Grossmont

Hey Everyone! I just started my second semester at Grossmont. It should be a pretty good year. I'm excited about taking French and Photography! But even more exciting is that I am in a social and ballroom dance- I can't wait!

Things are still going really well. I've basically been adopted into the Stiver's family, in fact Kaitlyn (7) was talking about how she was kind of Kaitlyn the third in her family because she has two older relatives with that name, and I mentioned that I was kind of Karen the third and explained that I had an aunt and great-aunt Karen. Then Emily (5) said, "Well my grandma's name is Karen so now you're Karen the fourth!"
Apparently I failed to pack the USB cable for my camera so I am going to have to buy a memory card reader the next time I go to the store, but I promise I will post some pictures as soon as possible. Hope things are well with all of you. Love you!
Karen

Hi

Aunt Karen sent me this blog url. How fun! I heard the family you are staying with is very nice. Can you send a picture of your bedroom view?
There is not much going on here. I went on a field trip with Noah's class to Riley's Farm (by Palm Springs?) yesterday. The kids in my car told ghost stories for 4.5 hours. I am seriously worried about their imagination!!!

Anyway,

hope all is well. Write more!

Christiane

Just checking in

Hi everyone. I've finally found the time to work on figuring out this blog thing. It looks great! Allen and the boys went camping near some mud caves on Friday night and had a great time and way too much sugar. They all had a great time, even though Ben has discovered a serious case of claustrophobia. I'm sure it didn't help when Allen said, "You know, these caves could collapse at any time." Good bye for now.
- Aunt Kim

I'm almost all settled in New Jersey (the stuff I shipped isn't here yet), and I love it. The atmosphere out here is so different with all of the beautifully different homes. The Stivers are really nice, easy to be with people and the girls are so playful. Their house is on a hill so I can actually see the city (NYC) from my bed room. I'm still a little overwhelmed by all of the changes and the fact that I have no idea how to get to most places yet. They did show me around their town a little, to the girls school and the grocery store. But I'll learn fast.
I promis I will post pictures but I don't have the cable to get them off my camera, it will probably get here on Tuesday, so I'll post some then. Love you all!
Karen

Hi Karen Read. This is the first time I've made a blog entry! This should be fun. I'm excited for you as you start a new adventure. I look forward to both seeing and hearing from you. Take care!

Here is a picture of our Australian student, Scott, who visited us for 1 1/2 weeks. We would have liked to have him stay longer. He was very nice. He was so cute that we had more girl visitors than normal come by our house.

Vanesa

Practice in Blogging

Thank you, Karen, for staring this blog. My advice now is for all of us to use it: check it; contribute to it; otherwise what good is it?

Last night Karen showed me how to do this. How to get a photo posted and such. That is why you see the picture below of three adorable kids in the post dated yesterday. Karen's a good teacher. So now I am going to give it a try.

The pictures I am posting are from our trip on the Heber Creeper last summer with Grandma and Grandpa. If you look carefully at the last one, you will see an osprey nest at the top of the pole with two osprey!






Now that I can do this, watch for updates of happenings from Tranland. Digging for our foundation begins tomorrow!!

Karen, good luck to you. As I put my girls to bed last night, they said, "We're going to miss Karen. She's so nice." I'm thrilled for you, however, so have a safe trip and a wonderful experience back east!

Love to all,
Aunt Karen

P.S. If I can do this, you can too!!!!!! Let's hear from the rest of you!!!