Results on the gingerbread house are in....

After 36 votes...

Christmas Evening 2012

Christmas celebration continued into the evening. The annual Gingerbread house contest continued. The competition has become even more intense. We were missing Jenn & Jamo like noted earlier but when Molly walked in with ground oreos and molding chocolate we knew it was going to be a tough round. Every year the creativity level jumps. This year the judging got open to Facebook and we are still waiting on results but it looks like Tom & Molly are pulling ahead, Jamie & Shawn following (I don't think the lights are edible) followed by Jessica & Creed. Serious entertainment.
After the houses we opened gifts and had a nice dinner that we all pulled together. It was a warm and enjoyable evening of family.

Christmas Morning 2012

Christmas morning was spent with Wyatt, Jessica and Creed. Santa came during the night and tied off the living room. Bear took advantage of the time alone to check it all out. Wyatt woke ripped apart the ribbon and the morning began. Wyatt open presents and took time out for a little "cheese sandwich". The big hit was Thomas' old brio train. We had Great Grandma Smith, Tam, Vernon, and Katelyn for a big brunch. Great Grandma Schneider had a care package made for her due to an ongoing case of bronchitis (hopefully feeling better soon). Christmas morning are more magical with little ones around.

Twas the weekend before Christmas...

One thing Jamie and I wanted to do before Christmas was head back to Lambert Bridge Winery. A couple years ago we had gone around the holidays and the wineries are all decked out in their holiday best. So we set up a trip the weekend before Christmas. We found out that Jenn and Jamo were also available to join us since they would be up before jetting to Boston. A friend at the gym works at the Sonoma Mission Inn and got us rooms at the "friends & family" rate and the trip was on!
The day before it rained but the skies cleared the day we visited the wineries. Silver Oak, Lambert Bridge, and Cobain were on our list. Cobain got flooded out the day before and J was added. It was such a fun day. Holiday feeling and festive. We grabbed great sandwiches at a local market and ate outside with a great wine at Lambert Bridge.  We saw the biggest rainbow which just topped the day.
The next day clouds opened up for a torrential downpour. Jenn & Jamo had to drive to Oakland to catch a plane...they needed life vests. Tom and Shawn's golf day turned into beers at the bar watching college bowl games. Jamie and I headed to the spa.  Soaking in mineral baths with raining pouring down on your head was a really different adventure and so relaxing really. After lunch at The Girl and The Fig and shopping in downtown Sonoma Square Tom and I headed home. A "must do again" trip in our heads!

Where are all the photos

Where are everyone's holiday photos? And Trish- wine tasting photos???

Gingerbread House Competition 2012

Please vote on the 2012 Schneider Family Gingerbread Competition!

Please only vote once.

Click Here To Vote

Naughty or Nice?

What have you been this year? Hope you are all on the nice list!! Wyatt otherwise may have had to spill the beans to Santa when we visited him last week!

Happy birthday Jamo!

Happy birthday to the most amazing guy ever!

Sweetheart Luncheon and Fashion Show

If anyone is interested in a one-of-a-kind fashion show featuring the Central Valley's sweethearts with Down syndrome strutting their designer genes and the latest fashions while escorting volunteers, community supporters, agency representatives, and major donors down the run way.

Attendees will enjoy a wonderful luncheon provided by the Golden Palace Banquet Hall, a huge silent auction (including an exquisite quilt made by Trish Schneider) and much more. You will also have the chance to bid on some great sweets and treats in the Sweet Shop area for a tasty dessert for your table!

It is being held on Saturday, Februar 9, 2013 at 10:30am-1:30pm
Golden Palace Banquet Hall
2625 W. Vassar Avenue - Fresno, CA 93705
559-228-0411

Early Apple Turkey Entry

Scott and I got to share a family Thanksgiving tradition with Maddy's class. Naturally we decided to have everyone make apple turkeys! I know they will be the first place winner this year.

Cleveland!

Monday Tom and I did a quick trip to Cleveland. Tom has been trying to come up with a design on some cages for milk and it just so happens the company he thought could help him is in a town near Cleveland. So we hopped on a flight met with the company and found out it wasn't going to work. A different venue would have to be tried. The trip was not a total bust though because we got to spend time with Megan, Scott and Maddy in their new hometown!
After a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art we met Megan at her office. The campus is beautiful and is walking distance from the museum. We walked it as the snow (very little) fell on us.

