tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59455499832233509932012-02-15T23:49:35.451-08:00Primarily a photo blog for keeping a visual on the Stoops, especially as the girls grow.bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-4422523808739354722011-11-23T16:46:00.000-08:002011-11-23T16:51:00.073-08:00

Brooke loves the camera, and the camera seems to love her, too. Photos of her always make me want to smile! We thank God for our precious youngest daughter (and for the 3 older ones, too!).

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-69226250541181786702011-10-18T16:44:00.000-07:002011-11-23T16:49:48.392-08:00

One of our favorite spots whenever we are back in So. Cal. is the Redondo Beach pier. Always full of interesting sights (like the birds below - blue heron and pelican), and they've got the best churros around!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-55526410172528774782011-07-11T23:03:00.000-07:002011-07-11T23:07:33.320-07:00

The girls have learned to love the Beach Boys, so it is not surprising that they're favorite pasttime now when we are in CA is boogie boarding! This is Elise catching one of her waves. She seems to have a great eye and good patience in picking out the waves to catch and the ones to skip. Grace, on the other hand, just walks down into the water and stares at giant waves with utter delight and

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-64323806544867914972011-07-08T15:37:00.000-07:002011-07-08T15:40:54.980-07:00

Fortunately, or unfortunately (would have been amazing to see this!), we were too busy enjoying the beach in CA when the great haboob of 2011 hit the Phoenix area a few days ago. Take a look at this amazing time-lapse video of the storm hitting.* Haboob is the Arabic term for a dust storm, and the term that is generally used in Phoenix for some reason.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-24911481530690644832011-07-08T15:34:00.000-07:002011-07-08T15:35:11.623-07:00

One of our must-do family outings whenever we are privileged to spend a little time back in the South Bay area is to head on down to the pier in Redondo Beach to watch the sunset, check out the fishing action, and enjoy one of the wonderful churros. We went a couple of nights ago with some of our extended family and couldn't have enjoyed it more!the sun setting over the pier Janelle & the girls

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-89238842382702868422011-07-08T15:27:00.000-07:002011-07-08T15:27:15.086-07:00

With appreciation for good, clean humor and the need to be able to laugh at yourself (and let others do the same!), the extended family headed off to Chick-Fil-A today for the 2011 Cow Appreciation Day. I had my favorite - the spicy chicken sandwich deluxe, yet as tasty as it was, I am not certain what was mor enjoyable - the food, or making people in the mall laugh as we made our way to & from

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-14792625891836564082011-01-09T20:48:00.000-08:002011-01-09T20:48:27.890-08:00

We hit a milestone last week: 10 years of marriage! The traditional & modern gift for 10 years of marriage may be tin, but for us it was golden. Our good friends the Phillips & Driggers graciously watched the girls for the night, allowing us to enjoy not only a rare date, but an even rarer night away. God blessed us with an awesome find - The Inn at Eagle Mountain, located in Fountain Hills

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-36597792789256352412010-12-15T12:19:00.000-08:002010-12-15T12:19:42.124-08:00

One of the great blessings of being in America for this extended season has been the opportunity for Janelle & I and the girls to get time with friends & family. Late November brought a very welcome visit from my Uncle Dave & Aunt Marsi. Dinner at Joe's Real BBQ, playing games, and lots of laughter made for a very fun & memorable visit!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-57211432806626988942010-12-15T12:13:00.000-08:002010-12-15T12:14:48.239-08:00

My parents bought a group birthday present for me and the girls over the summer - a trampoline! We were excited to give them another outlet for some exercise at home in our small backyard. Though it takes up a good part of the yard, and is not the most attractive thing to look at, it really has been a lot of fun AND great exercise. It has also been the source of good object lessons in

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-66972252803223218132010-12-15T12:07:00.000-08:002010-12-15T12:07:36.958-08:00

Elise & Chloe, who have been involved in ballet for the past few years, decided they wanted to give a go at soccer, so this fall they traded in their ballet shoes for cleats. We miss seeing them dance, but we were excited to have them get to experience something new, especially something team-focused that would teach them things like sportsmanship and working together with a team toward a

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-16417355147140705032010-12-15T11:52:00.000-08:002010-12-15T11:52:52.244-08:00

I was privileged to take part in a strategic gathering in December on the use of mobile devices. The venue was a small farm in southwestern Virginia boasting the only broadband connection in the county. What we lacked in technology was made up for by the beautiful surroundings. It was great to have a few days to enjoy some southern hospitality and the beauty of the Virginia countryside.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-50688541113627564702010-12-12T22:51:00.000-08:002010-12-16T22:51:52.299-08:00

We had written earlier about our decision to finally get a dog. Boscoe joined us earlier this year and immediately made his puppy presence felt. In fact, we still have a variety of reminders around the house from his brief time with us: holes in the sofa cover, chewed up cabinets and baseboards, chewed blinds in the living room, dress shoes with teeth-mark chic, etc. Minor damage to the house

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-18626219121607873462010-08-06T11:26:00.000-07:002010-08-06T11:31:25.053-07:00

