Kyler Immortalized

At the first of his fourth grade year, Kyler and his buddy Zach made a goal to get their picture permanently up in their school's library for having over 400 Accelerated Math points. Just staying up on all the required math scans was hard already... I really didn't know if it would be possible for Ky and Zach. However, when they hit the 200 point mark  in December, we started getting really excited--knowing that it was, in fact, possible!

Here is the "Honor Wall" that started it all...

And here is a picture of the class's overall progress on math scans. (Each sticker represents a scan.) I thought it was so funny that their teacher switched from stickers to tiny dots on Zach and Ky's line!

On the last day to qualify for the AC math award, Zach and Kyler were both a few points shy! Their very cool teacher let them drop everything and go to the library to work like crazy! I stayed for motivation and kept their blood sugar up! They worked through lunch and recess.

And by the end of the day, TA-DAH! They had both made it! Mr. Hood, the very wise man that he is, made sure that they both ended up with the same points. The came in at 403. They were honored at the end of the year school assembly. Their principal made a big deal about it. It was very cool.

Mr. Hood and the math phenoms.

But just last week, (5 months later) their picture was finally nailed up on the wall... the moment they had been waiting for! Each time they see this, they'll both be reminded that they can do hard things.

I am so proud of this kid. I love him more than words could ever describe. He was born with some serious drive, and I can't wait to see what he decides to do next.

More Tragic Tales: The Worst Birthday Wish Ever

The other day, I was playing with Ashton--tickling and teasing him... just trying to make him laugh. We were having a great time! Knowing how he abhors it, I teasingly said, "Ashton LOOOOOVES to kiss girls, right?" Instantly, the expression on Ashton's face became sad and very serious. He looked like he was going to cry. Perplexed, I said, "Ashton, have you kissed a girl?" Looking completely ashamed, Ashton turned his eyes to the ground and nodded his head. I was starting to get worried--seeing how upset Ashton was acting. "Who?" I asked. Very softly, Ashton murmured, "Beauty and the Beast..." Which brings me to the story behind the story. 

Rewind four months.

The last week of May (just after Ashton's birthday), the Stevens family went to the Playmill Theatre to see "Beauty and the Beast." The cast started the show in their usual way--having audience members who were celebrating birthdays come to the stage to be sung to. "What a fun thing for Ashton to get to go up on stage!".... we thought. (How wrong we were.)

It started out fine. Look how brave Ash is being... 

He is showing how old he is!

Do you see that dead look in his eyes? The strange smile? Sitting on a stranger's shoulder is not going over well. Things are starting to go downhill...

One of these faces is not like the other...

At this point, I was dying in my chair because I knew that Ashton was done! He was being so strong holding back the tidal wave of tears building behind those eyes. I thought he was going to make it until the worst possible ending to all of this happened. 

Though we didn't catch a picture of this (dang it), two darling girls from the cast came up on either side of Ashton and planted a kiss on his cheeks at the same time. Oh my. Ashton does NOT do kisses. Especially from strangers! The moment he made it back to my chair, he began wailing in agony! He buried his face in my shoulder for at least ten minutes.  And our conversation the other day proves that those kisses left much more than a lipstick stain. This poor, kiss-hating boy seems to be scarred! (Now, if only we can keep him scarred until he's back from his mission....)

The Tragic Tale of a Hot Air Balloon

Once upon a time, in the land of Ammon, their lived a ten-year-old boy named Kyler. This adventurous boy begged and begged his mother to let him join the after school hot air balloon club with his buddies. The strict but extremely beautiful mother refused. How could she drive him there and back while teaching piano after school? But the stubborn child persisted (as he always did) until the mother's heart softened, and she caved to the boys' unrelenting pleas. For weeks, this boy and his friends worked and worked--creating a seamless and colorful air balloon. But would it fly? No one knew... until the balloon launch day finally arrived. The hot air balloon teams gathered in the school parking lot early before school. Excitement filled the cold, crisp air.

The reckoning time had come. The boys filled their balloon with heat... 

and then... 

let go...

The ballon arose gloriously towards the sky!

Look at her go! Higher and higher, it climbed!

They boys cheered with delight! Hive fives all around!

They had done it!

The parking lot became a celebration! Donuts and juice for everybody!

Until...

Disaster struck! 

As the boys were filling their balloon with heat for a second launch, the perfectly crafted balloon caught a spark--and suddenly became engulfed in flames! In seconds, weeks of work disappeared inside a hot and hungry light.

 In just moments, all that was left of the balloon was ash. The boys stood motionless with gaping mouths--just staring at the ground.

But don't be too sad, folks. These are ten-year-olds after all... The only thing cooler than creating an air balloon is to... well, be the group that set it on fire. Depression was quickly replaced by the recognition that they were now fifth grade heroes. A sense of awe and reverence surrounded the pyro group for the rest of the year. Yes, the balloon died tragically. But it lived a good life. And left a great story to tell.

THE END

Baseball 2013

In past years, baseball has taken over our entire month of June. However, now that the kids are getting older and in three different leagues, baseball stretches from May to August for us! My life seems like it revolves around one sport to the next. I pretty much live half of my life shivering and cheering in a lawn chair. However, sports are starting to get a little more exciting to watch with older kids--especially Kyler's games. He is one heck of a focused and smart athlete. Each time I watch him, I am in complete awe that he is mine--being that my sporting events in high school consisted of fast piano scales. This past summer was Ky's second (and last) year in the Minor Little League. He was his team's pitcher and first baseman. At the team party, his coach said that Kyler's stike-out average was 65%. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but Justin tells me that it's really good!

McKenna's season was a hard one. Her beloved coach of the last six years was unable to coach in 2013. Coach Prestwhich's 10-year-old son was paralyzed in a car accident just weeks after baseball ended last year. (Truly the most heartbreaking experience I've ever witnessed.) Without this fun coach, we quickly realized the impact that a coach can have. McKenna's heart was not in the game, but rather left in the dance studio. McKenna complained but persevered through a very long season playing pitcher and out fielder. Watching her pitch always made me giggle... She was the most graceful ballroom-dancer-pitcher you've ever seen!

With baseball sign-ups happening the month that my world turned upside down (May), I failed to get Carson on a team. However, with the help of a sweet ward member and an old tee ball shirt that magically matched his new team, I was able to finagle Ash onto a team the night before his first game! This was truly a tender mercy, being that Ashton was SOOOO excited for his first sport ever!! After four years of watching his siblings from the stands, Ashton knew what to do and was ready to be let loose on that field. His first game was HI-LAR-I-OUS. First of all, Ashton is kind of obsessed with jerseys right now. He was completely angry that his team shirt did not have a number on it--so I actually had to TAPE a number on his shirt to satisfy him. During Ash's first time in the out field, he ran along side the opposite team's runners to each of their bases--because standing drone-like waiting for the ball was so not happening. And then.... the very best thing of Ashton's whole life happened when he was presented his first medal. Four months later, he still wears it almost everyday and has taken it to his preschool show-and-tell–TWICE!