Happy Saturday and Other Misc. Info :)

Shelba and Bro with Spidey...boy, superheros will never be the same to Dylan after this scare :)
Shelby and her good buddy, Cameron, at Messy Mania digging into Play Doh :)
Oh the joys of colored shaving cream!
Time to break out that ancient wedding present...yummy....
Hailey and Julia hamming it up outside art camp yesterday :) Look at those blooming artists!
So, here's a few little pool pics to share for today...hopefully later I can download some newer pics....but here's the three kiddos getting ready to go to the city pool last week...
Hailey and one of her best buds, Julia, in the pool doing dances :)
A bigger view of the pool (and slides) with Hailey and Julia dancing away at the bottom :)
Dylan all smiles in his stroller as he watches the girls swim :)

Shelby being a bathing beauty on her new "Shelby butterfly" towel from Auntie Sue :)
Shelby in the kiddie pool sitting on the water spout (thus the look on her face :))
Dylan in the kiddie pool pouring water on himself :)
A bigger view of the kiddie pool and the masses of kids...and yes, you can see Shelby and Dylan in this pic (made me realize I should have been more attentive rather than taking a picture...though it's a very shallow pool with many other attentive moms and lifeguards :)) And below is proof of our "upright/pantless" boy :) Look at the pure joy in his eyes (I dare say he actually likes the breeze on his legs rather than the restriction of pants! :))

Ok, well I try to stay away from Saturday postings, but I didn't really give any weekly news about our family this week and I hate to let the week close w/o doing that (since I know you're all just sitting on your rears reading my blog EVERY day waiting for ALL our news...Ha! :)). Anyway...so I'm mixin' it up a bit and here's a weekend post complete with my fav. bullet points :) Tadaaaa...

