Merry Christmas!

The Stutelberg's had a great Christmas! We went to church on Christmas Eve and even spoted Santa in the sky when driving home! At least that is what Matt said he saw! Santa visited us during the night which made for a fun Christmas morning. Matt came into our room and asked, "Did Santa come last night?" I told him I wasn't sure and he should go look at the fireplace and Christmas tree. About 20 seconds later he came running and screaming down the hall. "Santa came!!! Wake up Micah, Santa came to our house last night!!" Karl and I then HAD to drag ourselves out of bed. My parents and brother came over and the unwrapping fun began! The boys got lots of Playmobil figures, cars, Mr. Potato Head pieces, games, and a Powerwheels jeep.

My mom made the boys matching PJs. Lydia has a matching blanket but was not up to being in the picture!

Matt and Micah LOVE little Lydia!

It has been raining all day so my sister came over and we had a cooking day! Both our families now have freezers full of lasagna, chili, roasted red pepper and sausage cannolis and pizzas!! I got a dutch oven for Christmas and was very excited to try it out. I made chicken noodle soup for dinner earlier in the week and chili today in it! If you don't have dinner plans, come on over and raid my freezer!!!

Welcome Lydia

Lydia Ruth Margaret Fitch was born this morning!

It is now 1:45am and I just got home from the hospital were my sister gave birth to a little girl. She is perfect and weighs 8lb 10oz and is 20.5" long.
Congratulations Fitch Family!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is easy to describe this year...yummy food with a loving family!

Sorry for the prego pic, Weez...had to do it!

Happy Fall from Matt and Micah!

Annual CLU Turkey Tri and Last Game in Mt. Clef Stadium

We spent the day at CLU for two reasons...first was so I could support my brother and participate in the CLU triathlon he helped organize and second was to see the last football game played in Mt. Clef staduim.

Mt. Clef stadium is the same stadium, in the middle of campus, that my parents watched football games at when they were at CLU. Karl and I have memories watching football in this stadium after our cross country meets. Karl and I spent a lot of time on the field because the cross country and track office was located on the side line and we would meet on the field in front of the office for practice. I know the new staduim, that will be located on the other side of campus, will be big and beautiful but I can't help feel a little sad. Mt. Clef has a unique charm...students could get on the field at any time to play ultimate frisbee and you could sit in the end zone during football games. I'm sure there won't be access like this in the new one. Oh, well...progress! Wow, it sounds like I have really given this a lot of thought and I assure you I have not!

Clark and his fellow RAs did a great job putting together this little tri! Unfortunatly there was not a big turn out...I know there has to be more people out there that think swimming, biking and running in the wind is fun. Where are you?? My boys, including my dad were amazing cheerleaders. I had a lot of fun!! I think I have written this before but I am so happy that my kids see Karl and I participate in runs and races. I LOVE that this is normal for them! Last weekend we were in Santa Clarita, about 45 min south of Quartz Hill, with Jeanette and Brad to cheer them on while they ran the 5K and Karl and my dad did the 1/2 marathon. Jon was also there and ran the 5k. Everyone did great and most importantly had fun. I think it is so great that my boys are exposed to an active healthy lifestyle and they learn to support their famiy and friends achieve their little personal athletic goals.

Hopefully the next time I post I will be showing off pictures of my new little niece! Louise has fought preterm labor for the past 10 weeks! She did a great job, not that she had much control, and is now 36 weeks. Bring on the baby!! At her last ultrasound the baby was measuring big so the goal has been to get her to 36 weeks then have this baby born! Ok Baby, listen up....time to come out!!! More later...........

Micah's 3rd Birthday (11/2/2010)

Happy birthday to my little Micah Man!

We held Micah's party the week before Halloween. It was a dress up party and we had a great time! Micah and all his buddies had a blast decorating spider cupcakes, decorating pumpkins, pumpkin bowling, and running around in the backyard!


Micah's favorite food is melon so he started out his birthday morning with a bowl of cantelope and honeydew melon! The weather was beautiful so we spent the morning at the park climbing and running. Karl got home from work early and the boys had fun playing baseball in the back yard. My parents and sister's family came over for dinner and birthday pumpkin pie! I think Micah had a pretty good 3rd birthday!
It is so hard to believe my little baby is 3!! I think I write that each time I blog on one of my boy's birthdays!!

