A sad, sad day in our family

Okay, I have to share my sorrow with you all. Three things have happened today, one to each of my three girls, to make this a sad, sad day in our family.

First, Mikaela has lost her last baby tooth. My baby is growing up! Deep sorrow there as we enter a new phase of her (and our) lives.

Second, Jillian has learned to tie her shoes! Being the baby, I was in no hurry to teach her this growing-up skill - so she finally gave up on me, and taught herself. Man, I just wanted her to stay little! She thinks she has now accomplished the "last" of the growing up skills and is now ready for adulthood.

Third, Camryn figured out the Santa secret. I know, she is 8, but again, I was just trying to keep her little for awhile longer. Now I am having to answer endless questions ... "how do they have the Santa Tracker on the computer", "where did the dirty footprints come from outside the fireplace on Christmas morning" and "where do our letters go every year"?

Guess I should figure out what I want to be when I grow up before my kids all beat me there!

Happy Halloween!

Here is a picture of our goblins...

In case you can't tell, we have a Cave Woman, A Slumber Party Girl, and a Kitty. Mikaela made her own costume (first time!), and her and her two good friends all had matching wigs. Camryn has been wanting new pajamas, so this was her sneaky way of getting them (make them be a costume).

Oh, and for Leah, here was our dinner...

Sweet and Sour Eyeballs, Vampire Brains, Bloody Lady Fingers and Dragon Blood to drink.

A very long weekend

This past weekend was our Girl Scout Service Unit Encampment out at Camp Lyle McLeod. Okay, in laymans terms, that means that all the scouts from this area get to have an entire camp to ourselves all weekend. An older troop plans and runs the entire weekend, so all we have to do is show up. It's a great camping experience without all the work.

My troop (9 girls and 4 adults) got the wonderful pleasure of staying in the Ark this time. The camp is actually situated around a lake - there are several units along the 1 1/2 mile trail around the lake. The Ark is a floating cabin that is on the complete OTHER side of the lake from the lodge and all the activities. It's very cool to stay in a floating cabin (complete with full size walls and closing doors that many units don't have), but it is a challenge walking the 3/4 mile through the woods to get to everyone else! Sooooooo, since we are "special", we got to CANOE across the lake to our cabin, in the total darkness, on Saturday night after campfire! I have to admit (and note, I am NOT a camper), it really was very cool to canoe by moonlight! Truly the highpoint of the weekend.

The girls actually did a great job cooking, hiking, acherying, wood burning, swimming, crafting, cleaning, and all the other "fun" things involved in girl scout camping. I heard no complaining this year - a wonderful change from past years. I'm exhausted - but I think they all could have stayed another day or two.

Here are a few pictures ... for more, check out our troop picture album at: http://www.costcophotocenter.com/groups/juniortroop3127.And Camryn was able to attend with her troop this year - their first camping experience! They did get to stay in an indoor unit tho, complete with electricity, flushing toilets, and hot running water! Man, I was jealous of their warm (and clean) leaders!

Summer fun at the school

Here are a few pictures of my latest project. Since I am starting up a geography program at the school this year, the principal mentioned that it might be fun to have some maps painted on the playground. Of course you can't say "it might be great if..." to me without me taking the idea and running with it - no matter how big and ridiculous it may be! Sooooo, my family, along with about 20 other PTA volunteers, have painted two wonderful maps on the playground! The kids and teachers will be surprised next week when school starts! We would need a ladder to get a good picture - but you get the idea. They are BIG and BRIGHT! I had a great time picking the colors!

I got in!

After two months of trying to login, I finally figured out my new Google login and password! Guess I'll have to post on here now (if I don't forget it all again).

A blog-visit to the hospital

Since you all aren't lucky enough to go visit Dad in the hospital this week, I thought I'd take you there - virtually...

This is the door to his accomodations last night. Sorry, but I didn't think to bring the camera that night, so we have no pictures of him actually in there. You know, you don't really think to grab the camera when you get the call that your dad has had a heart attack. Next time I'll try to do better!

They had him hooked up to every machine possible. There were wires and tubes everywhere ... he couldn't move much at all.

Here is tonight's fancy suite, and Dad modeling his lovely hospital attire. You can tell he is feeling MUCH better today.

Dad did get in trouble today from the nurse for leaving his room. He took off to the cafeteria to get a coke, and she was standing in the hall waiting for him when he returned! They have him hooked up - still - so they don't want him going far. Guess his heart rate went down to 30 this evening. They came running to check on him when they spotted that! He pottied, which caused the drop ... guess that is a very relaxing activity. :)

Here he is trying to make another get-away so we can go throw pennies in the fountain. We all are a little overwhelming when we show up at the hospital - aren't we?!?!?

Well, now you know what we do. He's hoping to convince the Dr. to spring him tomorrow (Thursday).!

Let's Go To Victoria!

Since it's Spring Break, we decided to take a quick trip to Victoria, BC. The weather was suppose to only be nice Wednesday and Thursday of this week, so on Monday I booked us on the Victoria Clipper for those two days.


The Clipper started boarding at 7:00 am, so it was an early morning and a long three hour boat ride. The girls were so excited tho!

