MAY

May... now that was a busy month! For a mom with several grade school aged kids, I actually think that May is busier than December. Graduations, plays, field trips, parties, recitals... it all happens in the merry month of May.

Are you ready for a really long post? Each of these pictures is one of twenty. Instead of 10 different May posts, you're getting the quick, condensed versions of the Stevens' month of May. Here we go:

Kyler's first starring role as The Tortoise!

His class performed a reader's theatre version of The Tortoise and the Hare, and Kyler was super green, super slow, and just plain super!

We seeded our yard!

For a 1 acre yard, this was no small task to do all on our own... but we did it! This picture says so much. Kyler just walked behind his Dad for hours as Justin raked, and raked, and raked, and seeded. This kid seriously loves being with his Dad.

McKenna as Betsy Ross in the Fourth Grade Wax Museum.

Each year, the fourth graders pick a famous person from history, research them, and then portray them as a wax figure. They each freeze, and when you push their button (sticker), they come to life and tell you their story. It's an awesome event and I learned so much!

The entire school attends the wax museum, so the fourth graders get to say their part about a gazillion times! Here's Kenna reciting her part.

Cousin Jaden as Meriweather Lewis!

McKenna's best friend as Helen Keller.

McKenna's Dance Recital!

McKenna took a Hip Hop class this year and had a blast! This girl was born to be a performer because she does not get nervous... ever! She eats up every minute in the spotlight. She really shines on stage... and I'm not just saying that because I'm a biased Mom. She really does!

Proud Parents

McKenna & Olivia (our neighbor and good friend!)

Carson Graduates from Preschool!

Talk about a ham on stage... Carson takes the prize! When his preschool teacher gave Carson his diploma, she told the audience that she is positive that Carson will end up on Broadway some day. Carson's cute class performed all of the songs they learned that year and each told something they had learned. Carson counted to 100 by 10's. When asked where he would like to live someday, Carson said, "In a ninja jungle... if ninja jungles were real." (That's classic Carson right there!) When asked what he would like to be when he grows up, he said, "An actor... or a ninja if ninjas were real."

Carson with his babelicious teacher!

Miss Natalie was so great with Carson. Carson was a handful, but she never complained. She would just tell me all the funny, random, inappropriate things he would say in class, and we would both just laugh and laugh!

We had a mini flood!

The water pressure in Ammon is super high. While I was showering, a pipe underneath my bathroom sink broke. I went into total frantic-panic mode, so with Justin's directions over the phone, it took me 6 minutes to get the water off. You'd be amazed how much damage 6 minutes of water can create. As I was sopping up water in the basement, I looked over at my little boys--only to see them having the most fantastic day of their life. The jumped in puddles, made water tracks, and just loved having Mom, Dad, and Grandpa Stevens in the basement with them all day. This is them drawing and munching animal crackers while I cleaned... Oh, to be a kid again! (And yes, they wore their P.J.'s all day.)

McKenna dancing in the Rimrock Talent Show!

McKenna performed her hip hop dance number as a solo in front of her entire school. (I was thrilled that we were getting a little more of our money's worth out of that simple, overly-costly dance costume!) She did great, and once again, wasn't nervous at all. The night before, I asked her if she'd like to practice her number. She responded, "Why?" I said, "Aren't you nervous at all to perform in front of your school?" She said, "Why should I be nervous?"

We met a camel!

Random. I know. A gas station in Ammon was having their grand opening, and as part of it, had a camel there to attract people. It worked. We pulled over and followed the camel around the parking lot for about 20 minutes in 50 mph winds! The boys were thrilled! P.S. Camels shed. Alot.

Fathers & Sons Camp Out!

Aw... the one part of May that I love! Fathers and Sons is like a holiday for me! It was rainy and cold, but the boys went anyway... because Justin is the best dad EVER! The boys survived the cold and even slept! McKenna got to sleep with me in my bed, and she thought that was pretty special. I just think that boys and girls having a few hours of separation is truly inspired. The Church is TRUE!

McKenna auditioned for the Extreme Ballroom Team...

and made it!

Idaho Falls has an incredible ballroom organization. It's pretty time intensive, but also one of the best teams in the country. Here is McKenna and cousin Jaden auditioning. (So cute!) They made different teams, but we're still excited that they both made it. It's pretty competitive. This ballroom thing is the next chapter for McKenna beginning this fall!