Car seats, ballet recitals, Beauty and the Best, BBQing, minivans, bedtime stories and night-night songs... It may not be Father's Day, but this modern ode to dads is worth watching.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-30006011470020367822010-07-28T16:05:00.000-07:002010-07-28T16:05:34.535-07:00

Among the many highlights of our recent visit to California was a trip to the beach with our great friends, the Bernards. Shelling was high on the list of our girls' hoped for activities on this particular outing. The shells were few & far between, and certainly nothing to write home about, but that didn't stop this hearty band of beachcombers from searching for undiscovered treasures. Their

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-48022608599181055782010-07-27T23:27:00.000-07:002010-07-27T23:27:11.744-07:00

A few years ago, when we were forced to leave Central Asia, we had to leave behind Boots, our rambunctious, but very much loved pooch. As a family we've talked on & off about getting a dog since that time, and finally felt led to consider it more seriously. About a month ago, we came across a dog named Bosco on the website of a local animal rescue group called Desert Paws Rescue. He looked

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-49517312818616866002010-07-22T20:46:00.000-07:002010-07-22T20:46:42.201-07:00

It seems that summer just began a few weeks ago, and THAT means it is time to head back to school here in Arizona! Elise & Chloe (far left & far right) were excited to return to Edu-Prize with teachers that they both enjoyed last year. Awesome having that continuity! The one big change for this school year is that Grace (center) is now officially a Kindergartener. So we've got 3 kids in

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-34467664366778071452010-07-20T08:33:00.000-07:002010-07-20T08:37:46.374-07:00

Exiting in Quartzsite, AZ for some gas while heading on the I-10 from L.A. to Phoenix, I caught a glimpse of this plane sitting on top of a vintage car carrier. Just had to stop to snap a quick shot of it.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-63842116848999652232010-07-02T23:48:00.000-07:002010-07-02T23:48:28.171-07:00

What better way to pass the time on a hot, muggy Virginia afternoon than to cool off in the Lynnhaven Bay? Chloe (in the air), Elise (on the platform) and Grace had a blast jumping from Grandpa's boat!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-25249187307377983022010-07-02T21:40:00.000-07:002010-07-02T21:41:02.335-07:00

Bliss: a state of extreme happiness (wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn). There were many blissful moments during our time in Virginia, including just about every outing on the awesome rope swing behind my parents' house. Here Chloe is enjoying one of her blissful moments.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-3872385886647227422010-07-02T15:04:00.000-07:002010-07-02T15:04:49.245-07:00

The only (and therefore, the most exciting) pets in our house are our 2 goldfish, which we have only because we got "stuck" with them at a Christmas white elephant gift exchange. It wasn't surprising, then, that we constantly found ourselves having to pry our girls away from the dogs they got to spend time with during our whirlwind tour of Virginia. The most favorite, of course, were Cavu (

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-38079718509085034842010-07-02T14:57:00.000-07:002010-07-02T14:57:48.135-07:00

One of our greatest joys on our recent trip to Virginia was time with my parents. There were plenty of bigger activities, like trips to the beach, boat rides, fishing, a dolphin watch, etc., but nothing was as wonderful as simply spending time with family - Janelle & I with my parents and brother and the girls with their grandma & grandpa and uncle. Dinner on the deck, catching fireflies,

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-81660479067260334852010-07-02T14:52:00.000-07:002010-07-02T14:52:46.604-07:00

Our joyful little toddler with the infectious smile grew up a little bit as we celebrated her 3rd birthday the other day. What a gift she's been! Having just returned late the night before from VA, all we could muster up for her in the morning was a groggy offer of, "What would you like for your birthday breakfast?" Her reply was an emphatic, "Donuts!" She loved having those, but apparently

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-81984830151534191592010-06-09T21:53:00.000-07:002010-06-09T21:53:23.549-07:00

Elise (top) and Chloe's (bottom) semiannual dance recital was this past weekend, and we were proud as could be as we watched our little princesses dance and leap across the stage. Their studio, Leap of Faith, always puts on a tremendous show, and this one was no exception. Elise seems to have really grown in her technical skills, and Chloe has progressed leaps & bounds in both skill & poise.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-53251830107151605512010-06-09T10:44:00.000-07:002010-06-09T10:44:21.032-07:00

Summer unofficially began last Thursday afternoon as Elise finished out 2nd grade and Chloe finished 1st grade. What better way to keep them occupied in the summer Arizona heat than... swim lessons! Thankfully, all 4 girls were able to get into a community class at the public pool in the same time slot, making life a ton easier for Janelle. It is great fun watching the girls progress in their

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-74047891780412901972010-05-04T21:20:00.000-07:002010-05-04T21:42:34.028-07:00

I'm a bit overdue on posting something so thought these couple of photos of the girls, taken today, would be appreciated. The girls are growing up fast! 4-year-old Grace (2nd from left in the top photo) learned to read and ride a bike last week. Brooke (on the left in the above photo) is just over 2 1/2 years old, and is progressing quickly with her language. As you can see, she's got a

