RENA'S 5 YEAR PICTURE

A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR RENA

On Wednesday afternoon we had a little birthday party for Rena with her friends Madeleine and Allison and Cameron's friend Thomas. We started out at Rainbow Play Systems for some fun and then headed over to a pizza place for some food!

Here was the party.....

Cameron, Maleah, Rena, Madeleine, Allison and Thomas.

Rena, the birthday girl!

Rena and Allison climbing!

Rena and Madeleine swinging -- poor Robyn and Jeff were in charge of pushing (but were able to get a little bit of chatting done in between pushes)!

Rena and Madeleine taking a break!

Cameron doing some swinging!

Cameron chasing Allison.......I'm pretty sure he caught her!

Maleah getting ready to slide!

Even Jeff got to do a little bit of swinging!

Time for presents!

Time to eat - we love pizza and cupcakes!! And we really love this pizza place because there is a t.v. at every table.........the kids are so well behaved when we eat out here!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (again) RENA!

SAN DIEGO, HERE WE COME!

We are on the move again......

It was less than one year ago (April 3, 2008 to be exact) that I sat here excitedly writing my post "Peoria, here we come!" and while I didn't expect to be writing this post so soon after writing the last one here I am - back, excitedly writing a new post...."San Diego, here we come!"

Unfortunately things did not work out as we had hoped for here in Peoria. For many reasons, we have chosen to take a voluntary separation for Jeff from Caterpillar. His last day of work was January 31st and he has been looking for a new job since we made the decision to leave. He has received an offer for a position in San Diego, California and we have accepted the offer and are now preparing for another move cross country!!

Jeff will being moving to California by himself in the next of couple weeks and the kids and I will stay here in Peoria until the house sells or until school is out. We are hoping that the house will sell in the next few months so that the kids and I can head back West as soon as the school year is over, but we are going to leave our plans open and just see what happens.

While we are excited for our next adventure we are also sad to be leaving. We have enjoyed our time in Peoria - we have made some great friends, love our home and neighborhood and love being so close to Peggy, Tami and Kari & her family. We are definitely going to miss all of them! Fortunately by moving to San Diego we will now be only a 3-hour drive from my other cousin, Gimi & her family and a 5-hour drive from my dad in Las Vegas. And, really, 19 hours in the car doesn't seem too long if it gets us to Washington state to visit Stacy & family, Grandma and Grandpa Keyes and all of our friends!

AND on another positive note -- I will be trading in my snow boots for a swim suit!! I definitely can't complain about the warm sunny days in San Diego!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY RENA!

Here's a look at Rena's special day and some of the great gifts that she got from everyone (that she hadn't opened early -- like the cute outfit and princess book from The McCullough's that has already gotten LOTS of use and the cute outfit and doll from Peggy that she takes everywhere with her).......

She got a new swimsuit, swimsuit cover-up, flip-flops and a Hannah Montana hat.....

She likes to model and pose for pictures.....

She got a cool new pink and purple baseball glove and ball, jump rope and hula hoop from Grandpa and Grandma Keyes.....

She got some very cute clothes from Grandpa and Grandma Schrader (& a cute card).....

From Maleah she got a whole new outfit for her build-a-bear bunny (including roller skates) and from Cameron she got a light saber......a purple light saber.....

We should be done buying light sabers now -- everyone has one of their favorite color.....

And Rena got a new scooter -- not just any scooter, though -- a two-wheel scooter. Only big girls use two wheel scooters......

After opening all of her gifts she wanted to try out her scooter. Everyone joined her outside, but no one lasted long in the 25 degree weather......

After we all went to Cameron's soccer game we came home for cake and ice-cream.....

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY RENA!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!

Today is my 29th Birthday!! OK - not really, but the kids believe me! :) It is really my 37th birthday and I had a great day!! It started with waffles, bacon and coffee and ended with pizza, rootbeer and ice-cream cake........all of my favorites!!

The kids each picked out a couple of presents for me -- Cameron got me the black dog and teddy bear holding the heart, Maleah got me the pretty pink flowers and a teddy bear, Rena got me 2 new baby dolls and they all got me 3 new pairs of flip-flops (can't wait for warmer weather to wear them!).

25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

This is actually a "facebook" thing, but I decided to post it here on my blog so that in 30 years when my kids are flipping through my blog book they will know 25 random things about their mom.....and since it's my birthday what better day to talk about myself!! :)

So, here goes.....25 Random things about Stefanie Jean Keyes.....

1. I hate lists, forms or interviews about myself and never reply to those e-mail questioners – I am only filling this out because I was tagged so many times...(and because Tami did it!!!)

2. My kids – Cameron, Rena and Maleah – are the best things to ever happen to me.

3. Jeff & I got married on the beach in Maui, Hawaii and honeymooned in Tahiti and it was the BEST 2 weeks of my life.

4. I have 1 sister and 3 cousins (who are like sisters to me) that I know I could count on for anything and mean the world to me.

5. I miss my mom and think of her every day - how much she would have loved my kids and how much my kids would have benefited from her love!

6. If I had a nickel for every time someone misspelled or mispronounced my name I’d be rich – it’s SteFanie – with an F – and “Keyes” is k-eyes...not keys...(make sense?)

7. I’m a salt-aholic...I salt everything...before I even taste it!

8. I use to smoke - and actually liked it and often miss it. (dumb, huh?)

9. I miss working, but don’t miss being a CPA. I would like to go back to school, get my teaching certificate and teach elementary school.

10. I am Christian, but constantly struggle with my faith and what I believe – which is why I am taking a class at church right now “Know what you believe”.

