News from Down in Schusterville

It is with a mixture of both deep sadness and great excitment that we share with you some big news. By the end of next month, Schusterville, and the 4 Schusters currently living in it, will no longer be located in Marin County, California, but rather in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Shocking, yes, sudden, yes, but there is no doubt in either of our minds that this is the right thing for our little family right now. Those of you who really know me, know that I have always been a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason." Many don't agree with me and that's ok but I believe it and it has not steered me wrong - it is my own version of faith, I guess, faith in myself and faith in our family unit. When Wolf lost his job in July, I was scared shitless, wondering what the heck we were going to do. Yet I always had it in the back of my head that this happened because there is something else we are meant to be doing. What, we had no idea. Then a few weeks ago I saw a job posting on my company's job page for an assistant in Oregon. As soon as I saw it, I knew. Call it weird, call it strange, but I had no doubt that if I wanted that job, it would be mine. In fact, I waited a whole week before I told Wolf about it, so that I could be sure that it was what I wanted to do. But if felt right and it still does. Wolf's response was "go for it." Within a week I had talked to the recruiter, interviewed with several people, got a job offer, adjusted the job offer and finally accepted.

Everything had happened so easily, seamlessly and we were giddy with the excitement of it all. But now we had the hard part.....telling everyone. As we began figuring out how to tell all of our family and friends, we were deeply struck by how many friends we truly have. There are so many of you that are near and dear to our hearts that there was no way that we could tell you all personally. Nor did we just want to put a blanket statement out there in Facebook. So I thought of using my blog to explain it all.

I head up to Oregon early tomorrow morning and will be there all week - for meetings and to find a place for us to live. Wolf and the boys will drive up Wednesday then we will all drive home together on Sunday. Our goal is to find a place next week, sign a lease, then come back down here to get everything packed up and ready to go. The sooner we get the boys up there and settled into school, the better. We are hoping that all will work out so that we are up there by October 15th.

However, there is no way that we will be able to leave without having one last Schuster party. So, on October 8th we will have a gigantic going away potluck at our house. Not sure what time it will start, probably around 3, but details will follow. For now, please hold the date.

Wolf and I are sure you will have questions for us so please feel free to email or call. This is not goodbye as one does not ever say goodbye to friends. You will always be in our hearts and our thoughts and we will be but a phone call or a facebook comment away.

Thank you for loving us, thank you for supporting us and most of all, thank you for being in our lives.

All of our love - Wolf, Amy, Mason and Morgan

Morgan

Mason

Here we are again......

Well, here it is, a whole year since my last post. With the growth of Facebook, I haven't had much reason to blog, but I am finding that, while I really enjoy Facebook and how it keeps me connected to everyone I know, it actually keeps me TOO connected. I don't feel like I can share information or say things without feeling like it I will somehow get into trouble, like I shouldn't have friends who are also co-workers. It's all so complicated and a bit incestuous, really.

So I am going to write again, because I really miss it. I miss telling stories about my family and sharing little things that the boys did. I love going back and reading things from years past. It doesn't matter to me if anyone reads this, it only matters that I write it.

That's all I have for now. I'm a a bit tired after a billion loads of laundry and grocery shopping and house cleaning and kids homework and cooking dinner. I have a physical at 8 in the morning so I better get my beauty sleep.

Here's to a new year, one where the possibilities are endless. I think it will be a good one.

Welcome New Year

I KNOW that time goes by quickly, I KNOW that I will blink and another year will be gone, yet somehow I am shocked every time the holidays roll around or when I turn another year older. I want so much to enjoy every minute, to relish in my children's youth, to not miss a snuggle or a comment or just a simple moment, but I can't seem to grab hold of enough of those minutes. Every morning is a rush to get us all out of the door, every day is spent working at a job that I don't enjoy, and every evening is spent trying to get dinner on the table before it's time for the kids to be in bed.

Wolf and I had 11 days off together over the holidays and it was heaven. It is a tradition for us, one we started before kids and one we have managed to keep going, no matter what jobs either of us have. For three days we put the kids in their respective school/aftercare and spent some quality time together. We went out to breakfast, we hung out in the book store, we saw a movie - all of the things we can't really do, well, peacefully anyway, when the kids are around.

