Labor Day 2011

The Schanz family is celebrating Labor Day 2011 by bowling at the Derby Bowling Alley!

August 2011

Hey! Long time, no blog.....Sorry. Anyway, moving on. July has come and gone way too fast! Lots of stuff was done in July, most of it I can't remember. I think there was a lot of swimming and sun though?!?! The kids had a lot of swimming birthday parties, swimming library parties, and just plain ole swimming with the family. It was 100+ degrees for more than 21 days. So, needless to say, we needed to be in the pool. A lot!

I made a trip to KC with girlfriends, Amanda & Shannon. We ran the Warrior Dash. It's a 3.1 hellish run through grass, mud, sticks, ponds, rocks, rough terrain & oh yeah, there's 12 obstacles to complete too! It was a ton of fun and I'd like to do another one someday. Hopefully I can get Jed to do it too! The girls and I had a great time. After completing the dash, we got hosed down by the local fire department, enjoyed a beer and a turkey leg, then headed back to our hotel. After showering off in a "real" shower, we went to get a bite to eat and shop at Zona Rosa. The shopping was OK, didn't find much we didn't already have in Wichita, though. We finished the trip with breakfast at The Cracker Barrel and then headed home. :)

So.....Now it's August. School has started. Kenna is in 7Th, Koen in 4Th, Kammie in 1st and, of course, Kampman is still with me....but he says he goes to school with me. The kids are enjoying being back in school with their friends, and their teachers seem like perfect fits for them too. I'm happy, they're happy, we're all good. :)

Kammie entered in the Little Miss Pioneer pageant that is part of Old Settlers Days every year. She had a collector canister at Calabrones, it's one of the pizza joints here in Mulvane, KS. Every penny equals one vote. So, 1¢=1 vote. $1=100 votes, $5=500 votes .....etc. There was a crowning ceremony on July 19Th at Main Street park, Mulvane. Then, the next day all the girls entered into the pageant rode in the parade on a float. Kammie didn't win, but all the girls together raised over $2100!

Kammie has also signed up to play flag football again this fall. This year she'll play with 1st and 2ND graders. Who knows, maybe they'll be more girls play this year?

Koen wrapped up baseball season in July. Lots of days, nights, weekends at the ball field, but it was fun. It was his first competitive experience. He is playing Mulvane Jr. Football again this year. He should be playing as a 4Th grader, but only seven 3rd graders signed up, so some 4Th graders will have to play on a 3rd/4Th grade team. We don't know what team Koen will be on yet. Koen doesn't seem to care. He just wants to play. The bad part about the whole thing is the games are so much farther from Mulvane this year, compared to last year. But, it's totally okay, we LOVE OUR FOOTBALL!!

Koen also ran in the Mulvane Old Settlers 1 mile road race. It was the 30Th annual running of the race. Koen placed 2ND in his age division (8-10) and also shaved a whole minute off his previous time. New PR: 7:20! And, that was without training!

Kenna vs. the 7Th grade. I think she likes it so far. She tried out for the 7Th grade volleyball team, and made it. So, this year we get to go to her games on Thursday nights. I'm super excited for Kenna to undergo this new adventure! I hope she enjoys the experience as much, if not more, than I'm going to enjoy watching her.

Kampman is getting so big. And, no I'm not sad he's the last kid. I'm always sentimental when they are around this age. A major milestone that means a lot to me happens at 3. KJ has officially started Sunday school! I say officially because he has been allowed in the class for the past few months, but never HAD to stay, if he didn't want to. Now he goes to class and stays there. He listens to the story, colors a picture, makes a craft and comes back eager to tell me. Sometimes he puts his own spin on the story. My favorite is when Jesus died on the cross because he got ran over by a school bus. Of course, I made sure he knew the real reason for Jesus' death. Then uploaded the explanation video anyway. :) (Check out my Youtube channel on the sidebar if you want to hear it!)