11. I love Junior Mints.

12. I hate my hair – always have, probably always will.

13. I hate being cold (so why did we move to Central Illinois where it is COLD for like 6 months straight???)

14. I love white wine – maybe a little bit too much!

15. I hate to mop...hate, hate, hate it!

16. I have an imagination that keeps me awake worrying at night...I can turn any little thing into a major problem or event.

17. I swore I’d never drive one...but I love my mini-van!

18. I was born and raised in Washington state – I lived there until I was 36 years old when I moved to Illinois.

19. I was never sick – not once – during all 3 pregnancies...had heartburn and was VERY uncomfortable after being pregnant and having 3 kids in 3 years, but never once threw-up!

20. My biggest worry about moving is missing out on my niece and nephews lives and that they won’t know how important they are to me and how much I love them.

21. I never knew how frustrated, irritated or how loud I could yell until I had kids...and I also never knew how deeply I could love until I had kids!

22. My favorite author is Jodi Picoult - my friend, Jill, loaned me one of her books and ever since I’ve been hooked – she tells a good story and deals with many important “issues”.

23. I like to watch HGTV – House Hunters, House Hunters International, Property Virgins, My Big Amazing Renovation, My House is Worth What?.......

24. My all time favorite movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

25. I cry way to easy.....sad stories, tv shows, songs, Hallmark commercials.....WAY to easy!!

OUR TRIP TO WASHINGTON

The kids and I arrived home yesterday evening from a busy, FUN week visiting our friends and family in Washington.

Our journey started last Friday afternoon after Cameron got home from school when we drove to Naperville to spend the night with Peggy. We arrived at her house at about 6:00 pm Friday night and here we are at 5:00 am Saturday morning ready for her to drive us to the airport........

The kids were great travellers........we all definitely had a better trip on the way to Washington then on the way home, though. I think we were all excited to see everyone on the way there and on the way home we were all just exhausted. Here are the kids at the airport waiting for our flight out of Chicago..........

And here's Rena on the airplane enjoying her new Princess coloring book that I brought along for her. I got each of the kids something new for the plane in hopes that it would help keep them busy and help the time pass a little quicker.

Our first visitors on Saturday night were Lisa and Jake Ayers. Craig, Sara and Emma joined us later, but we got to spend a nice full evening with Jake and Lisa.

On Monday morning the kids and I headed over the mountains to Moses Lake to visit Grandma and Grandpa Keyes. We stopped in Issaquah first to visit the kids old preschool teachers and then we made the 3 hour drive over Snoqualmie Pass.

The kids had a great time reading books and coloring with Grandma.

And also had a lot of fun playing MANY games of Fish with Grandpa.

On Tuesday afternoon we left Moses Lake and headed back West over the mountains. We stopped in Snoqualmie Ridge to visit with our friends The Mudds.

Cameron and Max had a fun time building with Legos and playing Star Wars Legos on the Playstation.

The girls had fun playing dress-up, coloring and just running around bugging the boys.

Here's Rena, Maleah, Isabella, Max and Cameron.....

While the kids were playing, I had a great time visiting with my good friend Pamela.....

Thursday was another busy, FUN day of visiting friends. We started out in our old neighborhood in Issaquah visiting with our friends The Wrights and The Taylors.

Sherri fixed lunch for us and Maleah, Allison, Rena and Cameron filled up on pizza!

Josh, Jayden and Cameron found some "boy things" to do!

And then they all watched a little bit of tv so that we moms could talk a little bit longer without being interrupted! :)

Allison and Rena gave BIG hugs before we had to leave!

I loved the time that I got to spend with Katie and Sherri and sure do miss them as neighbors!

After our visit in our old neighborhood we headed back up to Snoqualmie Ridge to visit some more friends.

Cameron with friends Marcus and Adam Battistel who drove down from Langley, BC to visit.

Cameron with friend Christian.

The boys decided to venture outside and climb some walls!

This is most of the gang -- Maleah, Rena, Campbelle, Christian, Cameron, Adam, Marcus and Sydney.

And this here is Sara, who didn't want to be in the group picture...........

And this here is Beckett.......who is too little to be in the group picture!

And these are my great friends, that I could not live with out.........

Laurel (who now lives back in Canada), ME, Stephanie and Jill.....

Here is the gang again -- watching tv until the pizza arrives.................

Campbelle, Maleah, Adam, Christian, Cameron, Marcus and Rena.

When we weren't out visiting friends and when Megan and Alex weren't at school we were hanging out in Puyallup at Stacy and Mike's house. The kids all had a great time together...........

Megan and Maleah reading a Princess book.

Megan and Rena hanging out.

Megan and Maleah.

Megan and Rena, again!

Maleah and Stacy out feeding the dog -- Maleah wanted to do it, but only if Stacy would hold her at ALL times!

A little fun with Aunt Stacy!

Alex, Cameron, Megan and Rena.

The boys had NO trouble keeping themselves busy during the week. They watched a little tv.....

.....played a little XBOX.....

.....played a few games.....

.....and did a little building with Lincoln Logs and Legos!

I also got to visit with my Aunt Kay. It was great to see her!

And then, sadly, the week came to an end. Our flight back to Chicago was early Saturday afternoon.

I had a great week with my best friend and sister, Stacy.

Stacy and Maleah.

Rena and Megan (again)!

Rena, Stacy and Maleah.

The kids before leaving for the airport - Rena, Megan, Maleah, Cameron and Alex.

It was a GREAT week, but I just HATE good-byes!!!!

Peggy met us at the Chicago airport Saturday night and took us back to her house for the night. On Sunday morning Kari and her family and Tami all came over to Peggy's house and we had a little early birthday celebration for both Rena and I before we loaded up the van and headed back to Peoria.

Cameron, Carter and Noah.....

It was a great trip and I am already watching the flight prices and planning our next visit to Washington!!!