Faelyn had a wonderful Christmas and decided (with Daddy's help) to show you all her favorite gifts. Her new noble steed "Broccoli" from Mom and Dad (she named her horse Broccoli) and her new Cowgirl hat from Gma, Enjoy. hopefully Fae will be asking for more movies.

PS- watch with sound

Why hello there! Welcome back or welcome to our blog about our awesome family. Okay about our awesome Faelyn. Here is a recap of 2008, due to the economy we have reduced our mailings and hope to find you here on our blog, saving the environment and reducing our carbon footprint. 2008 Started with a bang and a show, Erik as Fish in Like the Moon Behind the Clouds with Caffeine theatre, where he is an Artistic Associate. Yes, I said Fish. He got to play lots of different roles, including a tree during an earthquake. Man, I love Chicago theatre.

In May we got to visit with family in California whom we hadn’t seen in a very very long time, since our wedding for many and we got to celebrate our nephew Connor’s third birthday and spend some great time with his mommy, Amanda. In June we had Miranda our lovely niece out for the entire month, it was WONDERFUL. We’d do it again in a heartbeat. She and Faelyn really bonded and she had quality time with everyone. In July we got to reunite with the Colorado and Wyoming branches of the family, with all the Brothers Schnit descending with wives and kids on Grandpa’s house in Rock Springs, Wyoming. It was wonderful to see everyone, and we got to meet our newest neice, Dagny.

In August Sara wrote and directed two wonderful ladies in a piece called Dream Self Wakes the Carry Girl, an introspective turn into Theatre of the Sacred, something she is finding herself much more interested in every year. It was mounted at the Abbie Hoffman Festival and well-received.

In September Erik was promoted to Director of Ticket Services at the Goodman Theatre. It was a very well-deserved promotion and gave us not only more pride in dear ol’ Dad, but our weekends together for the first time in our relationship.(10 years this January!) Just in time too, because around Labor Day, we discovered, much to our joy, that we are pregnant with our second (AND LAST) child. We are anxiously awaiting the impending arrival and Faelyn seems to be dealing with it well – so far!

October saw a visit from Oma (Whom most of you know as either Christi or Erin) and we tried really hard to keep her.

Sara was busy with the Geneva Foundation as Associate Director of Development, planning many, many, many events; supervising staff; hiring an entirely new staff in 2008 and running the day to day work in the office. Fortunately she still gets to work 2 days from home, so she gets lots of Faelyn time too.

We are focusing on our growing family, and finding moments for Art. Erik will appear as TIN in Tallgrass Gothic with Caffeine in March and April and Sara may tempt fate and try a writing workshop before the baby. We’ll see! It’s all about finding a balance between work, Art, and Life and we are still figuring that out. But be assured, we are still living the dream, loving life, and pursuing our goals.

For more about how Faelyn has done, and what her newest tricks are, see below, scroll through and see how far our girl has come. She speaks in clusters of sentences, she can carry on a conversation, sometimes with more than one person, and she sure can jump. Her latest favorite thing to do is pretend to be a cat or a horse.

We are overjoyed and cannot wait to see what happens next!

Merry Christmas from all of us!


Thanks to all of you for a wonderful year. Hope to talk, meet and laugh with, and spend time with all of you in 2009. Be well and we'll chat soon

Faelyn (and family) went on the holiday train this year...you have seen nothing until you see a city train decked front to back in "cheer."


At our stop (our place a little left of this photo- yes that close)




the inside




at the end

Faelyn was really excited and very lucky to have almost a full week with her Gma. For some reason we only have the one shot (I swear we have heat!) It was a wonderful week and Faelyn has to mention (every time we see a picture of a spider) that Gma doesn't like spiders!! very adamant!!

A little while ago Fae was able to meet Santa...




She was a tad unsure about his reindeer.




Extremely unsure about Santa himself




Always next year...

Here we are entering the winter/holiday season and Faelyn is embracing the Chicago winter like a native...wait- she is! She is on her way to becoming more and more adorable and is amazing us with her increasing adventurist spirit.

Having a conversation with Grand mama




Learning how to clink glasses and say "Cheers!" (She will cheers anything- cups, bowls, toys)



very serious clinker!




Just chillin' out (we have no idea)





Before going outside (did I mention it was -10 the other day with the wind chill?)

Part three was the fun of Trick or Treating for the first time.
She has even asked to dress up again to get candy...


Going to the door with Grand mama



and with Mommy

Part two was spent at Fairy Tale Trail. This wonderful building that had many great activities for kids.

Halloween 2008- part one

This year Faelyn had a couple of Halloweens. We had an event at the Zoo and because of the weather she went as a horse.

Showing everyone how a horse runs

And now some cute Faelyn things!

I swear she did this on her own!



A little bit after cookie decorating




The next three are because she was asked to "smile."







She actually tells us that she is "busy reading."

Goebbert's Farm

About an hour northwest is a place called Goebbert's Farm. There is so much to do there! Ride Ponies, eat fresh corn, haunted house, and pick yourself some pumpkins!




Got a few pumpkins this year and let Fae pick them out.

The process...



As she asked how many pumpkins can we have?



SO MANY PUMPKINS!!!!



So Dramatic!

Thought we would throw in some more pictures of Fae enjoying the fall...


In style in the car




hanging out with her Katie Na



enjoying the carousel with Mom



A pony ride with Dad



another pony ride with her Katie Na (Hmmm, I sense a liking to horses...)




just posing for the shot




"want up top daddy!"


thanks to all and we'll chat soon

Faelyn Loves Fall

A whole lotta shots of Faelyn enjoying leaves. you enjoy as well!!

















threw this one in so you all could see her hair.