Marlo's 1st Camping Trip!

We just got back from Marlo's 1st camping trip up on the North Shore of Lake Superior!

Marlo did great and Eleni is an "old veteran" now being her 3rd trip, as she became trail hike leader this year! She had us line up space out and we were told to be careful and watch our step in some sections were it was rocky or rutted from tree roots. She was loving it.

We left Friday afternoon and spent the night at Hanging Horn Lake at the Lundmark Family cabin with Eric, Katie, Clara and Keifer. With a nice dinner and a bonfire on the beach it was a great start to the weekend with Eric and I witnessing a short display of Northern Lights later that night.

Saturday we made the rest of the trek up the shore to our campsite at Tettegouche State Park on the Baptism River. After setting up camp we did a short hike to Two Step Falls and Upper Falls and then back to camp to for dinner, bonfire and of course smores!

Sunday - Up for breakfast and a hike out to Shovel Point (where Nicole and I were engaged!) This is where Eleni's trail leader skills took over. It was a beautiful morning, with a stop down on the beach of Superior for Eleni's first swim in the "Sea" as she says, and it was back to camp for lunch and a hike back down to Two Step Falls for a swim and waterfall shower/rinse. Then it was short drive up to Lutsen Mtns for Dinner at Papa Charlie's but first a stop at Temperance River for a short trek to the beach, then it was back on the road in hopes to get in a Gondola ride to the top at Lutsen, but we didn't make it in time as the ride was closed for the day. After a great dinner, back to camp for...you know it, SMORES!

Monday - Breakfast, Break down camp, a quick Swim at the Falls and back in the car towards Duluth for a picnic lunch at Brighton Beach where a seagull stole Eleni's sandwich and freaked her out. A stop at the Fitger's Brewery complex to Check out a couple of shops and refill our Growler with Beer to take home. We also saw Brett Hull (former Pro Hockey Player) at the Trailfitters Store and he was actually looking at the Lakeshirts sweashirts we sell to them wanting to get one. Back in the car, with a stop in Walker for Dinner at Benson's and to feed Marlo (most stops are in relation to feeding Marlo) then home.

It was a great Trip, It went by fast as they always do, would have been fun to have another full day. (make note). Marlo Did Awesome and she's now an official camper!

Quiet Paddle. . .

Nicole had the day off, so her and the girls spent the day on the pontoon with Grandma Trish. I joined them after work and brought the canoe out and Eleni and I enjoyed a nice adventure together paddling around looking for fish in the shallow bays. Eleni even caught a few nice Sunfish and this nice one off the pontoon while parked at Grandma's. We chilled, grilled and had a pontoon picnic and a quick swim before heading home for bed. It was a beautiful relaxing evening..

SUMMER DAYS...

Eleni got her early Birthday present this past Friday, a new wakeboard and gave it her best shot on Saturday. She had the hang of it after practicing in the living room that morning. She got up and made it a little ways, before her first face plant. few more sessions and I think she will have it down! Daddy was very proud! Cousin Ava also made an attempt too... Gotta love the fearlessness in these little girls. Marlo took her first swim in Floyd Lake on Sunday now that the water has warmed up enough. She seemed to really liked it.

Hard to believe it's the end of July already.... Hope all is well

Tony&Girlz

PHOTOS..Photos...photos!

Thanks to Ashley Danielson for taking some photos of the Girls.... Enjoy!

Marlo Says Hi!

Watch Me!

Eleni Riding Her Bike!

Happy 4th of July!

Marlo is 3 Months old (13 weeks!), Eleni learned how to rider her bike without training wheels... Now it's time to find her a new 16"er (bigger girls bike). Summer is finally here and we've been out enjoying the boat on the water. Eleni has been on the wakeboard with me, and tubing with Gunnar and Ava. Hope you all are having a great Summer!

Love-Tony, Nicole, Eleni & Marlo!

Sorry, I've been slacking....