• First of all I want to say that I hope/pray my mom's early a.m. lab draw went well and that she will be cleared to go home at any moment...that's my number one thought and prayer for today! :) I miss your emails and blog comments, mom! Love you! (*** Update***YES, she is coming home today (just talked to her)...she is just waiting for her prescription and discharge, but she's all ready to go with her bags packed...yippee!)
• On a very sad note I wanted to post that today is the funeral for our IU's football coach, "Coach Hep". While I didn't know him personally nor are we true IU fans...this is a sad day for IU/Bloomington and it's students and colleagues. Coach passed away this past Tuesday from a brain tumor that he'd had for over a year and he was the mere age of 59. Yet another true tragedy...as he was a wonderful Christian man with a family, kids, grandkids...I mean...that would be like my own father dying. Just can't imagine. So, we're thinking of that family today and knowing most of Bloomington is mourning a great legacy at IU.
• Onto more happy news...Hailey has joined the messy adventures of "art camp" this week (and will have it again next week too) at our local downtown art center. It's been a great time for her as she is "little miss artsy fartsy" :) Ok, so she probably wouldn't like that name, but she is a pretty good artist so art camp is right up her alley. It's been a great experience so far for her...she has 1 1/2 hours of "Around the World" art in the early afternoon (she's does stuff like foil art from Saudi Arabia and stuff from China, etc...I'm a little unclear as to what she's been doing cuz she can never seem to remember the names of the foreign objects she's making :))...but the highlight of her art camp has been the 1 1/2 hours of ceramics she's done in the late afternoon...she's made everything imagineable for the perfect tea set...a pinchpot with lid (which is now gonna be a sugar jar), a tea cup, a waffle plate, a pitcher, and some surprise gift she made for me yesterday. She's come home with great stories about it all and is so excited by all the pottery making...she's even had clay in her hair so you know it's been a "good time" :) She's been going with her bestest buds, Baileigh and Julia...so it's been fun to hang with friends too (which is what our Hailey loves most...her buddies :)). Supposedly there is an art show next Friday for us to see all the "art" the kids have made and then hopefully we take it ALL home! Oh joy!
• In other exciting Steg news we are finally getting our deck sealed! I know this might seem a little boring to most of you...but it's actually been a funny experience for us :) I guess this was something we should have done over 2 years ago when our deck was fairly new. But, like most things we have slacked and been lazy...but this week the opportunity hit and as usual Kev answered the door for a guy "selling stuff"...and he was giving quotes for sealing decks (among other things). So, Kev disappeared for awhile and was chatting with this guy...he came back all excited about the quote. I won't give the number cuz I don't want anyone bursting our bubble, but we got a pretty good deal for our VERY big deck...and he also threw in our playset....not too shabby :) Anyway...so he came back the next day and I crazily gave him a check for half the job thinking he'd be back in an hour to do the power-washing (cuz he said he would)...hmmmm...I came back from art camp and there was no sign of him and a very dry/dirty deck still...I really thought he scammed us and was running with our money (yes, I don't trust people like my wonderful hubby does...maybe it's my FL, big city upbringing?). I was steaming.....anyway....it happened to be the same afternoon my mom left a message about going into the hospital...so I only heard that message (and freaked out a little) and never heard the deck guy's message. I felt bad later when I heard it cuz by then Kev had already called him and told him I thought he was running off with our money...ha! Lovely. Anyway...to make a long story short I guess the guy had his truck stolen and he was dealing with that and he DID return that night and the next day to powerwash everything....he even threw in powerwashing our house siding, which was awesome! It all looks great....and hopefully today it won't rain again and he can clear coat our deck! Kev is so relieved he doesn't have to attempt this job himself....we think the guy way underestimated the size of our deck...cuz it took him like 4 hours to wash our deck (he thought it would take 2)....soooooo glad Kev never attempted this job...it would have been an all-weekend event :) So, we're happy to have someone else doing the dirty work and this guy is pretty nice and full of "interesting" stories...so we're glad he's not a scam artist and happy our deck will soon be safely coated :) Phew...this was a long bullet point!
• This bullet will be shorter! :) Hailey has been tracked down by her little boyfriend again :) It's actually been pretty quiet for Hailey on the "boy front" lately but this week it picked up for her :) Good ol' Robert got in an itch to talk to her and he would not stop calling until she called him back...he's a very persistent little guy (and very cute too I might add). Anyway...he and Hailey had a nice chat about summer activities and then there was a big discussion on "best friends". So they had to list all their best friends over the years. I laughed when she told him HE was her best friend this year! Awwww....isn't that sweet?! So, have no fear...our Hailey is still VERY friendly and loves those boys! :)
• Shelby has also engaged in a little "art fun" this week. She went to our local city Messy Mania this week with her buddy, Cami. We went last year too and she had a ball doing all kinds of messy things like panting, using shaving cream to make things (yes, this was a highlight for her...I hope I can download the pics...they are a hoot!) Spiderman showed up too and that was a little story in itself...cuz he snuck up right behind Dylan and scared the crap out of him...I'm not sure Dylan will ever feel the same about super heros :) But, it was overall a fun, smiley and VERY messy time, and we came home with some great art work for our "wall of art" :)
• I am happy to announce that our little 16 month is finally "upright" most of the time! He has thankfully "almost" given up the crawling mode! I really thought this day would NEVER come and I was starting to get worried, but he persevered and is now walking (almost running) everywhere! I am thrilled actually. I was praying he'd be doing it before our trip to NC next week and he pulled through for me! So, hats off to my boy! It's the greatest thing to see him waddling all over the place. I mean he's been officially "walking" for months, but this is more than 5 steps...it's all the time...I love it...and now everyone is realizing how tall he really is...he's not far from Shelby's height. And you'll laugh to see him walk cuz he has to has his hands up in the air like he's "praising the Lord" always...it's so funny :) Way to go, buddy. We're so proud of you for making the plundge to "upright mode" :)
• In accordance with "growing up"...Dylan has also started saying real phrases this week. I was shocked when after getting into some of his sister's toys (and after me telling him "no")...he looked at me and started handing me the "inappropriate baby toy" and blurted out "Here ya' go!" It was clear as day and so very cute :) I think he's also saying "What's that?", which was Hailey and Shelby's fav. first phrase. I love it that I can finally understand his jabbering...cuz he really does have a lot to say :)
