Family Update for 2011

So we’ve had quite a bit happen since my last post but I’ll keep to the most important ones. Most importantly, our sweet little bundle of joy and third child was born last August. Aiden Robert Schrader! He’s the sweetest little guy and his smile will melt your heart every time. I feel so blessed to have received another great boy. We’re all about the boys at our house and I’m finding that I really do like it that way. I would of course be lying on all accounts if I said that I wasn’t girl hungry but for our life right now, a boy is definitely what we needed. He’s already 5 months old and a whopping 18 lbs. following in the footsteps of his older brothers in the growth department of course. He surprised us all with his features as they are opposite from all of us. He has blonde curly hair and tons of it too. Don’t ask me where he gets it from because I would love to have curls that pretty but alas mine are just waves that I have to fight with to curl up so he’s definitely the lucky one in the family. He already needs a haircut which if you know me then you know that it’s killing me not to cut it. It’s too early and I don’t want him to lose all of those sweet curls so I’m refraining… for now :) He’s the funniest little guy that has so much determination to do everything that his brothers do but he just can’t quite figure out how to make his legs work with him so he gets beyond frustrated. But I have a feeling that it won’t be much longer before he’s mobile and tearing up the house. He just stares at Ethan and Owen and smiles from ear to ear. It’s great because it’s built in entertainment for when Mommy is getting stuff done. The boys just adore Aiden too. They love to make him smile and play peek-a-boo often.

Ethan is getting so big I can hardly believe where the time has gone. He’s attending Pre-School and just loves it. He’s learning so much and he brings it home and teaches Owen so I love that aspect too. It’s great having an older sibling to teach you the ins and outs of everything. When he’s not in school you can bet that he’s playing with his Trains. We have what seems like an endless amount of Thomas the tank engine collection of toys. The boys just love trains so it’s like the only toys we buy these days. It’s fun to watch them build their own tracks and mimic the characters while they play. I just love kid’s imaginations and the things that they say and come up with. It’s really true that you need to watch what you say around them because they really are listening even when they pretend they’re not (or in our household)choose not to respond in most cases. Ethan is more like me. He’s very assertive, focused, compassionate and a great helper around the house, especially when it comes to helping out with Aiden. Owen is more like Steven. He’s fearless, strong willed, determined and a problem solver. They’re polar opposites in many ways but at the end of the day they balance each other out and it’s a beautiful relationship they have. I love that they’re so close in age because they remind me a lot of Steven and Michael and in many ways they are like true twins. I just know that they’ll be the best of buds their whole lives.

As for Steven and me, we’re coming up on our 7 year anniversary and are in somewhat disbelief that it’s been that long. I think that for me I’m still in disbelief that I have 3 kids too… someday it will sink in I suppose :) Steven started a new job the same month Aiden was born and he’s now working for US Bank in a Management Training Program. The way it works is he starts as a Teller and then progressively moves up to each position until he’s a Branch Manager over the course of 3 years. If you ask me this is the perfect job for Steven because he’s never stuck in one place for too long so he doesn’t get bored and he would also agree. As a part of the program he’s already had the opportunity to travel to Chicago for a Bank Competition and Portland to see this region’s largest vault. He will be going back to Portland and also to Minneapolis this upcoming year for more Training opportunities so he’s excited to get to travel (Mommy not so much). It’s funny to think that we’ve both worked for the same company because I was hired on as a teller in our first year of marriage with US Bank. I like it because I can really relate to him in the work field and have an idea of what he’s talking about for once. He just starting his Banker Training and is enjoying the switch from being a Teller so overall he’s happy with the job. For myself I’m still at home each day with the boys and enjoying being a stay at home mom. My small business survived its first year and now I’m heading into my second year of operation. I’ve really been enjoying having something to do outside of taking care of the kids. When I stopped cutting hair I was surprised to find how much I missed having a job. Although I would love to have my salon set up and going again it’s just not practical with little ones in the house. Hair color really doesn’t wait for you and you can’t walk away from it like you can with my sewing projects that I do for my new business. I’ve been very blessed to be able to pursue this avenue and its nice being able to contribute to the household as well. Plus, I get to make cute girly things that I am in no need of at this point so I get my girly fix from time to time too. It’s a win/win situation so I’m happy with it. If you want to come see what I’m making these days visit my website at www.emmiesdesigns.etsy.com I always love to hear feedback so feel free to give it.

Well, that’s the majority of what’s going on with us. I’ll go ahead and attach some recent pictures of my cutie boys and again… I’ll try to post sooner than 6 months from now. But no promises! Haha… Thanks for following our family. We love you all. Until next time :)

Love, The Schrader’s