After meeting up with Megan we headed to Maddy's preschool to pick her up. It was fun surprising Maddy and seeing her school. A beautiful preschool with tons of interest for the kids.

We then met up with Scott (sorry no pictures of Scott) for dinner. We had a really nice evening. Scott and Tom did many samplings of the local brew. The next morning we had a breakfast of breads from a neighborhood bread shop and a nice slow morning. Maddy built tents and went camping. I tried not to wake her with the flash while she slept in her tent.

Megan and Maddy had to get to school but we took a side trip to check out their future home. We found you can sure get a lot of home in Cleveland for condo prices in California! I would show you pictures but that is for the Holmes to share!
After we left Maddy and Megan we took a tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. An interesting building stuffed with rock and roll paraphernalia. A Grateful Dead Exhibit - note to self, rock and roll is not conducive to longevity of life.  Definitely worth the visiting. It took us 2-1/2 hours to just to get through it all. It could take longer listening to all the recordings.

We then boarded a plane and headed home. A very full 3 days. A thank you to the Holmes for their warm hospitality.

First Snow in Tahoe

Another Weekend at the Beach

We got to watch Wyatt while Jessica & Creed joined in Carli & Ryan (Howie)'s wedding. We went to Avila Beach the next morning. Wyatt had made a song the weekend before and could march and sing it for hours.  Press the start button to play. Hope you enjoy it too. I find myself humming it when I want to be somewhere else!

Annual Weekend at the Beach

We just returned from our annual family trip to Aptos / Rio Del Mar.  This year was a little later in the season due to "the final, final wedding".  Unfortunately there were a few bumps. One, Jenn was not able to join us due to her having to move her office. Two, the Davis family also had to drop out. Randy "had" to go film the Giants in the World Series in Detroit for ABC. Joe and Brittney had to skip waiting on the nest for baby Cooper. There were a solid nine & a half that did show up though and we were treated to spectacular weather. Crystal clear skies from sun up to sun down with temps in the 70's.
This years "Liver Classic" was a foursome - Tom, Jamison, Shawn and Creed. Due to late night political debating some were more prepared for golf then others. Thomas & Molly could not come until Saturday afternoon.  Jessica, Jamie, Wyatt and I met Tom & Molly in downtown Santa Cruz for lunch.
Wyatt got in plenty of beach time. Wyatt and I ran the beach for hours. If Wyatt was awake we were running. The weather was so good we actually got into the water. Grandpa held Wyatt upside down and dipped his head in a wave which elicited much laughter.

Saturday night instead of wine we did a Beer Tasting. It was a good theme and translated into some delicious food. An added kick to the event was it had to be done in costume!

Jamie and Creed may look like they did not follow the rules but for some reason they think they look like Tom and me!! Thomas and Molly surely won because they were so creative. Molly, the Pinata and Thomas, Mugatu!

Thomas & Molly presented a Bohemia Beer paired with baked goat cheese & salsa curtesey Rick Bayless.

Jessica & Creed served Pumpkin Soup in the pumpkin!! paired with a Samuel Smith, Nut Brown Ale. Delicious. A special note of thanks to Jessica for the help with cooking of my dish while I was running the beach.

Tom & I served a Speak Easy Porter with Chicken Sliders. The chicken is cooked in the porter and the sauce is also laced with porter.

Jamo minus Jenn treated us to a comparison of Stouts, Murphy's and Shipyard (big difference). Jenn sent along a carmel popcorn with pecans that went great with the beers.

Jamie & Shawn finished off the evening with a Guinness Stout and a  divine Guinness (Guittard Chocolate) Brownie. Trust me too, the brownies just kept getting better. I know because I ate several the next night.
The evening was a hit. The effort that everyone put in the evening was greatly appreciated. I was just happy that I had ran on the beach with Wyatt!

Whats Up?

Anyone else enjoying the nice warm October weather?



Blessings

September 24th and what a few months it has been. Tom and I set it up so when all was done we would spend the night at the Claremont. In the middle of the night we woke up and had a little chit chat (when you are so tired sometimes sleep is hard to come by). We even went up on the tower and looked at all the city lights at 3:30 AM.
We marveled at how blessed we have been. At the age of 27 we had all four children. We thought it would never end! Here we are exactly 27 years later and we have gotten them all to 18 (we figured then we weren't legally responsible), got them through college and now all four are married. Each wedding added more to our clan. It just keeps getting better.