Kyler Beat Boxes in his Second Grade Talent Show!

Kyler stole his class talent show with this beat boxing skit. This recording doesn't do it justice. I had to turn off the camera for a few seconds while I ran and turned up his mic --so it doesn't show him taking each "sound" out of the box... but it's still pretty cool! Click on this link:

http://youtu.be/kDOJ8CM5sW8

My world doesn't slow down... even when May is over. But though I complain, I really do know that these are best times of my life. I love watching my children learn, grow, and even embarrass and shock me! Kenna, Ky, Carson, and Ash are the joys of my life. I'm thankful for each and every busy day.

Ashton's Birthday Party

Just look at this birthday boy! Can he pose, or what? Ashton is developing the funnest personality! (By the way, no comments about the wrapping, please! I know it's Santa paper... It was all I had!)

The kids were so excited for Ashton to open his presents. (Birthdays are extremely exciting to them--even if it's not their own!) By the time Justin got home from work, the kids were about to burst from anticipation... especially Carson. He helped me wrap the gifts, and he just couldn't wait to get his hands on one gift in particular. Ashton loved the "unwrapping" part, but he was just too slow for the kids' patience. The kids kept trying to step in and take over for Ashton--so there's a lot of "hands off" and "he can do it!" and "if you touch that one more time..." yelling going on in our home video of the party. Eventually, itty bitty piece by itty bitty piece, Ashton unwrapped those gifts!

A Sit-n-Spin!

(His favorite toy in nursery.)

Ashton received a plethora of Elmo toys... his current hero.

I didn't give Ash a ball since he already has about 600 of them, but Grandma & Grandpa Stevens came through for Ashton with ball #601. Yep... Ash's favorite gift!

When it came time to sing "Happy Birthday," Ashton sang right along to himself. It was so funny! What a fun birthday... and what a fun boy!

Ashton at age 2

Happy Birthday to the youngest member of the Stevens clan:

ASHTON COLE!

In the past year, Ashton has emerged from a baby to silly, high energy, streak-loving little boy! With the help of his big brothers and sister, this fun little guy is learning the ropes of childhood fast! In honor of Ash's big day, here's a look at this vivacious kid at age two:

* Ash loves books, Elmo, mom's ipod, and the Wiggles. But his favorite toy of all time is still a ball. He's got some amazing skills for a 2-year-old. You can actually play catch with him... Really!

* Ash has recently discovered the wonders of costumes! His favorite combination is sunglasses, a cowboy hat, and these two necklaces. Here's Ash in his classic camera pose--arm up while leaning to the side!

* Ash is the official scripture retriever. At scripture time, Ashton runs to the drawer and finds everyone's scriptures and delivers them to the appropriate person. (He's learned whose is whose!) He also puts them away when we're finished--carrying at least two at a time. (He's a tough kid.) He absolutely loves this job and takes it very seriously!

* Ash is very popular with all of my piano students. One student in particular always asks the same question the moment he walks through my door each week: "Is Ashy awake?"

* Ash refuses to leave his bed without his two favorite blankets and binki.

* Ash has a special kinship with Grandpa Stevens. He just loves it when Grandpa uses his pen to tickle his face!

* Ash was born with the boy sound effect chip--and he makes sound effects all day long... as he throws and catches balls, jumps, runs, sits...

* At the mere age of two, Ash has already mastered the art of comedy. He'll do anything for a laugh! Here's Ashton putting on one of his goofy shows at lunch time...

* Ashton loves the B.Y.U. acapella group, Vocal Point. He demands this C.D. the moment we strap him in the car by screaming "We Will!" meaning the song, "We Will Rock You." He tries to sing and beat box along to the entire C.D. When we come home, he sometimes prefers to stay buckled in his car seat listening to the C.D. rather than getting out and going inside the house. Now that's a dye hard fan!

* Ashton has always been a long napper. He still naps 4-5 hours a day!

* Ash loves his Daddy's truck. He also loves sitting on his Dad's motorcycle making uncanny motorcycle noises. I swear... little boys come programmed.