The last day of the New Year we spent at the Oakland Zoo, playing, hanging out and simply having fun. The weather was perfect and we could not have asked for a better way to end the New Year. That night we went to a party at a friend's house where we celebrated ringing in the New Year at midnight East Coast time so that all of the kids could be in on the festivities. We were home by 11:15 and somehow, both boys managed to make it to midnight, although just barely!

Now it is a New Year and I see wonderful things on the horizon. I am sure there will be days that aren't so good, hell, I'm sure there will days that totally suck ass, but for right now, in this moment, I am going to believe in the good. I am going to appreciate my children, the two beautiful bright spots in my life, as much as I can. I am going to love my husband even more every day, and remember to tell him so. I am going to remember to be proud of who I am and what I can do, remember to believe in myself. I am a lucky woman who does not want for anything and for that I am grateful beyond measure.

While I am not a religious person, I firmly believe that there are things that guide us in our lives, be they some form of powers that be or simply the amazing energy our subconscious minds produce. I wholeheartedly believe that all things happen for a reason and while they don't always make sense at first, there is a flow to things, a rhythm, a purpose and I am going to let that flow guide me to my next adventure.

At this very moment, I am putting out to the world that I believe my next adventure is a job at Pixar, doing what I know how to do and proving to myself, and everyone else, that I am damn good at what I do.

So to anyone who reads this, know that I am wishing all of you a very happy and fulfilling year. May a dream come true, may a wish be granted, may a goal be fulfilled. Positive energy and love to you all.

Just some pictures....

Mason quote

Mason: Mom, come look. Legos are just like us!
Mom: Really, how?
Mason: Look, the cast shadows, just like we do!

Morgan in Motion

1st Day of 1st Grade

Wow, what a difference a year can make! Last year when Mason started kindergarten it was pretty rough for him for about a month. Today, it was a smile, a wave and he was gone.
I peeked inside his classroom, just to make sure he was okay. And there he was, plopped down at a table, busy doing whatever the teacher had put out for them to work on. I was nervous that if he saw me he would get upset and need to rush out to see me. But I was wrong. He glanced up, saw me and simply waved. Then went about his business.
Wolf and I are so immensely proud of him. He is such an amazing boy - sweet, intelligent, empathetic and just plain fun. I am really enjoying watching him grow, even though it makes me sad. I have decided my goal this year is to not let the time slip by, to try and enjoy and appreciate it as much as I can. I do not do that now.
Most of the time I am so consumed with breakfast and lunches and dinner and laundry and cleaning and grocery shopping. I blink, the day is gone and my kids are asleep, with me having seen them for but a few minutes.
That is my goal and I'm sticking to it!
Happy First Day of 1st Grade, Mason!

Happy 4th Birthday, Morgan James, and Happy 6th Birthday Miss Mia!

Wow, my baby is 4. Not my little baby any more. Morgan has grown in to a smart, witty, happy little man and we are so very proud of him. He is a comedian at heart who loves to make people laugh and who loves to laugh himself. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives and I cherish every minute with him, even when he makes me want to pull my hair out and run screaming from the room.

I love you, Morgan Schuster James, and hope that this is a great day for you. Happiest of birthday wishes to you, sweet boy, and I hope that every year just gets better and better.

And to Miss Mia, the beautiful, intelligent and equally funny daughter of my best friend, I hope that you are having the best day of the year! All of us here in Schusterville think about you always and are sending you lots of love and birthday wishes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Smart boy....

On Sunday I was making breakfast and there was a lot of smoke coming off of the stove. I heard the fire alarm go off, but only briefly. Thinking I needed to air out the kitchen, I went to the back door to open it but was beaten by Morgan, who was saying, "We gotta go outside." So I helped him open the door then went back to cooking. It wasn't until Wolf came in to the kitchen and saw Morgan outside that he realized what had happened...

Wolf had been just testing the fire alarm to make sure it worked. But Morgan thought there was a real fire and so headed directly outside. He was quickly and highly praised by his daddy. I, unfortunately, was too engrossed in cooking breakfast to really absorb it all right then and there. But we are so proud of him. He's a smart cookie...just like his brother.

Hands and Feet

M&Misms

Mason: "If I play all day (video games) then my brain will run out....of batteries"
Mason: "I feel like I have to throw up but from my bottom"
Morgan: "When are we going to climb the ladder to South America? It's right over there..."

Bringing Mama Bear a Flower....