Crazy Hair Day

Every year, my kids' school has Spirit Week--a week to be silly at school. It's as important as Halloween to my kids. They plan for it all year. Well, one of the days included in Spirit Week is Crazy Hair Day--our favorite! Each class picks one boy and one girl to walk in the Crazy Hair Parade, and McKenna has been picked each year. Check out the last few years:

Crazy Hair Day 2008 (First Grade)

Crazy Hair Day 2009 (Second Grade)

2009 (Kyler in Kindergarten)

Well, after winning two years in a row, the pressure was on for Mom to again create a hair masterpiece! We went with a Valentine theme this year:

Crazy Hair Day 2010... and of course... she took home the class prize.

I tried to talk Kyler into doing mud and gummy worms, but he wasn't feeling it. He was pretty pleased with this though. He was loving the silly do... until we drove up to the school... and then he wouldn't get out of the car!! (Kyler's a little less flamboyant then McKenna.) I had been up all night with a sick Ashton, and then up really early to do hair... so I wasn't very patient with his self consciousness. He finally peeled himself out of the car, and was immediately greeted with praise from his friends, so he felt better! He didn't win his class prize, but he kept it in on all day and ended up having a lot of fun. I was proud of him.

Love the profile shot! It shows how huge Kenna's hair actually was!

Even Carson and Ashton got in on the Craziness!

McKenna got her ears pierced!

For Christmas this year, McKenna had a special gift placed on the tree. When she finally spotted it, she knew that it had to be something extra special!

She gasped when she read the card explaining her girls night out with Mom... to get her ears pierced!

The day after Christmas, McKenna and I were so excited to go on our little Mommy/Daughter Date!

We stared the fun off with dinner at TGIF. Check out Kenna's delicious dessert. Then we headed to the mall... like everyone else in Idaho Falls. We knew it would be busy, but we were so excited, we just couldn't wait. When we arrived at Claires, the ear piercing line stretched all the way out of the store. (Apparently, lots of girls got the ear piercing gift.) We decided that this was a good thing. McKenna would be able to see four girls ahead of her get it done first, so she would see how easy it was... because she was starting to get nervous.

The "BEFORE" shot. Looking happy... but a little apprehensive.

Okay, now looking extremely apprehensive, but still no tears!

And finally, the "AFTER" shot. You look Fabulous McKenna! Way to go!

December 2009

December was such a fun month... So fun and busy that I didn't have time to sit down once to blog. I had actually decided to throw the towel in on the blogging thing, but a miracle happened today. I have found myself home alone with only one child. I have approximately one Baby Einstein movie to do this. So here goes: A quick glimpse of some of our family's holiday fun this last month!

When Carson saw our home lit with Christmas lights for the first time, he exclaimed, "It's a gingerbread house!" Don't kids make Christmas so fun?

We invited over the Ferney family to make gingerbread houses for Family Night. This was our first year to make them without a kit, and it was funner! This is one of kids' favorite Christmas traditions!

How awesomely talented are we?

Carson and Noah were in a world of there own building there very own creation!

Sweet Ashton modeling his "Santa's Helper" jammies!

We had such a great time at the first ever Luke Christmas party! All but two of my siblings were there! (Getting all of us together is a rare thing these days.) We enjoyed yummy food, hilarious games, and of course, a little talent show--a Luke tradition.

Luke cousins: Kyler, Jake, Jaden, Carson, Josh, Brennan, and Ashton.

More Luke cousins so grown up: Kaylee, Jessie, Kimberly, Koryn, & Lauren.

Grandma Luke reading us "The Last Straw." She gave us each this book, and Justin made everyone a kindness manger.

Christmas Eve is always so much fun at Grandma Stevens' house! After a breakfast dinner in our Christmas jammies, we always re-enact the Nativity story... and Grandma Stevens' Nativity is unlike any other. It is a top notch production with fabulous costumes, backdrop, and props. Ashton made his acting debut as Baby Jesus. He did great as long as we were singing and he could see his mommy! Carson got to play the big role of Joseph this year!

I think Justin looks pretty sexy with a beard! Don't ya think? Ashton is keeping close tabs on his mommy!

The angels and shepherds singing praises. I just love McKenna's face in this photo. She just loves this sort of thing!

Milk and cookies for Santa! Let the fun begin!

Santa's Newest Helper

"...But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?" Nope. Sorry Rudolph. Ashton's our favorite reindeer this year!

'Tis the Season... for Ice Skating!

When McKenna grows up, she wants to be a fashion designer, artist, mom, actress... oh, and an Ice Skater! She received ice skates for Christmas last year, and we were thrilled that they still fit this year! Being the extremely patient Dad that he is, Justin cheerfully took our kids ice skating today--even though he knew it would mean a sore back later! This was Carson's first year, and he had a great time being carried/pushed/pulled by his Dad for two hours. Even though the kids are covered with bruises, they still insist that "it was awesome!" What a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Halloween Hoop-la!

October could not have been more busy or more fun. Here's a glimpse of just some of our festivities:

Daddy-Daughter Date... with Grandpa. Daddy is gone working in Boise almost every week, so thankfully Grandpa saved the day for McKenna's Achievement Day Halloween Party.

A gorgeous fall day at the Pumpkin Patch!

The more kids we get, the more pumpkins we have to carve! We are developing some serious artistic carving skills.

Witches Night Out. Each year, all the ladies in my neighborhood dress up as witches and go out to eat together. It's such a crack-up!

School Carnival. No smiles from Kyler. He was completely in character! And since Carson is obsessed with the alphabet, "Super Why" suited him perfectly!

My first Halloween Piano Recital. The costumes were hilarious, the lighting was dim, the music was spooky, and my forked eye-ball treats were both disturbing and adorable. So much fun!

And finally, the official Halloween Night. By now, we had worn our costumes so many times, they got boring. Super Why became a pumpkin (who insisted on wearing Vampire teeth) and Dracula became a Zombie Cow-boy! Carson loved Halloween this year! And, boy, did we make a haul on candy! Sweet!!

Happy Birthday Kenna!

Our little girl is seeming not so little anymore. McKenna turned nine in October. Gone are the days of princesses. Gone are the days of dress-up... it's so sad, but exciting at the same time to see her becoming a little lady.

McKenna was appalled that we still had to go to school and do our usual routine on her birthday. I think she expected it to rank up there with the National Holidays. McKenna gets so excited about everything. She truly adds a unique energy to our home. I love making things a little extra special for her because she appreciates and loves everything so much.

McKenna has such a vivacious personality. She's out-going, imaginative, sentimental, and strong. She loves having a bunch of brothers because she can wrestle with the best of them! Of all my kids, she is without a doubt, the toughest and rowdiest! If we would allow her to sign up for wrestling, she'd do it in a heartbeat. She was born with serious determination. When she decides she's going to do something, look out. It will happen. And my favorite thing about her? Her giggle. It's absolutely contagious. I'll never forget when we took her to the movie theatre when she was four or five. She was giggling so hard at the squirrel in Ice Age, she got the entire theatre laughing too. Not at the movie... at her!

We love you so much, Kenna! Happy 9th Birthday!