Riverside Bible Camp, Fall Refresh

Riverside campers!  These three from our church Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona IA.  Robby is hoping that these three go back next year, and the year after as he said it was one of the most fun weekends EVER!  :-)

2017 Wine, Beer and Food Expo

Our friends had tickets to the 2017 Wine Beer and Food Expo and invited us along for the ride. And it was a fun ride, indeed! 

Plenty of new beers to try out and so much laughing that my jaw hurt at the end of the day!

Didn't take any pictures that day, but there were two that were shared:

These three lovelys!

And then there's these three...

Thanksgiving 2017

Well, better late than never, I guess... 

I've fallen (further!!) behind yet again but hopefully with Christmas break coming up, I'll be able to do some catching up.

We'll start the catching up process with a 3 week late Thanksgiving post.  It's the first time in four years that all 5 of us kids were together with our Mom.  There's been a pile of times where a group of four of us make it, but not very often with all five.

So, other than the evening passing WAY too fast, it was a great time with great people and some great food!

My fam!  Back row: Steve, Dianne, Doris, and myself, Ted.  Front row: Vince and my momma, Elaine.

Grandma with all of her grandbabies(!) except Billie Jo, who lives in Tennessee.

Robby and Caleb.

Dave and Shadow the Beast.

Dave's daughter and her boyfriend...  For the LIFE OF ME, I cannot remember their names.  I'm thinking she's Ashley, maybe?

Jake and my niece Leah.

My nephew Tim and his mom, Kathy.

And so it was, hopefully it's not another 4 years until we're all back together again!

6th Annual Installment of Got'cha Day!!!

Some days are just better than others. Wedding anniversary's, kid's birthdays, Christmas, and so on...

Dec. 5th became special to the Schmitz Mobile Chaos Unit because in 2011, in the city of Changchun, China, we met the AMAZING little boy who was now our Caleb Schmitz!  

He has brought such immense joy to our world and is the embodiment of love.

Caleb, we LOVE YOU and happy Got'cha Day!!

This was 5 years ago today when we finalized the domestic part of our adoption.  What a great day and a fun time watching Robby "testify" to the bench on why Caleb should be in our family!

And the not-so-little little guy just a month or so back!