Christmas 2012

Christmas for 2012 was our busiest one yet and while it was great to see everyone, it was also great to stay at home and play with all the new toys Santa and everyone brought. David got plenty of new "big boy" toys that should last a long time. The lawnmower and push around car are the few toys that we really had to pull David away from.

Everyone had a great Christmas and we are already looking forward to new year. David will be just shy of 2 and a half years old and we'll be all ready for Santa!

That aint gonna happen

Nope

Halloween 2012

This year, we decided to go out and trick-or-treat to family and friends. We really tried to get to more than we did, but it just wasn't in the cards. Next year, we'll start way earlier. Made it to Great-Grandma and Grandma Schneider's.

 Don't call CPS, that's supposed to be a mustache.

 By the time we hit our second stop, we were getting done.

Exhibit A

Out Camping part 2

Every October we go up to "the farm" for a weekend long campout. Last couple of years it's changed from a Saturday afternoon event to a Friday to Sunday event. We've been taking our camper since we've had it and before then, I borrowed the folks' pop-up camper. Its always a lot of fun. Every year we have a great time.

 

Paw-Paw

Pumpkin Shopping

 

"Whoa, tractor rides?"

  

Picking out some mums for the front yard at home

Pumpkins must be funny

Tractor rides really are fun

Out Camping part 1

Out camping the last weekend of September. Had a great time out at Johnson Shut-ins with a day trip to Elephant Rocks. Same places we visited in the spring but with our friend Jeff and his children. We had a great time and look forward to going back.

With Uncle Jeff up on top of the rocks.

Schneider and Sons Custom Homes

When I married Jessica, I had a clue of how awesome of a family I was becoming a part of. In the past almost 4 years, they have blown my mind. They are a group of never say no people and can always lend out a hand. I believe that works out well as that is how my father raised our family to be also.

One weekend in September, Steve Sr. (my father-in-law) along with his sons, Steve Jr. and Joe along with some family friends came over and helped me put a new roof on my house. (when I say "helped me" I really mean, I helped them help me) The weekend before then, Steve Sr. came over to help me install new trim throughout the house.

I'm honored to be part of such a great family.

Grandpa and Great Grandpa Frazee

While over at Grandma Bille's place, I caught this gem. 4 of my favorite people in one shot.

I'm on a Boat...

Over Memorial Day, David and family went do to Aunt Stacey's house to hang out for a couple of days. Nothing fancy, just having some fun and getting into trouble.

Needless to say, we all had a great time and can't wait to go again.

 We are all packed and ready to go!

"I forgot my flippy floppys"

 "You know I can go from happy to cranky in a heartbeat"

"Just resting my eyes"

"Can I go out and pick up chicks now?"

Work: Traveling all over

For the week of July 23 I needed to travel out for a site visit in San Jose, California. I've been to CA before, but not in the San Fran area, just down in SoCal. Gota tell ya, I see why people would want to flock to the SFO area. Very nice weather, tons of Tech companies in the area and seemingly nice people. Traffic would be the only down-side. Of all the places I would think to visit, we didn't. Cisco is HQ'd in San Jose and we totally skipped it. Wasn't on purpose, just wasn't in the cards. With some spare time we had, we went to one of the early Fry's electronic stores and to the Apple Employee Store where I picked up some t-shirts for the family. I hear that's the only place you can buy Apple apparel.

I've been traveling for the past 3 weeks and it doesn't look like its stopping any time soon. Before David, I really liked to travel. I didn't like being away from Jessica, but we both understood it was part of the job. Now I have even more reason to get back home. It seems I see all sorts of kidos in the various airports I go through and it makes me want to be back home.

So for the record, long weekend in DC for a customer upgrade, past week in San Jose and next week down to Fort Lauderdale for a 5 hour meeting. Upcoming I see a week in Portland and Buffalo NY in the next couple of months plus a drive up to Chicago for a week.

Lots of travel. Might get status this year yet on Delta and Marriott.

David at 1 year

David Robert turned 1 year old on July 8th, 2012. The day before a whole lot of friends and family braved the heat and humidity to celebrate. The party was at "Maw Maw and Paw Paw's" house and everything was perfect. Everyone who came to "Camp David" was treated to BBQ, homemade chips and camping-themed snacks. The pool held more people that day than it might have ever had.

Thank you to all who helped make the day very special for us and David.

David is always watching you....

 

 

 Mom couldn't have been any happier

 Tons of fun is right!

By the end of the presents, he was getting good at opening them up on his own

David goes to the Zoo

David seems to really like all the things too look at and play with at the St. Louis Zoo. The Sting Rays might be his (our) favorite since he gets to put his hands in the water and splash around. Over the past month, we've been to the zoo 3 times and really working that Zoo Friends membership....

 A whole lot of fish to look at!

First experience with the Sting Rays

 You gota have your friends when you goto the Zoo, The Ponders ...

... and the Ballards

 And sometimes you find some grumpy goats

2nd Annual Orange Pocket Knife Campout

In 2011 the family decided that every April we will go camping as a family in "Dad's Dream". For the first year we went to Meramec State Park. For 2012 we went to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and had a blast. We spent Saturday morning at nearby Elephant Rocks State Park. There's a decent 1 mile loop around the cluster of granite boulders that make it a fun trip with a little bit of exercise too. If you need to burn a day, Elephant Rocks is a great place to go.

 David rode all the way to the top in the 3 wheeler. Woobie and all.

 My mom Joan with her dog Gracie

 Mom, Baby, Rock and Tree

 Happy Camper indeed!

Gota have a table-top bath before bed time