* Ash really loves it when the kids' friends come over to play. He especially loves tormenting Carson and his buddies by chasing them around with a sword. They are scared to death of him... because he hasn't yet learned how to play soft.

* Ashton LOVES food, and he'll eat ANYTHING! If you don't believe me, watch this video of him devouring a lemon at Johnny Carinos.

* Ash gets great satisfaction by yelling "No!" and "My" (meaning 'mine') at least 100 times a day.

* Ashton is crazy talented at destroying anything if left alone for more than five minutes.

* Ashton has always been so good about going to bed. The second we say, "Time for bed," he puckers his lips like a fish and kisses every member of the family and then happily goes to bed.

* Ash's most used word is "uck." Meaning "Look!"

* When Ashton wakes in the morning, he'll just play and talk softly to himself forever until someone finally goes and gets him. He is such a good natured boy.

* Ashton loves running to greet Dad and the kids when they return home with a hug.

This past year has been a big one for Ashton, and the next promises to be even bigger... potty training, sentences... let the fun begin! Happy Birthday Ashton!

An Oz-Some Weekend

My Mother's Day weekend was pretty FANTASTICAL (as Gaaaaa-Linda would say)!

It's going to be hard to top this one. It started off

with a surprise delivery...

A beautiful bouquet of flowers from the very first man to steal my heart... My DAD! He sent all six of his daughters a bouquet with this message:

My girls are the best Moms in the World! Love, Dad

I'm not sure about the truth of that statement... but I am absolutely positive that I have the best Dad in the world. My flowers are still sitting on my kitchen counter, and they continue to fill my soul with a bit of sunshine every time I walk by them. (Thanks Dad! I love you.)

On Saturday morning, we headed down to Boise for a day of family fun. We found a kids wonderland in Meridian--a little play called BOUNCE. It was filled with huge inflatable jumping toys where our kids jumped their little hearts out for hours until we could bounce no more!

Aston loved Bounce as well... as long as Mom or Dad was holding his hand the entire time. That meant that Justin and I were sliding, climbing, and bouncing too. We looked like we had run a marathon after the first ten minutes.

But wouldn't you know it... when it was time to head out, Ashton suddenly had a surge of courage and decided to go down the giant slide... SOLO!

This picture doesn't show how vertical this slide truly is!

Go Ashton!

No Fear!

Now that's a brave 2-year-old!

After our 3-hour workout at Bounce, we cleaned up for our long awaited night in the Emerald City--the Broadway musical, Wicked! You could describe our excitement as... "unusually and exceedingly peculiar and all together quite impossible to describe!"

We dropped Ash and Carson off at niece Amy's house. (Did I mention that Amy is a Saint?) The boys were more than thrilled to miss out on a Broadway show in exchange for a few hours of playtime with Amy's twin boys. (Thank you Amy!)

This night fulfilled a dream of mine. I saw Wicked with my parent and siblings over 3 years ago. It was magical... but my heart hurt a tiny bit because Justin & McKenna were missing it. McKenna has had the Wicked soundtrack memorized word for word for years, and I've told her the story umpt-teen times. I vowed that if I ever had the opportunity, I would take Justin and McKenna to Wicked. Opportunity doesn't get any better than when Wicked comes to your state!

We bought the cheapest tickets possible, and surprise surprise... we got what we paid for! I was so disappointed that we couldn't even see the actors' facial features, but it didn't really matter to McKenna. When the lights went down and the music began, McKenna gasped with sheer delight and grabbed my hand. All throughout the show, she would reach over and hug me. She simply "Couldn't Be Happier!" And that's all that mattered.

On Mother's Day (the following day), I got treated like a Queen. I didn't make my bed. I didn't make breakfast. I didn't even hang up my towel.

Thank you Hampton Inn!!

Our hotel had a really great pool, and the kids had a blast swimming for hours .

What a hunk of burnin' love!

We left Boise on a theatrical high and with new beloved memories. The road trip got extra fun when we came upon a cute, little red VW bug on the highway... Yes! It was Grandma Luke! The kids were giddy with excitement as we passed her waving and giggling wildly. I even made a makeshift "Happy Mother's Day" sign to hold up as we drove along side her. We stopped at a gas station where Grandma proceeded to buy all the kids a pack of gum. Here's McKenna with the entire package in her mouth! (It's amazing what kids will do for entertainment on a 5-hour road trip!)

