It's a....

Baby Schu's dialogue: *Thinking hard* "Shall I be a BOY or a GIRL?"
Audience observes Baby Schu thinking hard with fist to chin pose...

Baby Schu exclaims, "I think I'll be a ............................................"























*Scroll*

WRESTLER JUST LIKE MY DADDY AND UNCLE!

Yes, you read it right. We are having a boy! Oh gosh, 18 more years of wrestling........

Thanksgiving..

Thanksgiving finally arrived, and I had a great time. This year, we had Thanksgiving lunch at Derek and I's place with my family and then went to Derek's parents for dinner. We played Catch Phrase (apparently a common love in both Derek and I's families) and had a blast! With Thanksgiving over, it hit me. Oh no. It's....

WRESTLING SEASON.

*sigh* The year has literally flown by. I can't believe wrestling season is already here! On a different note (sorta), Derek and I will find out if we are having a little wrestler or volleyball player in just a couple days! Be ready for the post... =0) AAH! I'm so excited!

Hunger Games!

Is anyone else as excited as I am for Hunger Games to come out in March 2012? I'm seriously geeking out about it. It might have something to do with me writing all of my lesson plans around the trilogy...but I'm pretty sure that I'm just excited because I love Peeta. Yes, that's right, I'm Team Peeta and I don't care what anyone says! A new picture was just revealed from the movie...

Now, not only do I have to wait for little baby Schu to get here..but I also have to wait that long for the Hunger Games movie!

Tis this season...

..for BABIES! That's right, Derek and I are expecting a little one in Mar/Apr of 2012. Initially we were quite surprised, but now we are super excited! We can't wait for Baby Schu to be here. =0) Also, on a side note, it really is "the season" so look out! I currently know twelve people expecting! WOWZA!

Cupcakes!

Jaci and I made cupcakes tonight! We had a lot of fun making them together! Step 1: Pour the bag of mix into a bowl
Step 2: Crack the eggs. (She did it all by herself with no egg shell!)
Step 3: Add Water and Oil!

Step 4: Mix mix mix! (I definitely helped here!)
Step 5: Put liners in the pan!
Step 6: WATCH THEM BAKE!

We are letting them cool down as we speak, and tomorrow we are making peanut butter frosting to top them! I can't wait! They are going to be soooo yummy! Jaci is such an amazing little cook! =0)

80's Jaci

This is a picture of me when I was younger. Gorgeous, right? I thank my mother for all our epic hair-dos in school pictures. I vowed I would never subject my children to my mother's "perm for a day" hair-dos....until I had Jaci. The other day, I decided to crimp Jaci's hair--80's style. I first did it jokingly thinking she'd look ridiculously funny, but I actually really like the outcome! I had to take her to Fort Hays State University with me, and she got a lot of compliments on her hair! I think we will be doing this with her hair more often! =0) I'll definitely have to thank my mother for the idea! haha!

Finals are over! ROCKFEST 2011!

I just realized that I haven't blogged in awhile. I promise I have a good reason: FINALS. *UGH* I keep overloading myself with classes each semester and one semester finally put me to the test. Six on campus classes (yes...six all on the same days: monday, wednesday, friday) WHAT WAS I THINKING? I am proud to say I didn't collapse from stress and exhaustion though and will not be doing THAT again...or will I? To be continued...

Well, anyways, after finals I went to Kansas City for Rockfest with my boyfriend and his roomates!

We had a lot of fun together, and it is definitely an experience I shall never forget!

Jaci's Flower Girl Photoshoot for Mindy!

This is the bucket she tossed flowers out of Back of dress.

Full shot of back

Beading on the front, also in the middle between tulle.

Full shot of dress

Vacation!

In October of 2012, my family is headed to...........DISNEY WORLD!

I have been to Disney World twice, and I've loved going both times. The first time was early in college, and the second time was when Jaci was 18 months old. When Jaci was 18 months, she had no idea who any of the characters were so when I tried to get her near them she cried and cried and cried! So this time it will be different. Every morning, Jaci and I wake up and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! We are very, very excited for October 2012! Derek can't wait either. =0)

Special Olympics

Volunteering has been something I've always done. I love donating my time for a great cause. This year, I decided to volunteer my time when the Special Olympics basketball tournament came to town. I convinced (actually, there was no convincing she was totally down!) my little sister to do it with me. We had a lot of fun and met some very hilarious and fun people! We met a man, Myron Cramer, that came over to us during the tournament and asked to take our photo. He does photography for the Special Olympics and wanted to snap a photo of some volunteers- being the models we are- we humbly obliged.

