The Curse of October

I don't know what it is, but every October my kids get the vomiting flu. Why?? Dallin started vomiting last Friday night, and then had the runs on top of that for 4 days. No fever just vomit and runny poop for 4 days. Then I think we are past it and Kabrynna starts in on Tuesday. Chaden calls me at 4:30 and I had just left to go to the temple at 4:00 for Young Women's, telling me she is throwing up. SWEET BEANS!!! Doug was about 15 minutes from home. How sad that my little 6 year old didn't have me there ( I am the hair holder and sanitizer). She was violently ill. No lie, every 10 minutes for about 6 hours. Every 20 minutes for about 3 hours. She said to Doug while at the toilet, "Can't I just pass this on?". Broke my heart. Doug is like sure, give it to me, I'll take it. Too bad it doesn't work that way. So, I told Chaden yesterday to just prepare to be sick on Halloween (the glass is half empty), just so he isn't disappointed. Last year my sister was here and her kids got the vomiting flu on Halloween because my kids had been sick the week before. The year before that I went to Utah and my kids got the vomiting flu while there for fall break. I am really starting to feel that October is just a month I think I'd like to bypass. I very much dislike the vomiting flu as much as I hate cleaning it up. So, Chaden is at school today and not sick yet, so I'll cross my fingers. I guess the moral of the story is- Steer clear of the Stephens in October, you never know what trick-or-treat you will get from us. Hopefully we will be well for Halloween and be able to enjoy the whole day with fun and lots of my favorite food, candy.

Ward Halloween Party

Getting ready for the Trunk-or-Treat party

Friday night was our ward Halloween party. This year Chaden is an alien, Kabrynna settled on the punk rocker skeleton, and Dallin is a bat. I sprayed Kabrynna's hair purple and pink, painted Chaden and Kabrynna's finger nails glow in the dark green, painted faces, glued fake bright pink eyelashes on Kabrynna, and made some chili. We got to the party and Kabrynna sobbed for about 10 minutes because "everyone is staring at me". So funny considering it is Halloween and everyone stares at everyone. She calmed down and had a great time. Chaden had a blast going from trunk to trunk with his friends. I sat in the back of our trunk handing out candy and watching Dallin pretend he was playing the guitar to the Halloween music I had playing. Doug was cooking and cleaning up. I made some chili to bring, and I only had about 30 minutes to get it ready. I am not a chili fan, so I didn't really know what it should taste like, so I just made it and took it. I WON SECOND PLACE!! I never win anything. There was about 20 different chili's and I won second place. Go figure. I had a great laugh. All in all it was a great party.

A Little Of This And That

Happy to see baby Braeden!

I am so excited to say I have a new little nephew, Braeden Iund. He is absolutely perfect and chunky! He is the son to my brother Evan and his wife Lindy. They live only about 20 minutes from me. We are so glad to have a cousin here. Also, Mark and Tisha (Mark has been Evan's best bud since the 4th grade and Tisha as she says is "my sister from another mister") they had a baby girl, McKinley Williamson, on October 16th. We are excited for the both of them and are so glad that both families are here with us. It sure makes life easier. The kids didn't get to see Braeden until he was 3 weeks old because of the fabulous cold season. When they did it was great!

How to catch up??

October '07- Brylee, Yvonne, Dallin, and Grandma Denise. Brylee got her cast on after 2 days of having it in a sling. Just in time to go trick or treating here in Arizona.

March '08- At the Phoenix Zoo for spring break this year.

October '07- Halloween with the Rodabough's. My sister came from Utah and Brylee broke her arm the second day here, and then Caid got the vomiting flu on Halloween. Great fun for Yvonne.

October '07- Dallin had a run in with the dresser drawer while goofing off during family prayer. It was also my first night away at Young Women's. Pretty ironic.

October '07. Doug received the priesthood and then right after stood in for his niece's baby blessing. Mom, Doug, Dallin, and Zoe.

October '07- Dallin was a chicken last year. He absolutely hated it, even though right here you can't tell.

November '08- Evan, Lindy and Dallin just a few hours after the hospital.

April '08- The kids had great fun coloring Dad's face. He is a better sport than me.

May '08- Chaden at the zoo for a field trip.

November '07- Chaden and his saguaro cactus.

November '07- Doug is so very proud of his gorgeous thanksgiving dinner that he cooked in the dutch ovens. We had a turkey, potatoes, and rolls all made in the ovens. Chaden, Evan and Lindy all joined in his excitement.

