Ode to Santa

Christmas had come and gone and we spent weeks singing Christmas songs with Nolan and Teagan. We also told so many Christmas stories, but it wasn't until after Christmas that Nolan sat in his carseat and whispered his little poem about Santa. It was so precious I had him repeat it over and over. I finally was able to get it on video although he didn't do all the hand motions - it still warms my heart!!
When Santa comes to my house
I like to take a peek.
But he will never come again,
Until I'm fast asleep.

See, told you it was cute!

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Trick or Treat Disney Style!

Wooooohoooo!!! Guess what time it is? If you guess MEA week, you'd be right! But if you also guessed it was time to go to Disney you'd be SOOOOOOOO right!

We're ready! Baggage....check!

Sand and surf.....check!

Army men and broken elevators....check!

Popcorn with Gaston....check!



And tons of Mickey's Not so Scary FUN....check!

We had a great trip with Grammy and Grampy! You can check the rest of the MILLIONS of pictures here:

http://www.phanfare.com/rss/media/1177437_1_5803459_cbfaf0cf


We can't wait to go back! Trick or Treating is one of our most favorite times to go! Nolan loved every minutes of it and you can tell that he's really getting bigger. He can ride more rides, he knows the characters and he is totally a Disney fan. Just more proof that God knew what he was doing when he gave us this little dude. Teagan, of course is a Disney Pro and she loved slaying the villians in the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game. She was so good she made it to gold level during this trip. My kids ROCK!

We can't wait to go back in May! See you real soon!

Teagan's first day of 3rd grade!

It was a beautiful day in Minnesota! The sun was shining, the birds where chirping and all over the neighborhood you heard kids grumbling about their alarms going off. We have to go where...?!

Yes, you guessed it - it's the first day of school. There were no grumblings in our house. Teagan was SO excited to get up and get going on this first day of third grade. Actually, Nolan grumbled a bit because he was going to miss having his big sister at daycare with him. They had a super fun summer together.

Anyway, this young lady was up and dressed almost before we were. She just couldn't wait!

I didn't realize how monsterous the flowers had gotten until I saw this picture. Really, she's growing...believe me when I say this!

Here are the annual pictures at the rock. Another year begins again...

We need to get pictures too. I wonder how long it will last that she still let's us take these pictures. I'm hoping for well into college years! :)  Who wants to place bets on that one?

Off we go - to Champlin Brooklyn Park Academy for Math and Environmental Science aka CBPA!

Grade 3
Mrs. Kim Entinger
Friends she knows in class: Jack Bickford and Mia Blanchette

I bet she'll make a bunch more friends by the time the year is through. Have a great year baby girl! When you get the chance to sit it out, or dance....we hope you dance!!

Blame technology!

I was lamenting to my husband the other day how disappointed I am in myself for letting my blog fizzle. I look back at my posts and smile at some of the memories I would have otherwise forgotten had I not published them here (like my post about Hidden Valley Ranch dressing - it still makes me LOL).  Then it dawned on me - technology has a way of  making me feel only half-accomplished.

Yes, I'm pointing the finger at technology. Why? Here's just a few reasons:

I used to scrapbook with all my pictures and I have some great created-by-hand scrapbooks that I can pass down to my kids. Sadly, with digital cameras and online photo repositories my photos are now taking refuge on our family photo site. Don't get me wrong, I love our family website and it allows for family across the globe (ok, maybe just across the MN border) to see what we've been up to.

Then when blogs became all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips I thought it would be yet another fantastic way to create a family legacy. I would be in awe to learn of a journal that was created by a since passed on ancestor and don't even get me started on having access to pictures from back in the day. Seriously, how cool would that be!?

Then I was sucked into the biggest social network experiment around - Facebook. Here I can update my status, share photos, tag friends all in one trip down the elevator bank. It's almost too easy! In late 2011 I was issued a challenge. Could I take one picture per day in 2012 for my Facebook network to enjoy? Uh, hello - YES! I'm happy to report my 366 project is coming along swell, only 155 more days to go.

But wait - there's also Twitter! I found out through my little blue bird friends that Osama Bin Laden was dead long before it hit CNN Breaking News. All the important "stuff" can be found on Twitter - did you hear Sharon Osbourne is leaving AGT. She told me the world via a tweet last week long before her PR folks had the chance to properly sell the story!

So yes, I blame my lack of consistency and follow through on technology. But what does it change? Absolutely nothing. Until the next best thing comes along I'll try to place more focus here. Until then, I'll see you on 'PhanBookBlogwitter'.

Could I get a Mulligan, please?

It's obvious that I need a do-over with respect to my blog so I'd like to use my mulligan here - and now. What do you mean there's no mulligans in blogging - it's my blog and I make the rules. The only problem is  now there will be a black hole in the Stupsky Family blog legacy. I mean seriously, take a look at the last picture posted in July 2011. See that little boy in the bouncer?

...I'll pause here so you can go and oogle that cute little boy...

Well, he's now two years old and wouldn't be caught dead in a bouncer - they're totally for babies. So what's a mom to do. Should I go back and try to fill in the holes? Should I do one super long blog and try to catch you, the viewing public, up with all the shenanigans I have failed to blog about?

Only time will tell - but I promise to keep the updates coming. Until then, here's an updated picture of my tie-dyed munchkins.

Elmo meets DracuLaura

Halloween is such a fun time for kids and this year it was finally nice enough outside to really enjoy the evening.The neighborhood is FULL of kids and our trick-or-treating group grows each year! Here's some photos of all the fun and spooks!

Teagan's First day of Second Grade

Teagan Rose Stupsky: (noun) and first born of Danielle and Ryan Stupsky.
She is seven years old, sandy blond hair with a few emerging freckles across the bridge of her nose. Known for her love of multi-legged creatures and art.
Started second grade on September 6, 2011 with Mrs. Nicole Hedlund as her teacher.

I hate to see her grow up so fast, but I know she's in good hands with her friends!