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-7621011717865096292010-04-05T13:17:00.000-07:002010-04-05T13:17:57.561-07:00

Since the photos below do not provide a "big picture" view of the area we hiked, I thought I'd include this one. What doesn't stand out in this photo is just how numerous and beautiful the wildflowers are right now. But it is beautiful even without the flowers. I sized this for widescreen monitors, so if you enjoy placing photos as wallpaper (desktop background) on your computer and like this

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-85049612077633403742010-04-05T11:59:00.000-07:002010-04-05T12:08:20.936-07:00

The arrival of family from L.A. for Easter along with the incredible spring weather inspired us to finally take our first significant hike here in AZ. Hiking trails abound out here, and we'd heard numerous ones cited by friends & colleagues, but the Hieroglyphics Trail located in the nearby Superstition Mountains got the nod. Our big crew of ten - 4 adults, 1 teenager, and 5 girls aged 8 and

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-83408110490854187922010-03-22T22:21:00.000-07:002010-03-22T22:21:41.224-07:00

The key to making our quick trip to HI work was the support from friends & family who very generously agreed to watch our girls. It had been 6 years since we'd last had a night away from our kids. They did great without us, which really freed us up to relax, once our work was done. Thanks Bernards, Grays, and Mom & Dad for a much overdue opportunity to unwind!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-73698433994468223212010-03-22T22:10:00.000-07:002010-03-22T22:11:00.769-07:00

Janelle & I were blessed with an incredible opportunity to teach about culture and worldview to a group in Hawai'i last week. We had a terrific time teaching, and were blessed with a little bit of free time to enjoy the beauty of Oahu. High surf curtailed our boogey boarding plans, but we had a fabulous time snorkeling, including 5 minutes to drift, within arm's reach, of a huge sea turtle.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-58193923960602460642010-03-06T20:35:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:37:30.967-08:00

This was certainly the tamest, and tastiest, snake at Elise's birthday party today! Janelle came through with yet another winner of a cake, complete with chocolate chunk eyes and a tongue made out of Red Vines.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-70354788221726979612010-03-06T20:22:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:23:40.608-08:00

Meet E.T., a friendly African bull python about 6 feet long. His name comes from part of the pattern in his skin that looks an awful lot like that most famous of aliens. He was another of the wonderful guests at Elise's birthday party today. The girls still scream when they discover a fly trapped in the car, but not even 2-year-old Brooke hesitated to handle friendly E.T.!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-31141654578827409372010-03-06T19:43:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:07:08.434-08:00

With our kitchen out of commission when we'd planned on having Elise's 8th birthday (early February), Elise's birthday was postponed till today. The kitchen is still out of commission, but we went ahead with the party anyway, and boy, was it a hit. Last fall, the girls had won a gift basket that included a birthday package with Rich Ihle, "The Reptile Guy". He arrived on the scene this

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-87335293716193982692009-12-24T13:15:00.000-08:002009-12-24T13:20:57.064-08:00

2009 has been eventful and notable for so many reasons. How wonderful to end it with a celebration of Christ's birth, and all that it means for the world."For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."(John 3:16 ESV).

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-68756868607702254612009-12-18T09:42:00.000-08:002009-12-18T09:43:00.776-08:00

After 20 minutes or so of scouring the house the other day in search of Brooke's last working spill-proof sippy cup, I finally gave up my search. The case was not yet closed, however, so Janelle offered a 1 penny reward for the finder of the cup. I ran downstairs to grab something and discovered that my lovable little daughters had been transformed into the Super Sleuths. Sporting goggles,

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-25499246748303397242009-12-17T13:43:00.000-08:002009-12-17T13:55:34.343-08:00

We were blessed with an early Christmas present last week when my dad flew out from Virginia for a brief visit. My mom didn't make it, but, knowing the girls' love for books, sent a special new book out for them, which my dad had the task of reading to them: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. Toomey's nickname is Mr. Gloomy, and he believes Christmas and miracles are nothing but "

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-88488310599239643732009-12-17T13:27:00.000-08:002009-12-17T13:27:59.825-08:00

In one week, Chloe lost 3 of her front teeth (2 upper, 1 lower) and is sporting a terrific toothless grin now. An aide at school had the privilege of pulling out the 2 upper teeth, in successive days, prompting threats from us that we weren't going to send her back to school for fear she'd come home totally toothless! She is quite excited about not having these teeth, and we think she looks

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-74663452927488766842009-09-08T15:15:00.000-07:002009-09-08T15:16:09.771-07:00

We've always referred to Chloe as "our little tiger", so when Walgreens offered a free 11"x14" print a couple weeks ago, I thought it would be perfect to get her a framed photo from my recent visit with tigers in Thailand. She now has this hanging above her bed. She went on to spend her birthday money buying a giant stuffed tiger pillow, so her room has a definite tiger theme going now!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-59089414527349684802009-09-08T15:08:00.000-07:002009-09-08T15:08:21.708-07:00