Micah's favorite things at age 3:

• warm milk "as high as the wall" (this is Micah speak for filling the cup to the top)
• "tags" (Micah's two blankies)
• Lightning McQueen
• Buzz Lightyear
• cuddling in the rocking chair with Mom
• jumping off of high places
• playing dress up (as Buzz Lightyear or Spiderman)
• playing with Matt and Luke (50% of the time this involves fighting)
• digging in the sand and getting dirty

Happy Birthday Micah you are such a fun, smart, and kind boy! I love you!!

One More Halloween Pic!

I forgot to add this pic! FUN!!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Army Guy!!

BIG NEWS!!

Our little (big now) Micah is potty trained!! Now we have to break him of the binky!! He is not in his Halloween costume, just playing dress with up his brother (aka Toy Story Army Guy) and cousin (aka Superman.)

We had Micah's birthday party yesterday...stay tuned for pictures! His birthday isn't until Nov 2 but we celebrated a bit early.

I know...someday Micah will be really upset when he sees this! Sorry Buddy...Love you!

Once Again....It Was Too Quiet

I came home from running and was greated at the door by these faces!

GOOD MORNING!

Karl said he was getting breakfast and realized it was too quiet in the back of the house. Sure enough the boys were turning themselves into "Spiderman, Batman, and Superman."

Oh, another day...here we go!

Pretty Toes!

My friend found a girl who comes to homes and gives pedicures. We decided to plan an afternoon for my sister who is bored out of her mind on bed rest! I think she had a good time. She actually did more than a pedicure and put gel with sparkley glitter on our toes. Very "outside the box" for me but it was really fun!! My toes are blue and Weezie's are purple! Now we will just have to keep wearing flip flops into the winter!!

Camping in Ventura, CA

The Stutels went camping this weekend at McGrath State Beach in Ventura. Honestly it wasn't the best camping trip we have had but we made the best of it and had 2 quality "family days." The weather was beautiful, about 80 for the high and mid 50s at night. The first night some really loud and obnoxious people were next to us. Fortunatly the boys slept through it all but I didn't! Should you really have to tell other adults at 1:30am to please stop breaking trees apart for firewood because it is too niosy and just plain a wrong thing to do? Anyway, thankfully they only stayed Friday night! Saturday we went to the beach for a few hours. The beach was about a 1/4 mile walk from our camp. The boys had more fun jumping off the sand dunes than at the beach! In the afternoon we went to the Marina and ate ice cream, looked at boats, and took silly pictures. In the evening when we got back to camp Karl started getting a headache and feeling sick. So he packed it in early. Sunday morning he was feeling fine and after a bike ride we loaded up and headed home! We stopped at the outlet stores in Camarillo and hit up the Stride Rite store for shoes for the boys. I always feel like such and horrible mother when after measuring the boys feet I realize I have been squeezing then into shoes a whole size too small! Luckly my boys are usually barefoot at home.

Our little campers! When I tucked them into bed tonight I asked them which they liked better, sleeping in the tent or their beds. Both said the tent!!

Karl told me I need to work on my "hops." I'm saying it's the photographer. He needs to catch the photo when I'm at my peak height, not coming down!!! :)

This is what your face looks like when you say "ARRRRR!"

Preschool update: Matt is still doing great! He got to bring home a letter "A" worksheet on Wed for homework due on Friday. He was very excited. After turning it in on Friday he got a sticker on his homework folder. He said he wants to always do his homework so he can fill his folder with stickers!

Micah is doing better...he didn't cry on Friday at drop off but his teacher said he started missing me after an hour and then cried for the next two hours until I picked him up. Right when he sees me he loves telling and showing me the things he does at school. He has a great teacher and I feel very comfortable to be working his separation anixety out with her.

