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!!"