Although her party is not till this weekend, we had the joy, as a family, to celebrate Chloe's 6th birthday a few days ago. She opted for Janelle's homemade cinnamon rolls for her birthday breakfast (pictured here). Afterwards we all piled into the car and headed for Home Depot's monthly kids' craft. The highlight was seeing rain & lightning and big puddles on the roads (not a frequent sight

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-53095591487079442322009-08-27T21:29:00.000-07:002009-08-27T21:58:05.593-07:00

My friend Sally once said, “If you are going to laugh about it later, let’s just all laugh about it now.” And so, in the spirit of her advice I am recording the events of my day, so that we all may laugh about it now, together.The morning began as all mornings do - at 5:30am. Grace, followed by Chloe, Brooke, and Elise made their way into our room to say hello. Knowing that I had a busy

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-39534437544436527142009-08-19T12:53:00.000-07:002009-08-19T12:53:18.076-07:00

Back-to-school season continued this morning as Grace headed back to Ladybug Learning Club for her second (and last) year of preschool. We were very excited last year when Grace landed in the classroom taught by a friend of ours. Grace loved her, so we were even more excited this year when we discovered that Grace was headed back to the same classroom & teacher for the pre-K curriculum! Adding

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-6713725736133882252009-08-12T11:17:00.000-07:002009-08-12T11:18:38.583-07:00

Well, I can now say that I've looked a tiger in the eye. Not something I ever imagined doing, but the opportunity was there.... What surprised me the most was that (1) their heads aren't nearly as big as I'd imagined, despite their huge size, and (2) that their paws were about the size of my head!So how did all this come about? I'm currently in SE Asia at a conference, and today we had the

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-86780574243531742842009-07-27T23:32:00.000-07:002009-07-27T23:32:42.695-07:00

I arrived home from a Sunday-evening meeting to discover our house had been transformed to party central. The girls had busted out a new load of dress-up clothes that someone had just passed on to us. The music was loud and the fun was on! I think Grace was wearing about 17 different outfits AT THE SAME TIME and thought that was perhaps the most fun any 4 year-old throughout history could

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-30170780583183739362009-07-27T23:22:00.000-07:002009-07-27T23:22:33.599-07:00

It's July. It's 114 degrees outside. And the girls are back in school. We're still adjusting to the somewhat crazy school schedule here, but despite the fact that the world around us seems to say, "It's the middle of summer, not the first week of September", the girls are very excited to be back in school -- Elise in 2nd grade, Chloe in 1st. And they're excited to have the same great teacher,

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-53937886039872130002009-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:002009-06-15T13:05:48.016-07:00

With their first year of Girl Scouts now completed (thanks to Janelle's wonderful leadership of Troop 2147!), Elise & Chloe got to attend the annual Daddy-Daughter Sock Hop dance last weekend. Our neighbors down the street loaned us a couple of their poodle skirts and I dug out some jeans and a white t-shirt, and off we went. Fortunately the girls are oblivious to the fact that I've got two

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-88138950099386725222009-05-31T20:30:00.000-07:002009-05-31T20:30:16.886-07:00

Janelle's mom is still visiting with us, and we had the chance to connect with our nephew, Kyle, yesterday in downtown Phoenix. Kyle has helped out a little bit the past couple of years with a dynamic ministry in downtown Phoenix called Neighborhood Ministries and chose to head back this spring to do an internship for a few months. Right now they're gearing up for kids' camp, which will reach

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-76068340148720090182009-05-30T16:01:00.000-07:002009-05-30T16:04:08.501-07:00

Elise's school year is also winding down, and she celebrated last week with the last of her 1st grade "cottage fairs" (where the students showcase their work). One of the things Elise has really enjoyed is learning about and collecting rocks, which was the subject of her science fair project. She really got into the project and keeps busy hunting for new rock speciments everywhere we go (she

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-17562607176530908412009-05-30T08:39:00.000-07:002009-05-30T09:51:34.504-07:00

Chloe graduated from Kindergarten last night. Janelle's mom ("Nana") flew out for the big celebration -- an hour-long presentation at school followed by dinner & cake at Joe's BBQ. The school presentation was fabulous -- the kids sang numerous songs and recited several poems. Chloe has always been our verbal one (she began speaking in full sentences before she was 2), so we were not surprised

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-40136950130054779282009-05-30T08:10:00.000-07:002009-05-30T08:10:33.782-07:00

It's been about 8 weeks now since we planted our little garden, and it's provided almost daily excitement for the girls as they've watched things sprout, grow and now begin showing signs of fruit. Since our last garden update, the corn has shot up from 8" to being much taller than them, and little husks of corn are now visible. The watermelon and honeydew mellon (those that lived, anyway!) are

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-81895421945625822982009-05-09T13:35:00.000-07:002009-05-09T13:35:16.530-07:00

I took this shot of a Julia butterfly at the butterfly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens last night and found it interesting as it gives a sense for what a butterfly might see. The dress of the woman in the background would be awfully tempting with all those flowery designs on it! At a deeper level, this was a good reminder to me to try to see things from other perspectives. How much

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-40253100349091060952009-05-09T00:30:00.000-07:002009-05-09T00:30:58.669-07:00

