Graduation!

After 18 months of hard work, Scott graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey as a distinguished graduate. He received his MBA with an emphasis in finance.

Yosemite

This past weekend we went to Yosemite National Park. I haven't been there since I was a kid and Scott (and Matthew!) have never been there so we wanted to take the opportunity before we move far far away from California. It was a good time of year to go, beautiful fall colors, not very many tourists and very nice weather. We hiked a little bit and took a tram tour of the valley floor (on which Matthew only cried a little bit and was admired by all). My favorite thing was looking up at the rock face of El Capitan and being able to see the tiny tiny rock climbers part way up the wall. It really puts it in perpsective how huge the mountain is. I think Scott's favorite part was when we saw a black bear running near the side of the road. He even stopped to look at us before he scampered away (see picture below of him scampering...it's a bear I promise!). It was a fun trip to a beautiful area.

Beneath El Capitan

Keeping warm on the tram ride

Half Dome

A bit like a Big Foot picture...but it's a little black bear cub running away from us...really!

My First Halloween!!

Trick or Treating at the Del Monte Center

Decorating pumpkins

Matthew's pumpkin with one (wishful) tooth...

Matthew at his playgroup Halloween party

All the playgroup pals...

Hanging out in his ferocious TIGER costume!

Matthew the Tiger meets Alice in Wonderland!

The Pumpkin Patch

We took a family outing to the Pumpkin Patch this week.
Matthew got to see some of the farm animals that live there and pick out his first pumpkin.

Matthew looks unimpressed with the goat.

He wasn't too keen on the donkey either.

Mom and Matthew pose, but I think someone wants to get back to pumpkin picking.

Matthew finally found the perfect pumpkin!
Happy Halloween from the Guptill's!!

Disneyland...Take 2

A few months ago we took Matthew to Disneyland. It didn't go over too well. But, undaunted, we tried again this week. We went on lots of rides (even Finding Nemo and Pirates of the Caribbean!) and he wasn't scared. We were even daring enough to take him to a few restaurants...and we went swimming! We had a good time.

Matthew tries to pull the sword from the stone

Matthew drives a "motor car" at Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Matthew offers to share his delicious foot with any who want a taste

Matthew celebrates "Talk Like a Pirate" Day (Sept. 19)

Matthew and Dad go for a swim at the Grand Californian Hotel

Matthew enjoys a delicious glass of water

Matthew and Dad on the Jungle Cruise

Matthew sleeping after a long day

International Baby of Mystery

Matthew and I have been sick. I like to say it's "the flu" because that garners more sympathy than just a "cold" and I have been feeling pretty miserable. The good part of being sick is that we can stay home in our pajamas and sleep a lot. Matthew has had a lot of congestion and much to his dismay has had his nose suctioned with a bulb syringe a few times. He hates it, but it helps him breathe better.
Matthew's latest tricks...he can almost sit up unassisted and he spends a lot of time on his stomach (perhaps thinking about crawling). Every morning I put him down to play on his blanket and he rolls right over the door to try and pick up Daddy's shoes (and eat them). When I don't let him do that he is a little put out and rolls over to his jogger stroller and tries to eat that. I put a pillow in front of it now. He has started to respond to his name. We weren't sure if he was going to, because we call him "buddy" and other little names like that a lot. But now when we say "Matthew", he looks. He's eating solid foods, but he doesn't seem to like them very much. He eats baby cereals, peaches, carrots and sweet potatoes...we are slowly increasing the menu. He likes to grab the spoon and feed himself and then he holds onto it very tightly and won't give it back. He probably just wants it to chew on. He's really interested in cups...he watches closely when people drink from cups, so we let him drink a little water from a small plastic cup now and then. He always seems surprised that there is something in the cup. He hasn't quite figured out what to do with the sippy cup yet...except that it's good for biting (or gumming). Still no teeth, but they probably aren't too far off. He also loves tags right now...he will check the toy he is playing with to see if it has a tag...if it doesn't have a tag, he moves on to the next. He recently discovered that the big boppy pillow has a really BIG tag, so he likes that one now. He also has a new small blanket from grandma with tags all the way around the outside (see picture above)!
We took him to get his picture taken yesterday for his baby class photo. Matthew and I go to a baby class every Thursday. It's really for the moms and dads, but we sing songs and stuff with all the babies, so he's going to get a baby class picture. Kinda funny.
We also had to take him to get a passport since we are moving to Japan in January. It was funny getting the little mugshot photo and filling out the personal info (height - 2 feet 4 inches, hair color? - we guessed brown). He is going to be our world traveler baby.

Matthew Pictures

Matthew and Daddy at Will's wedding

Matthew at his "playgroup"...sometimes he needs a rest.

Just hanging out...

Matthew enjoys Disneyland

Free of those pesky clothes...

GUPFAM 2007!!

Hey family and friends!! Welcome to GUPFAM 2007!!! Your one stop source for all things "GUP." Here's Scott, Emily and Matthew Guptill hanging out, and suspiciously, all wearing the same color shirts...hmmm.

We've had a good summer, that ended with the longest ride EVER back from San Jose along with everyone else in the bay area clamoring for a glimpse of the Guptill's estate in Monterey...(aka our tiny two bedroom apartment overlooking Cannery Row and the bay). We drove up to San Jose this morning to run a quick errand (bad idea) and got stuck in the holiday traffic coming back down. Very painful for everyone.
We've decided not to leave town for the rest of the weekend.


We just got back from a quick trip to Oregon and Washington to attend my brother's wedding. Here are mom and dad Keeler with Will and Courtney outside the Columbia River Temple in Richland, Washington. It was fun to see everyone and even though Matthew cried for a lot of the weekend, I think, secretly, he had a good time too. He really liked Ruth's sunglasses.