Hayden's 11th Birthday

After being in New York for nearly two weeks, we can't believe how much it rains. Nearly every day since we have arrived it rains, sometimes two inches in one afternoon. So of course, the thunder storms rolled in on Hayden's birthday. We decided to go celebrate indoors at a place that has inflatable slides and bounce houses, arcade games and stuff. It was a brilliant plan. I sat and read a book, the kids wore themselves out running, climbing, jumping and bouncing. No fighting, no mess, no problem.

Sydney, Maura and Hayden at the top of one of the slides.

After the kids were totally exhausted, we came home and waited for Michael to join us. We barbequed at Hayden's request and then we had birthday brownies and ice cream. Hayden wanted brownies because we still had cake from Maura's birthday hanging around.


Even with eleven candles to blow out, he made it look easy. Happy Birthday Hayden, we love you!! And we are especially proud of you for earning your Arrow of Light before your birthday!

Maura Turns Four!

Maura may be one year older, but she still wanted to celebrate her birthday the same way as last year- she wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese. Luckily, the only one in the area is about 10 minutes away. The five of us went for a couple of hours and had fun spending our tokens, earning tickets and redeeming them for prizes. Maura loved every minute of it. And I have to say that I still enjoy a high scoring game of skeeball!

I could not have made a cake in the new house last weekend, but I pulled it off this weekend. I had unpacked enough boxes to find two matching cake pans and Michael somehow dug out some matches that were not confiscated by the moving company. It took a little more effort in a new kitchen with appliances that I am not used to, but in the end, it was a cake, and there were four candles, and she made a wish and blew it out. Now my baby is four and I feel old! Oh well, Happy Birthday Maura, we absolutely adore you.

Arriving in New York

After flying for several hours and a delay in Chicago, we landed in New York in the rain. We had seven checked bags and seven carry ons, which is not the traveling lightly philosophy that we generally follow. Somehow Michael packed it all into our mini van rental and got us to the hotel before midnight. The next day we had carpet installed in our master bedroom and bought a refrigerator and dishwasher. Friday the moving van arrived and after 13 long and exhausting hours, it was finally empty. Unfortunately, the house was not. Boxes were everywhere, nearly reaching the ceiling in some rooms. Let the unpacking begin!!

Tails and Scales

We started our summer off with a fun birthday party for one of the cousins. Our whole family was able to go to a show put on by Tails and Scales of Utah. We learned a lot about lizards, and snakes, alligators vs. crocs and more. It was a lot of fun, very interactive, and we were all very brave and decided to hold some of the snakes! Check out these pictures.

Jen and Sydney with "Nanners", an albino python.

Maura holding a smaller python, and she said she wouldn't hold a snake!

Michael and "Nanners"

Mother's Day 2009

Today is Mother's Day. I have been thinking about my own mother, women in my life that have influenced me and of course, the fact that I have three children that call me mom. How did I get here? When I was in high school, I wanted to be an airline pilot. I earned my pilot's license, I took school seriously, maybe a little too seriously. But somewhere along the way I changed direction. I decided to get married, start a family and be a full time wife and mother. It is the greatest challenge and blessing all rolled up in one. Some days are more rewarding than others, but I don't regret my choice. These are some of the things that I love about being a mother at this point in my life.

• reading books to Maura at bedtime



• combing out my girls hair



• driving them to school each morning so that I know they got there safely



• praying with my kids



• planning family activities, especially when it involves maps



• watching the kids try something new



• having Hayden attempt to put a cub scout pin on my shirt at pack meeting



• discovering a book that Hayden and Sydney will want to read



• painting my girls finger nails and toe nails



• watching cartoons with them wrapped in a blanket on the couch

The list will change as my kids grow older, but it is perfect for now. I don't regret my choice, I never will.

Just a little shout out to my awesome husband who gave me the coolest gift ever, my own iPod! It is blue, it is gorgeous and now I don't have to borrow one anymore. I can take it running, on the plane to NY and CA and even play it in the Tahoe. Thanks Michael, I love you!! And brunch was delicious too, of course, all the food that you make is better than anything that I cook- we all know that!

Five Places to Explore

Once we arrive in New York next month, we are anxious to hit the ground running and explore some new sites. These are some of the spots that have caught our interest.




This is one of the places that our children are dying to go to. The Great Wolf Lodge Water Park requires no sunblock and is open all year.



Vidler's Five and Ten on Main Street in East Aurora is a throw back to vintage Americana. You can buy almost anything here from army men to post cards to furniture.





The Hill Cumorah Pageant in July is held each year in Palmyra, NY. Can't wait to see it this summer! Jen's mom performed in it in the 1950's.




Imagine being on the Maid of the Mist boat as it approaches Niagara Falls, the thundering water is deafening and you are getting soaked. Did you know there are fireworks over the falls on summer evenings?

Historic Lockport, NY. A chance to experience locks on the Eric Canal. We hear the caves in the area are fun to explore too.

There will hundreds of more places to find and explore, so we will post them as we find them.

The Schaff's Are No Longer Homeless!

So we made an offer on a home in Orchard Park, New York yesterday and we finalized it this morning. We are so excited to have finally made a decision and to know that we will have a home to move into in June! The home is in a great location in an established nieghborhood. It was built in 1995 and will be about a 9-10 minute commute for Michael to get to work. It is very close to church as well. It could use a little paint and a few cosmetic changes to make it feel like ours, but all in all, we are very excited.

This is it, our home in New York.

The living room, hoping to change out the white carpet sooner rather than later.



Formal dining room- every single house back there has one.