Apples, Soccer, Smiles and More!

Jeanette came to visit last weekend. She and Karl ran in a local trail race and had a great time. Micah started soccer last Saturday so I loaded up the kids and made it to the park by 8:00am! I was very proud of my ability to get myself and the 3 kids dressed, fed and out of the house that early! The boys even got their teeth brushed!! We had a little cold spell last weekend so I got to bundle Melea up and she looked very cute. Karl and Jeanette were home in time for Matt's game in the afternoon. I know Matt loved having his Grandma watch his game! We went to pick apples on Sunday afternoon. The weather was warm and the apples oh so good!
This weekend was filled with soccer, church and work around the house. I got out for a run with Dawn this morning and it was awesome! I had missed meeting with her for early morning runs! I made it 5 miles...the longest yet since Melea was born! It felt so good to move!!

Apple Picking (Matt took this picture!)

Yum Yum!

Melea at Micah's soccer game last Saturday. I think she looks like a little MN baby!!
Micah was so excited to play soccer! He ran over to me in the middle of the game to ask if he got to keep the uniform. Okay, so he was more excited about the red uniform than the actual game!

Melea is smiling more and more! This picture is of her taking a bath tonight. Poor little girl had to get shots yesterday. Our family all went to get flu shots after soccer on Saturday. The boys were so brave...and very proud after their shots. Melea had to get her 2 month immunizations. She was sick at her 2 month well check and the docter found she had ear infections. She was put on an antibiotic and we had to wait until she finished the meds before getting her shots.
I'm not sure how I can claim this little girl...she looks just like Karl in this picture! WOW

The Flying Stutelbergs

Fun in the backyard!!

We went to a Star Wars birthday party this afternoon. The kids dressed up. Micah was Chewbaca, Matt was Darth Vader, Luke was Han Solo, and Lydia was R2D2. Melea decided she would rather stay in her dress from church and didn't dress up this time! The dad of the birthday boy dressed as Anakin and Karl, Bill, and Jon corrdinated Clone Trooper outfits. They made a surprise enterance in the middle of the party. The kids were so shocked and surprised! I'm not sure who had more fun the dads or the kids! They had some great duels. The kids then went through a "Jedi Training" obstacle course and got "Yoda Soda" at the end. The kids and parents had a blast!

Darth Vader used a mean "force push" while fightning Han and Chewy!

Han and R2D2...Lydia was pretty cute and Luke was very much into character.

September Wrap Up

It is hard to believe September is almost over! The past two months have flown by! To recap... baby girl born, boys starting school, tough kindergarten adjustment, tough preschool adjustment (which we are still dealing with), soccer, and mom goes back to work for a few hours on Tuesdays. Karl is Mr Mom on Tuesday mornings and is doing great! I set cloths and breakfast out for everyone and Karl gets the kids dressed, fed and off to school. I really admire moms who juggle breastfeeding and working! I only have to deal with it for one morning a week but to do it full time would be quite a challange! I have been volunteering in Matt's class for an hour on Weds. It is fun to be in the background and get a sense of how he interacts in class. We have parent conferences at the end of the week and I'm interested in what his teacher has to say. I have no doubt he is keeping up in class and doing great! Micah starts soccer this weekend and because we are not busy enough, Karl will be assistant coaching his team! Micah's preschool adjustment is a little slower. He seems to be having separation issues again. Much better than last year but he is not his usual happy/silly self when I take him to school. Melea is doing great. She started "half smiling." I have not seen a full grin yet but it is coming soon! She is a champion sleeper and has been going to bed around 7:30 and sleeping until 5:00am! I hope I didn't jinx it by writing that! Melea loves to be held and cuddled! She is a sweetheart...like her brothers!

Recent Pics of the Kiddos

The boys are such helpers! They LOVE "helping" give Melea a bath. Micah ran to the bathroom and came back with his Mater bath toy for Melea to play with!
Melea and I before we went to our baby shower that the women I work with gave us.

Matt working on his homework. It was such a nice evening last night he did his work outside.