It took us 18 months to get there, but we finally made it to the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix this evening. Two things drew us.... First was the butterfly exhibition, and it didn't disappoint. The screened in exhibition was chock-full of a variety of butterflies fluttering all around us and, occasionally, landing on the little stitched flower on 1-year-old Brooke's outfit. It was fun

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-5274853987971644662009-05-09T00:08:00.000-07:002009-05-09T00:13:09.024-07:00

I couldn't resist posting this shot of a lizard taken this evening at the botanical gardens in Phoenix (be sure to click on it to see a larger, higher-res version). Chloe, Grace & I missed the exit when we were leaving and ended up heading down another trail. I spotted this good looking guy (or maybe it's a girl?) back in the bushes. It was bobbing up & down on its front legs, to which Chloe

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-31814004339129721192009-05-06T22:38:00.000-07:002009-05-06T22:38:43.803-07:00

Today was a happy day for many residents of Gilbert, ourselves included. Today was the annual customer appreciation day at Joe's BBQ in downtown Gilbert when they serve roughly 6,000 totally free meals! We first became aware of Joe's when we saw another of Joe's restaurants, Joe's Farm Grill, on the Food Network on TV last year. It's one of our favorite joints in the area. Today's offer of

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-9417703463035170872009-04-30T21:16:00.000-07:002009-04-30T21:17:00.552-07:00

Chloe also did a fabulous job dancing tonight. She took center stage tonight and was quite the little leader. She's a hard worker and got bumped up to beginning classical ballet. Way to go, Chloe!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-44492696012089061902009-04-30T21:05:00.000-07:002009-04-30T21:05:41.008-07:00

Elise & Chloe had a big night tonight - their Spring 2009 ballet performance. Both have worked very hard over the past 4 months and did a FANTASTIC job dancing tonight. Elise always seems to have an incredible presence on a stage and is amazingly graceful. She's a delight to watch! She graduated to the next level in her classical ballet class.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-62267698387433729412009-04-22T09:22:00.000-07:002009-04-22T09:49:26.623-07:00

Let me take a brief pause from photo updates on the family to share with you a very worthwhile resource. As a fairly recent college-graduate-turned-young-professional back in the late 1980's who finally had a little money to manage(!), I began to read newsletters and books, attend seminars, and meet with financial folks to begin learning how to be a good steward of what God was entrusting to me.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-74944984310394394172009-04-07T15:30:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:31:47.149-07:00

It's true everywhere, but we notice it more here in the desert: water is life. I think the population of Phoenix would be about 208 were it not for the technology that provided us desert dwellers with misters, water parks, urban fishing lakes, irrigation canals, and countless other ways to enjoy water. With spring just barely underway, we're already tipping 90 some days, so we are incredibly

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-21125835234666754582009-04-07T15:20:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:20:34.271-07:00

How great it is to be a kid! Fun and excitement can be find just about anywhere, including around the plethora of cacti in our area - cholla, prickly pear, pipe organ, saguaro, and more. Elise & Chloe love to test their bravery by daring each other to touch the needles. What could be more fun on a spring day than that?!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-67924123111955361872009-04-07T15:14:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:14:50.896-07:00

Before we get too far off the topic of gardening, I ought to highlight the true Gardener. Not only does He do an amazing job carefully pruning, watering, and otherwise caring for His people, He does quite a job in the rest of creation, too! Not so unlike us, who tend to get a bit prickly at times, cacti likewise have real beauty imbued by their Creator. As spring dawns here in the desert, it

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-10018606114052800792009-04-07T15:05:00.000-07:002009-04-07T15:06:10.702-07:00

I have a confession to make. My thumb is extraordinarily un-green. Yes, I've come a long way since my first "real" job selling seeds door-to-door as a 7-year-old. I'm not sure I was every much of a salesman, as I recall having a lot of leftover flower seeds, which I dumped in an uncultivated garden area in my backyard. To my surprise & delight, a month or so later we had an explosion of color

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-73508309508357785682009-03-20T22:12:00.000-07:002009-03-20T22:12:46.872-07:00

One of our favorite activities whenever we are back in Torrance is visiting the local farmer's market. Once there the girls love to make a bee-line for the stand that offers free Gerber daisies for kids. Chloe picked one up on Tuesday morning, then later that day visited twin friends Annika & Sophia and picked a fresh lemon from one of their trees. She loves homemade lemonade, but she had a

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-28830125248460507832009-03-20T21:52:00.000-07:002009-03-20T21:53:03.548-07:00

Brooke is 20-months-old now - a totally fun age. She's talking up a storm now -- we just can't figure out what she's saying! She loves the park and being outside doing just about anything. Her big accomplishment this week has been learning how to climb out of her pack-n-play. After 3 successful attempts today at nap time, it's time to consider some additional baby/toddler-proofing needs!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-51832927273983045422009-03-20T21:34:00.001-07:002009-03-20T21:39:56.366-07:00

