Sunday Stew like you've never seen before!!

Okay, so I've been a MAJOR blog slacker, and I'm starting to feel guilty for not documenting like I wanted to. SO...get ready for a quick and dirty run-down of some of the random things we have been up to since school started.

Here is a picture of our sweet Nora at her birthplace! Yes...she was born in the car. If you want to read all about it (and see a little video - it's PG - no worries) you can click HERE.
We had to take one last picture before it was traded in for the new car.
Paul's friend Morris sliced his hand while trying to do something he had no business doing...SO MORRIS!! So, he came over to have Paul stitch him up. It quickly became the neighborhood "place to be." The older boys from the neighborhood had to come and see the action. What we do for entertainment around here....?!
This is a darling picture of Ella and her cousin Romey. They had so much fun seeing each other when we were up in Utah after Christmas. These two have the best time together and I wish they could see each other more often. Grandma Mary took them on a little shopping trip and they came back looking like this. They sure thought they were hot stuff. It was so fun to see their big smiles and loving every minute of it! What cuties!
I was able to catch a quick dinner with some of my long lost high school friends. I keep up with Ashley and Liz (from left to right)...but it had been FOREVER since I had seen Anne, Chris, and Lynette. What a treat! I was so glad they let me crash their monthly dinner party while I was in town. What awesome women they all are. I'm so glad I'm able to count them as my friends.
I was SO LAZY this Christmas and didn't do the annual family Santa Cookies. Ella did have to bring some cookies to class for a cookie exchange and so we did a quicker version thanks to good ol' Kelly! I think they turned out adorable and may have to keep these as the kid version from now on.
I was able to go with my sweet Max to a production of The Velveteen Rabbit put on by the Tempe Center for the Arts. This was a field trip with his preschool class, and I was thrilled. It's one of my very favorite stories and it was so fun to have some time with just Max. I love this kid.
Here is Max with many of the women in his life...and boy does he LOVE these girls. From L to R is Charlotte (his big time crush), Mrs. Gleason (the best preschool teacher EVER), cousin Claire, and cousin Hannah. Boy is this kid lucky. He's going to have some good resources for cute girls in the future!!
For one of Ella's book reports she had to read about a famous historical figure. I was thrilled when she chose Clara Barton. For the report she had to dress up as the character.
I think she pulled it off quite well and was absolutely adorable. We had a great time learning all about Clara Barton and what an amazing person she was.
We threw a little neighborhood party at our house one night. It was a roaring success. How is came about is a great story that I must document for posterity. It all started one day when I wasn't home and Paul was in charge. I guess there were a lot of neighborhood kids around and it got a little crazy. So, in a not so friendly voice, Paul told all the kids that they needed to play outside. I guess it came off a little more harsh than he intended because a few weeks later Ella took him aside and told him that it embarrassed her and that her friends thought he was mean. So, in true Paul fashion, he was going to make it right. The two of them planned and executed a neighborhood party complete with pizza, junk food, and movies. The kids had a great time and so did we.

The funniest part about the story is when Ella was telling some of her friends about it. Paul overheard her explanation and it went a little like this:

Ella: "Hey guys, we are having a party on Friday so that you can meet my Dad."
Our cool kid Max has learned to ride his two wheeler at the tender age of 4. He pretty much learned on his own. I think Paul took him out one afternoon for about 10 minutes. Max figured out that if he could propel himself with his feet and get some momentum...then all he had to do was put his feet on the pedals. He is now an expert and even rode his bike all the way to Grammy and Papa's house with Ella, Jack and Dad! Way to go Max.
Paul won't be happy about this, but I just had to document that he actually did dress up!!! It's a miracle. For the office Halloween party, the theme was 1970's. Paul is in the middle of this picture with two of the other Doctors on either side. I think they're lookin' pretty sweet!!
Here's a picture of the whole gang. Oh, and yes...he does work with all those women!!! Some wives would be worried, but strangely...I think it makes him appreciate me more?!!
Paul took Nora on a little afternoon boating trip with Morris one day. She loved being on the boat and looked so cute. I'm sure she loved having her daddy all to herself.
I know this is hard to see, but yes...that is a child between his mothers knees on a wake board!!! Paul took this picture of a friend on that same water skiing trip. I thought it was pretty cool.
Paul took the kids to a D-backs game. They had great seats with a great view...
Can you tell what he was focusing on in this picture? Was it the kids...or the props?!
I think I talked about Paul taking the kids camping over labor day, but I failed to mention the fishing poles. Can you tell the boys were excited? I think this picture is hilarious!

So, there you have a quick rundown of some of the random pictures I had on file. They didn't necessarily all merit their own post, so they all got thrown together here. I feel better now!