It's the most WONDERFUL time of the year!

I wish we could have a tree in the living room year-round!


The kids playing "Polar Express"


We are in full fledged HOLIDAY mode at the Stephens house! With D-Day rapidly approaching, we have already decked the halls like possessed elves, baked our way into a few food comas and even found time to carve out a corner for baby. I can't really tell what the kids are more excited for: presents on Christmas or bringing home the "new" baby. I think they are mostly enjoying all the treats around the house (no smell reminds me more of Christmas than chex mix-so I have been whipping it up by the pounds)! We have been busy crafting our way through the advent calendar and can't believe how quickly the month is flying by! Early this month Adam received GREAT news when word came that he passed the second and final part of the National Dental Boards! Woo-hoo! He completed his FINAL final last week and now with just five months to go, he is preparing for the state licensure exams. I can hardly believe how far we've come and how close we are!

I'm Spiderman! Meow!

Despite the soggy evening, Halloween 2011 was a success!
Things I will forever remember:
Jack holding Isla's hand while he explained the "Rules of Halloween" to her.
Isla's little legs and sparkly shoes dashing from door to door as she exclaimed, "I LOVE TRICK OR TREATING!"

Bye Bye Summer...Welcome Fall!

After an EXTREMELY HOT summer-we eagerly welcome fall. Adam is FINALLY home from rotations and in his FINAL year of Dental School (woo-hoo)! Jack is having fun learning his letters at preschool, while Isla and I stay busy coming up with all kinds of yummy concoctions made from pumpkin puree... We've cheered on the Tar Heels during this, our final fall of Carolina football, chosen Halloween costumes, (I know-I've given them entirely too much time to change their minds AT LEAST a hundred times) and celebrated the first of many birthdays this fall (we love you Ellen)!

Beach Bums

Another AMAZING trip to the beautiful Carolina Coast! After an extremely hectic summer (the hottest on record and Adam away on rotations) a nice, relaxing trip to the beach was just what the Dr, er-Dentist ordered! We LOVE Emerald Isle and hope that Hurricane Irene decides on a different route this weekend! Please keep your fingers crossed!

Number three...

We are a little over half way through summer and boy have we had FUN! Adam has been away on his rotations for all but a few weeks so the kids and I have stayed busy (and cool) by swimming, hiding out at the movie theater and eating TONS of ice cream! We've dressed up like "mom", cheered on the Durham Bulls, strolled in the Apex 4th of July parade (Adam and the kids were even on the local news) and wasted many an afternoon at the museum. I am running out of things to do!

I can hardly believe how long it has been! My dad reminded me that keeping up with this website is important (at least to him) so here I am in an attempt to catch up. The last few months have flown by! To celebrate Easter we took the kids to the annual Horace House Egg hunt. The day took a major turn for the worse when terrible news from California made its way to me. My dear friend's three year old son passed away and so I found myself on a plane bound for CA that afternoon. Adam happened to be on a two break from school so the kids stayed with him in NC. Two weeks later I was back in NC heartbroken and exhausted. Returning to NC was no easy task. My parents and I made the CRAZY decision to "road trip" me back to NC. This trip would normally take 4 days-but with my parents it took FOREVER! I actually had to take a flight from Little Rock, AK so that I would be back in Chapel Hill in time for Adam to start clinic. A few days later my parents arrived. This whole experience made me realize just how far North Carolina is from California....