Once we got in, we checked into our motel, the Royal Empress, and set off on our two day walking tour of Victoria. We spent an exhausting two days shopping, visiting the Royal London Wax Museum, Miniature World, shopping some more, seeing an IMAX movie (Mystery on the Nile), going to a Bug Museum, walking the waterfront, shopping a little more, visiting Undersea Gardens, swimming, and looking at all the beautiful flowers and architecture in Victoria. The Clipper arrived back in Seattle at 8:30 pm last night and, after clearing customs (for the third time) and driving home, we finally arrived home at 10 pm with three sleeping, but happy, girls.

Happy Easter Birthday Mikaela!

Today we have an extra special celebration at our house. It's Easter AND Mikaela's 11th birthday! Wow - how time flies!
Easter 2003

Latest Scam

Seems the Better Business Bureau got a complaint the other day about a scam in which AFLAC allegedly was taking advantage of women on the street and stealing their money.Now we all at one time or another have thought that INSURANCE Companies have stolen from us; however, this scam is netting COLD HARD CASH from unsuspecting individuals.The way it works is the thief uses children to distract the target. While admiring the cuteness of the kids the target is robbed of her cash and never knows what hit her.I’m sending this out for all to be aware that this is happening and it’s right out on the streets in front of the general public.A passer-by with a digital camera phone happened to capture the photo attached.Review it carefully and use caution when distractions like this come along.Good Luck, and don’t say you weren’t warned.

Okay, I'll play too ...

Some random facts about me!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? not that I know of
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? yesterday
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? not really
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? anything sliced real thin
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? YES!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? possibly
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? never!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I would have when I was younger - not anymore tho!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Fruity Pebbles
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? definately (tho not physically) - and I want all three of my girls to be also!
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? anything smothered in chocolate syrup
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? attitude
15. RED OR PINK? PINK!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my skin
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My sisters and brother
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING ? red and black flannel pj's and grandma's slippers
20 WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? girls scout cookies - thin mints to be exact
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Addison watching "Dirty Jobs"
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? purple
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? freshly mowed grass, blooming flowers, christmas trees
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE ? Mom
25.PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? stole it
26. HAIR COLOR? red
27. EYE COLOUR? green
28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? sometimes
29. FAVORITE FOOD? salmon
30.SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Ice Princess with the girls - it was great!
32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black with red and white scottie dogs - my pj's
33. SUMMER OR WINTER . summer
34. HUGS OR Kisses? hugs - kisses are nasty!
35. FAVORITE DESSERT? hot fudge sundae cake topped with vanilla ice cream
38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? some mindless trashy novel - a great escape from reality
39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Dell - how boring!
40. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST? HGTV
41. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SOUND? my girls laughing together
42. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles!
43. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Saudi Arabia when I was a kid - DC as an adult
44. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I don't think so
45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Renton, WA

One weekend down ... one to go!

I have a few pictures to post. Here is the all cast picture(s) - I'm too lazy to try to crop them together at this point. The K-2 graders are in the white shirts (little men in black), and the 3-6 graders are in the colored shirts. See if you can find my two (one is a little man in black in the top picture and one is in a red shirt in the second one).







I have some video on my camera, but don't know how to get it on here so you can watch it. I'll have more pictures next weekend when Addison "gets" to sit in the audience and watch.

The fun has only just begun...

Tomorrow night is our first performance of "Mission Possible". With a cast of 90+ kids, it has been an extremely busy and stressful past 6 weeks trying to get this all pulled together. I was asked to assist with backstage help - and agreed - but had no idea what that really meant! I envisioned getting to know some wonderful and hard working members of our new congregation, being with my kids while they were rehearsing, and having a great time. Well, those all came true, but at the expense of spending 6 evenings a week, for the past few weeks, at the church building, many of those being extremely late nights (I haven't been out until midnight since before I had kids!). I am the "stage right" hand, dressed in black, in headphones with script and notes in hand. I know what every kid is wearing in all 13 songs, where it is kept, who is in each scene (for the entire two hour performance), and every other in-and-out of the backstage organization of such a huge production. All stage charts have been done on my computer, and changed after every rehearsal to meet the needs of everyone. Needless to say, my house is a mess, we have no food anywhere, clean clothes are very hard to come by, I am extremely sleep deprived, but I am in organizational-hog-heaven! I have a whole new group of absolutely wonderful christian friends who are as committed - if not more - than I am to making this a wonderful experience for our kids and a successful outreach to the community.

Man, I've never blogged so much in my life! Probably never will again either. :)

Oh, Mikaela and Camryn both have a few lines in the musical. They are thrilled! The main parts go to the sixth graders - something for Mikaela to look forward to next year. I wish you all could come and see it...I'll try to get Addison to take some pictures during the performances so I can post them here.

Break a leg...

Looking in...

Introducing ... Lily Rose!

Meet Mom's New Baby! Lily Rose was born on Thankgiving Day and will be ready to join the Stephens Clan sometime in the next few weeks. Isn't she so cute?!?!?!?!?This is Lily Rose's Momma with hre three darling babies.