• Shelby has not had the best week as far as "issues". While I won't go into each one I will say that she's hit Dylan over the head with a chair (on purpose)...and has also shoved him to the point that he moved a few feet in the air. Not cool. She's been in rare form this week...maybe due to the rain that has kept us indoors almost every day...but still...no excuse. We are trying to "nip her nastiness in the bud" right now...it's not a simple process. But, then again I know some sibling rivalry is normal and now that Dylan is more mobile and definitely quick on his feet...he is getting into more of her stuff. Plus he likes to run over all her stuff with his big ol' tonka truck and he is pretty distructive with that thing...I have crushed toes and bruised shins to prove it :)
• Dylan has recovered from his (briefer than normal) upper resp. infection. Phew...I was getting a little worried earlier in the week cuz his wheezing was way out of control. He was not the normal "happy wheezer" either :( He was very fussy. We never had to drag out the inhailors, but we were close. So, I think he just had a minor cold mixed with new teeth drainage. But, it all brought back the nasty memories of steroids and inhailors...not fun :( So thankful he is better :)
• On another funny Dylan walking note....since he's now upright and mobile he has literally been pantsless many days this week. I guess he's never had this problem before cuz they stay on when he's crawling...but we now realize our boy has NO butt and is just a tall skinny little thing....and most of his pants are too big...and with not backside to keep them up...he has literally just walked right out of his shorts most days. I'll be in the kitchen making something and he'll be running around the house with his tonka truck and he'll turn the corner and sure enough...he's sporting only his diaper on the bottom....he loses his pants in transit somewhere in the house. This has posed a problem when we are in public so bless Kev's mom's heart...she got him some new small pants (yes, we have reverted to 12 month clothes...craziness!). Oh, the struggles we face in this Steg house :)
• As far as the food issues for our "stubborn boy"...well, he's still refusing healthy food and I'm still "being lazy" and not wanting to "push it" (hence cometh puke)...but I will say he's been very excited about baby food again so he's been getting plenty of drippy veggies that way. And he's taken to feeding himself the drippy food too...he LOVES to be responsible for his "intake". It's actually pretty funny cuz he gets very excited :) So, while we've not made much progress in the solid healthy department....I've not been overly stressed about it, which I guess is good and there has been no expelling of food either, which is also a huge bonus!
• And while we're on the subject of "issues"...I am proud to announce that Shelby has had NO accidents in the "bathroom related area" :) She's actually almost been dry at night and during naps for a week, which by daddy's promise means she might be able to wear panties to bed (gasp!). So, great job, Shelby Gracie...we're so proud of your hard potty work and lack of urination on our floors!
• A week from today we'll be basking in the fresh mountain air of Maggie Valley, NC...can't wait for all the relaxing fun with my wonderful extended family! :)
• We finally broke out a wedding gift after 9 years of preserving it in our basement. I have no idea who gave us our wonderful ice cream maker on our wedding day, but we've wanted to use it for years (honestly)...we've just never took the plundge (which again reitterates our laziness :)). Well, this week was THE WEEK! Ever since our basement clearing Kev has had his mouth watering for some homemade ice cream. So, on Monday we broke it out of it's box....we even used the 9 year old ice cream packet included (gasp!). And guess what...it was AWESOME!!!! I really, really, really had my doubts about the tastiness of a 9 year old ice cream and the ability of a 9 year old ice cream maker to make it...but was soooo good (and I usually don't say that about plain vanilla :))....Anyway....so it was kinda fun to finally "open" an old wedding gift. We even made "cake batter" ice cream last night for our best buds who came over for dinner...and it was delicious...almost like the cake batter at Cold Stone! Yumm! So, now we have a new hobby and some yummy new dessert! If you ever visit...we'll make some for you...any flavor you like! So, thanks to whoever gave us that fun gift 9 years ago...it's come in very handy this week! I won't tell you the other wedding gift we have yet to use....but let's just say we're hoping to make some fried rice in it soon :)
• Well, this week has ended on a happier note as we think our little fond fishy friend, Phillip the Beta, has pulled through and not croaked yet. There were worries and tears shed earlier this week as Phil's right eye started to puff...Hailey was certain he would die and already planning for his replacement...it was not a pretty couple of days with her hovering around his tank tapping on it just to see movement. Well, we're relieved to say that for at least the moment his eye doesn't look quite so puffy and he is eating again. Phew...it'd be a sad day to have our first fish family member pass on :( Thanks for hanging in there, Phil! :)
• Well, it's been "invasion of the birds" at Casa De Stegs :) I had the bright idea weeks ago to reposition our one bird feeder and get the other one out of hiding in the garage. Anyway...I thought it would be fun to feed birds in both the front and back yards...I've always love watching birds (I guess it's a trait I got from my dad...I still remember him with his bird book pointing out birds to us as kids). Anyway....so my bright idea finally got put into action this week. Kev dug into our nasty, rocky clay and planted my two bird hangers and I filled the feeders up and we were on our way....well, the next morning....I really thought our house has been taken over by winged creatures. They were swooping and squaking from all directions...all species of birds were feasting from our feeders. It was crazy bird chaos. I really felt like we were in the Bird movie by Alfred Hitchcock...oh my! I was a little scared to be honest. There were birds pirched everywhere like they were ready to attack us if we left the house. They were on all the roofs of all the houses near us...on the fences by us...in all the trees. What did I start?? So, in a matter of like a day all the seed was gone....and even yesterday...we had bunnies feasting for hours on the ground by the feeders. We have a natural wild life preserve in our yard. Yikes! So, if any of you love birds (or bunnies) feel free to bring your binoculars and sit in our living room :)
  

Well, that's all I've got for today. All of a sudden it got really dark in our room so that's bad news for our deck getting done...and bad news for our big bike ride we planned with our best buds, Heather and Dave :( Maybe the rain will clear up later?! Anyway...hope you all have a fantastic weekend and BTW...Happy Summer...it's official now! And did you know my next post will be my 100th?! Wow, I'm so proud of myself for keeping up with this blog thing!