All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

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Camille lost her other tooth the other day. She's so cute now!

Elise's Purple Sparkle Birthday Bash

Everyone wearing purple!!


Decorating "Sparkly Glasses" with sparkle glue.


Eating Elise's fav meal, Pink Sauce Pasta.


Sparkly Purple birthday Cake

Having fun, isn't hard, when you have purple on!!

Family

This is of Celeste being absolutely adorable.

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Elise on a news show.

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I have a great family and I love them so much.

School

So, today was my first "real" day of school. And, I just had a TON of homework (some that I'm supposed to be doing right now). Last year the average per day was a bout 20- 30 min. Today it took me an hour and a half. Guess I wont be having a free afternoon any more with all the homework and my busy schedule.
Just to add to all of that, I'm getting braces on Thursday.

Here are the first day of school pictures. ( I dont have one because I have to get up so early and there was no time to take one).

Corn

So, I haven't posted in a while and I thought I would put these pictures up and change things up on the blog.






This is Celeste and her first attepmt at corn ON the cob. She is VERY scruffy.

Japan part III -- Rebekah's Utopia

We saw hundreds of kimono-clad women and girls -- not only in front of the Kabuki theater (which was awesome)

A crossroads in Shinjuku -- one of six neighborhoods that eclipse Times Square for lights, people, and energy

Part of our view from the Hilton's 23rd floor -- the 5 am earthquake was pretty dramatic that high up!

The view from a hillside buddhist monastery's spartan cafe in the seaside hamlet of Kamakura

"I want to move to Tokyo! 32 million people have never been so clean, polite, orderly, and warm."


So we loved our trip and have hundreds more pics and stories! We'll bore you with them when we see you next.

Japan part II -- peaceful mountains, frenetic city

Magnificent shrine to Tokugawa in Nikko (the site of Rebekah's tennis shoe karma)

Entrance to the ethereal shrine of Tokugawa's grandson (even more otherworldly in the mist)

One of hundreds of shrines nestled in the forest

Bento boxes are always good for a few surprises

Rebekah skipped the early morning Tsukiji fish market jaunt (hip-waders optional)

Japan part I -- "My kind of Asia"

Intricate Shinto shrines around Tokyo take you back centuries


Entering one of the many cozy traditional restaurants we sampled (hope you like seafood!)


Our first three nights were in tradiational ryokan (spare, graceful, tatami-matted inns)


Soaking in the onsen (hot springs) high in the mountains


The end of an amazingly lush six mile hike through Nikko Nat'l Park

Martsa on Elm

Last Friday, my dad, Elise, and Camille went camping. So, when my mom picked me up from piano camp, we went out to eat. The restaurant we went to was called Martsa on Elm, a Tibetan cuisine. I had the "vegetable delight" a vegetable mix with a yummy flavor. My mom had some vegetable mix that had cheese sauce in it. The food was DELICIOUS!! :) After dinner, ( we had little Runty with us) my mom and I came home and watched Sweet Home Alabama, a movie I wouldn't recommend for many reasons: boring, dragging on, etc.. It was a fun night. Then we spent Saturday together running errands. Here's the outside of the restaurant.(We did not take this picture, Google did ( a.k.a. a stranger who liked it as much as we did)).

Expedition, of Sorts

Today we went to the beach because it was such a beautiful day and we haven't had a beautiful day in a long time. There, we found out that Celeste loves it. Yesterday, we went to Pomp's Pond (because it was a semi-beautiful day). Pomp's Pond is a lake near our house, not a pond. Celeste threw a tantrum when we put her on the sand or let her toe touch the water. So, today, my mom set her on the dry sand and she, let's see, didn't really enjoy it. Then we put her on the wet sand further down, guess what, she started smiling and taking handfuls of sand and throwing them willy nilly. Elise and my mom started playing with her. After a while, we confirmed that she was a turtle. There was this one red bucket that she wouldn't let anyone touch because that was where she put HER sand ( like where she laid her eggs). Then she got bored of putting sand in a bucket so, she crawled to the water. Not walking but crawling ( she fell down too much when the weak wind blew on her). Earlier, we tried her with the water and she didn't like it but, now it seems like it was the most fun she ever had. From her going to the water and back to her red bucket, it showed that she was a turtle migrating. We forgot our camera and alas, could not take any cute pictures. Oh, and Happy fourth of July.

While I Still Have Time...

I've been getting distracted from this blog for quite a time, my piano camp starts tomorrow, and should probably get everyone up to date. To start off, Celeste started walking on Father's Day (since then, she causes even more trouble).

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(sorry Grandma Stephenson for the video, I'll try to get more pictures up but, it seems like I'm the only one recording anything)

Also, Celeste has a new word, Happy Birthday, (her first, Dada). She has many other words, but it's hard to understand what they mean.I'll try to get a video of "Happy Birthday" soon but, she doesn't cooperate.


That seems about it... here's a face that might creep you out.

My werewolf dad is now a...... Lizard Man!

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Summer

Summer feels like it will never come. I have two more weeks of school left and they just seem to drag on. Then when schools over, I have 4 days before I have to go to piano camp (well, I am excited about it). After piano camp for two 1/2 weeks I'm going to Utahto see the Miner cousins. Right after that, I go to girls camp. From girls camp I leave a day early to go the Stepenson reunion. I stay there for two weeks with my sisters while my parents are in Japan. Busy summer.

Celeste's Birthday (I know, its a little late but I was getting tired of looking at the werewolf)

Celeste being as cute as she always is. In the video the person saying,NO, No No, is luke, our neighbor's 20mnth old.

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Werewolf Builds a House

Jeff suggested the title for this entry, and Gwyneth agreed to let me post it. Gwyneth found this great picture of Dad at midnight, but during the day he's working on a playhouse.



The girls are very excited about the house and are often out "helping". Camille sometimes just likes to keep Jeff company when he's working.

California

Having fun at the Pool





Cowabunga






This is us having fun at a park near the hotel we stayed at for a night.





San Diego Zoo




Ooh Ooh Aah Aah