Thanks to all that have loved us and supported us through our child rearing years. Thank you to our kids for being who they are, incredible people that we are so proud to say are ours. To our new kids  we couldn't have asked for better people. May your unions be as fulfilling and blessed.

In case you hadn't heard...

New Family Member

No, I am not talking about Shawn! Thomas and Molly are welcoming a new one in to their hearts and apartment.....

Bode Schneider!
Bode or Bo (to sound tough) arrives Friday from Washington. Hopefully you will all get an opportunity to meet him Sunday morning.
Congratulations and Good Luck Tom and Molly!

visitors!

We have had a lot of fun this week so far and it is only Monday!  We had the Young's down on Sunday for a day in the pool and Wyatt came redneck style sporting no shirt... had a great time at Bubba's house.

Then today I had two amazing volunteers... Lizanne and Cadi helping out at work! So very helpful and it made the day so much brighter. Jamo and I treated them to some surprisingly amazing Thai food in Hanford and now getting ready to chow on some brownies!

Anything happening out there?

How has everyone been? Anything exciting going on out there?

The "Final, Final" Bridal Shower

This past Saturday we had this Schneider Family's final bridal shower. Friends of mine - Karen, Amy, Kim and Connie - put on a shower tailored for Jamie. 5 O'clock appetizers and cocktails. It was really fun. The food was delicious. Jamie receive so many nice gifts. The best was a "white elephant" gift given just to see her reaction. Jamie did not let anyone down when she opened it, "wow, so random" was a classic line for a bridal gift.
The wedding is coming fast and furious. Hope any and all of the clan can make it to the "day after brunch" also. See you September 22nd.

Tahoe Taverns

Some of my fondest memories as a kid were the family vacations in Tahoe. We finally got to take Wyatt up for his first summer visit to Tahoe, ok so his first trip to Tahoe ever (since he was just a little thing in my belly last time I was there!)

He had so much fun!! Dad, "Hammy" and "Tate" (Grammy and Kate) threw rocks into the water with him, swung him up high, rolled down hills with him! That little guy played and played. He didn't really know what to make of the thunder on Saturday but it didn't dissuade him from playing in the pool.

Even though we had a great 4 nights there I wish we had longer! Next year for sure we are doing a full week!!

Thomas & Molly's Wedding

This is a picture of the sun setting on a memorable day. The start of Thomas and Molly's married life together. The ceremony was so touching. The vows they made to each other will be remember every time we think of the day.
The party was pretty fun too!! The games with cocktails. Tacolious for dinner. The bartenders (friends). UTI with the O'Dells.  Dancing. The delicious cake. Cookies before leaving. Family and friends all gathered to share the moment and celebrate a really special couple. Thomas Estates was a great setting for it all.
Thomas and Molly created a wonderful moment in time to start the adventure of marriage. May they always look back and be lifted by the day.

Thomas & Molly's Rehearsal Dinner

What a way to have a party. Order up one pizza truck towing a pizza oven. Throw in appetizers, popsicles and some beverages. Mix in all the families and you have a very successful rehearsal dinner.  It was so nice to gather everyone here for a warm up to Thomas & Molly's wedding.
After a successful run thru at the wedding venue the wedding party headed back to our house. Fist Full of Flour came and put out some great pizza's. Blueberry hill was a hit....blueberries, prosciutto, arugula with a balsamic reduction - yum. It was nice to have the Schneiders, Smiths, Hetzelbergers, Kious all get a chance to gather and start the wedding weekend together.
Many thanks to Angela and the Davis' without whom the party would not of sailed!

Am I missing something?

Wasn't there a wedding or something recently? Where are the photos????!!!

Step Up for Down Syndrome

Open your hearts and your wallets please :)

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jennifer-whiting/2012-step-up-for-down-syndrome

Maddy's 3d B-day (LA & Bako)

Prior to the departure to Cleveland we celebrated Maddy's 3d Bday first with her friends in the LA area then in Bako.  It was a very fun time.  Maddy chose a whale theme this year....

Molly's Shower

We had a really fun bridal shower this weekend.  Molly is officially joining our family 

July 28th so the to-be-sister-in-laws put together a great brunch.  I did a lot of the

 cooking - eggs benedict casserole, blueberry french toast casserole, homemade 

granola with yogurt, fruit salad, strawberry & spinach salad  and a selection of 

muffins. A chandelier hung over the gift table and a mimosa bar. Kim made a Tiffany 

Box cake - chocolate cake with chocolate ganache with raspberry filling, really delicious.

