Date Night

Ted and I enjoyed our first date since Eli was born. We enjoyed a lovely meal at a local Italian restaurant in Cedar Rapids. We also got special seating near the fire place. And even though our time was limited, we also squeezed in a movie while our boys were having a fun time with their cousins, aunt and uncle. Thanks again Kyle and Lisa!

This past week were also able to support our nephew, Caleb, in his basketball game. Within the first five minutes Caleb already made some plays in favor of his team. Way to go, Caleb!

• Ted's job at Best Buy has been going really well. So well that management suggested that he apply for the open supervisor position in Cedar Rapids. Ted did just that and has an interview next week. We pray that God will lead him into the right position for himself and our family.
• Camille's job has been going well. She is getting more comfortable with her position and enjoys getting paid to "play" with such cute, fun kiddos. Who wouldn't want to color, make crafts, make edible crafts, complete mazes, and play on the swings and slides? There is also plenty of work as lots of new kiddos want to begin therapy.
• Hayden loves being at home with his family. He has recently taken a strong interest in making "guns" out of his tinker toys. And as always he plays with his cars to race them. Hayden has been taking a lot about his family from Minnesota lately. He misses everyone dearly, just as the rest of us, and the distance is sinking in.
• Eli has his 6 month doctor appointment this week. It will be fun to see his statistics. Eli has been rolling for a while now, but recently he has taken up rolling around the parameter of the living room. Such a silly boy! He has also switched from eating every 3 hours to every 3 1/2 hours. We are still in the adjustment period, but he is defiantly ready for it. We also got out the highchair with anticipation to start solid foods soon!

Enjoy the pictures!

6 years together

Coach Kyle and some of the team including Caleb

Eli bundled up for the January cold.

Big boy, Eli, playing in his highchair.

Our boys :)

This is a video of Ted and Hayden sword fighting on the Wii.

The Pink Eye

This week has been one full of excitement including the special diagnosis of "pink eye" for our little Hayden. He was a trooper as he made the visit to urgent care to be seen by a physician and has found humor in getting his eye drops. We also enjoyed a fun New Year with the Schlaaks as we stayed up late playing games and playing with our babies :) And along with the New Year came our Anniversary. We can't believe it's been six years ago that we were married in an ice storm, one of the best days of our lives. We will celebrate it later this week when we can go out on the town leaving the boys with the Schlaaks. Thanks in advance for the date!  Enjoy the pictures.

The "Pink Eye"

Eli enjoying his Jumperoo.

It's a Wonderful Christmas

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas this year. We celebrated the birth of Jesus by exchanging gifts and with a birthday cake! Before leaving for Minnesota for a long weekend we celebrated our family's Christmas at home. Then we were able to enjoy some time with the Gustafsons and the Kytes.

• Hayden really got into the Christmas spirit this year announcing to anyone who would listen that it is Jesus birthday! It is so amazing to see such enthusiasm about our Lord and Savior in your child's eyes. Some of Hayden's Christmas highlights include getting the whole Toy Story 3 gang, the movie, sledding with family, and playing with family.
• Eli was less excited about the gifts than Hayden, but enjoyed it none the less. In particular, Eli enjoyed being held by everyone. He received a Jumperoo and has spent some quality time in there already. He is rolling all over the place now making it challenging to change his diaper. He also likes to watch his older brother in whatever he is doing at the time. Therefore, as parents we are praying that Hayden will be a good role model for him.

Enjoy some of our Christmas pictures!

Reading the Bible story.

Transformer!

Eli got the alien.

Yummy sugar cookies

Listening to his book read by Grandpa Mark and Grandma Vicki

Grandma Vicki and Eli

Baby it's cold outside.

Gustafson Family

Christmas Day

Grandpa Joe and Grandma Bonnie with their grandchildren

The 3 year olds
Reuben, Trinity, Hayden

The littlest ones
Lincoln, Eli, Teagan

Sledding

The Christmas Cold

Tis the season! For the flu and runny noses that is! This past week has been one filled with the joy of sharing the common cold. Thankfully it was short lived and we are almost through with it. We have also been in the Christmas spirit as we were able to go to a Christmas Program to watch the Schlaak kiddos sing their little hearts out at their church. We are so excited that we are able to watch them participate in such events now that we are closer. The rest of our time has been spent Christmas shopping, wrapping Christmas presents, attempting to take a picture for our Christmas card, reading Christmas stories and working.

