Bad Blogger...Remember Thanksgiving?

Ugh...once again I've gotten caught up in living life and
have gotten behind on sharing it with loved ones.

The HOLIDAYS...seems like it takes my household
until February every year to recover.

Well...during our virtual absence we've packed ALOT in.
Perhaps we should resume telling our story
at Thanksgiving morning 2008.

It was cold, it was early...we were in Broadripple
at an event with 7,022 other people that is being
touted as the 3rd largest race event in Indy, behind
The Mini and The Race for the Cure,
The Drumstick Dash...

Eli wanted to run it (we said no...the crowd was GIAGANTORIC).
SIDENOTE...he, Eli, also hates his picture below, I had so many
layers on him that he looked like a red and black version
of the Michelin Man. Everybody say, "Puffy Coat".
Isaac pedaled it (fell asleep on his
handlebars the last 1/2 mile or so).
Matt and I starbucks-ed through it.
It was a blast and it felt good to be
"moving" with a purpose.
All the proceeds went to Wheeler Mission Ministries.

We didn't see it, but a Fox News guy nearly killed himself
walking backward to film Isaac and his wheels. He filmed FOREVER.
Isaac was probably on the news but who in their right mind
watches Fox News? (That's a little shout out for all my
ultra-conservative family and friends...luv ya :))

Merry HO hum...

-Dang germs makin a fella sick during
his birthday week! Please pray for Gusser.
If his temps keep running high they'll do a chest
x-ray to check for pneumonia. He's feeling punk.
Thankfully we learned that it is NOT whooping cough
which is rearing its ugly head in Westfield.
He's missing his school program tonight where
they were gonna sing "Joy to the World"
on the stage and everything
and his last day of school before Christmas
tomorrow. That's PARTY DAY! How
unfair is that? Shoot! Dern! Dag-nabit!

Paw Hates Christmas Tree Stars that DON'T Light Up...

So...I've been on this QUEST to find a
tree-topper that is a LIGHTED star...there's all
sorts of dumb ones out there but here's the closest
thing I could find this year. You'll hafta forgive
that it looks like we stole it from Superman's
Fortress of Solitude. You know, if you pull one of
the crystals out and put it in the Superman
player thingy then you can get a video
presentation of Jor-El, Superman's Father.
I reckon that'd be Marlon Brando and not
Glenn Ford...OH, go watch the movie!
My story is funny, trust me.

A funny if you ever experience the Christmas Crazies!

This Husband and Wife are not speaking since
this is how he responded when she ask him to
put up the Christmas Lights.

The Christmas "Holidays" can be so full of the wrong
things. I constantly struggle to keep it all in perspective.
This image helped me laugh and realize that nothing has to
be perfect as we go to celebrate the birth of Christ because,
really, nothing else can be. HE already is...
Perfect plan...perfect peace...
Praise HIM...

Don't let the "Christmas Crazies" getcha!

Angel Breakfast

Cold little lambs at Angel Breakfast this year.
Snow, SNOW, SnOw...
(check the halo over the toboggan)

There were sparkly lights and glorious angels
telling The Christmas Story with a really sweet
live nativity where we could pet the donkey, sheep,
and camels. We made Christmas ornaments and
had a yummy breakfast, sang carols and just
generally made ready to receive
The Holy Spirit at Christmas and celebrate
the birth of Jesus.

Isaac was so excited and flew through the halls from
one activity to the next. He's a blessedly happy
blur in most photo attempts but here's two shots
of some of The Lord's sheep...cold little sheep...

The Box

I keep threatening to ship them to their grandparents.
Today, I got the box.

Mom, Dad...if there's a box on the porch with some holes
in the top, open it quick. Isaac probably has to pee.
Thanks and good luck...

:)

TrAaa-diTION!

Advent ribbons are a Schantz Family thing.
This is Matt's actual advent ribbon from when he was a kid.
I believe, when he was little, that Jan (Oma) tied candy
to his and Dan's ribbons but we've tweaked it a little so as
to not pump them up with sugar right at bedtime.
The numbered tags correspond to a story or movie or
activity or treat or small gift that we have prepared.
They, of course, love it!
I, TOTALLY, get all my "good daughter in-law"
brownie points for continuing the tradition.
Everybody wins and The Oma is happy.

"December 1st til Christmas is the longest time of year.
Seems as if ole Santa Claus never will appear.

How many days til Christmas?
Is so mighty hard to count.
So this little ribbon will tell the exact amount.

Untie a candy every night
when the sandman cast his spell,
and Christmas eve will be here
by the time you reach the bell."

BUT Baby it's Cold Outside...