This last month has been really rough on Jed and I both. Not on "US" but more on each of us. While I went to KC with girlfriends Jed had a lot of issues at his hotel. Then, when I got back, everything was in shambles. Just when I thought it was all back to normal, I stood up at work right under an open cabinet door. It hurt like hell, and I knew I was going to have a major headache, but I did not know how bad it was going to be. I hit my head on Tuesday, August 2ND in the late afternoon. I went home rested, took some Excedrin (which I now know is one of the worst things you can take when you hit your head. Stick to Tylenol) and then went to sleep for the night, a little nauseous. Next day, August 3rd, I woke with a splitting headache, but sucked it up, (took more Excedrin) and went to work. About an hour into work, I was having issues with standing for a long period of time, feeling nauseous and dizzy. Around 12pm I figured out I wasn't going to make it at work through the day. I went home and yes, took more Excedrin, then slept until 4pm. Jed called and asked if I was okay or needed to go to the doctor? I said I was okay, but then I got up to get the kids something to eat and about blacked out! I've never felt so horrible all of a sudden in my life. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.

So, I called Jed back and said, "Yes, I need to go in to see a doctor." Jed left work right away and took me to Derby Family Med center to be checked out. I ended up with a concussion and an x-ray of my skull. I was told to take Tylenol, (Do Not take anything with Aspirin, hence the bad choice of Excedrin, because Aspirin can cause brain bleeds to be worse) put ice on my head and sleep. I was written off work until Monday August 8Th.

I don't remember Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday much at all. I do know I slept on Thursday & Friday about 40 out of 48 hours. My poor kids. They just had to fend for themselves. Well, Kenna took care of them, fed them, made sure they stayed alive. And in the evening Jed took over. Jed had to do everything for them. Which is why this time was rough on him physically as well. Not only was he worried about me, but now he had to play mom and dad. Saturday came and I woke with extreme leg pain. We're talking lower back pain and sharp knife shooting pains down my legs. Both legs. I was dizzy, nauseous, head hurting, memory loss, blurred vision and now lower back and severe leg pain. I took Loritab that I had left over from 6 or 7 months ago and it seemed to help. Problem is....it wears off. Sunday & Monday I slept a lot. I went back to see the doctor Monday night. He said I had a severe concussion and ordered a head CT. It was scheduled for Thursday, August 11Th. The CT was fine, I guess anyway, they didn't say anything about it. I spent the weekend resting and the kids started school on Monday. I was feeling better, but just maybe around 50 percent of my normal. I went back to the doctor for a weekly visit. The doctor said I probably need to see a neurologist and I am off week until I am headache free for an entire week. I don't know when that will happen, I have had a headache everyday still. The good news is....I was allowed to drive again. Well, as long as I didn't take the Loritab during the day. So, now I've been taking Advil during the day and Loritab at night. Sometimes I push myself to do more than I should. On August 18Th, I allowed myself to drive the kids to a birthday party in Wichita and then after being there, I was dizzy. Luckily Jed was there with his car, so we just left his there and he drove us home. Then the next day, Friday, August 19Th started Mulvane Old Settlers Days, and if you read above, you saw that we were involved in it. KJ and I slept for 3 hours on Friday so that we could make it to the Little Miss Pioneer coronation and rodeo. I managed, but by 8pm had a pretty good headache going again. Saturday, was super busy. Koen ran, then Jed ran and then Kammie rode in the parade. My mom came to town and brought cousins Trinity, Xander & Orin with her. My friend Amanda came to watch the parade. She brought her husband, Luke and their kids Korbin and Emma. And Jed's mom and sister, Katie and cousin Hunter came too. Kammie had quite the cheering section! After we watched the parade, we went down to the carnival, the kids rode rides, we ate lunch at Luciano's Italian restaurant, the kids rode rides, Kenna shopped the vendors and then we headed home. Exhausted. Jed, Koen, Kammie, KJ and myself all took naps. After a shower, and much prep work, Kenna went back downtown with Aunt Katie and Uncle Ed and Hunter. After sleep and food, Jed took Koen and Kammie to the rodeo and Kenna met them there. KJ woke up and we watched Phineas and Ferb's movie......

Well, that's about it. And August isn't over yet.

In the end, I think I wouldn't be as far "healed" as I am, if it weren't for God and Loritab!