All that is left is the waiting till the big day!

This last picture is just me bragging. I was able to finish 

Molly & Thomas's wedding quilt. The quilt is made in her

 wedding colors.

Tee Up for Down Syndrome

It was 5:30 in the morning and I was driving to the golf tournament when I got a text from my co-chair saying his car was broken in to and everything was gone... "ha ha" I texted back "your funny this early in the morning". The next text I got made me sick to my stomach- it was a photo of a destroyed dashboard and an empty seat... all of our golfer bag prizes, event shirts and misc other things were stolen and I was on my way to the tournament- no way to replace anything!

Thankfully wonderful people came out to support us and didn't mind not getting the fun stuff promised. It was a challenging course at Ridge Creek Golf Club- our very own Jamison Whiting and team came in FIRST! It was actually a Schneider/Whiting sweep- Tom Schneider, Creed and friends came in just 1 or two strokes behind the winning team.

I have to give a huge hug and shout out to my dad- he ran our putting contest so well, supplied a greaat Kindle as a prize and was so very supportive all day- thank you very much.

I also need to thank Jamison who came home yesterday from the east coast and through jet lag and exhaustion- helped organize, pack and set up with me.

Now I am going to curl up and take a nap :)

More Waypoint In The News

View more videos at: http://nbcbayarea.com.

Nappy Time

Like Father, Like son. 

Go Red Sox!

On our adventures back east, a few of us managed to squeeze in a night in Boston and catch a Red Sox game!  It was a nice warm day, great crowd and a good game.  We had amazing seats about 20 rows up from first base- we all thought we would burn in the sun but our seats stayed perfectly shaded the entire game while the rest of the crowd melted in the 80 degree weather (insert laugh from Californians who deal with 106 degree weather regularly) It really was ideal weather to watch a baseball game.
We saw "The Laser Show"
... until the Red Sox lost in the 9th.

Evenings at Buzzard Bay

I warned you I would be adding more! Our memories are what get us through the hard times and I can go back to this wonderful vacation on the blog. We had some wonderful evenings on the shores of Buzzard Bay. Shawn made sure that we had a bonfire on our beach. Tom & Shawn went and dug a pit and then Shawn built a great fire. Everyone gathered for s'mores. In the pictures it looks like Molly was an out-law but really we found out smoke follows beauty. Those of us that endured the bug bites were treated to a sky full of stars.
We also had a hysterical game night. We promised no pictures of it because if you have ever played group charades you would understand. Just imagine four people miming things at the same time. Thanks Thomas for the games.

Dinner on the Cape

We decided that no one person would want to do the cooking for the week. The cost of restaurants for dinner too would be prohibitive so I came up with the idea that everyone should have a turn to cook. We then mixed it up even more by separating couples and putting together different sets of twosomes. It went better then could be planned. We had fabulous food every night.
Jamison and Molly went first. Think regional! This twosome followed their recipes all the way to Papa Gino's Pizza Parlor.  True east coast pizza. We even got instructions on how to properly fold your pizza.

The next night Jessica & Thomas treated us to a Clam Bake. Due to inclement weather cooking on the beach was cancelled. Turks was our fish supplier and regular haunt.  Creed found out that cracking lobsters can be exciting with pieces of shell and juice showering down. The broth they made to go with the clam bake was unreal! They ended with a Boston Creme Pie.

Jamie and Creed were next up. Starting off with appetizers that allowed us to taste several regional treats. Grilled beef & mushrooms dipped in Cape Cod bbq sauce. Another regional treat served was quahogs. It is clams and stuffing mixed together and  baked in its shell. They finished up with scallops that were to die for and a lemon buerre blanc sauce that was heavenly. They served a cheese risotto and grilled asparagus as sides. The risotto was so good that Wyatt ate "cheese" for three days. Dessert was S'mores at the bonfire.

Then  Jenn & Shawn finished off the week with a real Fish & Chips dinner! Jenn let us know that she had practiced and perfected her dinner and with Shawn as Sous Chef they produced an exceptional meal. The cod was delicious as the fish of choice. The onions rings were divine and even fried zucchini & asparagus. Dessert was delicious - brownies with cookie dough served with ice cream.

We want to thank Turks for all the seafood. We wished we had a t-shirt to sport but Tom forgot. It was a great week of food. Those gaining only 4 lbs felt really good about it! Thanks to all Cooks/Dialers it made for a fun event. Dinners together are always welcomed.