A grandchild on the way!

Our youngest daughter Vanessa is expecting!! We are very excited to be grandparents again! It's been so fun with Dylan and we love him sooo much and now we get to have another grandchild and Brandon & Emily are planning to get pregnant later this year - we will be bursting with love and excitement. :)

She has been living in Palm Desert, California but has decided to move home sooner rather than later to be near her family who loves her very much. We truly are fortunate to have a big loving and supportive family!

She and her friend will stay with us until he can get a job in the area to support them. It's not ideal for them - who really wants to live with their parents after living on thier own for 3 years? We have missed Vanessa so much and I have shed many tears the past 3 years! She and I have always been close. I am really looking forward to having her near!!!

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska June 2009

Hey, thought I'd update my blog and post pics of our trip to the Kenai Peninsula Alaska. We went to help Curt's brother Steve work on his cabin. It's located near the town of Sterling - and by town I mean a gas station, a post office and a few small stores off the main road. It's also about 20 minutes to Soldotna. We managed to get the wiring done - and by we I mean that I was the "Vice President in Charge of Construction" and "Lighting Placement" and "Material Handler" which meant that I spent hours in the car to and from Home Depot (yes they have a Home Depot and a Lowes! Walmart to begin construction soon) Curt was acting "Electrician" and Steve was CFO.

Our breaks consisted of "Combat Fishing" on the Kenai River where it meets the Russian River. The Russian River is crystal clear and the Kenai River is blueish green.

I got some great shots of wildlife and scenery. Check out my snapfish site to see all the pictures.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=886857022/a=164714888_164714888/

We are looking forward to going back and spending more time at the cabin, the peninsula, Seward, Denali etc. It truly is a trip worth taking if you love beautiful sights!

Until next time.........

Spring Break

I am old enough to know that Spring Break is really for students but when we planned our trip we didn't think about the timing - other than the fact that it worked for our schedules.

We spent 7 nights in Kuaui! Love Love Love Kuaui! We had a great time - enjoying the scenery and each other. Seems like we both work so hard that we don't really take time out to just relax and worry about only each other and not about business and other things.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=297773697/a=164714888_164714888/t_=164714888

Above is a link to view our Kuaui Pictures - it's the easiest way for us to share with friends and family. If you have never used Snapfish - it's real easy - just create a user and password. I takes only a minute or two. Seriously. If you decide to look I have to warn you - there are some unflaterring photos and poses!

The scenery is beautiful and we took alot of pictures - which don't really do justice to the real thing! The best part about it is that there are no snakes! I am actually scared to death and freak out - hyperventilate - and my heart beats out of my chest. No joke! Anyway - I was able to hike in the jungle and enjoy nature. It was sooo freeing for me. We got in alot of physical activity which is good.

Other than that - the kids are all doing well. Dylan is super cute and we get to keep him for 8 days when Brandon & Emily go to Oahu! They will bring him up and will come back here before going back to Phoenix. Ideally it would have been better for them if we would have went down there but we are both so busy with work that it made more sense for us. They like to stay with us anyway so it works out fine.

We got a new desktop - actually I had to get it for my business since I have hired a part time gal to help out. Anyway - we ordered it with a webcam so we get to see Dylan and the kids and Dylan gets to see us on a regular basis. It's not the same as hugs and kisses and snuggling but it's the next best thing.

My business is doing well - I am branching out to Seattle as it has a good market for what I do. Works out well because I LOVE Seattle! I have some friends there and it's always good to catch up. Speaking of that - I've got work to do so that's all for now.

Just a reminder - we have plenty of room for the Stephens siblings and families to come and visit. :)

Take care,

Suzanne

More Misc. Pictures

Near Moses Lake Washington - Near Spokane. Curt had gone to the job site in January and took this picture of the ice. It was really cold but it is cool looking.

Solomon Trimble, Me, Issac Trimble. Solomon is in Twighlight - the movie - he plays an Indian - LOL - and part of the Wolf Pack. Issac is also a native american actor. They both split their time between LA and Portland. As it turns out - we have mutual friends in Indian Country and they came to our Tribal Center to help with a Fundraiser for a family. Issac also donated 2 flutes that he made - he is an excellent flute player and Solomon is a very good traditional dancer.