SO, today we're featuring a two for one...
We're walking back to the car after Gymboree
and Isaac's art teacher says, "See ya later honey-bunch."
To which Isaac replies, "I'm not a honey-bunch, I'm
sugar-bear!" This gets a laugh from the art teacher
whereupon I suggest to Isaac to tell her what his
brother's pet name is (I, apparently, was experiencing a
severe memory lapse at this particular moment forgetting
that the boys often argue over the possession of Eli's
pet name of Foo-Foo). So, Isaac grabbing the moment
shouts at the teacher who is, by now, getting in her car,
that he's NOT sugar-bear, he's FOO-FOO. I immediately
realize my mistake and start the emotional clean-up
attempting to honor the "Foo-foo" pact Eli and I had made
in the wee morning hours the day Isaac was born,
before he was born, that he, Eli, would always be
my first and only foo-foo. So, to avoid a high-octane tantrum
in the parking lot on the coldest day of the year so far,
I begin to suggest other cool names and the first thing
that pops out of my mouth is, "Love monkey"
to which Isaac loudly replies,
"I'm not the LOVE MONKEY, that's Daddy!
Daddy is the Love Monkey!" This produces a large
fit of giggles from the poor art teacher who is still trying
to get into her car. We side-step the whole foo-foo faux pas
with a Tootsie-Roll. Do you know how hard those things
are when they've been left in a frigid car? Have you ever tried to
wipe too-hard-tootsie-roll spit off of your
kid's chin in sub-zero temps?
AND...my kids' daddy is, indeed, a love monkey... :)


The most exciting moment of the day for Isaac is when
Eli gets home from school and can respond to
his question, "Eli, do you have homework?" (Read,
Eli, can you play with me now?) Today, Eli had no
homework and the boys (all three, think dog) were
dying to get outside in the little spitty (yes, s-P-itty)
bit of snow that we got last night.
So, we're bundling up to go out and
Isaac decides that he needs to tell me repeatedly that
it is very cold out and he really needs, "glubs". I keep
telling him that I know he needs "GLOVES" since
I AM a certified mommy and everything I can figure out
that a 5 below wind-chill requires, at least, gloves for the
whole 15 minutes that they'll get to go out.
He doesn't get it and keeps hollering at me,

"But, but, but MOM, I NEED glubs!"

Soul Food

They're bringing GLORY to GOD in the midst of their suffering!

If you need an AMAZING BLESSING today,
if your soul is hungry and you need to hear
how God is moving in the lives of HIS people,
check this out...and join with us as
we lift The McCraken Family up in prayer.

Oh, How HE Loves Q (SusieQ)
Oh, how HE loves you and me...

http://www.ohhowhelovesq.blogspot.com

PRAY

This beautiful lady in the middle
of her beautiful daughters is
Susie McCracken and she
is fighting cancer.
Today, Susie had surgery
to remove a tumor from her
brain and next they have to
go after the spots on her liver.
We love this lady and we want
to ask everyone that we know to
PRAY
Pray for her and her family's peace
and strength and comfort and healing.
Pray that they feel acutely the fact they
they are being held in God's own hand.
Please friends...pray with us. Thank you.

Eli's Quote of the Day

"Art for art's sake is an empty phrase. Art for the sake of truth,
art for the sake of love those are the words I live by."

This is what he says at lunch today. Now I ask you,
where the heck did he come up with that? He's so cool.

Our Next Race - Join Us!

Move your Feet so Others can Eat!

Drumstick Dash - Entry Info

Presented by:

Come join the Sixth ANNUAL
Drumstick Dash this Thanksgiving
Day in Broad Ripple! This new event is sure to get you in the mood
for thanksgiving day. The event is hosted by the Running Company
and will benefit Wheeler Mission Ministries. Your entry will
in turn help feed the hungry in central Indiana!

IPICO Timing Tags for the 4.5 Mile event!

1,300 people signed up the first year
2,000 the second year...
2,500 the third year .....
3,700 the fourth year......
5,010 for the fifth year ..... how many this year?

DATE & TIME
Thursday, November 27 - 9:00 AM.

LOCATION
Event will start and finish near the Running Company Store in Broad Ripple Station (1079 Broad Ripple Ave) See map below.

PACKET PICK UP
You may pick up your packet or sign up late for the event at the Running Company store on Wednesday, November 26th from 10AM to 6 PM or on event morning from 7:30AM to 8:45 AM at Broad Ripple High School (just east of the Running Company)

ENTRY FEE
Cost is $22 per person up through November 22th - after that the fee is $25.

A great long sleeved designed T-shirt ( BROOKS Technical long-sleeve shirt) to the first 5,000 pre-registered entrants (availability and size are not guaranteed after the first 5,000 pre-registered - but we’ll do our best to get you the correct size shirt!)