I can still recall my dad breaking out our telescope one clear summer evening nearly 40 years ago to show my brothers & I the moon. What kid hasn't been mesmerized by a full moon at some point? It was fun to relive some of that excitement through my girls last week as we set up the camera to capture this picture of a nearly full moon. Take a good look and relive some of your own dreams &

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-30331299498825478232009-03-02T16:10:00.000-08:002009-03-02T16:10:47.038-08:00

Janelle notched her second birthday here in AZ over the weekend. To celebrate, we packed the kids in the car and headed for Joe's Farmhouse Grill, a great spot we first heard about watching the Food Network one night last year. Nothing fancy, but the food rocks! Much of what they cook with is grown right there on the farm. There's some great run-around space for the kids, a great walk around

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-8729068987327348512009-03-02T16:03:00.000-08:002009-03-02T16:03:57.874-08:00

As the East coast digs itself out from the latest snow storm, summer seems to be knocking on our door here in AZ. Over the weekend the temps were in the high 80s. Crazy, but nice! To celebrate the warmer temps, all the Stoops girls except baby Brooke are now sporting new, shorter hair. Don't they look fabulous?!!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-37875880092495909802009-01-13T07:46:00.000-08:002009-01-13T07:46:12.972-08:00

Fun shot of the family. This was taken over Christmas break visiting a friend's horses & mules in Palos Verdes. The girls had great fun feeding the animals carrots & apples and watching them all kick around & play when they were let loose to run around. They even got to sit on a real saddle. Thanks, Tom, for having us over!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-26524737772456370872009-01-13T07:36:00.000-08:002009-01-13T07:36:13.334-08:00

".... People say we monkey around, but we're too busy playing to put anybody down."

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-6714913326579072262009-01-10T00:38:00.000-08:002009-01-10T00:38:54.754-08:00

One of the things keeping Janelle busy these days is a Daisy Scouts troop (Girl Scouts) that she started up and is leading. Back in November, the girls in the troop, including Elise & Chloe (far right) visited a nearby home being constructed by Habitat for Humanity to hand out bag lunches to the construction workers. We're proud of how all these girls worked hard to support a great cause in

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-72557729229296138002009-01-07T11:40:00.000-08:002009-01-07T11:40:07.868-08:00

Bath time is also met with great excitement in our house... at least by the girls! What could be more fun for kids than hopping into a tub of water filled with toys?!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-30361908612026670872008-12-31T23:01:00.000-08:002008-12-31T23:04:26.952-08:00

Before heading back to AZ, we took advantage of the world's best babysitters - Nana & Papa Peterson - to sneak out for an early anniversary celebration. 8 years, 4 kids, and a heaping measure of God's grace later, we're going stronger than ever! As we close out 2008, it is with truly thankful hearts for a loving God who, among other blessings, brought us together in the unlikeliest of places (a

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-86003447727899456592008-12-31T22:53:00.000-08:002008-12-31T22:54:02.220-08:00

A trip to the pier was a must for us while in Torrance for Christmas. Of course, after the pelican episode (see below), we may start thinking otherwise, but it is REALLY hard not to relax and have fun walking around the pier, especially at sunset. Our girls had a great time there with their cousin Lily snacking on churros and watching the sea lions and pelicans. May 2009 bring many more

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-5851743962534290562008-12-31T22:45:00.000-08:002008-12-31T23:08:10.881-08:00

We resolve, in 2009, to teach our children the dangers of engaging pelicans on the pier... Yes, this is the guy who seemed friendly enough for Chloe to want her picture with him. Had I known how unpredictable he could be, I wouldn't have ventured the close-up shot above... The pelicans and people on the pier seemed to be mixing well enough that it seemed fine for Chloe to stand near one for a

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-14956538329578410552008-12-29T13:41:00.000-08:002008-12-29T13:41:50.564-08:00

For the past several years, I've enjoyed trying to get a good shot of our Christmas trees and decorations as a way of documenting these fun family memories. We spent Christmas day (plus some extra time) back in Torrance with Janelle's family, but we still enjoyed setting up a tree to enjoy beforehand at our home in Arizona. So... here is the 2008 shot of the Stoops family Christmas tree.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-91076047192562568002008-12-29T13:27:00.000-08:002008-12-29T13:27:53.687-08:00

Elise is great at bringing back memories of my own childhood and the incredible sense of anticipation experienced at Christmas time. It was fun to watch her delight at checking under the tree and think about what lay still hidden beneath the colorful paper and shiny bows, especially anything that had her name on it!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-66404541672567467232008-12-29T13:21:00.000-08:002008-12-29T13:21:36.121-08:00

At 18-months-old, Brooke is at a very fun age -- EVERYTHING is new, exciting, adventurous, and worth exploring, including Christmas treats! Here she is enjoying a cupcake at her Uncle Dave & Auntie Anne's house on Christmas evening.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-55627219008495351972008-12-23T22:13:00.000-08:002008-12-23T22:14:08.197-08:00

Elise was absolutely stunning in her Christmas ballet performance (see below for a photo of Chloe's). She danced to a French Christmas carol that was as beautiful as the dancing, and she glowed the entire time. She really shines when she gets on the stage, and seems to have a God-given gift for dance.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-26796932311426329442008-12-23T22:01:00.000-08:002008-12-23T22:02:25.385-08:00