Cami Krise, Me, Mom, Nancy Hansen at the Plankhouse in Ridgefield, WA for the Winter Gathering. Always nice to see friends!!!!

Amanda,

Savannah & Vanessa chillin.

Christmas Fun

Ummm- Vanessa and her roommate Amanda drove home for Christmas from Palm Springs after their flights were cancelled. Everything was fine - but from the top of Cali and through Oregon the roads were diffucult at best. They made it until they got a few miles from home and did 3 360's on the highway!!! They were ok but were shaken up and sore. Curt was in front and saw it happenening. Vanessa was ummm VERY happy to see her Ma!!

Me and Vanessa

Curt, Savannah and Vanessa sledding down one of the hills by our house.

Savannah, Vanessa & me - it was really fun sledding down the hill. Funny thing is - none of the neighbor kids were out so we borrowed thier sleds and had a great time!

My little snow angels. :P

Misc. Pictures

Curt Shoveling our deck - which he had to do twice. We had alot of snow this winter which was fun! He's a good driver in the snow so he took good care of us and the neighbors.

Grandpa and Dylan Christmas Tree hunting - ya at a lot - we went to the farms but the trees were shitty plus it was cold, rainy and windy - not ideal for our grandson who is used to Phoenix weather.

Me & Dylan - he's sooo cute!

This is Curt outside Soldier Field in Chicago - this past October. We were there for the annual NECA Convention. It was fun - we got to see the show and we attended classes together - I am interested in solar, wind etc. We also got to see most of the City - the tourist sites anyway and some local restuarants that we really good. MMMMM Chicago Pizza!

Me on the path - this path goes all the way from the convention center to downtown. We enjoyed the sights and the exercise.

Seriously......

Ok - I knew it had been a while since I posted - but 3 months??? Seriously......

I have been super busy! Back in October - Curt and I went to Chicago on business. It was really fun and we got to do quite a bit of sightseeing. We have a policy - whenever we are in a new city we do not eat at any chain restuarants - instead we eat at local places with local flare and unique qualities. We have some pictures but I have not had a chance to download them. Also in October - I went to Phoenix to take care of our precious grandson - love love love being a grandma! Who would have thought that being a grandma was SOOOO much fun? If I could be 1/2 the grandma my grandma was I'm in good shape! I also went to Palm Springs to spend time with Vanessa. Love Palm Springs! It's beautiful and warm and most of all my youngest lives there! I have to say that at times I feel a bit inadequate with the rich people on the flights - ok not really - but seriously.....who needs rings that big? Who needs their socks to match their sweaters? LOL

November - oh - November was really busy with work - one of my contracts kept me traveling across Oregon and parts of Washington - I really enjoyed it and I seem to be good at training. Who knew? LOL

Can't beleive it's December already! My first child - Savannah turned 22 on December 8th!!! Seriously - can she be that old already? I guess that makes me a bit older as well. LOL I also took a part time seasonal job at Coach - for those of you who don't know - Coach is a high end designer bag store. (purses) I really like it!!! I have never worked in retail but seem to be good at it....haven't heard any complaints LOL. I also have to say that I LOVE the employee discount! Dylan got to come up and spend part of a week with us - he is the best little boy I know - the cutest too!!! We just love him so much and we have so much fun with him. I took him to see Santa Clause last week - he was cool with it until Santa tried to hold him. I picked him up and sat next to Santa so we both had our picture taken. It was that or nothing. Me and Savannah took Dylan to Cafe Sip n Play - Dylans favorite place to go play when he's here.

We are off to LA Wednesday - then to Disneyland on Thursday with Dylan, Brandon & Emily. Back home on Friday just in time for round two of winter storms. Since we live on the Columbia River Gorge on a hill we get really strong winds. It's going to be under freezing for the next week to week and 1/2. For those of you who are saying "Thats Nothing - Try Living in Idaho" I have to politely decline. NO Thank you!!!! I do like to have changing seasons and I enjoy snow but I couldn't live in freezing tempuratures for extented periods of time. Good news is my husband keeps me warm!!

I'll post some pictures when I get time. :)

Till next time..........