2014 Summer Summary

So I'm a little behind on the bloggie blog.  I feel like I nailed it during Emma's baby-hood but poor Lucas is going to feel like he got the short end of the stick when it comes to photo evidence of his infancy.  I'm sure he's not the only, nor will he be the last, second child to have these feelings.


Anyway, there is a lot to share since I haven't posted anything dating past Emma's birthday in June.  So here is a recap of what the rest of the summer looked like for us.

It's fun to look back at these pictures considering Lucas turned 1 year earlier this week.  Here he is pleased as punch to be 2 month old.

I'm not sure if we have spent the 4th of July anywhere but at Okoboji.  And frankly, why would we?  Not being on or near a lake during the 4th seems un-American.  

More pictures of Lucas, age range 3-4 months.

This picture cracks me up every time I see it.  Backround: Emma wants to do everything Mom is doing and always wants to help us with Lucas.  Whether its changing his diaper, pushing the stroller, or in this case wanting to help breastfeed.  Not pictured here is Melissa sitting next to Emma breast feeding Lucas.  Emma thought her doll Naomi looked a little thirsty.

Here are some various cute pics of the kids with no particular story attached.  

Emma really became quite a fish throughout the summer and LOVED to spend time at the pool.  She went from staying latched on to you at the beginning of the summer to jumping in and splashing around on her own with a life vest on.  

Another one of my favorite pictures from the summer.  I was giving Emma a bath and had set Lucas in his bouncer to occupy him.  A while later I noticed Luke was being very quiet and I looked over and he was fast asleep.  It must have been a big day.

Emma sandwich!

Toward the end of the summer we took our annual apple orchard trip with the Birkenholz's.  Emma and Kya are peas in a pod!  Here are the pics of our beautiful fall day at the orchard.

Most of you know that Melissa opened her own firm in February.  She decided to take a new tactic with marketing and got ahold of a couple of super models.   With these faces, how could business not be good?

 

Did I mention that Emma loves her little brother?

The End.  

With love from Minneapolis,

Jason, Melissa, Emma, Lucas

Emma is 3!

Our little girl turned 3 in June!  In true Stull family fashion, her birthday was celebrated for days.  4 days to be exact - she actually opened presents for 4 consecutive days!  Part of it was volume, the other part was attention span.  She would open 2 or 3 and then want to play with them, thus prolonging the present party. :)  It was a truly wonderful weekend with lots of laughs, good family and friend time, and more Hello Kitty than Tokyo.

Emma's birthday was on a Friday this year and we started the morning off with some some birthday pancakes (complete with sprinkles) and a present.  First things, first though, Emma made sure to put on her birthday hat within minutes of waking up.  We found out pretty quick that the wax on candles can't hold up to the heat of fresh pancakes.  After Emma blew out the candles we had to cut out holes in the cakes to get rid of the melted wax!

After school and work we met up for dinner with Emma's grandpa and grandma Burgart, Great Grandma Marge, Uncle Jon, Aunt Amy, and cousins Aubrey and Annie.   Emma had fun catching up with her cousins over some chocolate milk and chicken strips. :)

Emma with Jon, Amy, Aubrey, Annie and of course Lucas (who is 2 months old here).

After dinner and some pictures it was time for cupcakes and round one of presents.

A new bike!!

Saturday was party day.  In the morning we took a trip to the zoo with the family, somehow we don't have any photographic evidence of this, so you'll have to take my word.  After the zoo it was back home for nap and party prep!  The party was a big hit.  It was a Hello Kitty theme.  Once again, Melissa came through with a top notch cake that not only looked good but tasted even better.  Here are some pics from the celebration.  Oh, and the party afforded opportunity #2 for gift opening.  

On Sunday it was family hangout time before everyone headed home.  Emma got some extra cuddles and story time and a chance to open some of the presents she didn't get to the previous two days. #3daysofpresents

Emma's birthday wasn't the only draw.  Lucas was also a big hit, and it's easy to see why!

Here are some miscellaneous pictures of family taken throughout the weekend.

It was a great weekend with lots of fun!  I think Emma had a wonderful 3rd birthday and Melissa is successfully instilling the family philosophy that birthdays are too important to limit celebration to 1 day.  Oh, and in case you're still keeping track, Emma did have some unopened gifts on Monday: Day 4.

With love from Minneapolis,

Jason, Melissa, Birthday Girl, and Lucas