• Slideshow Widget

    Archive for 2013

    Who is cooler than these guys tonight?? No one. #nye #newyearseve

    Tuesday, December 31, 2013



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/inLt0Clrr1/

    via IFTTT

    Happy New Year!



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/inJP_6lrmJ/

    via IFTTT

    Bundling up tonight is a necessity #rochmn #toocold #hatewinter

    Monday, December 23, 2013



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/iSTrskFrkz/

    via IFTTT

    "Mom - take my picture!" Errr. This is the best I get I guess.

    Sunday, December 22, 2013



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/iPjkMylrje/

    via IFTTT

    Our elf is very illuminating *badum-CHING!* #elfontheshelf

    Thursday, December 19, 2013



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/iILXmGFriN/

    via IFTTT

    My pretty pretty princess all dressed up for an evening at home #girlsrule #packerstutu



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/iH6xQqFrsV/

    via IFTTT

    Elf on the Shelf

    Ormint, our elf on the shelf, has been with us for three years now. His antics are always appreciated. He's been a tad understated this year, but with only five more mornings left for his visit I'm sure he'll have a couple of fun hijinks in that time. I try to document most of the interesting things he's done and here are his greatest hits so far:

    Ormint Collage

    Another amazing sunset tonight in #rochmn

    Wednesday, December 18, 2013



    from Instagram http://instagram.com/p/iFMX02lrsa/

    via IFTTT

    Santa with a side of bacon

    Tuesday, December 17, 2013

    My parents have made a tradition out of going to Macy's annual Breakfast with Santa event during the Christmas season. It has been seven years since our first time and our fourth visit with Santa in Minnesota at Ridgedale Mall. Looking back at photos from past years makes me realize how much time has passed since Benjamin was a tiny little guy who was shy with Santa. Lucy is the same age as he was when we started this tradition. She didn't want to sit on his lap, but definitely didn't pass up the chance to tell him that she'd like Barbies for Christmas this year! Smart girl.

    This year's Santa was a bit on the sassy side and didn't miss an opportunity to mug for my camera.


    Breakfast with Santa 2013Breakfast with Santa 2013 Breakfast with Santa 2013 Breakfast with Santa 2013

    Christmas Preparations

    Wednesday, December 11, 2013

    Lucy stayed home with me yesterday because her daycare provider's daughter was sick.  We decided to bake some "yummy yummy cookies" - as Lucy calls them.  At three years old, she's quite interested in helping with everything, so I let her do whatever she could handle.  The cookies aren't bakery-pretty, but they taste great and that's what really matters anyway.

    Christmas Cookies Christmas Cookies Christmas Cookies Christmas Cookies

    Benjamin's egg allergy always has me hunting down new recipes for baked-goods.  I've used this one for our Christmas cut-outs for the past two years and I highly recommend it!

    Eggless Cut-out Sugar Cookies
    http://debralegg.com/2008/06/08/christmas-cookies-galore/


    • 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened     
    • 3/4 c (1-1/2 sticks) butter, softened     
    • 1 cup granulated sugar     
    • 2 tsp. vanilla     
    • 3 cups flour      
    • 1/2 tsp. baking soda

    Beat cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate 30 min.  Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut into assorted shapes, using 3-inch cookie cutters. Place, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar or sprinkles.  Bake 10 to 12 min. or until edges begin to brown. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely.

    I have a pinterest board dedicated to my favorite eggless recipes:
    http://www.pinterest.com/momarazzirochmn/egg-and-nut-free-recipes/

    New adventure

    Friday, December 06, 2013

    It has been ages since I updated this blog. My apologies to any of our avid followers.

     If you are in need of a family photographer in Rochester, Minnesota or would like to take some digital photography classes, please visit my new website at http://www.momarazzirochmn.com or "like" me over on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/momarazzirochmn.

     And as always, you can see what we are up to by visiting our photo site at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/familieschmitt/

     Thanks for your support!!

