Welcome to the Scharrer family's real life story! Most of our story is written for, and about, our four kids and the spice they add to our lives. It's our story of happiness, craziness, and sometimes ridiculousness. We've journaled through childbirth, the terrible two's, private school (and our public school experience), an autism diagnosis, medical school, residency, and long-term mission work in Africa.

Now we're following a new adventure, which involves a 45 foot motorcoach, homeschool, and as many ski slopes as we can go down in one year.

For posts from while we were living in Zimbabwe and updates about our future plans in Zimbabwe, please see our mission blog...

www.ourzimbabwejourney.blogspot.com.





31 March 2015

March Wrap Up

Life is busy.  VERY busy!  As much as I'd like to be able to sit down at a computer and document every awesome adventure, it's just not possible.  So I've taken some of our March pictures from Dropbox and have shared them below.  There are some things that I just don't want to forget and I know I will appreciate sharing them with our children as they get older.  

Klaasen turned himself into a cat!

The snow started melting and these guys were anxious to get on their bikes.  My afternoon runs couldn't have been any more perfect!

I'm pretty sure I was maybe the only mom in Minnesota that allowed her boys to play in the freezing cold melted snow water in their bathing suits.  As you can see, there was even still a little bit of snow on the ground!

I told them to, "Live it up!  You're only a kid once!!" and when their legs and feet were close to ice cubes, we came in, wrapped in blankets, sat by the heaters, and drank some hot chocolate!  

Skogen had Western Day at school, so he got to dress as a cowboy!

We prayed lots and lots for our friend Sarah as she had some pregnancy complications and was emergently evacuated from the Congo to America where she could receive the care she needed.  Her husband and boys came soon after.

Its a long story, but I got in contact with an amazing Child Life Specialist on the east coast who is trained in Trust Based Relational Intervention.  TBRI is an intervention that we have been trying with Klaasen.  Brittney, this Child Life Specialist, sent us a package of goodies and a video on TBRI to help us through this time with him.  Totally a God thing!  I am so thankful for the heart of this stranger and her loving gifts. 



Maida and Mommy date!

Training for another 5k.  I look lovely after a run, don't I?

Mommy and Skogen date!

I love these two!  They keep the days pretty crazy!

Daddy was out of town and Barkley was at the grandparents' house, so this guy assured me that he was top security in the house!  He was fully prepared!

St. Patrick's Day!  The kids were able to wear green to school instead of uniforms (anytime they don't have to wear uniforms is  HUGE deal to them!!!).

An older gentleman played some kids songs for Klaasen at the Mayo Clinic while we waiting for Klaasen's Occupational Therapy appointment!  Klaasen LOVED it!!!

Occupational Therapy


Klaasen wanted to take a picture in the parking ramp.  He thought it was cool that we were up soooooooo high!

Church ladies dinner - we had a great turnout!


Mommy and Maida Caribou date!






Just when we pulled out the shorts, we got dumped on again!

Maida got three garbage bags full of hand-me-downs from her cousins!

Klaasen started tennis lessons!   Even though he missed the ball more than 90% of the time, one day I overheard him tell this little girl, "I am like so good at this.  Tennis is so easy for me."  Hahaha!

Erik had a day off and was able to go watch Klaasen play!

Lots and lots of dropping whatever I was doing to snuggle this boy.  I'm thankful for attachment therapy that forces me to drop everything and snuggle!

We joined Erik for drill one weekend!  We started day #1 with a McDonalds breakfast!



After a day at the zoo (apparently I didn't take any pics!), we went back to the hotel for some swimming.  Maida and I broke out the bikinis after reading a friend's bog post about loving your body and not being ashamed of showing it off.  Usually we're a little more modest, so it felt good to show off a little post-baby body!  I'm proud of every one of those stretch marks, scars, and fat rolls.  :)









Klaasen saw Maida pose for the camera and wanted to pose, too.  :)

The next day we went to a really great indoor park and gym!  We spent the ENTIRE day there and could have stay another!  It was so much fun!!!









We write to taste life twice, once in the moment and in retrospection.”
~Anais Nin