remember that time...

that we've been stuck in L.A. traffic for 2 1/2 hours with a bored & hungry child (not to mention hungry irritated parents) and all I had was a straw I found in my dad's truck to feed evan applesauce? just call me macgyver. lol ;)

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Don't mess with my Sippy Cup,Neeeeew Haircut, Preds game and Messes.

This says to me: Don't come between a man and his sippy cup. ;)

So I didn't just trim Evan this time. He now has a bonafied little boys haircut. I cannot believe I just trimmed it a month ago and it was already a big mop. Something in the landfill water? (he he he). Then we have the Predators v. Red Wings game we attended last Saturday with Aunt Nanci and Uncle Matt. We heading up to our seats in top deck when a Preds Rep stopped us to give us tickets 2 rows behind the Red Wings! oh, on center ice! (we still like our tickets better for seeing the whole rink). We had a blast down there so close and Evan was completely mesmerized by the jumbo tron (of which he appeared again but we didn't get a picture :( boo). Lastly, I often leave Evan to explore by himself, this time in the kitchen (he's walking 70% of the time now fyi). There was only laundry in there and he was 'playing' with a 'secure' q-tip holder (i know, my husband is CRINGING right now with you, that I'm typing this). I was of course conducting official fb business or something important like that when I realized, something was wrong... SILENCE. I took the 10 steps to the kitchen to find... THIS:

Dear Aunt Lo Lo....

Dear Aunt Lo Lo,

Thank you for my gift. Since you are a faithful watcher and commenter on mommies blog, I asked her to take a video of me opening your gift and post it. I LOVE my basketball hoop for the tub and have already played with it outside of the tub for 30 minutes after I opened it! I'm getting good at it already! I am so smart. I can't wait for you to see me in person in January so you can see how much cuter and how much more smart I've become since you last saw me. I hope you can see how cute my new haircut is too. :) I love you aunt Loretta, thank you for being so thoughtful and sweet. I wish we lived closer to each other so I could hug you whenever I wanted. xoxox

Evan

GUILTY!!

"Someone" has learned how to climb up on the table by his bed. (she wags her finger) :) so cute.

Look at my big boy, standing (dangerously) by himself on a table, holding his cat toy. he he he

Caught red handed. Filming 'the act'. he he he he he. SoOO cute.

Last Years Month

We wanted to go see Santa today but he wasn't there till the evening. We'll go again next week or so. It got me thinking about the picture I posted of Evan with Santa last year and instead, I got to also see the whole months posts. If you would also like to stroll down memory lane:
http://michaelandlila.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=50

Today

I am thankful for my new schedule at the Chop Shop that allows me to have 3-4 days off in a row with Evan.

Christmas Craft IDEA

So I was invited to a Homemade Christmas Ornament exchange coming up December 11th. After first feeling overwhelmed (perfectionist) by what I agreed to do: make 13 of the same ornament to exchange with others at the party, I was excited when I found my idea!! Well, not that the hostess has time to check my blog but If you are reading this DO NOT FOLLOW THIS LINK OR YOU WILL SPOIL WHAT SMALL GIFT I AM ALSO BRINGING YOU. :) Also, not that my brother Bennett or his wife EVER (I'm not bitter) read this, but in the event you are, also don't follow the link cause I'm making it for you too as part of your gift. For everyone else, follow the link to my craft blog to see what I've made and you TOO can make! :) Let me know on that blog if you make it too.

http://mulhollanddrivecrafts.blogspot.com/2009/12/free-christmas-craft-idea.html

Coccinellidae & Lampyridae

Coccinellidae: aka... LADYBUGS! Lampyridae: aka... FIRE FLY's!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinellidae

Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds (UK, Ireland, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa), ladybugs (North America), or lady beetles (preferred by some scientists). Lesser-used names include ladyclock, lady cow, and lady fly.[1]
They are small insects, ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm (0.04 to 0.4 inches), and are commonly yellow, orange, or scarlet with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, head and antennae. A very large number of species are mostly or entirely black, grey, or brown and may be difficult for non-entomologists to recognize as coccinellids (and, conversely, there are many small beetles that are easily mistaken as such, like tortoise beetles).
Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 5,000 species described,[2] more than 450 native to North America alone.
A few species are pests in North America and Europe, but they are generally considered useful insects as many species feed on aphids or scale insects, which are pests in gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and similar places. The Mall of America, for instance, releases thousands of ladybugs into its indoor park as a natural means of pest control for its gardens.[3]
A common myth is that the number of spots on its back indicates its age.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly

Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies are capable of producing a "cold light", containing no ultraviolet or infrared rays. This chemically-produced light, emitted from the lower abdomen, may be yellow, green, or pale red in color, and has a wavelength from 510 to 670 nanometers.
There are more than 2,000 species of firefly found in temperate and tropical environments around the world. Many species can be found in marshes or in wet, wooded areas where their larvae have abundant sources of food. These larvae can also emit light and are often called "glowworms", particularly in Eurasia. In the Americas, "glow worm" also refers to the related Phengodidae.

or

(3rd picture shows:) Photinus pyralis, known by the common names Common Eastern Firefly[1] and Big Dipper Firefly,[2] is the most common species of firefly in North America.[3] This organism is sometimes incorrectly classified as Photuris pyralis, which likely results from mistaking the similar sounding genus Photuris.
The species' common name refers to the characteristic flight of the male, which flies in a J-shaped trajectory, lighting on the upswing.[4]

"WHY DO YOU POST THIS", do you ask?... I've been wanting to post about this for some time cause I think it is cool and educational. Unfortunately I get distracted. Ladybugs and Fire flys are the state insects of TENNESSEE!! (agricultural official insect of the state is the "European Honey Bee", Butterfly is a "Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_Swallowtail_Butterfly)

We are the coolest! Every fall we get an infestation of Lady bugs in our homes (seeking warmth? I haven't researched that. If anyone knows, please comment) which to many DOESN'T seem like the 'coolest', lol, but I personally still think it is neat. :) Fire flys are in the summertime and are just the most fun to watch and catch! Wanna know YOUR state insect/s? Well, here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_insects

I hope you enjoyed this educational blog post. I hope to add more random posts like this one throughout the next year. :)

Yay for December!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Thanks

for making be laugh every time i think about the fact that you like to tuck stuff (in this case a sock) between your nose and 'plug'.



for waking up like this in the morning. how do you do it?

for being adorable on thanksgiving (and every day)

enjoying the power barbie jeep with Lauren even though it was pink and purple (you're a real man)

for waking up from a wrestless nap with your pants 3/4 off. lol

for standing so much lately. it is so cute and it makes mommie and daddy so excited for what is next! (what will get us excited after you start walking?? take your time kid)

Not your traditional Thanksgiving photos but this is what we did while waiting for Daddy to cook our food. Hurry up daddy! :)

and, a sock and plug video for your pleasure. i know it pleases me.. oh and this is MY blog. :)

our TWEEKY baby!!! lol

soooOOOOOO cute!! he's tucked his sock between his nose and pacifier! agh!
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We are Thankful for...

Evan's One Year & Family Pictures by Shannon Hairr

click here to see the pictures we had made with my friend Shannon Hairr last Saturday:

http://shannonhairr.blogspot.com/2009/11/stuteville-family.html

If you refresh the page and go to the 'guess that belly post'... It's Shannon (who's almost 8mo pregnant with #2) and she let me take the pictures for her (with lots of help from her), they look awesome! I think I did a darned good job. ;)

and by the way...

I love my new blog picture. I was doing a self portrait with Evan and the fall leaves today when Michael showed up at home early. I practically threw the camera at him in my frustration of trying to keep a 1 year old still for a sweet shot and taking the shot myself at arms length. So, although he is not in this picture with us, he is the photographer, patiently, capturing this moment. I love it and I love you babe. :) xoxo

The Bump ;(

This was still at the store, a minute after it happened so I could try to show Michael. You can see Evan is 'unfazed AND that his genius mother learned nothing as he is in the big part again! (actually i only put him there to take the picture of him and to move the 'stuff' out of his seat)

An Ice Pop for bribary.

What a big boy standing and holding his own Ice Pop! :)

A little video documentation of my poor baby's boo boo (who's obviously oblivious that anything 'wrong' happened to him today) and a guilty mommy's commentation.
(video removed because it was jacked up. i'll post it again later if it works out)