Angry Birds

A Mom's Lament

This is not a cute little update full of pictures. Sorry. It's just my thoughts. Just a warning in case you want to stop reading now. (I hate forcing my thoughts and emails on people... which is actually ironic as this post is about self consciousness.)

I feel a little pang in my heart every time I drop my kids off at school. I can literally see them morph the second they leave the car and set foot on the school ground pavement. It usually happens sometime between second and third grade. Your carefree child who can make friends with anyone and has enough confidence to conquer anything... just changes. Every aspect of their life is suddenly overshadowed by the need to be accepted. The need for their peer's approval. The need to be "cool."

It happens to all of us, but it's a sad day nonetheless. I remember not wanting to wear a coat during the winter--because I felt "un-cool" in it. I remember pretending to find things funny in Junior High which were not. I remember trying to not act "too smart" in certain classes. I remember it all so clearly--which makes me want to save my kids from this curse even more! Some days, I want to grab my kids by the collar and shout:

"Why do you smile differently at school?"

"Why do you hesitate to blow a kiss back to me as you leave the car?"

"Why do you pretend to not be excited when you score a point?"

"Why are you pretending to be someone else?"

Why am I asking "Why?" I remember. I know why. It just still hurts to watch.

The funny thing about all of this is that there are a few people out there who truly don't care what others think of them. (Not many. Really, just a few!) Do you remember that person from high school? You know... the person who wasn't afraid to make a fool of themselves in a pep assembly. The person who could wear anything and get away with it because they didn't care.

They. Were. So. Cool.

How do we show our children this? How do we save them from the agony of caring so deeply about things that will never really matter?

December Rewind

December is here and gone! Playing, performing, working, hurrying, eating... we did it all! For me, it always goes too fast. With all of the hustle and bustle, I never feel like I have enough time to truly "soak in" the magic of December like I did as a kid... but with that said... we did accomplish loads of Christmas fun!! Here are just a few snipets of the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" for the Stevens family!

Ash's first venture in the snow. It lasted as long as it took to take this picture!

We had some huge snow storms! This particular blizzard left a 5 foot drift in our backyard.

Ky's snow coffin.

Kenna and Ky ditched Dad for the day at Targhee to ski on their own! Yessss! Skiing success!

Our annual Gingerbread House party with the Ferney family!

Carson! I saw that! Pass it over. I want some!

The Angry Bird Gingerbread House by Tyson and Justin. They were so proud of themselves. They took about 50 pictures of their work!

Our delicious masterpieces.

Our subdivision does the funniest tradition. This Santa travels from home to home during December. You get to have him for one night before leaving him at someone else's door. We didn't get him last year, so the kids were super excited when the doorbell rang at 10 p.m. only to find Santa staring at them! The kids were obsessed with him. This is me catching McKenna cuddling with him and singing "Silver Bells."

We got to perform for the Choralaires annual Christmas concert. McKenna played the part of Mary, Jaden played Joseph, and Ky and I were shepherds.

One of our favorite traditions: The Kindness Manger. Every time we do a secret kind act, we give and receive a chocolate and then place the wrapper in our manger to make a soft bed for baby Jesus. This was Justin's message left for me in the chocolate jar.

Carson made my bed for me! (Note the chocolate left on the bedspread.) Yes... a little lumpy, but quite an accomplishment considering that the bed is taller than him!

For years, my Dad has directed Pocatello's Annual Messiah Sing-in. It started as a Stake event and has grown into a city-wide, multi-faith event--complete with a full orchestra, professional soloist, and three conductors. McKenna and Ky sang--or should I say giggled and stumbled-- their way through the entire oratorio! We are so proud of Grandpa!

My December piano recital.

Carson putting on quite a show at his Preschool Christmas performance at an Assisted Living Center. I think he got the performance gene.

Matching Christmas 'jammies on Christmas Eve.

Acting out the Nativity at Grandma Stevens' Christmas Eve Pajama Party.

...just after Santa's visit!

Marveling at the evidence of Santa's existence. He really eats and drinks the cookies and milk!

I made lots of Heritage Makers gifts this year... always the best gifts of all because they're from the heart! I made each of the kids a personalized calendar.

I just had to include these photos because they were so funny. You can see the kids were hoping that these small, rectangular boxes were...

Is it really?

YESSSSS! D.S.'s for everyone!

Merry Christmas 2010!