Camping Thanksgiving of '07

November '07- Kabrynna and I

November '07- Feeling pretty good considering he was just badly burned 2 days before.

November '07- On our way home stopping at Roosevelt Lake.

December '07- Kabrynna and Dallin after her performance at the Winter Wonderland. This is about as much winter as we get here in the desert. It has to be made and brought in.

June '08- Our Little Angels

June '08- Mom Iund and I. I love that lady!!

June '08- Lora, LaRell, Us, Mom and Dad Stephens

June '08- This is priceless with them all in white thanks to Doug's loving Mom.

June '08- We are officially sealed as an eternal family!!

Where do I even begin? How do you catch up on 13 years? Fast forward a lot I guess. We have had an amazing year. On May 31st, Doug received his endowments, which was so great because it is also his Mom's birthday that day and how great that was. We were so grateful that some of his family made the sacrifice to drive here and share with us that beautiful, long awaited day. On June 14th, 2008 we were able to be sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple. That was such a sweet blessing in our life. Words can not describe how blessed I feel to part of such a great plan. It is so great that we have a Father who loves us so, He has created such a perfect plan to give us hope and faith to go forward. So many loved ones came. We had neighbors from Utah that have been such a great example and blessing to our life who were able to be there, my grandparents, which I feel so fortunate to have 3 out of the 4 still here, and especially all of our families. I wouldn't give that day up for anything. It was perfect! So, I guess I'll give a "rewind" of what each person has done or is doing:

Doug- He currently works for D.R. Horton building homes. In the last 3 years he has been with them he has been an Area Manager, and a Superintendent. Yes, things are very slow, but we know things will work out whatever they may be. He serves as 2nd counselor on the Sunday School Pres., and on the Activities Committee. He is getting older and does have some grays, but that is why "Just For Men" makes money. ;) He loves his bed, teasing, Caramel Caribou ice cream (which can only be purchased at a Kroger store), and golfing. He enjoys taking us to the Diamondback games when he can score free tickets, and mostly he loves the heat here. (Not really)

Amanda- Unfortunately I am not that interesting. I think I used to be, but I guess it is age. Maybe not, but I'll blame it on that. I am still trying to figure out what I can do, and want to do. I think it is called "developing my talents", which I don't really know yet what my talents are, but I will find out. I have been a "Homemaker" for the last 4 years. Things tend to be a little slow some days, (I know crazy huh?) but Dallin can pretty much annihilate any room in a matter of seconds. I serve as the Laurel advisor, and absolutely love each girl in the program. I have learned more than what I have taught. We are preparing for Young Women In Excellence which will be absolutely beautiful, as are each of the girls. I enjoy reading, camping, visiting with our family when we can, being alone with Doug after the kids are in bed while he eats his ice cream and we watch our tivo'd shows. That's when you know you have been married a while. :)

Chaden- He is a game crazed 10 year old. He loves anything that has games. Because we have come to realize that video games are like kryptonite to him, for his "safety" he has been limited to very seldom use. He is very intelligent and a great son. He is participating in a program at school called "Battle of the Books". They have 4 books they have to read every 2 months, and then his team goes up against other teams and they are questioned. If they win they get to go before the city and on from there. He loves spending time with Doug and I. He is so sweet and we are so grateful he is ours to help raise.

Kabrynna- She is a very imaginative 6 year old girl that is ALL girl. Kabrynna is a social butterfly and loves everyone. She loves the make-up, nail polish, she tells me how she wants her hair done, (which drives me crazy), she loves horses, jewelry, as long as it is mine or someone else's, and she loves to play with the neighbor girls no matter what the age, as long as she can play. She is the 3rd highest reader in her class. She can spell well, and loves school. She is always doing tumbling stunts and the "look what I can do", which is so funny. She is a great blessing in our life.

Dallin- Where do I begin? He is 2 going on 10. He is so funny and animated. We are attempting the potty training torture. I thought it was going to be easy but I have soon found out that maybe we should just wait. Needless to say we are still trying. He can seriously destroy a room in seconds flat, but I would be very bored without him. Dallin, is definitely our accident prone child. He has cut his eyelid open, fell in the campfire (terrible), cut open his toe, has more bruises on him at one time than I have had in a lifetime. But he is happy and healthy. He loves trucks, four wheelers, and motorcycles. He is ALL boy. He is a sweet last addition to our family.

Well, now that I feel that is a pretty good intro, hopefully things will be more interesting on my next posts. I guess I can say I am officially a "greenie" in the blogging world.