Rachael Ann Masten

Gosh! It's been so long since I've been on here, that I almost forgot how to blog! I've held off on writing about Rachael, my oldest daughter, because I wanted to get some updated pictures of her. Well that hasn't happened, with her being in Utah, and me being in Phoenix. Her birthday has now come and gone... so I figure I better GET ON IT ... using the pics I already have.

Rachael was born on September 11, 1983. Yes.... you read correctly, Rach's birthday is on Sept. 11th. She turned 18 the day that our country was attacked 7 years ago... a day we will never forget. She just turned 25 years old this year. YUP! A quarter of a century. I really shouldn't joke like that though, because then I REALLY start to feel old.

Rachael has always been a beautiful girl, but she has grown to be a STUNNING woman! These snapshots don't do her justice. She is very classy and elegant, but has a wild and crazy side to her as well (as you can see from these goofy candids).

Rach is an Event Planner/ Manager at LaCaille in Sandy, Utah. If you have never been to LaCaille, look it up on the internet at www.lacaille.com . It's a Tre Chic French 'Chateau' restaurant, with several acres of breathtaking landscape and views. Most of the antique furnishings are imported from France and the menus are to die for! It's a tad bit pricey, but well worth the atmosphere, superior service and scrumptious food! I have eaten there a few times myself. If you are lucky, you may run into some of the celebrities (that Rachael gets to socialize with), who hang out there frequently. Lucky, lucky girl!!!

Rachael used to live on the property for quite sometime with her best friend Mary, who is the owner's daughter. She recently moved off property so she could "have a life" outside of her work. She is a very busy woman, but she thoroughly enjoys what she does.

Rachael is so much fun to hang out with. There is never a dull moment when the family gets together. Her younger sisters all look up to her (literally) and adore her. Rachael is the "celebrity" in the family. She has been on television a few times. She and a few of her friends pranked each other on "Scare Tactics" (with Shannon Dougherty) on a few different episodes. I've got some really crazy recordings of their adventures. I feel so blessed to have Rachael for a daughter. She's one of my heros! LOVE YOU girl!!!!!!!!!

Makiah Ambrielle Masten

Speaking of Birthdays.... Kiah officially became a teenager on 7-17-08. Yeah... I know.... it's crazy to think that she's already 13! We had blonde hightlights put in her hair and we spent the day shopping & pampering her with pedi & manicures. She's a spoiled "girlie-girl".

One of her gifts was 2 more of Stephanie Meyer's books. She's obsessed with the "Twilight Series"... and I have to admit that I too, haven't been able to put the books down since I started reading them. I just started Eclipse.

Kiah's other dad (Will) got her two turtles for her birthday, while we were away at Girl's Camp. It was so nice of him to buy her $15 turtles and then to let us spend another $100 or so on all the crap that goes with them... like the aquarium, filters, food, decorations, heat lamp etc... At first, I was ready to get rid of them, but I have to admit, they've earned a special place in my heart. The girls named them Finnegan & Mr. Bubbles. They are so fun to watch. They each have unique personalities that keep us entertained! It's so cute how when we come in the room, they get up on their hind legs and beg for treats like little puppy dogs. We feed them so often that they are getting chubby & growing like weeds!

We are so blessed to have Makiah for a daughter. She is one of my greatest heros... always assisting me around the house and with the many projects I am involved with. Both she and Ke'arah are taking ballet, pom & cheer, jazz & technique, gymnastics & hip-hop, at a dance studio that just opened near our home. The teachers are all previous Phoenix Suns & Arizona Cardinal's Dancers/Cheerleaders. They also have a hip-hop teacher from MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. They absolutely LOVE going there everyday after school.

Ki is my ANGEL girl. I'm so completely CRAZY about this beauty!

Ke'arah MaLaan Masten

Today is our "little bug" aka "Ke-wawah's" Birthday! 08-28-08
She is now 10 years old. I can't believe my baby girl has grown so quickly. I woke her up this morning with the smell of her favorite breakfast cooking... BACON (& eggs of course). I snapped a few pics of her on her way out the door to school.

Ke'arah got to open one of her gifts, which was a new hot pink RAZR cell phone. She was pretty excited about it, as you can see in the photo.

Scott and I went to her school to bring her favorite lunch (Subway) and ate with her in the cafeteria. She and her friends always LOVE it when we show up at school (treat stash and all!) We're taking a huge box of Air Heads (72 count) that she can give to all her friends at school and on the bus ride home. SCORE! I still think it's crazy that we have to smuggle treats in for birthdays, since the school has banned bringing treats to the class. I've always had a little "rebel" side to me ya know!

Kylie & Kelsi Greenhalgh made a cute cake for her. They really made her feel loved on her special day.

Ke'arah has got more gifts waiting for her when she gets home. The anticipation is killing her! She IS the pampered Princess today!

Tonight, we have the Girl's Camp Reunion to attend. I guess I get to be there, since I am the Asst. Camp Director. We're going to celebrate Ke'arah's birthday more this weekend.

Daddy took this picture of she and I in the cafeteria.

DANG! I just love this little Gem!
Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Allison Marie Masten

Alli's Birthday was yesterday.... 8-26-08. She just turned 22. What a beautiful woman she has grown up to be!
Al is quite the artist. She loves to paint and has a web-site where she displays and sells her work. She also takes after me, enjoying photography and anything creative. Allison is so loving and is always concerned about the "under-dog". Just like the rest of the family, she can be "two fries short of a happy meal". What can we say? We're the "Wacki Wodeckis" and the "Mental Mastens"!

Alli was living with us here in Phoenix for about 3 months. She couldn't stand the heat, so she went back to Utah. We did a bunch of pictures of her while she was here. These are just a few of my favorites. Alli, You ROCK!!! You always make me smile. Love you honey.