God Bless,
Melissa

July 2011

Well the 2011 season of baseball & softball is over as of today. Looks like the Schanz family has about 1 month til football & volleyball starts! Yay!

Cars 2, the movie!!!!

Yay for Cars 2! The kids and I just went to see it and loved it! And, Jeff Gordon does the voice of #24 Jeff Gorvette! Plus, super funny Toy Story Toons before!

June 2011

Wow! I didn't think it could get any busier than it was, but guess what??? It did! With 3 of the 4 playing base/softball, games & practices plus Jed & I both working FT, We are busier than I ever imagined. I have 3 episodes of Glee, 7 episodes of Private Practice & 10 episodes of Friday Night Lights sitting on my DVR. Poor DVR hasn't seen me since sometime in early May. Not to mention the 24 episodes of Dr. Oz that I deleted & took him off the DVR schedule since there's no way I could ever catch up. So basically, this is not the summer of TV. However, I have managed to read all 3 of The Hunger Games books & 3 of James Patterson's series called Maximum Ride. (I'd be into book 4 already if I would've remembered to check it out from the library last Thursday.)

So.....what is going on besides kids sports? Well, Jed is busy managing the hotel still. He has taken a few days off here & there to hang out with the kids, play some golf & get some things done around the house.

I have been busier this year with work than ever. My boss started holding monthly meetings & now I have to have a budget, watch income, develop programs & implement the programs into the nursery. It's actually been fun to do. It's like I got my teaching degree & have my own classroom, except I don't get paid a teachers salary & I don't have the same kids all day long. (Thank God for that!)

We haven't made it to the lake yet this year, but we've been at Genesis, Terredyne & Mulvane pools almost daily. Some days it's me & whoever doesn't play ball that night. You know the rule: No sun, no swimming on ballgame days!

Jed & I managed to go to KC & watch the NASCAR race for a whole weekend! It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. We got many autographs; Richard "The King" Petty, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhart Jr., Chad Knaus, Jack Rousch, Mark Martin, Joey Logano, Richard Childress, & so many more. I got my picture taking with Jeff Gordon. We walked all around in the garages & up & down pitt road. It was such a great weekend. I am so addicted and can't wait to go to my next race!

I'm going to post some pics of things going on if I can remember to soon. ;-)

God bless,
Mel

March 2011

Way too much going on in March to post it in March! In fact we are actually halfway through April when I am finding time to post.

Kenna went on a ski trip with our church, Messiah Ev. Lutheran Church, youth group. They went to Loveland Ski Area in Colorado. She had a good time but decided she dislikes skiing! She never even rode the lift up to the top slopes. Just skied the bunny slopes. But she looked good doing it!

Koen started practicing for baseball and soccer. Yes, he is playing two sports at the same time. It's been pretty interesting already. Baseball comes first, because it is a competitive league and costs more plus there is more time involved and teammates that have time and money involved. Soccer is through the Mulvane Optimist Club and is played more like a rec league. So far, he has only had to miss Wednesday's practices for soccer.

Kammie is playing soccer as well this year. She has been unbelievable compared to last year when she was busy picking daisies on the fields! Her team is the Cyclones. Kammie's friends Delaney, Tianna & Ashley are on her team this year too! She loves playing Soccer.

Kampman has been a typical 2 yr old almost 3. Very outspoken, bossy, loud, sweet, loving & happy & healthy. He thinks he is in charge. Which is why I have started to call him "Boss." All I can say is, "This is going to be a long year between 3 & 4."

Jed and I are still just working and running kids from here to there and everywhere in between. Jed's hotel is doing great. He's selling out on a regular basis. Of course he doesn't really like managing people, but really who does? I have a new assistant at the smaller nursery that I am in charge of. Amanda, who is one of my friends and has been working at my nursery branch for 2 1/2 yrs. She's doing awesome and I'm not dealing with that nursery very much at all.

So now that's March in a nutshell.

Lea Michele Singing America The Beautiful 2011 Super Bowl

Check out my boys Greg Jennings #85 and Charles Woodson #21. Also, listen to all the cheers President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush get when they are shown on the megascreen! I guess some people aren't happy with what is going on in DC!