We are all doing well here, sorry for the delay in updates. 5 days old to almost 10 weeks!
Full update to follow. For now, Here are some pictures since that's what most want to see.

Will Summer ever show it's face?
As Eleni says daily, "Rain rain go away, come again some other day."

5 Days Old!

Marlo is now 5 days old. She was weighed this morning by a visiting home nurse and she came in at 8lbs 4oz. after weighing 7lbs 11oz when she left the hospital. She has been on a two hour feeding cycle around the clock for the most part and spends most of her days sleeping. Eleni is still loving and glowing about being a big sister! Eleni just got her big sister present, Baby Alive which she can now feed and change it's wet diaper and be "the Mommy" to her baby. Guess what she named her?.... "Marlo Rose, but I'm going to just call her Marlo." We are very proud and loving every minute of it!

Welcome Home Marlo!

We are home! Marlo has finally figured out the nursing thing.
Eleni is Super proud and we are all doing great!

It's an exciting time here at the Schmitz house.

With a major blizzard welcoming Marlo's entry to this planet, it was a good weekend to be snowed in at the hospital. With spring fever running though our veins the past week and a half , it was nice to just shut the blinds, block out what was happening outside and take in Marlo's first few days.

Here's some new pictures.
Tony, Nicole, Eleni & Marlo

SUPRISE!!!.......It Is a GIRL!!!

It's a GIRL!
Marlo Rose
Saturday April 5th, 2008 10:09pm
8lbs 2oz. 19 1/2" long
Nicole was amazing!! I'll get into detail more later.
No drugs, meds, or epidural, She continues to amaze me!
I love you Nicole!
Welcome to the world my "little girl"!

Still Waiting......

Nothing yet, but some things are starting to "contract" off and on keeping us up last night.
Could be today, tonight, tomorrow, Sunday.... Stay Tuned.

Due Date = TODAY?

Well, it's our Official Due Date, and ......no Baby yet.

Our Dr. Appointment was fairly uneventful. "Could be any day, could be a week. We'll either see you soon, or at your appointment next week." So, not a lot to go on there. Dilated t0 1cm right now, same as last week actually.
Tonight Nicole and I went for a walk down to Zorbaz for some pizza as the weather was nice and Eleni rode her bike. Hoping to stir some things up to see if we can make some things happen.....The pizza was good, and cold Summits were good for me! Eleni got some Sponge Bob stickers out of a vending machine, that was exciting!........waiting...... To be continued.

IT'S A GIRL!

April Fools!

With one day until our "Due Date" Nicole is done working and at home relaxing & waiting for our little one's special delivery. Not sure when the stork will make the drop, but we are ready and when we ask Eleni, she always says, "Tomorrow". She's been saying that for two weeks though and her names are, Butterball if it's a boy and Rosebud if it's a girl. (from the movie Snow Buddies) She's pretty persistent that those will be the names and when we throw out other options she says no. . . . So we'll see how she takes it when the day actually arrives and we give the little one a Name.

Stay tuned, as I'll try to keep this updated more often in the next couple days.
We also have a Dr. Appointment tomorrow so we'll see how everything looks!

Anxiously waiting.... Tony & Crew

March 18th, 2008

It was finally the Official Adoption Day!
March 18th, 2008 Eleni officially became, Eleni Kate Schmitz and legally "My Daughter".
It was a very exciting day and we were joined by our Families and all went out to dinner afterwards. Aunt Kari got balloons which we released after exchanging special words. And of course we also had Cake and Ice Cream... It was an eventful day, and one that Eleni and I have been looking forward to.

Nicole is now at 38 Weeks and the excitement of our little bee-bop's arrival is rising!
Nicole's sister Katie called the other night and said, "I just bought milk with an April 4th expiration date, you know it's close when the milk expires after your due date!" We'll let's hope our due date isn't too far past the milks! Here is some recent belly shot... Isn't she cute?!