Happy Birthday, Jeffrey!

Jeff hits the big 3-5 this year! Here's to a great year full of lots of adventures!

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Here's to the princess, who celebrates her 34th this year! Here's to a big year (like, literally, by the time August rolls around...)

Hope you have a great day!!!!!

Setting the "Tone" for 2010

Complete this sentence. 2009 will be remembered as the year that....I couldn't say no to volunteer work.


What one event or change defined your year? new boss, more work

Any run-ins with the law? No.

What do you wish you did more of? play golf


What do you wish you did less of? eat

If you had to pick one food to eat at least once a day for the rest of your life, what would it be? radishes


Could our family possible become more enmeshed? Yes

Culture: What was your favorite movie/book/TV show/music artist (any or all of the above)?
I loved the Michael Jackson movie, saw it three times. Joe and Tot gave me the CD and movie for Christmas. The movie comes next week!


Did you pick up any new skills this year? Patience in the banking business.

Name your best outing of the year (Family holidays/parties don't count!) Pentwater with family


What was your most embarrassing moment? Never have any

How many grandkids do you think the 6 sibs/spouses will end up with? (Note: by the end of 2010, the tally will be 8 -- Sarah/Loren: 3; Mike/Sarah: 2; Ryan/Amy: 2; Nick/Beata: 1;
15

Did you make any new year's resolutions this year?
don't believe in them

Are there any plans for 2010 that you're really looking forward to?
Having another bugga to love!

Happy Birthday, John!

Happy Birthday to the 21-year-old Schmon Man! I hope it's a great birthday! Try not to get too crazy! :)

Happy Birthday, Leigh-Bird!

Happy Birthday to Leigh, who is celebrating her 18th birthday today! (Holy cow!)

Happy Birthday, Leigh!

Drumroll please...

The boys are very excited to welcome a new addition August 31st!


This is Baby Baidas #3. As of Monday, 8 weeks and three days old. Bed rest predicted for early March, but not quite as strict as in the past, at least to start. Mama is feeling quite nauseous and tired, but doing well and very relieved to see the baby's heartbeat going strong!

New year, new blog.

I don't even know if any of you out there in family land ever read this, but for what it's worth, I'm going to try to post regularly again. I'd love to have some contributors, do some questionnaires, etc. Most of you might live in the same town, but this is a great place to have an online family journal, basically.

I already love to go back and see things from last year or when the blog first started. Our family is growing and changing all the time, so I'd love to include your individual families.

If you don't want to post yourself or are worried you won't be able to figure it out (but it's easy, easy though I swear. As easy as sending an e-mail basically), if you e-mail me stories, photos, links to an article or movie trailer you found interesting -- ANYTHING. I'll post them for you.

Really, take a minute to look back over what's been documented here and imagine if more stories from you were included.

Like this one, back from July 2008 from Nick: Crumbs from the 4-1-9

A little peek into the life of what Ellie was all about, also in July 2008: Getting to Know Ellie

A report from Sue on Gupp's Thelma and Louise trip, with a comment from K-K.

Some fun pics of Miles and Jude from February 2009.

When I took Lucas to make a Mother's Day mug for Sarah in May 2009 (look how much younger he looks then than he does now -- crazy!)

And, some great pictures of Leigh-bird from homecoming in October.

I don't ask for submissions for my sake -- I think it's for the sake of the whole family. If something comes to mind, shoot me an e-mail, leave me a voicemail, whatever! I'd love to include it.

On this, the eve of my 1-year "nanny-versary" (yes, it's been that long! Whoa!) I'll kick off 2010 with a recent video of me and my buddy, hanging out with monkey and a "neigh" while Mama and Lucas were at swim lessons...