February 2011

February...what has happened in February?

Well, after the Green Bay Packers won the NFC championship, Jed and I decided we couldn't pass up the opportunity to travel to see our team in the super bowl. After all, it was only in Dallas, TX. A mere 5 1/2 hrs from us. So we searched online for tickets, but after searching and searching and searching, we found nothing we wanted to buy. Tickets were going for $2500.00 a piece. And that was in the nosebleeds! A friend of ours, actually Jed's best man in our wedding, Matt Whipple, and his wife Christy, live in Dallas. They let us know we were welcome to stay at their house for the weekend. My parents said they could take our kids for the weekend too. The stars were aligning! So we drove the kids to grandmas and papas house on Friday, Feb. 4Th, and headed to Dallas Saturday morning. Well, it had snowed the whole week before super bowl Sunday, a lot. Oklahoma received about 18 inches of snow in just two days. I guess Oklahoma just decided not to clean off the roadways, because it was a mess. There were times when the road was just carved out of the snow. Anyway, needless to say it took 7 1/2 hrs to get to Dallas...ugh!!!



Matt and Christy's house...It is too cute! Exactly what I think I would like if I didn't have kids. Real chic and adorable, white furniture, breakable decor, I could just eat it up. Obviously, they'll have to change it all someday when they have kids, then again, they just might be contempt with their little orphaned dog Myla. She's so ugly, she's cute. I think she was part rat terrier and part chiuaua?!?! Feisty little thing. I wanted to bring her home with me, Jed said no. :(



Matt and Christy's furnace blew the day before we arrived, so when we got there, the repair man was figuring out what was wrong. $600.00 later, they had heat! It was getting pretty cold in the house, I think 52 degrees? Jed even put on his packer snow gloves!



Saturday night we decided to go to downtown Arlington and check out the stadium and go to Tailgate Tavern. The Tavern is owned by Christy's friends dad, Mario. Mario is a ticket broker, and we were told he might have extra tickets to the game for us. Well, usually ticket prices go down the day before and the day of a big event like this, but in this instance, ticket prices were skyrocketing. No one had any tickets to sell. They were going so far above face value it was ridiculous! On Saturday night Mario's' tickets were selling for $3200.00 a piece. Face value was $900.00! So we just partied the night away.



Sunday morning came, and I really wanted to go to Ft. Worth at 6:00am to hang out at the ESPN desk and watch the 'Mike & Mike Show' live. But I didn't want to go alone, and everyone else in the house (i.e. Jed, Matt & Christy) had too much fun parting the night before, and were not getting up. So I just went and got some Whataburger for breakfast and watched Mike & Mike on TV. (Which, I'll have to admit, was way warmer).



Everyone finally started to get up and moving around 11am. Everyone that is, except Matt! Matt was struggling to stand vertical for long periods of time. I think he forgot he was 36 yrs old for one night. This is the reason that I didn't participate in the festivities so much, but chose to be the DD instead. Smart choice I do believe! We finally got rolling to the super bowl around 2pm. (About 8 hrs after I wanted to be out experiencing it all). Anyway, parking down at the stadium was outrageously priced. Some spots went for as much as $500.00 a parking spot! But J' Gilligan's sports bar parking was free. (We did our research). And J' Gilligan's was the chosen "Home" bar for Packer fans. We figured if we couldn't score some tickets into the game, then we would just watch from the bar.



We walked the 1 mile to the stadium. And I have to say, it was truly amazing to be walking among the other fans. Everyone was giving high fives, shouting "Go Pack Go!" "Go Steelers!" and such. We saw a lot of fun costumes. Packer Elvis, Titlebelt Packers, fans on stilts, every jersey on the team pretty much. (Yes, there were some idiots wearing a Favre jersey). I'm sorry, but you can't be a true Packer fan if you're going to wear the jersey of the one who played for the arch rival. That's just wrong. I even spotted a #74 Kampman jersey. Gave that guy a high-five! (Our son Kampman is named after Green Bay Packer, Aaron Kampman, who no longer plays for Green Bay, but he did when we named him).



