Some really good news

Remember Wendy, who took these photos of my family?

I can't tell you how grateful I was for having my family photos taken with Wendy.
I cried after viewing the photographs she took.
The photos of my family were so beautiful.
I highly recommend her.

I can't wait to use these as our Christmas pictures!

I Love My Life

While in Utah, my cute friend Wendy Whitacre
took these photos of us. She did a fabulous job.
Looking at these pictures makes me so happy. 

She perfectly captured my feelings about life, my kids, and my husband.

There was a deer in the apple orchards. 

And apparently, I was really excited!

Utah: chapter four

Letters to Mr. Nielson: Smores on the Beesely farm.

Dear Mr. Nielson,

Yesterday you left on a jet plane back to the 115-degree weather

leaving our monkeys and me in Utah.

 How are you doing alone?

I'm assured you found everything in order back at the Lazona Estate? 

 I scrubbed that house from top to bottom before 

I left so when you got home, you would be as comfortable 

and happy as possible- especially since you'll be alone.

(Even though I know it's impossible to be happy without me. Wink.)

This evening after a hefty day of shopping with my mom and Lucy,

 (not much loot, just a lot of walking. Lucy needs to find the perfect dress

 to match her beautiful sapphire necklace that Andrew 

made, which costs more than our house and car.)
Lucy invited me down for some good old-fashioned smores.
Andrew was excited to show me his concord grape vineyard and the

rows and rows of beets, romaine, cabbage, squash, pumpkins, onions, corn, and potatoes.

 It was a vegetarian's dream come true. It is a beautiful garden.
But he was most excited to show me his beehive where he is raising honeybees.

More than 50,000 bees are nestled inside the hive, 

which will make over 60 pounds of honey. It's remarkable.

Andrew carefully lifted the hive open for me to glance at the busy little guys.

A few bees made their way up near us, and then I noticed they started 

landing on Andrew's shirt, then his shorts, then arms, and pretty soon, 

the bees were spewing out of the hive and all over both of us.

I may have said a bad word when Andrew got stung on his leg.
I said a bad word when a bee crawled up

 my pant leg and stung my thigh.

Then the children helped Andrew gather firewood for a nice little fire 

in the back of the orchard, where we made smores accompanied by Root Beer.

 It was a very wonderful evening, even if I was stung by a bee.

If you are wondering where your son Gigs was during the evening,

well, grandpa wouldn't let him out of his sight. 

He stayed home with grandpa, where they took Nan for a walk, 

got an ice cream cone at McDonald's, and even went for a ride in Mom's convertible.
I must admit, I am tired today. My legs are still a little sore from the Ragnar.

And, of course, I don't sleep well without you.

I miss you, and I LOVE YOU!
Yours, truly, madly, deeply,

Stephanie

Letters To Mr. Nielson: Bathing Beauties

Dear Mr. Nielson,
Whew, what a day!
The girls went down to Courtney's house on Briar Avenue

and played around in her birthing pool. They loved it! 

 I ate a sugar cookie from the Bakery and mugged on baby Chief. 

 He is a little fella and simply adorable.
Gigs took a very short 50-minute nap, and Oliver watched Sleeping Beauty for the quintillionth time. Van came over on his motorcycle and took Ollie for a ride around the block. 

 I wish you could have seen Ollie, he was in heaven!!

This evening, I took my cruiser around the tree-lined streets, reminiscing about my childhood.
I had a good childhood.
Then I made dinner. I steamed some broccoli, and my Dad told me to get a candle burning because the house smelled like pooh.

I am tired.

Good Night. I love you. Tomorrow is my 27th birthday.  My golden birthday!

How I wish I were spending it with you!!!

Stephanie

Letters to Mr. Nielson: Photo, Papa, and Pizza

Dear Mr. Nielson,
The children played hard today, spending most of their day

 with a handful of happy cousins.
In the morning, Oliver burned his hand on the stove and watched "flipper" 

with my mom on the couch all afternoon.

 Gigs had his usual 2-hour nap upstairs in my old room,

and how I wished I could crawl in his crib with him. He looked so peaceful.
I went to Courtney's house with the girls, and for some reason, she spent about an
hour taking pictures of Lucy and me as we talked on her bed.

We moved the party to Fir Avenue where I downloaded Coldplay's new tunes 

and made pizza on the grill with Andrew. 

 Papa Jones came to have dinner with us again this evening. 

 He told me after I sliced him a piece, that he really loved "burned pizza" 

and that I should open up a pizza joint...thanks pops!

I enjoyed using my dad's awesome grill

(that all of us kids gave him for Fathers Day),

it makes the pizzas delicious!
And, Gigs really loved it.  But he loves everything.

Then mom put Papa Jones (who is 95) in her swanky Audi convertible 

and we pretended he was in a parade and we all waved to him.

 It was a highlight of my life, and if that is the last time I see him, all is well. 

 I have a good memory of that great man!

Then the camera did this, and now it won't even take photos. 

 What on earth happened?
Really what happened?

Missing you lots, and I mean LOTS! I love you-

Stephanie