• Hayden so desperately wants to build a snowman. We did not get hit with that Minnesota Blizzard and there is not enough snow to build one. So we did the best we could and made a craft one instead. Hayden is starting to understand the true meaning of Christmas already. As we read the Bible story of baby Jesus being born to save us, Hayden continues to talk about Him throughout the day. One night after Hayden had gone to bed I wrapped some Christmas presents and put them under our tree. The next morning Hayden got up and told me that the presents were for Baby Jesus.  Melts our hearts...
• Eli is officially rolling from his tummy to his back flawlessly. He enjoys playing in his exersaucer and bouncy seat and will give a big warm smile to anyone who looks his way. It is so fun to hear his giggles and his squeals as he has discovered that he has a voice now. Now he needs to figure out the volume control as it is always on high :)

Enjoy the pictures!

Matching outfits for the Gustafson Boys
Sponsored by Mark & Vicki Gustafson

Eli the Thinker

Brothers

Our best family picture

Eli's first bath in the big tub!

Hayden's Snowman while it is raining outside.

This is a video of Eli in action: rolling and squealing.

Thanksgiving turns into Christmas

We had a wonderful time in Minnesota to celebrate Thanksgiving, but our hearts were deeply saddened by the death of Ted's grandpa: Harvey Urch. The good Lord took him on Thanksgiving Day and we are so thankful for his life here on earth. Other Thanksgiving events were shopping in the wee hours of the day for Camille, Eli, and Grandma Bonnie on Black Friday as well as visiting Camille's extended family Buffalo Center, IA. The time spent with family was much enjoyed. When we got home from all of our traveling we decorated the house for Christmas. Hayden was very enthusiastic and helped decorate the tree. We look forward to celebrating Christ's birth this Christmas season.

• Ted was recognized for his hard work at Best Buy from the Corporate office through customer satisfaction. He continues to enjoy his work out there. This is especially true as we recently bought a rather large TV to view movies such as Ice Age! Ted is rather proud :)
• Eli has also had an exciting week. He has 2 front teeth for Christmas which explains his need to wake up earlier than mommy and daddy prefer in the morning. He also rolled from his tummy to his back this week!

Enjoy the most recent pictures!

Hayden and his turkeys 

Our smiley little Eli

Brothers :)

Auntie Lezlie, Grandpa Mark, Hayden & Eli

Sisters: Camille, Sarah, Lisa

Babies on Harms Side:
Lincoln (3 weeks), Eli (4 months), Gideon (4 months), Teagan (8 months)

Cousins with their babies

Hayden & Reuben

Love

Decorating our Christmas Tree

Placing the Star on top

Thankfulness

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, we decided to start a new tradition in our house: a Thankful Tree. Ted so graciously cut down a tree branch for our tree and Hayden and Camille decorated it with lights. Then everyone made leaves and wrote what they were thankful for this year. Hayden and Camille also made Rice Krispie Turkeys! We are excited that during this Thanksgiving season we are able to have some time off from our jobs to make it back to Minnesota to visit our families. Happy Thanksgiving! 
Enjoy the pictures from the past week.

Brotherly Love

BIG GUY

Leaves that go on our "Thankful Tree"

Turkey :)

November Changes

It's November already! Time is just flying by. The past week has been a busy one for us with the most exciting news that baby Lincoln Daniel Schlaak arrived! He was born early in the morning on November 2. Maybe he will go into politics...  Here is the latest:

• Ted has been working hard at Best Buy and is off to Des Moines for training one day this week.
• Camille attended a conference for continuing education on Therapeutic Listening in Minneapolis on November 5 & 6. It was great to see family while she was there, even though time was limited. The boys had a great time with Grandma Bonnie and Papa Joe and the Schlaak cousins that came with too.
• Hayden is growing! We had to go out shopping to buy him new jeans because he out grew most of his. He has also been busy perfecting his catching and throwing abilities of a football.
• Eli is such a happy little baby. He is testing the boundaries of gravity and attempting to roll over. He also enjoys playing in the exersaucer and sitting in his bumbo seat.

Enjoy the pictures.

The Schlaak Family
Kyle, Lisa, Caleb, Gracie, Micah, Reuben, Lincoln

Lincoln Daniel Schlaak
9 lbs 5 oz     22 in

And suddenly Eli is Huge!