Brenda and Her Boyfriend Brad

So a few weeks ago, Brenda brought her boyfriend, Brad, to my parents home in Pennsylvania. I teased Brad that it was kind of like meeting the family, even though none of us are related to Brenda. But seriously, it kind of felt that way. Justin and I have never met Brad, and neither have my parents or Stafford, so it had the potential of being quite awkward. Fortunately, Brad is outgoing, friendly, personable, and easy-going - all traits that fend well in the Schmidt house.

Especially easy-going. None of our plans went...as planned. For instance, we wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory for lunch but ended up at the food court. We wanted to find new jeans for Brad but ended up sending the boys in to Wegmann's to get ingredients for Sunday's dinner. Not a very exciting or glamorous weekend, but fun all the same. It may have even been life-changing for Stafford, since he finally beat me in a game of ping-pong.



Oh, and I can't end this post without giving Brad full credit for enduring all of Sue's not-so-subtle marriage comments. Not many people come out of that alive, Brad. Well done. Brenda's mom will seem like a real peach after that.

Snow Dayzed and Confused

Snow days aren't as fun when you work from home. I seriously can't believe I decided this would be the year that I would take a break from teaching, the same year that kids got over a week in a row off from school. So jealous. My work never stopped. In fact, it was probably one of the busiest weeks I've had since I started my new job in July.

Oh well, at least I had Marta to keep me company. Both of us madly typing away on our computers, mumbling under our breath, and pulling out strands of our unwashed hair.

Justin braved three days into his office, but when he was home, he was feverishly putting together the Mandalay Bay sign, the Luxor pyramid, and the Ex Calibur spires - all part of the 2,000 piece "Vegas at Night" puzzle we so wisely purchased before Snomaggedon.



I finally finished the puzzle when the other two had to return to the work force, but I have to give full credit to them. Although I did, in fact, put in the last few sections, I had spent most of the time prior to that taking orders from the Puzzle Masters, like "I need dark blue pieces with specks of purple!" and "Find me the ones with things that look like windows!"



Although the snow was slightly exciting while it lasted, I'm so glad it's gone, especially since it ended up costing me my first trip to a shady towing lot run by a man that looks like he should be running a shady towing lot.

Welcome Little Lincoln!

Yay! Let's hear it for one more nephew to absolutely adore! April can't come soon enough...



And for the record, let me just say that Justin and I are really nervous to bring kids into this world, when we look at the adorable little ones on both sides of our families. Big "little" shoes to fill indeed!

Maybe we'll make like Mama Madge and bring a baby back from our safari...