Videos of my girls

In case anyone has been wondering, the western tier of the Schuckman girls is alive and well.....and I have videos to prove it! As far as a quick update, McKailyn is getting over pink eye this weekend and potty training is going very well with Addison. It's been several days since she's had an accident and is getting very good at telling us when she has to go. As you can imagine, this is making Jill very happy. Of course, she should get the credit for being such a great mom.





Jocelyn practicing for her school Easter program


McKailyn & Jocelyn lip syncing to the Chipmunk's version Justin Bieber



And the best for last...my cowgirl (attempting) to ride a mechanical bull. The funny thing is that she did better than me, but I was smart enough to not let her video my lame attempt :-)

Nick's Hall of Fame ceremony

Nick's high school athletic career on the Varsity level actually began in two sports during his freshman year. Over the course of this first season in the wrestling program, he was able to produce a memorable (2-8) record against Varsity competition. He followed that performance in the spring, as he served as a Co-Captain on the first ever men's Volleyball team.

As a sophomore, he played a key role on the varsity football team. He saw action as a two-way performer at both Offensive Center and Defensive End.

When the Wrestling season got underway, he welcomed the opportunity to put to use the "lessons learned" during the previous season. His results would clearly illustrate that he had learned his lessons well. An overall record of (21-9) included a fourth place finish in the GCL. The placement earned him First Team GCL (North) All Star recognition. He was a Champion at the Sycamore Invitational. He was also a Sectional Chamption.

That spring, Nick abandoned Volleyball to pursue the outdoor option of Track & Field. He predictably tried his hand at the Shot-Put and Discus.

His junior season in Football saw Nick continue to build upon the success he had established the previous season. He was an equally effective force on either side of the ball both in his performance and his leadership. He received numerous honors in both the GCL and the All City All Star balloting.

The dominance of this fine athlete's efforts proved to be even more dramatic under the watchful eyes of Coach Meinking throughout the Wrestling season. His third varsity season produced an overall record of 36-4. He claimed individual weight class championships at the Coach's Classic, the Sycamore Invitational (his second in a row), the Carrol Patriot Invitational and most importantly the GCL Championships. He was rewarded for his performance in the GCL by being named to the First Team ALL GCL North All Star Unit. He was also named as the GCL North CoWrestler of the Year.

During the State Championship sequence, Nick placed 2nd @ the Sectional, 3rd @ Districts and 5th @ State. The Post named him as its Division II "Wrestler of the Year".

As impressive as the credentials are for his junior year, the resume' following his final year is even more so. In Football, Nick earned First Team All City recognition from both newspapers. He was First Team All GCL North, First Team All District and Honorable Mention All State.

When any athlete has achieved the types of goals that Nick did during his junior year in Wrestling, it is extremely challenging to duplicate that feat as a senior. This young man relished the chance and turned in a remarkable final season. Serving as a team captain, he led by example, as he turned in a record of 38-5. He repeated as the individual champion as the Coaches Classic, Sycamore Invitational and in the GCL Championship. Once again, he was a First team all GCL honoree. This time, he was named as the outright GCL North Wrestler of the Year.

He began the State Tournament by winning the Sectional for the second time in three years. At the District, he finished as a runner up for a second consecutive year. In the final match of his high school career, Nick placed 6th at the State Championships.

Upon graduation from Purcell Marian, he accepted a grant in aid offer to play football at Wittenberg University. There he placed two years, receiving All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors as a center as a sophomore.

Heard around the Schuckman house...

Addison turns three next month, so Jill & I have been trying to lead her towards using the toilet instead of her diapers. Friday night while getting the girls ready for bed, Addison walked up to Jill and said, "You give me one dollar and I go on potty." We made her repeat herself, afterwards we weren't sure if we should be proud or concerned.

After playing in the snow for a while today, the girls asked for hot chocolate. We didn't have any left so McKailyn asked for bacon. Makes sense. Sort of. Not really. Oh well, she was happy. 

Jocelyn is turning into quite the inquisitive young lady. No matter where Jocelyn is, whenever Jill and I have a conversation among the two of us, Jocelyn magically appears and starts asking questions...."what does that mean?", "why do you think that dad?", "so what you are saying is....", "are you sure mom?" etc...... I find it funny.

Jill made heart shaped pizzas for the girls on Valentine's Day

Jocelyn's Valentine's Day letter to Jill

Archived Schuckman pics

All the Schuckman cousins at Grandma Schucky's for Easter approx mid 80's??

Brian and Nick March 1979, 13 seconds after this picture was taken I punched Nick in the face and then he tried to bite my ear off.......and that's how it all began :-)

Maggie & I doing our best Steven Tyler impersonation...which also happens to be the last time we agreed on anything :-)

Laura's letter to me before her trip to Mexico (8th grade? 1997? 1998?). Proving that I am of superior intelligence ("Dear Brain") and that I'm the best big brother. Ever.

Jocelyn's new haircut

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Addison is awesome

Addison: "Watch me daddy!" as she jumps up and down
Me: "Wow! You are great at jumping!"
Addison: "I awesome"

Jocelyn's School Christmas Program

McKailyn's School Christmas Program

McKailyn's daddy daughter date

Only two months late, but here is the update from my daddy daughter date with McKailyn!

We had a great time and it was enjoyable seeing her call the shots and feel like the special princess that she is.....like always, as the birthday girl, she was able to determine everything her & I did that night. It was very cute how McKailyn picked some of the same things to do as her big sister did. She decided that we start the night off shopping at Target. We had a great time perusing EVERY aisle in the toy section at least TWICE. Like a gentleman, I just held her hand and smiled as she inspected every toy and claimed, "I want this one" every time she picked up a toy. After picking one out, she was very excited to even use my credit card while checking out.