First Day of School

Matt and Micah had their first day of school last week on Wed. Matt was an old pro and did great when I dropped him off. He gets a little shy in groups so I think school is a little stressful for him. At home and when he is one on one with another person he will talk your head off but I don't think that is the case at school. He was very brave and gave me a kiss and hug goodbye then walked right into the classroom and started doing a project that was on the table. He is a precious little boy!
Micah, on the other hand, was not so brave! He CRIED and freaked out! Luke is in the same class and did super. Luke got his kiss and hug goodbye after I chased him down in the classroom and started playing with play doh. Micah was so upset I don't think he even noticed Luke was there! I let Micah bring his blankies (Tags) with him and I think this helped a little. When I picked him up he was not crying and the teacher said she thinks he will be fine in few weeks. She said Micah cried periodically during the morning. Micah was so proud after school. He was excited to show me his crafts and really wanted to sing me the songs he learned in the car on the way home.
My new challenge is trying to hear about the school morning from 3 little boys at one time during our drive home!

Micah: "Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are, up above the world so, umm (pause) how I want you to come over today." Then he stops, says "Wait a second Mommy." and puts down the car he is holding to make his hands into a diamond shape before continuing. " Like a diamond in the sky....."
Ha Ha Ha he is just a precious as his brother! :)

(Okay, I know the kitchen is a mess...but I was trying to get 3 little boys ready for school and as you can see by the absent shoes we are not ready yet!!)

Now those are "ready for school smiles!!"

Our Weekend!

We have had a busy weekend...no suprise!

Karl and I have been working really hard on the backyard with a goal of getting the boys a play set. I made it a habit to check out Craig's List almost every morning and finally found one last week. Karl and some guys from work took it apart and moved it into our back yard. We had a "barn raising" on Friday night and turned it into a little party. We had some friends over and the daddies put the swing set together while the kids distroyed my house and the mommies tried to maintain a managable level of chaos! As the evening turned into bedtime we put a movie on for all the kids and the moms chowed on yummy ice cream! Weezie will hate the picture below...but how many times in your life can you rest your ice cream bowl on your tummy!! Around 10:00pm the swing set was done! I don't have a picture of it completed yet but I'll post one soon. It is has 2 swings, a slide and fort.

Saturday morning we took Matt to meet a potential piano teacher. Since Matt is so young she wanted to meet him and do a little mini "interview" with him. Matt was so cute. He sang the ABCs for her and answerd all her questions like such a big kid! We decided start lessons for a few months and make sure Matt stays excited about it! When we got in the car to go home Matt said, "Mommy and Daddy, I like piano lessons a lot more that swimming lessons!" Karl and I laughed and said "We know, Buddy!"

After naps on Saturday we drove with Jon and Luke to Santa Monica. Karl and Jon ran in a 5k run on Sunday morning. We spent the night in a hotel and after the run went to the beach. They boys LOVE staying in hotels and had a blast!

Jon PRd in his run and Karl was happy that his leg felt good. He has been dealing with a pulled muscle for over a month now. I'm sure he will have details on his blog.

We are home safe and the boys went to bed at 7:00! We had a busy weekend!

Please send us good thoughts...preschool starts on Wed. The boys will go on Wed and Fri mornings. I took them to meet their teachers on Friday and left them in their classroom for an hour while I attended orientation. Matt and Luke did great! Micah, on the other hand, was so upset. Actually upset is an understatment...he cried for 40 minutes and only stopped when I walked in the room to pick him up. His teacher is amazing and said she held him and gave him lots of hugs. She assured me within a month Micah would be over his separation anxiety....oh, it is going to be a long month for both Micah and myself.

Good Old A.V. Fair

We went to the Antelope Valley Fair last week. I was kind of dreading the trip...hot, crowded, dirty, chaotic...but it turned out to be the most fun I have ever had at the fair. The boys made the evening fun. By the time we walked in the boy's faces were red and they were hot! So our first stop was getting lemonade. We then saw the animals...did you know the sheep are actually saying "MAAAAATT!!" Then we went to a kids area and participated in a show/talk on making butter. The boys made their own butter shaking and dancing around with a tupperware container of whole milk. We then ate a gross "fair style" dinner and let the boys pick 3 rides. Karl and Matt had been to the fair the nigh before to see The Beach Boys and Karl let him ride the ferris wheel then so Matt knew EXACTLY what he wanted to do! Luke and Matt wanted to go on the ferris wheel, all three went down the super slide and rode the airplane ride. Fun evening!!