Chloe & Elise had a FABULOUS ballet performance to finish out there first session at the local "Leap of Faith" dance studio. Both of them did a tremendous job, and, as you can see from the photo, Chloe had a wonderful time performing. I'll edit this post later to include a link to a YouTube video of her performance if I can figure out how to do it.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-45647767640065891182008-12-23T21:53:00.000-08:002008-12-23T21:53:53.271-08:00

I wished I'd had a better angle on this shot, but it still captures some of Chloe's excitement as she received her gift (a sleigh bell) from Santa on the Polar Express.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-25958735024739642282008-12-23T21:51:00.000-08:002008-12-23T21:51:53.671-08:00

Our one concern in heading off to our Polar Express adventure was that 17-month-old Brooke would freak out when she saw Santa and spend the rest of the train ride clinging to us as she recovered. We were ecstatic when she instead encountered Santa with the kind of wide-eyed excitement that makes you want to be a kid again!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-18916101774865042642008-12-23T21:45:00.000-08:002008-12-23T21:46:07.832-08:00

Quick family photo for hopping aboard the Polar Express in Williams, AZ. We first heard about this from our good friends, the Youtseys, and decided to give it a try now that we're living in AZ. It was 6 hours of driving with 4 little ones in the back seats for a 90-minute train ride, but we still thought it was well worth it! The area was snow-covered when we arrived, which certainly added to

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-72841198039120045682008-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:002008-12-15T21:06:35.148-08:00

Janelle and the girls have been having fun with Christmas crafts lately. One of the more fun ones for the girls (at least until it came time to painstakingly pull little bits of glue off) were Let-it-Snow (from FamilyFun) snowflake t-shirts. The girls dig them and have been wearing them tons. If they had been long-sleeves and a whole lot heavier, they would have been perfect for our Sunday

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-11273922550925893952008-12-08T14:31:00.000-08:002008-12-08T14:32:03.583-08:00

While we are missing the lack of commercialism enjoyed in Central Asia this time of year, and the fire department's Santa visits in Torrance, we're finding much to enjoy this Christmas season here in the Phoenix area. We recently made use of our zoo pass to take in the annual ZooLights celebration at the Phoenix Zoo. While not quite as impressive as we'd hoped, Jenga, the life-size talking

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-29810335626493944002008-11-21T10:41:00.000-08:002008-11-21T10:41:40.048-08:00

Never mind the fact that Chloe (along with all of her sisters) is going to need major, budget-busting orthodontic work. It's all about the smile, and she's got a great one that emanates from the core of her "life is great!" easy-going attitude.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-7858037916656607492008-11-21T10:32:00.000-08:002008-11-21T10:33:07.179-08:00

For those of you not familiar with the finer points of Cootie ("The original build-your-own-bug game!"), Grace demonstrates her winning dice-rolling technique, a key skill as success ultimately lies in who can roll the number 6 most consistently (6 wins you a leg, and Cooties have a lot of legs). We recommend playing on a glass surface, which makes the die action far livelier than on wood or

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-70995452087004566082008-11-21T09:31:00.000-08:002008-11-21T09:31:34.147-08:00

My brother, Scott, paid us a visit yesterday while in town for a conference. After a great hike around a nearby lake, we headed home for an awesome dinner of chicken enchiladas (thanks, Janelle!). Little did Scott know that he would be called on to wrestle, read the Berenstein Bears, and fight to the finish in a competitive game of Cooties - a challenge for any bachelor! The girls had a

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-67637477848347611162008-10-27T11:09:00.000-07:002008-10-27T11:19:39.706-07:00

Our neighborhood HOA hosted a block party on Saturday, a great time to get out and meet some of the neighbors now that the weather is cooling off a bit (it's all relative -- we're talking the low 90s). Aside from free hotdogs, Cheetos, and cake, the main highlight for the girls (and little Brooke in particular) was talking a ride around the basketball court in a modified golf cart. It wasn't

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-73325394466844831792008-09-12T13:46:00.000-07:002008-09-12T13:46:05.241-07:00

Chloe turned 5 last week and enjoyed a fun pizza party with many of her new school friends. Her fun, spunky attitude and easy-going nature are a blessing to all who know her, but especially to us! Happy birthday, Chloe!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-5626427161640722842008-08-28T11:56:00.000-07:002008-08-28T11:56:08.525-07:00

At almost 14 months old now, Brooke has definitely arrived at the "I want to do it myself!" and "I want want big people are eating!" stage. She's definitely got strong opinions about mealtime now, and the dinnertime decibel level has definitely reached a deafening din. But who couldn't love a yogurt-covered face like this?!Brooke's other major accomplishment is that she is quite adept at

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-47354036194520549942008-08-08T18:45:00.000-07:002008-08-08T18:45:39.804-07:00