After Target we were off to dinner, and where else would a 6 year old want to go to dinner? Remember, I told her she could pick ANYWHERE she wanted to go.......so, after a short drive, we pulled up to McDonald's :-) She got her favorite happy meal and then asked me if she could pick where we sat. After changing tables three times, we finally sat down to enjoy our luxurious meal. Of course, she thoroughly enjoyed it and that is all that mattered to me. After I finished her fries for her, we hit the road to make sure we were in time for the movie, Toy Story 3!

The funny thing is that we already saw the movie when it first came out, but I told her that this theater had couches so we could lay down and cuddle. (In all honesty, it was also only $3/person as well!) Since we got to the movie early, we (she) had plenty of time to check out the candy store strategically placed next to the movie theater. Again I find it funny that of the hundreds of different types of candy where she's allowed to pick whatever she wants, she picks the 5 cent piece!!!

We had a great time cuddling during the movie and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. As a parent, you know it's been a great night when your little one falls asleep in the car within 5 minutes of leaving the theater.

Soundbites from dinner

Brian: "Jill, McKailyn looks very tired, has she taken a nap lately?"
McKailyn: "Dad! I'm a grown woman!"
Brian: **speechless**

While making cupcakes & brownies for McKailyn to take to school tomorrow for her birthday:
Jocelyn: "Wow mommy you are really good at pouring the batter."
Jill: "Thanks Joc! I've been doing it for a while and have had a little bit of practice."
Jocelyn: "A little bit? You're much older than us!"
Jill: "Thanks Joc"

Hi all

Hi all, Rhode Island is awesome. I got to go to the Bungals vs Patriots game and hang out with the Wrights. Then last tuesday I went to the Matt Light Celebrity Shoot out and was shooting guns with the patriot players. I was shooting shotguns with Tom Brady, michigan weenie, see how I did not capitalize michigan. Today, Monday, I went to the ocean and was swimming in 7-8 ft waves it was pretty cool. Tomorrow I am rock climbing and playing some golf with a coworker. Oh yeah, work is going well. Just continuing to work on my patience with these little crazy children.

Nick Schuckman, OUT

Hey Family-

Thought I'd post a quick message from here in St. Paul, Minnesota. Everything is going well. There are 10 men in my first year novice class; there are 11 men in the second year novice class; and 3 ordained superiors in the house. It's a slow process getting to know everyone, learning the norms of the house, and acclimating to a new city, but it is interesting. The best way to describe this place is a three story college dormitory, substituting all the debauchery with holiness. There are common areas for reading or television, a chapel, laundry facilities, recreation room, music room, work shop, a classroom, and kitchen and dining to accommodate the twenty-four people that live here.

Along with communal daily mass and prayer periods we've been taking short classes on the history of religious orders and have just started a class session on homiletics. On Monday and Thursday we've begun Spanish classes and on Wednesday we spend the morning in a Spanish immersion experiment. I will be volunteering at "El Centro", a center for Latino people of the Twin Cities area who need help adjusting to American culture. They provide a number of services such as day care for mothers who are taking classes at the center, senior citizen day care, mental health, job search and training, and also English as a second language classes (which is where I come in). I'll be helping people of varying English proficiencies with their situational language needs. Such as, the words necessary to buy and use a bus ticket, or conversational requirements to calling and scheduling a doctor's appointment, or beginning to learn and understand the English words associated with working in hotels, which as we've all seen is staffed by many Latinos.

The first year men as of last Saturday have graduated from first probation so I can now officially refer to myself as a novice. There was a nice in house ceremony where we were presented with a St. Ignatius medal and a copy of the book Jesuit Constitutions and Complementary Norms (The historical writings of the Society from inception until present day).

Hope this message finds everyone well.

I'll keep everyone notified of the highlights as they come, so stay tuned.

Love,

Rich

Great Reno Ballon Race

The Great Reno Ballon Race is awesome. At first, the idea of waking up at 3:30am didn't really excite me, but I was wrong. Yes, Jill & I did get up at 3:30am, bundled the kids in warm clothes and hit the road. Since we live on the other side of town, it took us a little over 30 minutes to get to the park. By 4:45am we spread out our picnic blanket, wrapped me & the kids in blankets (Jill was busy taking all the pictures and videos you see below).

FYI It's very cold at 5am

At 5am, the "Glow Show" started, and this is where 4-5 balloons take turns "glowing" their balloon. When it's pitch dark and mountains are in the background and music is playing, this "glowing" is much more beautiful than it sounds.

Soon after the "Glow Show", the "Dawn Patrol" began. This is when 4-5 different ballons inflate and then take turns ascending into the sky....all before sunrise. Again, the glow, the mountains, the music and these balloons ascending one at a time is something spectacular to see.

Then right after sunrise, approx 7am, the "Mass Ascension" began. This was amazing. 100 balloons ascending all over the place. We were allowed to walk right up to the balloons as they were taking off. The first balloon up carried an American Flag as we all sang the National Anthem. Kinda gives ya the chills.

Once all the balloons were in the air, the race officials placed a large "X" in the middle of the field. The balloons then took turns throwing bean bags at the "X".....kinda like "closest to the pin" in a golf tournament.

Again, yes, it was crazy getting up at 3:30am, but it was well worth it. I hope some of our friends & family will be able to visit for this event in the future to share this awesome time with us (it occurs the weekend after Labor Day every year). Enjoy the pictures and videos below, there are 10 videos but they are all less than 35 seconds long each.