Today, I got to thinking, "Where the heck is that photo?!" I did a quick google search of the man's name and found his website: http://www.pixofevents.com/ where I found the photo of Caroline and me- Here it is:

SURPRISE! It's a kitchen!

Jaci has been wanting a kitchen for awhile. I decided that I would build up to buying her one- I started by buying play food with my mom. I hid it in a closet in the house thinking Jaci would never look in there- She did. She came out into the living room with some of the items and that's when I realized that the little booger found it! I felt so bad as I watched her play "cooking in the kitchen like mommy does" on the floor. I convinced my mom that we needed to get her a kitchen. If we hurried, DEREK WOULD BE IN TOWN TO PUT IT TOGETHER!! =0)

Needless to say, it was quickly ordered and got here right in time for Derek and me to go pick it up from Wal-mart and for him to put it together. Dontcha just love him? I know I do! =0p

D.O.I.

Derek and I took Jaci to Disney PIXAR's Toy Story 3 on Ice on March 26th, and she had so much fun! We weren't allowed to bring in any cameras...so I had to use my pocketcam to take some photos..

HAHA! Jaci can talk Derek into anything. We just love him! Overall, we had a great time, and I can't wait to go to Disney World next year! WOO HOO!

Dancing Queen, young and sweet only 3!

Jaci dancing to Glee Cast's version of Ke$ha's Tik Tok! This is her new favorite song! Also, she calls it Boo-Boo's because Caroline danced to this song in high school!

Lenten season

It is that time of the year again...

With lent around the corner, I have come to terms with the fact that I won't get to indulge in Q burgers until Easter again...but I'm kind of okay with that. I'm going to take this as a "challenge" to turn my blog about Jaci and me into a kind of recipe blog (for 2 months) where Jaci helps me cook! So starting Wednesday, I will be back to my pescatarian ways...but tonight: ONE LAST Q BURGER! =0)

Fun or Not Fun?

WARRIOR DASH 2011!!!!! Has anyone else been getting an advertisement for this on their Facebook sidebar? I have been for the past week and it looks like it's a ton of fun! What's NOT fun about obstacles, beer, music, and warrior helmets? Should I do it? Check and see if they have one near you too @ http://www.warriordash.com/! Someone talk me out of this before I sign up..... haha! I've ran 19 miles this week.

New Goals..

Goals for March:

NO FAST FOOD for the entire month! (I can do it, right??)

When lent begins, no more meats (except fish) for me!

I am no longer taking my debit card with me places, I will pull out $30 a week for groceries and gas and other means I need. BUDGETING! Honestly, I can make it on $30 a week...it can't be THAT hard.

Run 10 miles a week MINIMUM. Yeah, that's right, I put a minimum on it!


I am cutting out fast food because I want to drop 10 pounds before my sister's wedding on 11/11/11. I will keep you updated on my eating and exercise habits. So far this week, I have ran 6 miles!

PJ TIME PJ TIME!

"Jaci, go put on your PJ's please!" I say to Miss Jaci Lane last night. Without missing a beat, Jaci turns to her room and shuts the door to change her clothes. A good five minutes or so go by before I realize that Jaci has not come back out to the living room yet. "Hmm," I wonder, "What's taking her so long?" I walk down the hallway and open the door to this...

Totally stylin' even when it's time for bed! =0p

realization..

I am not a perfect mother, nor do I claim to be. I don't get to spend all the time I want to with Jaci, and sometimes I snap at her when I am frustrated at something completely different. I am a single mother. I have such a busy life that sometimes I don't stop and smell the roses that are right in front of me. I've come down with the disease called "perfection." I'm finally admitting- I am not perfect and I probably will never be.

I am tired of trying to be the perfect student striving for A's. Honestly at this point, I would rather get B's and C's and get to spend time with Jaci. She's such a sweet little girl, and it really does bother me that I don't even have the time to play with her every night. You know what bothers me more? Her life is passing right by me. The sad thing about all of this is it took watching the Justin Bieber 3D Experience for me to realize all of this.

I obviously do not have a lot of money, but there is one thing that I need to purchase for Jaci and me: A videocamera. WHAT???? You don't OWN one? No, I haven't bought a new one since she was a year old. I'm so excited to go out today and purchase one that I can hardly contain my excitement! The moment I buy it, I will do some test videos with Jaci and we will definitely post them for all of you to see! =0)

It's time to focus more on being a mom than a student. My employers aren't going to remember all the grades I got in my literature classes, nor will I. But I will remember the fact that I put my daughter and I's relationship on the back burner for "A's."

back2back2back

Dylan won his THIRD state title!!! What a BEAST!