FAMILY RATE
After the first two family members at the regular $20 rate, each family member is only $15 - or just $10 if age 12 and under.

Event is sanctioned by:

COURSE

Course distance is 4.5 miles through scenic Broad Ripple neighborhood areas. Both run and walk start together at 9:00 AM. Course is fairly flat with a water station located towards the mid point (only water will be available at this station - sorry no cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie will be available at this station) The 4.5 Mile Course is timed with IPICO Timing Tags.
NOTE: if you don't want to do the full distance - you can take the short cut course of 2.6 miles - just turn on Compton Street as you are coming down 61st. - We will have a display clock only at this finish (no results are kept for this short distance course).

LIL GOBBLERS FUN RUN
All youngsters ages 10 and under are invited to participate in this fun run that will have you chasing the turkey around the parking lot of Broad Ripple Station. This will happen at 10:15AM. The event is FREE and no registration is required... just show up!

All finishers will receive a finishers ribbon

Please NO pets or skates - Should the event be cancelled due to extreme weather, thank you for your donation to the Wheeler Mission.

CATCH THE TURKEY!
Just before the start of the event, a 6’ tall turkey will take off on the course - the first male and first female to catch the turkey will be awarded a fun prize following the event. Note: this is one fast turkey folks!

AWARDS / GIVE-AWAYS
The top 10 males and females will walk away with a prize (who knows what the prize might be ... could be a canned ham?!) Many other fun-filled prizes will be awarded randomly after the event. (sorry, no age group awards)

FUN!
If your bib number has a turkey sticker on it - YOU WIN a prize... just go to the main stage to claim the prize.

COSTUME CONTEST
Come dressed for the occasion and wear a costume! We’ll award some of the best dressed people with some fun prizes. Be creative and add some festivity to the crowd! Please arrive to the main stage at 8:30AM for the judging.

RESULTS
A listing of all finishers in the 4.5 mile event will be displayed at www.tuxbro.com later in the day.

POST EVENT PARTY
Although we don’t want to ruin your thanksgiving appetite, we will offer a wide variety of food immediately following the event. Stay around for fruit, cookies, drinks and more.

Event Benefits...

Since 1893, Wheeler Mission Ministries has been addressing the cares of Indianapolis’s poor and needy. Every year, without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin, Wheeler provides more than 226,000 nutritious meals to hungry men, women and children. In addition, more than 52,000 overnight stays are furnished to homeless and untold thousands of household items articles of clothing are distributed to those in need.

Through our Food Pantry, more than 30 tons of food is distributed annually to families in need. Your participation in the "Drumstick Dash" will help Wheeler continue caring for the needy in our community. Homeless men, women, children, and those on the brink of homelessness will benefit, thanks to you. For more information, to volunteer, or to make financial contribution, please call 635-3575.

Good luck in the "Drumstick Dash"

Rick Alvis,

Wheeler Mission Ministries

Make an extra donation when you enter the race. Look for the check box on the application and donate to a very worthy cause.

Isaac's Quote of the Day...

So, we're in the bathroom clipping little boy nails
and Isaac is intently studying our hands as I snip away.
My nails are polished (and chipped all to heck) which
Isaac still thinks is SO pretty.

Isaac, "Momma why are your fingers so sparkly?"

Me focused on clipping little fingernails, "Huh bubba?
What did you say?"

Isaac continuing the conversation by himself, "OH...I KNOW
why...It's because you love daddy."

Leave it to a kid to come up with that.
I thought it was great.
He thinks loving his dad makes my nails sparkly...
I do LOVE his daddy...A LOT.

Silly Family Fun - Too Tired To Do Anything Else...

Well...they're not our most attractive family photos
BUT we were having fun and I think you can
see the love in the middle of all the silliness.
The pictures that Matt aren't in are funny to me
cuz those are the ones where he was actually snoring
beside us while Isaac was crawling all over him.
We were playing around with Eli's camera.
Obviously, we've not figured out how to set
it so that the time stamp isn't on the bottom right.
SO...here were are in all our end of the day,
sweaty, dirty, tired glory just hangin' out.

HYSTERICALLY LAUGH YOUR BUTT OFF FUNNY!

OH, JUST GO!

We were in the mood for a movie,
it had been a long LONG week
especially for Matt who worked
a BA-JILLION hours and one
all-nighter this week. We
needed something brainless and fun.
We were thinking that this would be a fun
flick for the kids and go figure...
It is truly one of the funniest movies
we've seen in forever...

Fall Fusion Tournament - #6 Eli Schantz

Two days of Tournament Play and some
great action shots. Our coaches are happy
with #6 as he's playing hard and using his size
but still running it fast. Westfield Select did a great job!

Uh...ooops...hands off Eli!

GOAL! TOOR!