    Somewhere warm

    Wednesday, April 10, 2013

    Mom and I are always scheming on ways to take vacations to warm places during the winter months. The last time we did this was two years ago when we took the kids to Florida. Lucy was about six months old back then and couldn't really appreciate the beach, pool and hanging out with family, so earlier this winter we decided to take a trip back down to the Sunshine State. When we started researching the price of flying we were shocked at how un-budget-friendly the prices were. We both hesitated to make the suggestion, but wouldn't driving be significantly less expensive and maybe - just maybe a little bit adventurous?! Soon we had Dad and Mike on board and began crafting our plans to travel the almost 3,000 round trip miles by car. We reserved a rental home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms close to where my Uncle Mark and Aunt Debbie live in St. Pete Beach and we secured a mini-van rental as our vehicle. The plan was set, shorts were purchased and sandals were dragged out from the back of the closet, but soon a wrench was thrown into the works. Mike has been working with some overseas customers at work lately and the company asked him to travel over to Israel for three weeks, due to depart April 1st. We were going to be leaving for Florida at the start of Benjamin's spring break on March 29th. Sadly, Mike wasn't going to be able to accompany us on our adventurous trip, but he was about to go on his own exciting adventure as well. So on the 29th we picked up the rental van, packed up the trunk, said goodbye to Daddy and headed out onto the open road. Our route would take us through eastern Iowa and Missouri, southern Illinois, the western chunk of Kentucky, straight through the middle of Tennessee and Georgia and down through east central Florida.

      

     Even though we encountered our share of dirty bathrooms, people and fast food joints along the road, the ride down was very uneventful and we arrived at our St. Pete Beach rental at about 10:30 pm Saturday night - 25.5 hours from departure time. Sunday morning was Easter and the kids were excited to see if the Easter Bunny would leave them anything so far from home. Thankfully he was able to get their "baskets" to them in some great hiding places in our home. 

    Easter Basket Hunt Easter morning 

    Lucy was eager to play with her new bubble wand, so we went into the front yard in our pajamas and enjoyed the wonderfully warm temperature. 

    Easter morning

    Later that afternoon we drove out to Clearwater to pick up Great Grandma Murphy for our Easter celebration at Uncle Mark and Aunt Debbie's house. And there for the first time ever - we were able to SWIM outside on Easter day!

      Playing around in Uncle Mark's pool Playing around in Uncle Mark's pool

    The next day we staked ourselves out at a cabana on St. Pete Beach with all of our beach toys and water floats.  The water was a bit too chilly for more than standing knee deep in it, but that didn't stop Benjamin from playing in the waves. The rest of us helped Lucy build sandcastles and worked on our tans - HA!

    Beach Time Beach Time Beach Time Beach Time Beach Time
    In the interest of not making one big huge blog post of vacation photos and stories, I'll stop there, but there is much more to come!

    ShamROCK shake

    Monday, March 18, 2013

    Great Grandma Murphy always sends St. Patrick's Day cards with a bit of money for Shamrock Shakes. This is something she did for me when I was little and something she does now for my children. We love it! After we enjoyed our corned beef and cabbage dinner, the four of us visited McDonald's for dessert. Lucy's a bit too little to appreciate a minty shake, so she opted for a vanilla cone. Benjamin was thrilled to get his shake and dig into the whipped cream. I still don't like the fact that they make their shakes fancy now. Give me a giant shake in a standard cup, no whipped cream - old school style, please.

    St. Paddy's Day Ice Cream St. Paddy's Day Shamrock Shake St. Paddy's Day Shamrock Shake

    Benjamin endured a nice case of head freeze...

    Benjamin's head freeze Benjamin's head freeze

    And of course, Lucy had to imitate him!

    Lucy's pretend head freeze

    The Sneeches

    Monday, March 04, 2013

    Benjamin performed in The Sneeches as part of his acting class at the Rochester Civic Theatre. He played a star-bellied Sneech.

    Benjamin in the performance of The Sneeches Benjamin in the performance of The Sneeches Lucy waiting to see big brother perform Mommy and Benjamin Daddy and Benjamin

    Breakfast with Curious George

    Friday, February 15, 2013

    The kids and I had an excellent time at the Minnesota Children's Museum in Rochester last weekend.  We purchased special tickets to have breakfast with Curious George.  The same exhibit had been at the museum in St. Paul a few years ago and we took Benjamin there to see it when he was about Lucy's age.

    Benjamin and George - both Curious
    My big guy - we took a similar photo many years ago when he was Lucy's age

    Lucy really enjoys watching George, too.  Her love of giant costumed characters has not changed since we saw Sesame Street live and she didn't hesitate at all to run and give George multiple hugs!

    Hugging George - she had no fear at allChildren's Museum Rochester for Breakfast with Curious George Hugging George - AGAINLucy at the Children's Museum Rochester for Breakfast with Curious George Children's Museum Rochester for Breakfast with Curious George