Round 2

It's time for my second dose of "State Wrestling!" My first experience came when Caroline's high school boyfriend, Dan Weigel, made it to State in 2009.

He won his championship at 119-pounds his senior year! We were all very proud. What's crazy about my whole life story is that the next year, when Dan was in college, he was hired at a high school to work with an "elite" high school wrestler who needed someone to push him at his weight. That "elite high schooler" was my boyfriend's little brother, Dylan! What are the odds, right?!

So, here I am sitting in my 9:30 class not paying attention because I know at 10:00 I will be leaving to head over to Gross Memorial Coliseum to watch Dylan's first match and I think I am about as nervous as Derek is!

Here comes Round 2...

Andrew Joseph Werth

My handsome little godson, Andrew Joseph Werth, was born on Friday weighing in at 6lb 4 oz and he was 19 inches long! Such a tiny little guy! I'm so excited that he is finally here, although, I think Jaci is a little jealous! haha
Notice that I am wearing my "GAGA" tshirt because she had Andrew the same weekend as Regional wrestling- and yes, Dylan won his regional tournament! Four more days until STATE!

GAGA for...

Thomas More Prep-Marian's DYLAN SCHUMACHER!!!! HE'S GOING TO STATE AGAIN! Let's all hope he wins another state championship!
Pretty sweet shirt huh? Yeah, I'm creative.

Day 30 Picture Challenge

30. A picture of someone you miss.I miss my dad because I don't get to see him as much as I want to! (Oh, and that cute baby is a 2 day old Jaci Lane!)

Day 29 Picture Challenge

29. A picture that can always make you smile

Day 28 Picture Challenge

28. A picture of something you're afraid of
Ugh. Clowns.

Day 27 Picture Challenge

27. A picture of yourself and a family member
My sister, Caroline, and myself!

Day 26 Picture Challenge

26. A picture of something that means a lot to you
My education! It means a lot to me because I know it's going to make life a lot easier for Jaci and me.

Day 25 Picture Challenge

25. A picture of your favorite day
SUNDAYS! I get to go to church, have a relaxing day with Jaci, and I can get homework done!

Day 24 Picture Challenge

24. A picture of something you wish you could change.

The distance between Hays, KS and Lenexa, KS. =0(

Day 23 Picture Challenge

23. A picture of your favorite book
Recently just re-read the Outsiders and forgot how goooooood it is! I can't pick a favorite book though.. But a recent book I've read that I loved was definitely this one!

Day 22 Picture Challenge

22. A picture of something you wish you were better at
finding time to workout for longer than 30 minutes in between classes!

F.I.T. that spells me

Lately, I've been trying my best to workout as much as possible without "over doing it." Keep in mind this little lady hasn't seen an ounce of physical activity that didn't involve carrying Jaci since JACI WAS BORN (12/8/2007). I mean, even when I was pregnant with Jaci you could find me at CHI jogging on a treadmill or playing volleyball against the Ellis High School team. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?!

A recent photo of me.

This picture suits my life perfectly. I sit my butt on the couch and am usually with a book nearby (thank you English classes..) For the last two weeks, I've been working out when I get downtime. The question I always ask myself when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to go is, "Do I want to spend one hour working out today, or 24 hours a day for the rest of my life being fat?!" Ick. Don't want that! So I'm off to a healthier lifestyle all the while getting ready for the lenten season by cutting out meats now. UGH! WISH ME LUCK!

Day 21 Picture Challenge

21.A picture of something you wish you could forget
I wish I could unwatch and unread every Nicholas Sparks movie/book.

Day 20 Picture Challenge

20.A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Hawaii.

Day 19 Picture Challenge

19. A picture and a letter

Dear Grandma,

I miss you so much. Jaci is growing up so fast--I wish you could see her now! And guess what, Grandma? I started going back to church just like I promised you. I met a great guy and I just know you would love him too. Keep your eye on us from heaven and tell grandpa I say, "Hi!" I love and miss you both soooo much!

Love, Vanessa

Day 18 Picture Challenge

18. A picture of your biggest insecurity
Not looking like this anymore. =0( I miss being skinny.

Day 17 Picture Challenge

17.A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Rarick Hall @ Fort Hays State University. I am finishing up my classes in this hall as well as working in the History Department there!

Day 16 Picture Challenge

16. A picture of someone who inspires you.
Walt Disney

Day 15 Picture Challenge

15. A picture of something you want to do before you die.Grow old with the man I married. =0) (Photo is of my grandma and grandpa Laska!)

Day 14 Picture Challenge

14. A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
My family. (Mom is taking the photo!)