Pretty much everyone on the street was looking for tickets. People had signs saying "I need 2 tickets" "I need 4 tickets" Some people were holding up 2 fingers, some 4, and some just 1 finger. All, looking for tickets to buy. There were none, which drove the price up even higher. After walking through the crowd for awhile, we decided to find a place to watch the game from. We ended up back at Tailgate Tavern, eating their amazing spread of fresh seafood and such, and enjoying free drinks.



The pregame began. Jed and I were both so nervous. I couldn't get my leg to stop shaking. I couldn't eat or drink anything in fear of being sick with anxiety over the game. Pretty silly to get so nervous over a football game, but it's our team! Lea Michelle sang the pregame song "America The Beautiful". Which is actually my favorite over "The Star Spangled Banner". And as we all know, Christina Aguilera totally ruined "The Star Spangled Banner". I'll add a YouTube of Lea Michelle to this blog.

The owner of Tailgate Tavern, Mario, went to the game and ended up selling his last two tickets outside the entrance gate, after kick-off but before the first quarter ended, for $5000.00 a piece! And those tickets were way at the top of the stadium!

The first half of the game was great! Green Bay put some points on the board and they were playing with confidence. Then just before the half, Pittsburgh started to make a comeback. Boo!!! The Packers struggled a bit in the third quarter, but never gave up the lead. I had my head down in my hat for pretty much the entire fourth quarter. I would listen to the bar, if I heard loud cheers I knew it was something good and I would look up to watch the replay.

After the win, there was a lot of celebrating going on in the bar. And I have to say I was mighty impressed with the Steeler fans. They were nothing but nice to the Packer fans. Some even gave us congratulatory handshakes and said "good game." Jed and I walked through the crowd back to our car so that we could experience the winning atmosphere. It was great! Lot's of people cheering, "Go Pack Go!" and "Titletown" and "We're bringing Lombardi home again."

Monday morning, Jed and I drove back to Kansas, picked up our kids, and headed back to Mulvane. Back to reality. But we had an experience to remember for all of our lives and our beloved Packers were the World Champions!!!

January 2011

I'm going to have to try the blog-thing again. Now that I have a home computer again, maybe it will be easier. We'll see.

Jed is still General Manager at Towne Place Suites by Marriott. He's training for his fifth marathon, I think he wants to do the Lambeau Field Marathon in May 2011. He has also started P90X and Insanity workouts.

I am still managing the nursery at Genesis. I recently asked to be able to not manage the East Central branch. I was told I could give my assistant manager more work, but I still need to be the GO-TO person. GO-Figure!!! Anyway I'm trying to be less stressed these days. I am going to start a separate blog next week that is strictly going to be my journal for weight loss (hopefully). I am planning on doing weight watchers again. Cross your fingers.

Kenna is enjoying 6th grade. She was given the "Kindness" award for December 2010. She made all A's on her report card. Kenna will be taking a babysitters class this spring so that she can start babysitting for people. Kenna will be 12 on January 27th.

Koen is a reading machine. He is currently reading "The Action Bible" & "Geramino Stilton: Surf's Up" & "The Revenge of the Shadow King" Koen is getting ready to start practicing baseball. He goes for a uniform fitting on Saturday the 15th. This is his first year to play on this baseball team and not at the rec center. He'll be playing at the southwest boys club in Wichita, KS. Koen got all A's and 2 B's on his report card. The 2 B's were in higher classes than he was in the first nine weeks of school, which were A's then. Now he is in the top reading and spelling class in third grade. Koen will be 9 yrs old on January 23rd.

Kammie is also becoming a reader. She recognizes all of her site words and loves to point them out in books we read. Kammie just turned 6 yrs old on December 22nd.

Kampman is a handfull!!!!!! He goes with me to work and has loads of friends there. He takes swim lessons and really likes it. Today though, he pooped in the pool!!!! I told him "God must have big plans for you dude! Because you're one special kid!" He's also in the terrible 2-3's. Not my favorite age.

Well, that's about it for now!! So, until next year.......JK

God Bless,

Melissa