You would never know it but 20 minutes before this picture and before Micah was given Motrin he had a 105 degree fever! He will stay home from school the rest of the week but is doing better.

Take me out to the ball game!

See the jib jab video here.

Micah's First Day of Preschool

Our little Micah Man had his first of preschool today! He was very excited and wore his backpack, which was empty, around the house for an hour before we left! Poor Matt got nailed with a nasty virus and didn't go to school today. My dad came over to stay with him so Karl, who has Tuesdays off, and I could take Micah to school. Micah was excited! Totally different from Matt on his first day! I think Matt really thinks about things and Micah is more like me. He kind of jumps into things and doesn't dwell or think it through too much. Both ways of going about life are ok...it is interesting to see how different the boy's personalities are and how they cope with new situations. Micah dove right in and put his name on the board under the "boy" colum and then started on puzzles. Luke is in the same class and I think he and Micah mostly hung together today.

Today was my sister's first day back at work so I watched Lydia and Luke. Karl was home today so he helped out a lot. It was lucky he was home because we decided to take Matt to the doctor. Karl took him and it appears he is just fighting a really nasty virus. Matt will have to miss school tomorrow and possibly Thurday. He still had a high fever when we put him to bed tonight. I pray Melea doesn't get this! I guess it is not too bad, we made it through a whole month of kidergarten before bringing a yucky bug home!

A Few More Pictures

Hmmm...I think my dad is enjoying retirement!

The kiddos playing this morning! WOW Karl and I are so blessed! I don't know what else to say!

Week 3 of Kindergarten is complete! Matt's adjustment is slow but I think we are making progress. His little brain, body and personality are being challenged and it will take time to adjust. Our family is heading out to Red Robin for dinner tonight per Matt's request! Karl and I decided to think of something special to do on Friday evenings. This gives Matt something to look forward to during the week. We decided to go out to dinner this Friday and let Matt choose the place. Red Robin it is!!

Melea 2 1/2 weeks old

A few pics of sweet Melea I took this afternoon.

The kindergarten adjustment continues...Monday was great but today Matt was sad at the end of the day. Oh, my sweet boy. This is so hard for Matt, Mom, and Dad.

Matt's First Day of Kindergarten

Lots of new happenings in the Stutelberg's home! Matt had his first day of Kindergarten on Monday. Tom and Andra were still visisting so they stayed with Micah and Melea and Karl and I took Matt to school. I know Matt was very nervous but he tried to be brave! It has been a tough week...Matt comes home from school excited and talking non stop about his day but as the evening progresses his anxiety increases. He has been having night terrors each night this week. I think it will take awhile for him to adjust but I'm confident he will eventually do well. I know I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the changes that just occured in our family so I can only imagine how a sensitive 5 year old is interpreting it all. Matt has such a good heart and I would do ANYTHING to minimize his stress...I think only time will help. When I picked him up today he was excited and said, "I decided I really like Kindergarten. I had the best day yet!" Of course it is Friday...so we'll see what he is saying on Sunday evening!

Melea is doing great! She is officialy one week old today!

Micah seems to be adjusting well. He is loving the one on one "mommy time" he gets when Melea is sleeping!

Welcome Melea Jean Stutelberg

Melea was born on Friday, Aug 5 at 3:01pm. I was induced one week after my due date. Labor went pretty quick. Pitocin was started around 12:00 and Melea was born 3 hours later! The fast labor is good but feels like being hit by a truck!

Melea was 7lb 7oz. She is just perfect and we are so blessed to have her.

We didn't know her gender until delivery and the nurses had fun predicting the sex before she was born. They predicted boy! Karl, Louise and I were in disbelief when the doctor and nurses said "it's a girl."

Our family is complete...I can't believe how blessed we are.

Melea and I came home on Saturday. I wanted to come home as soon as possible and we were dischared 24 hours after Melea was born.

The boys are adjusting well. A little more fighting than tyical but overall not bad. It helps that Grandma and Grandpa are visiting. They are such a HUGE help! Matt starts his first day of Kindergarten tomorrow so check back for pictures of that event and more Melea photos!