Homecoming 2010

The kids were asked to be attendants for Homecoming last night and did a great job. It was a beautiful night for a pep rally and we look forward to the game tonight.

This is pretty much what Tate's face looked like the entire time. He isn't quite into the social showings like his sister.

Here they are with Hannah and Aaron before the coronation. Thanks for the pics Sonya. For those of you who weren't there - I had to make myself sparse so that Tate would not be stuck to my leg the entire night. Once I left he did great.

He wouldn't leave his sister's side though. Saving this pic for the future when they say they don't need each other - I know that day will come!

Last picture of the night. As always, Teagan is up for it - Tate, not so much!!! Have a great weekend and GO RAIDERS and GO HAWKS!!!

A Whole Lotta Nuthin' (today)

I am nowhere near a beach today - just my house, but after a fun-filled, busy Friday and Saturday I have declared today my "do nothing day". Brad's cousin and her husband were here to visit this weekend and left this morning. We had an amazing time and did a ton of stuff, but now I am ready to ease back into reality. Teagan has been gone for the weekend and I am awaiting her return and right now Tate is napping and Brad is playing golf in Cedar Rapids. It is just me and I am loving it. Doing a little blog surfing, but that is it - the rest of the stuff can wait.








Tate and I did get a little bonding time in (between his stunt moves on the couch) and we rocked and watched some tv. Its nice for him to have some time being the "only child". It amazing how different they are when the other isn't around - and it is just a little quieter!
That being sad we might have some crazy times ahead. Both the kids were asked to be attendants for Homecoming this weekend which is so fun and exciting. They are together which should make it easier to convince Tate to cooperate - hopefully! I have also started the hunt for deals on Christmas gifts - I know, but if I can get a good deal on something now, why wouldn't I?








Anyway, while at Walmart last week Tate showed an interest in this video game system from V-tech. To me its a young kid version of a DS, but I don't know much about it. Any of you out there have it or heard anything about it? Let me know if you have. Thanks!
And last, but not least - FALL TV!!! There are my old diehards that are starting over and my favorite:







The Amazing Race!! Starts tonight and I can't wait!! Have a great Sunday everyone!

Aww!!

Walked past this on the kitchen counter this afternoon. It was just one of those moments where you think "we are doing alright." It was a great family day and I love my family too!!

Help Wanted

Nope, no job openings at the Schaefers, but I do need some serious help/suggestions.

What I need to know is - how do you Moms of girls keep their rooms organized. This room is killing me, seriously. I get physically ill looking at it. I can clean it and have things put away one day and it looks like this the next:

I usually don't let it get this bad, but it needs a complete overhall. And thats where you, my dear friends, come in. Anyone have great ideas? I want to redocorate Teagan's room over the winter, but I want to have a good organizational plan while I do it.

I do have ways I have organized it. These magazine holders are great for papers, but as you can see they don't get put in there. My other huge issue?

Collections!! I very much worry that there are some hoarding tendencies, but that could also be because I watch that show WAY too often.

I have places for these, but she also wants some of them to be on display. I just need a place for all of them to be kept and easily put away.

She also has a love for accessories and we have some places for them, but I need them to stay organized.
So, there it is. If anyone has some amazing flashes of organizational goodness I would love to hear all about them. Or if you have something that works really well at your house for all those little things that never get put away it would be music to my ears!

On the Tate side of things we are still dealing with 3-year-old drama! Good ol' fashion fit throwing and just pure naughtiness. In fact, in this picture he is telling me to "stop taking pictures of me!" Feelin the love and wouldn't have it any other way!

Are you ready?

For Iowa Football!!








I am super pumped. Not only because of all the hype surrounding the team this year, but because it means tailgating in sweatshirts, being inside the stadium surrounded by thousands of people who you have something in common with or just hanging out with friends watching the game on a fall Saturday. I love it!! Maybe this has something to do with my obsession with fall? Hmm. Anyway - last Saturday was the first game and it was at home. For the past 3 years Brad and Teagan have gone to a game together. It is something that she will always remember, so I am happy to give up my "seat" that day.










