The Stucki's: October 2012

Sophie and her stuff... October 2012

Sophie and her stuff

When Sophie goes to bed she has to be surrounded with all her "stuff". Dora, Baby Cute, Baby Sweet, her blankies and a gazillion books. And don't forget the paci!!!!

And Sophie loves to get into everyone's shoes!!

Halloween... September 27 and October 31, 2012

Halloween 2012

We had a very extended Halloween adventure. There were so many fun activities for the kids this year. First, on the Saturday before Halloween, we had our Branch Halloween Party at the Tomson Golf Park. There was a trunk or treat, which Katie arrived late to because she was at a birthday party. That night we had trick or treating in our compound. The Nickels joined us for a second year, and we had a great time. Then on Halloween we went to the Sloan's house for a big Halloween pot luck dinner and trick or treating. It was so fun for the kids to have lots of Halloween activities with their friends. We are very happy with Halloween in China.

the Beautiful Cleopatra

Cutest Knight on the planet

Princess Sophie

Me, Becky, Laurel and Kathleen

Yay! Katie finally made it!

Willowbrook Trick or Treating

Ryan and Beck

Sophie was very motivated to climb up and down the stairs!

Taking a rest and checking out the goods.

Ash, Reece and Soph into the loot.

Leaving to go trick or treating in Green Villas

Katie and her friends

UN Day... October 23, 2012

UN Day

October 23, 2012

Every October the kids get to dress up in the "Native Dress" of their country. Ryan dresses up as Derek Jeter every year. It is such a fun day. The kids have a parade and it is so fun to see how International their school and friends are. After the parade the children and parents go around and complete activities from various countries that are represented in all the different classrooms. Once we have completed a fun cultural activity we get a stamp in our passport and then get a prize once we have filled our books. It is one of my favorite days of the year.

Building the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Statue of Liberty torch

King of England

Australian possum face

Ryan and his BFF Connor

Father Son "Outing"... October 20, 2012

Father/Son Outing

October 20, 2012

So there was a Father/Son Outing that the district was planning. Aaron and Ryan were planning on going, however as it got closer Aaron was thinking that this wasn't going to be very idyllic. By the time they drove there at 7:00 on Friday night, Ryan would probably be asleep, and it would be dark. Setting up a tent in the dark with a sleeping Ryan didn't sound so fun, so Aaron had a pretty impressive Plan B. He took Ryan to a special Holiday Inn in Shanghai, and they had their "Father/Son Outing" there. There is this pool on an upper floor of this high-rise hotel that has a glass bottom over the street below. Pretty cool and scary at the same time! Ryan had a great time with his dad, and they both slept a bit more comfortably than the original outing would have allowed.

Random October Happenings... October 2012

Random October Happenings

We bought a tuk yuk!!! There are two benches in the back, so I can put all four kids in and have a little more freedom to take the kids here and there.

The girls love using the sponge curlers on a Saturday night to get their hair curled for Sunday.

I love these two paci suckers! Even if they do get in our bed nearly every night and prevent us from some precious ZZZZs.

Quotes to Remember

We were in Munich and just checking into our Hotel and both the girls needed to go to the bathroom. We all ran upstairs to our rooms and they both bolted into the bathroom. They began to fight over which one was going to use the toilet first. They argue for a few seconds when Katie shouts, "Mom, which one of us do you want to pee their pants?!" (May, 2009)
We were driving home from church last week and I said something like, "We are going to buy a Toyota Sequoia". Suddenly from the back we hear our 4 year old, Ashley, pipe up ... "You killed my Father...Prepare to Die!"...somehow she confused "Toyota Sequoia" with "Inigo Montoya" from the Princess Bride! (May, 2009)
Ashley and I were playing a card game when she says to me, "pause the game, I have to go to the bathroom". This is when I realized the technology gap between my childhood and hers.
I asked Ashley what country she was born in (she was born in Canada). She told me that she couldn't remember, so I tried to give her a hint. I said, "you were born in Cannnn...". To which she immediately exclaimed in triumph..."CANDYLAND!!"
Katie woke us up this morning telling us we needed to get up. Heather told her that her head hurt and she wasn't going to get up yet. Katie responds, "But you don't WALK on your head, so get up!"