Thorpe Lookout (near Cle Elum, WA)
An incredible 360 degree view
- October 2009

Trailhead of Wallace Falls with hiking buddies Robin, Jennifer, Anne and Jane - June 2009

Happy Birthday Little Oliver (Jo)

Just wanted to wish Oliver a happy 3rd birthday. He was a real pal to hang out with when we went to Scotland. He is sure a smart boy and I hope he has a great year.

From, Uncle David

Oliver's third year of existence

This past year has been a tough year for Oliver. He's had some big changes in his little life. This past year I was going through pregnancy with Ben and Oliver has had to adjust to being stage left rather than centre stage from the beginning of the pregnancy onward. This has been a year of establishing boundaries and rules with corresponding punishments or rewards. It's really been a year of Oliver shedding the baby role and moving towards increased independence and responsibility. I know he's only three but Oliver seems so grown up to me (if I think about it too much I get a bit teary about the whole growing up business). Oliver loves the jobs that we give him - from throwing nappies in the rubbish bin to setting the table for supper. He is such a capable little boy who LOVES to feel that he is contributing to the running of the home. I'm sometimes frustrated at how stubborn he can get when he gets an idea in his head but am mostly pleased to see him get a vision of how he'd like something to be and then go to any lengths to realise that vision. Right now that mostly involves things like the seating plan for FHE, how his cars need to be lined up or the order and pace at which we take our family walks. He's also a very social little guy and runs with a gang of two other boys in his playgroup. I've seen him try to direct other children but he does it very gently usually saying things like "C'mon guys, follow me!" He loves to sing and dance, eat weiners with ketchup and green beans and tries to memorize the lines to the movies he watches. He has been my closest friend here in Aberdeen - we've had so many fun times together. I sure love my little boy.

Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!
Good luck to Oliver, Julian, and Caleb in their trick-or-treating exploits! I know they'll do awesome, cause they have awesome costumes.
Sydney and I dressed up as Mario and Luigi for class yesterday. Yes, we wore our costumes to class. Sydney actually came to my Chemistry class so we could be seen together. And also because my professor does a great Halloween show. Luckily we weren't the only ones dressed up!
So anyways, we ran into Yoshi and we just had to get a picture with him. We also saw a great assortment of other video game characters. My friend Taft was dressed up as Link from the Zelda games, and we got a picture of us doing battle because both Mario and Link are in the Super Smash Brothers game. Anyways, thought you'd enjoy these photos!
Love you all, and hope you have an awesome Halloween!

Autumn on Mercer Island

None of us like to see the end of summer, but fall has its own beauty. The seasons of the year parallel the seasons of life, and we learn to appreciate and enjoy each season.

Luv,
Gramps

Buzz lightyear to the rescue

Oliver was thrilled to find out that for his first time dressing up at Halloween he got to be Buzz Lightyear, one of his longtime favourite characters ever since he discovered Toy Story. We got to see him at his Playgroup Halloween party today and he was definitely one of the best singers of the group when they performed Halloween songs for all of the parents at the end.

Now we just have to figure out how to get him a big haul of sweets while trick or treating since it turns out to be a bit different here. They expect people here to recite a poem, tell a joke, or do something funny each time you go to a house. A lot of people at work were surprised how easy we had it in Canada as kids when all you really had to say was "trick or treat"!

My Life Now

Let me just say that law school is what I expected and not what I expected. Everybody here is so smart and ambitious I kinda feel like I don't belong. I feel like I lack that competitive drive, thumos, spiritiveness, kahones, or just straight up craziness that is required for such demanding programs like law school. Actually, I should say that I really enjoy the issues that we discuss, the lectures, and the readings but there's just so much. (Sidenote sorry mom and dad I don't think I will get married law is a very cruel mistress combined with all the time I waste staring into space and just relaxing which I do so well it appears that I will not be getting married anytime soon).

I would like now to quickly do a quick post on a much more important issue which is the classic battle of alberta the Edmonton Oilers vs. the Calgary Flames. For many of you schneiders who are basically now American or done what Snej refers to as "fallen into that LA trap" (no offense intended i'm sure) I will quickly discuss the importance of this rivalry.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames have always been the fiercest of rivals. In some ways this has been good, for instance the one and I repeat one cup that Calgary has won was after the Oilers had won their fourth cup or during the Oilers period of dominance you might say. The fierce rivals were pushing each other to be the best. However, I feel that recently this rivalry has taken a turn for the worst. Sadly, I see many many more Flames fans in Edmonton then is acceptable. On radio shows in Calgary talk show hosts are showing egregious disrespect for our city and our team. All just because they have had a better team the last couple of years. Somehow Flames fans (Flamers as I call them) feel that they are the be all and end all the "greatest team on earth." The conduct of flames fans is grievous to be borne.

Normally I have been of the opinion that it is important to cheer for the Oilers always but after they are eliminated to at least support the other Canadian teams (yes even the Leafs luckily I haven't had to do that for the last decade cause the Leafs suck). But now I am changing my policy to cheer against the flames always and mocking them as much as possible. The blatant disrespect is unacceptable and if you guys see Flamers anymore whether it's in LA, Utah or heaven forbid as far away as Scotland please express my regards as to how I feel about them.