot of Jade time that included lunch with the girls on Thursdays, shopping trips during lunch on other days, and well just time to do what I wanted, when I wanted.

Now, I am working from home with the baby (which is a great blessing since I would hate to leave him) and I am pretty much keeping company all day with our infant Sean, and I hate to admit it, Tom's cat Max. Max is an old cat, and for those of you who don't know, I hate cats. I see no purpose in cats, and this one pretty much just pukes on the carpet, scratches up what he can and sleeps. If it wasn't for the fact that Kira, Andrew and Tom love this cat more then anything I would have opened the door and intentionally lost him by now.

Why do I tell you all this? Well, to show that life is quite different these days. I have a closet full of great clothes I use to love to wear to work, and now I hang out in my sweats all day. In fact, some days pass with out a shower (sorry Tom) or even a change of clothes. I look forward to Sunday's because it is the one day a week I actually put something on that doesn't have an elastic waist.

The point of all this... I can care for a baby, get my older kids to school, meet my sales numbers, feed my family, fulfill my calling, be PTO secretary, clean my house (sort of), and put up with a cat I don't like. If an occasional shower is skipped I will get it over it. I will wear those clothes again, but for the meantime life is and always will be great at all stages, glamorous or not.

Congratulations Jeremy!

My brother Jeremy, the one who hated school growing up, and for the longest time refused college, has now been nominated for teacher of the year in Kings County. What an acheivement! I only wish my job was one that molded today's young or inspired someone. It is apparent that I will spend the rest of my days selling pens and promos. You just never know where life will take you.

Way to go Jeremy! I knew you had it in you.

You can read more about him at his blog, see the link on mine called Scholz Family. My sister-in-law Jennifer also makes these really cool purses and has a store online you can shop from. Be sure and check them out.

He just keeps growing...

I know that is what they are suppose to do, but at this rate, he will be a 1st grader next year. I went to get Sean dresses this morning and had to pull out something in the 6 month pile. Most of the smaller sizes just don't fit anymore. Last week when we weighed him he was over 14lbs. That of course was last week. He could be 16lbs this week. Let me remind you he is only 7 weeks. Before you know it, he will be carrying me around.

Grandma Porter's in the House!

Along with Sean's blessing we were lucky to have Grandma Porter in our house for the week. We are sad she has to leave, but hope she will be back again soon for a longer stay. It was great to have someone here to help babysit and Sean loved all the holding he got from Grandma.

We spent the week shopping, eating great food, visiting, and even got in a trip to the Academy of Sciences. Grandma Porter, we love you and loved that you were here with us this week. Come again soon.

Sean's Blessing

We blessed Sean this last Sunday, November 2nd. In the circle were his uncles Jeremy, Jeff, and Brad, along with his grandpa Scholz, "uncle" Reggie and of course his dad, Tom. It was a beautiful blessing. and I have to admit I was in tears through the entire thing.

Because of the blessing, we had a lot of family in town (14 kids in total) and once again the yellow house on the freeway became the party house. It was a great time. I was so busy having fun, that I didn't get one picture over the weekend. Lame mother, I know, but I did get his picture taken this week in the outfit he was blessed in.

Thank you to all the family that travel so far to be a part of the blessing, and to the friends who came to church. It made it the most special that you were all there.