aunt sara

Aunt Sara came to visit on Sunday. We haven't seen her since the end of April. Way too long. For Ted's birthday, she brought iron on transfers for him to make a shirt for everyone in the family. It was such a fun project.


We had a little practice run before he actually started drawing.


Daddy's shirt - 2 football players and a football.


Sophie's shirt - a butterfly, sunshine and grass.


Ted's shirt - a baseball player and bat. The brown is the street.


Mommy's shirt - Ted (b/c I like him!)


The ironing . . .


The finished product.


Looking at The Tuel's 2008 family photo album.


Pumpkin carving time. Ted was bound and determined to not cry like he did last year. He felt as if he needed the helmet so he wouldn't get the pumpkin cheese (guts) and peanuts (seeds) on his head. I do not lie!


Meanwhile in the living room, Sophie is watching a Baby Einstein. The girl never stops. So when I need her to stop, I strap her in our extra car seat in front of a Baby Einstein. She seriously cannot regulate herself and needs the calmness. I wish I would've invented Baby Einstein. It truly is captivating for her.


Back in the kitchen, Ted with his cheese and peanuts. He did really well after he warmed up to the idea.


Then he let Millie lick off the residue.


The finished products.


Thanks Aunt Sara. We had a great visit. On Monday we went to the Capital Market for some more punkins. Sara found some goat meat for Ahmed - great find! We hit the mall and hung out at home for awhile. It was a great visit. Not so long next time.

ben's travels

Ben's Travels - in reverse order . . .

Sunday, October 18th - Steeler's vs Browns at Heinz Field.


He got tickets in the club level. Nice stuff.


View from somewhere.


He went with Derek - an avid Brown's fan! Thanks for the tickets, Derek! Sorry that the Brown's just can't get it together.

Saturday, October 17th - WVU vs. Marshall in Morgantown

It was a COLD, rainy day. He and Andy drove to Morgantown from the birthday party in New Martinsville.

September 11-13: U2 concert in Chicago with Greg, Rusty, Jay & Amanda
October 1: U2 concert in Charlottesville, VA with Scott, Dirk & Tim

The weird claw thing that is their stage. I'm sure it's pretty impressive in person.


Dirk & Ben


Jay & Amanda


Some other friends of ours (the Hannah's and the Sim's) were also in Chicago. This was their hotel room. Ben found them to watch the Mountaineers on Saturday afternoon.

remember when?

Last night before Ted went to bed, we got out the photo albums and showed him the pictures of when he was born. He was very intrigued by all of it.


He was very intrigued by all the wires. And we said that perhaps the reason he loves to be in just his underwear so much is that he just wore a diaper for the first week or so of his life.


The first time we saw his face when he was 4 days old.


Coming home and being so small in his carseat.


Sleeping in the laundry basket.


His google eyes and wrinkled forehead. That made him look like an old man.


Christmas Day.


The little old man in the swing.


So 4 is already better than 3. Four year olds don't have blankies we decided. So, blankies are done as of yesterday. He watched an entire movie tonight. And went to bed like a champ. I think he's faking me out!

the big FOUR

Ted turned the big FOUR today! Hard to believe it's gone by so fast. Yet it seems like we've had him forever. My mom came down a 2 weeks ago b/c she and my Dad are out west. (Sorry no pics from that visit! Can you send them to me mom?) On Friday we went to New Martinsville for a party. Uncle Andy, Aunt Courtney, Doh, Pap, JB & Bethany came. We had a great time.


Ted wanted the George Washington High School Patriot on his cake. He's been going to games with Ben and warming up to the mascot.



Then he wanted to eat the eyes!


Opening gifts with Uncle Andy.


We got him a little bowling set.


Today I made him his favorite dinner (chicken crescents and scalloped potatoes.) Then we went to Maggie Moo's for special birthday ice cream! We leave the cake to Doh.


Special view of Sophie sharing my ice cream.

Ted took Spider Man fruit snacks today to preschool as his birthday snack. Easy enough. We also gave up blankies today. I have been taking them away as punishment when we have a really bad day. But he doesn't seem to care. So, we talked about it and decided that he's a big kid now and doesn't need them.

Ben and I were talking about being 3. It was a big year. He started preschool, became a professional potty-goer (not to be confused with party goer), started his own playlist on the ipod, overcame his fear of the outdoors (and lots of other things he was afraid of), can do so many things by himself, started playing board gamese, moved into a booster seat, took swimming lessons, and asked Jesus to be his friend forever. Three was hard. But good. I love this little man.

Side story:
Today he was taking a nap. Nothing special. He got up once and I made him go back to bed by himself. House rule - I only put you to bed once. Let me preface this by saying he loves to sleep in his underwear. Anyways, after his nap I usually snuggle with him in bed and read a book. I went into his room to climb into bed with him and he jumps out from under the covers - with his snow boots on! He took a nap in his underwear and snow boots. That's why I love this kid!

september/october

Ted's view of Millie from the floor. He took this himself.


Sunday afternoon movie watching on the computer so Ben can watch football.


Sophie passed out on her Sunday afternoon nap.


John & Martha Hannah babysat last week and made this haunted gingerbread house with Ted. So sweet - and impressive!


The shiny stuff all over her face is yogurt. She's learning to feed herself with a spoon.


I came into the kitchen the other day to this. Love it!


Ted playing in the rain. Don't worry - this is before it got cold. 6 months ago, he wouldn't even go outside when it rained. We've come a long way.

rewind

I found these pictures from May or June. It was one Sunday afternoon when Ted and I were in training for walking at Rockbridge. We went down to the Capitol to walk and play.

the carriage trail

Across the river from downtown Charleston is South Hills. Looking across the river, you'd never know that there are thousands of homes over there. At the top, though, is the old governer's mansion - otherwise knows as Sunrise.

Located adjacent to the mansion and grounds is the Carriage Trail, a meandering 15-foot-wide path that gently zigzags .65 miles (and descends approximately 180 feet) through a peaceful and varied landscape of towering trees, wildflowers, ornamental plantings, and historic masonry remains. (I copied and pasted that part!) It's a place that we love to "hike." So, we'll put Sophie in her backpack, put on Ted's running shoes, and get the leash out for Millie. It wears everyone out! We usually start at the top. I think we need to start at the bottom.


On the way back up - Ted doing some picture taking.


Taking my turn - which lasted about 30 feet!


Sophie taking a break at the bottom of the trail.


Ted's water break.


A cave in the middle of the trail. Always a great photo op.


The real hero of the day!


Ted loves this stop.


Ted & Millie run the entire way down the trail and drag the entire way back up! But they have a great time!