Hair Drying

After EVERY bath, Natalie MUST have her hair blown dry. Don't even think about trying to skip it, she will not stand for it.



True Story: On one of the first days home from the hospital after Natalie was born, my mom came over and helped me give Natalie a bath. It was November and so cold outside and she had so much hair...thick too! We didn't want her to get sick so we used the blow dyer to dry her hair after her bath. We laughed the whole time thinking how crazy it was to be using a blower dyer on a newborn baby. Not something you do every day.

Seattle

On Saturday I begged Mitch to take us somewhere, anywhere. It had been a long week of being at home and we/ I needed out. We took the kids to Seattle. We didn't realize how little we have taken the kids downtown until they started going crazy over the Space Needle and some of the sights there. Cameron wanted SO badly to go up to the top of the Space Needle. After having to sell a few of our assets to afford the trip to the top we made it! (Just kidding-but seriously over priced.) After walking around the Seattle Center and riding one ride at the fun forest (We were hoping that all the rides would be closed, yeah right...) we introduced our children to the Spaghetti Factory. What a fun day.



In the elevator going down.





Mitch and I must be getting old because the trip to the top and then going back down made us a little queasy. How sad.

Freakin'

Yeah, that's right. My 3 year old got mad at me tonight and called me a "freakin' mom."

I didn't think I said the word freakin' very much but apparently I need to re-think my word choices. The other day we missed Julia's bus for school because the substitute driver came 10 minutes early. The next day while waiting for the bus Natalie said, "Where is that freakin' bus at?"

Nice.

It reminds me of the time when Cameron was a small little guy and we went to the grocery store. We had a car cart and while we shopped he kept honking the steering wheel and yelling "Go, Psycho!"

Kids say the darnedest things. I think they learn it all from their father. :)

Work Overload

This is what happens when you have to work from home for 2 days going on 3 with all three kids home!

Snow Day

No School!




Dad and the kids having a little fun.

Party Like It's Your Birthday!

Natalie's Pictures

Another year, another picture. They didn't turn out great. Natalie was scared of the lady taking the pictures. Have to say if I was three, I might have been too. Most of the pictures looked like she was scared out of her mind and the three shots that were decent had her head cropped off in them. What is a mother to do? Here are the best of the bunch: Sad, I know.

Soccer Wrap Up

Cameron had a fun season of soccer. Towards the end of the season he really got the hang of it out there and did AWESOME. He scored three goals in his last game.



Julia loved playing and boy was she cute. Although she played for the snack, she did great and is already talking about her next sporting adventure.

On another note... Nat has informed me that she wants to take ballerina classes. Hmmm.....we shall see.

Mystery of the Silver Keys

Two nights ago Mitch and I searched high and low looking for the little silver keys that go to a fireproof box that we keep important documents in. We always keep them in the same drawer in the office and have never had a problem losing them before. But that all changed when we went to get the keys and they were mysteriously missing. CRAZY, I know to put them in a spot where a child has access!
The next morning I sat the kids down on the couch and told them how dad and I were missing some little silver keys that go to a special box and now we can't open it. Had anyone seen or done anything with them? I went to each kid and asked. All said that they knew what I was talking about but had not seen the keys or didn't know where they were. As soon as our little talk was over and I had resolved to tear the house apart in search of the keys, Julia quietly went to her room and came out holding the keys and asked "Are these what you are looking for??" Uh--yeah....
Me: Where did you find them? Julia: (Looking sheepish) In my dog biscuit's house. Me: How did they get there? Julia: I don't know, I think they must have just fallen in.

But of course.... mystery solved.

Turkey Trot Video

Just had to add the video of the Turkey Trot. It is priceless. Mitch's videographer skills are exceptional. :)

In the beginning of the race you will see Cameron in the far left of the screen. He starts the race off at a dead sprint. In fact, the guy who starts the race makes a comment not heard on the tape about how some of the kids "might have started off a little too fast." The next scene is in the middle of the race and at that time Cameron is in first place and a little confused about which direction to run in.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Natalie!

Happy Birthday BIG 3 year old!

Turkey Trot

Saturday Cameron and Julia ran in their 2nd annual 1K Turkey Trot. This is becoming a fun tradition for our family every year.



Here they are ready to go to the big race....



Mitch and I tried to explain to Cameron over and over that there were going to be a LOT of kids in the race and that there was no way that he would win. The 1K is supposed to be a non-competitive fun run for kids....yeah right...

We told him to he could just run as fast as he could and have fun--that is all that matters. He told us that he understood and he would not be nervous and just have fun running.

The event was even bigger than last year, 446 kids plus parents ran in the 1K. The start line was crazy! I decided to help Cameron a little bit and pushed him up to the front of the pack by the start. Julia, Mom, and Natalie stayed farther back. This year I ran with Julia while pushing Natalie in the stroller so that Mitch could get video of the kids running. A 1K while pushing Natalie in a stroller is tough--FYI. Julia did great and didn't need to stop once. I on the other hand could have used a break. Cameron ran so well and when I caught up to him at the finish line he was beaming and said, "I won, mom!!!" What??? Mitch said it was true. He ran awesome and beat a kid literally 2 feet taller than him at the end to come in 1st. Cam takes after his mom, a 2 time Turkey Trot winner herself! Mitch is trying to figure out how to put the video on the computer using our old technology, but doesn't seem to be working. :( We finished the morning off with a pancake breakfast and talk about next year's race. Natalie tells us that next year she is going to run and Cameron has his sights on the 5K with trophies been handed out the the top 3 finishers in each age division. A fun morning!

WAY TO GO CAM AND JULES!!!

Fashionista

The Stuard family is known for their fashion sense, obviously....



I have been losing the clothing battle with Cameron for years. Do I allow him to wear shorts to school in November? Yes. Do I allow him to wear clothes that don't match to school? Yes. Does he wear socks with sandals? Yes. Does he wear his collared Sunday shirts buttoned all the way up and refuse to wear a tie? Yes. But at some point a mother needs to set a few boundaries and take some pride. Cameron tried to wear his socks and pants like this to school. He has issues with the pants, can you tell? I had to lay the smack down on it. It wasn't pleasant but I was able to go on with my day with a small shred of pride left.

To give Cam some credit, I think it might be genetic. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree at times.


Yearbook 1995- hat, coat, plaid shorts, wool socks, and Birkenstocks.

See what I mean?

Fall Fun

School Pictures

Cameron--2nd grade

Julia--Kindergarten

**Coming to a mailbox near you.....