Aww, look at these 2!!


















Taking her picture with cheerleaders has become a must for Teagan. They are always so great about posing and taking time out for the kids. Brad and I are thinking volleyball or basketball, but cheerleading might be moving up on the list!

Tate did get to go to a game with us last year, but this season isn't looking as promising. So Brad has been trying to take him out on the course to work on his swing and he loves it. He got a new club for his birthday and really likes driving the cart, so for now he is happy with golf. He does love his Raider football though and is enjoying the Friday night games. It doesn't hurt that he is infatuated with a couple of the players. He will even ask me to feel his muscles after he eats because he is "getting big like Austin and Kelly"! Who knows - maybe he will be!!

Sights of the season

I am home with Tate today (he is a little under the weather), so during nap time I had some time to get my fall decorations out. There is just something about the colors that I love!

I have started decorating with artwork that Teagan brings home from school.

I found this wreath after the season last year for less than $5. Now I just need to get the door to shut with it up - that might take a little work!

More after season deals. I just found this hurricane lamp for $4.57 last week at JCPenny when they had 80% clearance.

We all know that I have a love for fall decorations. Teagan has her own new love...

side ponies! She can put them in herself and loves to accessorize too. We definitely have a fashionista on our hands!

Caught in the Act

You might think this post is about my children getting caught doing something naughty, but SURPRISE, it is about them being nice.

Yep, I said nice. We had some issues this summer where I couldn't keep these 2 from trying to seriously hurt each other. So much so that I had to assign spaces and rooms that only one could be in at a time. Don't get me wrong - we still have moments, but the other day they played outside so nicely that it started to erase some of those nasty summer days.

Tate will still do just about anything Teagan says and we are trying to teach her that this is a great chance to be the big sister and teach him all the great (hopefully appropriate!) things she knows. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Oh well, haven't meet siblings yet who didn't hate each other every once in awhile! Why should mine be any different?

Onto some craft show finds from this weekend.

Got these wood block sets for less than $5 each. No way I could have made them that cheap or worth my time to even try. The green says "Spooky" and the red is "Ho Ho Ho".

Another "couldn't have made it cheaper" find. A metal tile, inked, framed in old barn boards and topped off with an adorable ribbon. $14. A little more than I would have liked, but again, NO WAY I could have found the stuff to make it or known how. Anyone want to show me how to use a saw to cut angles for frames? I didn't think so :)

Its almost here!! My favorite season of the year! Its all I can do to not put out my decorations, but I am making myself wait until after Labor Day. Time for a little plug...

I have fallen in love with the "Leaves" candle from Bath and Body Works. I can't get enough of it and I am sure I would love some of the other autumn candles as well. So, if you are looking for something new check these out!

I did have some time to do a little crafting before the kids' party. I rearranged our basement and did a very mild African theme. Since we got some nice souveniers from Jillian I thought "what better way to showcase some of them?" Anyway, after the dust had settled (literally) and everything was where I thought it should be I decided to make a little wall art.

I found 4 bunches of this "grass" at Michaels for $1.50 each. I thought it had a savannah feel, so I went with it.

I used a screen frame from an old window as my base. Sorry its sideways -too lazy to change it now! I used hot glue to adhere each piece and overlap them onto the screen.

I really like the way it turned out. Btw - my basement isn't that yellow - I was still figuring out the new camera. But, I have a dilemma. I was trying to hang it with sticky adhesive, but it won't stick to the brick texture. I am going to try fishing line through the tile in the ceiling, but not sure that will work either. Anyone have suggestions for hanging stuff on brick - without me needing a drill?

One quick Tate quote for the day -

Tate: "Mom, I am going to take you to a restaurant"

Me: "Why is that, buddy?"

Tate: "So I can give you a ring."

Me: "Aw, thats so nice. Why?"

Tate: "Because you like rings and you're pretty."

He knows just how to get those summer days erased from my memory!! Enjoy the moments!!