No trip to Thailand seems complete without seeing one of God's most amazing creatures - elephants! I took advantage of an afternoon off and headed to a nearby elephant farm to see these amazing creatures in action. A 30-minute elephant ride through the rainforest was certainly a highlight! And who knew these beefy guys were so tourist friendly? Packed on the side of the elephant was a handy

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-34711045524925891462008-08-08T18:38:00.000-07:002008-08-08T18:38:16.674-07:00

Another example of God's incredible creavity found in Thailand are orchids. They are found in abundance around the country in a variety of types and colors, and many cities, including Chiang Mai, have orchid farms that you can visit. This shot was taken at a combo orchid and butterfly farm, though the butterflies were few & far between. Plenty of gorgeous orchids to enjoy, however. Ready for

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-6748844547386352562008-08-08T18:24:00.000-07:002008-08-08T18:24:43.102-07:00

 Just returned from a trip to Thailand for work, where I was sharing at a conference for colleagues from around the region. We stayed at a hotel tucked away up in the mountains near Chiang Mai, the grounds of which were quite beautiful with a stream flowing through it and a big pond. The Chiang Mai region is a rain forest, and, sure enough, we had plenty of rain every day! But all that rain

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-54645894500622023562008-07-23T09:05:00.000-07:002008-08-08T18:11:01.865-07:00

We were incredibly thankful to have Brad's entire family together for a few days during our visit to VA (the first time since Christmas 2002!). Time was way too short, but we're thankful for family and for the great few days we had together. Pictured L to R are Brad, Mark, Scott and Dad.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-37841688642301088602008-07-23T09:01:00.000-07:002008-07-23T09:01:18.730-07:00

Brooke didn't quite make it into the photo with her cousins (below), so she gets a solo shot. Whether digging in the sand or crashing into the waves with her dad, she couldn't get enough of the beach! She just turned 1 year old and is now realizing that it is much more fun to walk than to crawl. She continues to be a source of great delight for our entire family.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-12587988613821015602008-07-23T08:55:00.000-07:002008-07-23T08:55:16.565-07:00

Our girls had a blast in Virginia Beach spending time with their cousins, uncles, aunt, and grandparents. This was a shot down at the beach. Our girls (Chloe, Grace, Elise) are wrapped in the white towel flanked by their cousins Finley, Emily and Katie.

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-65431221541001484992008-07-10T11:37:00.000-07:002008-07-10T11:38:03.692-07:00

Just home from a 10-day trip to the Andalusia region of Spain (southern region). Having never been to Spain before, I had no idea what to expect. I knew they are known for olive oil, but I had no idea just how big an industry olives were in this particular region. The olive groves literally spread out as far as the eye could see in every direction. I was also a bit surprised how rugged the

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-83178463763124005422008-06-24T23:20:00.000-07:002008-06-24T23:20:21.037-07:00

Grace peeking out of her new pop-up princess house

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-83962233055696311042008-06-24T23:18:00.000-07:002008-06-24T23:18:29.734-07:00

Part of Grace's festivities today included a girly twist on an old classic: Pin the Butterfly on the Flower. With the girls' help, Janelle made a beautiful poster-size drawing of a flower, which we taped to the wall. When the guest arrived, they got to color their own butterfly, which Janelle had earlier cut out of paper. The game was a great hit, especially when the kids realized they each

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-84373004300970047422008-06-24T23:12:00.000-07:002008-06-24T23:12:16.082-07:00

Grace turned 3 today (yeah!) and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast party with mom & dad and her 3 sisters. The usual breakfast cereal got set aside for an awesome treat of cinnamon rolls, sausage and eggs. Mmmm! Grace got to open her family presents afterward, one of which was a princess pop-up play house. The house gave much pleasure to the girls in the morning, and was a popular hit in the

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-63861760120051688382008-06-21T23:05:00.000-07:002008-06-21T23:05:16.753-07:00

Friday was a day of celebration in the Stoops household. Brad turned, um, well... Brad had a birthday AND the girls enjoyed their last day of Vacation Bible School, which concluded with a performance on Friday night. Hundreds of kids participated, and it was pandemonium until the youth director, "Captain Marshall", called the kids to report for duty. They responded to that amazingly well, and

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-36496497278268690522008-06-21T22:57:00.000-07:002008-06-21T22:57:16.961-07:00

A couple weeks ago, we gathered with friends & family in Covina, CA to say goodbye to an amazing woman, Billie Stoops (Brad's grandma). Despite the sad circumstances of our gathering, it was great to be together with family. One particular highlight was for our girls to get to see/meet their Uncle Scott. We'd not seen him since Ellie was a baby, so he had never even met 3 of his nieces (Chloe

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945549983223350993.post-6103203587141885522008-05-21T22:19:00.000-07:002008-05-21T22:19:13.863-07:00

We took some time to enjoy our outing to Joe's Farm Grill (see below) by walking around the surrounding farm. In the process, we stumbled upon a nice little park that the girls just couldn't resist. Baby Brooke may not be walking yet, but that didn't stop her from enjoying the climbing wall! The real treasure in this photo, of course, is seeing where Brooke got her beauty from!

bjstoopsnoreply@blogger.com0