I Feel Pretty

Every now and then, I became suddenly aware that I have been doing something for ten consecutive minutes without being interrupted, that no one is hanging on me, and that the house is eerily quiet...

(PANIC!) "Where is Ashton and what is he destroying?!"

When this terrifying moment happened last week, I bolted through the house fully expecting to find markers on the walls or a half eaten jar of play dough. But to my surprise, I came upon this...

Ashton doing his hair and make-up.

(And yes, he was naked as a jay bird. We're still dealing with the diaper ditching problem at least once a day.) Cue the West Side Story soundtrack now...

"I feel pretty,

Oh, so pretty

I feel pretty and witty and bright!

And I pity

Any boy who isn't me tonight."

"I feel charming

Oh, so charming

It's alarming how charming I feel!

And so pretty

That I hardly can believe I'm real."

"See that pretty boy in that mirror there:

Who can that attractive boy be?

Such a pretty face,

Such a pretty bod,

Such a pretty smile,

Such a pretty me!"

"I feel stunning

And entrancing,

Feel like running and dancing all day long,

For I'm loved

By a pretty wonderful... Mom!"

What No One Told Me

In honor of Mother's Day,

I thought I'd share my thoughts on my own journey so far...

Before I was a Mother, people told me that motherhood would change my life. People told me it would be my most important and rewarding work. People told me that my kids would grow up too fast. People told me to enjoy every moment. They were right... but there were a few things they all forgot to mention.

* No one told me that being pregnant is an open invitation for mere strangers to touch my stomach.

* No one told me that being in labor was an open invitation for strangers to see me in the most unflattering position imaginable. No one told me that I would pee in front of an audience or have countless nurses rummaging their hands around inside my uterus.

* No one told me that nursing would at first feel unnatural and impossible.

* No one told me that even after I lost all the baby weight, my clothes would never fit the same way again... ever.

* No one told me that after I had a baby, my hair and eyelashes would fall out.

* No one told me that getting a shower some days would feel like an Olympic sized victory.

* No one told me that after I had a baby, I would do the very thing I swore I would never do: Sport a 'Mom Haircut'!

* No one told me that once I became a Mom, getting out the door would take a minimum 25 minutes.

* No one told me that once I became a Mom, the next time I 'slept in' would be 15 years later.

* No one told me that after years of music lessons, straight A's, and a college degree, my main job would be wiping kids' bums.

* No one told me that the first time my child pooped in the potty would be the single most triumphant moment of my life.

* No one told me that my children would mimic everything I do and say... and consequently showing me who I really am.

* No one told me that I would fall asleep every night feeling guilty and inadequate.

* No one told me that my children would all come with completely different personalities and needs, and that once I figured any of them out--they'd change!

* No one one told me that finding a dinner that pleased every member of my family would become a matter of prayer.

* No one told me that after suffering through pregnancy, labor, and years of sleepless nights, Daddy would always be loved most.

* No one told me that to make a little boy double over with laughter, I need only mention the word 'burp', 'fart', or 'booger'!

* No one told me that I would become an expert on dinosaurs, ninjas, super heroes, and wolves.

* No one told me that talking to my daughter about maturation would be scarier than speaking in church.

* No one told me that I would transform into a protective, blood-thirsty mama bear every time someone did or said something to my child that I didn't like.

* No one told me that I would not understand my own capacity to love until the moment that my first born was placed in my arms.

* No one told me that I would not understand true pain until I had to watch helplessly as my child experienced something hard.

* No one told me of the pure joy that wells up inside you the first time your baby smiles--knowing that smile is meant just for you.

* No one told me that a game of Patty Cake can be as exciting as Christmas morning.

* No one told me that raising children would allow you to see your spouse's greatest qualities and talents.

* No one told me that children will forgive you no matter how many times you mess up.

* No one told me that once you become a mother, you're a mother for eternity... so you better be ready.

A Closer Look At Kyler

Some people are easy to know... like my Carson, for instance. After only knowing him for one minute, you'd probably assume that he was bold, colorful, and fun... and you'd be right. Others, however, are not so easy to sum up. These unique people are so layered and complex that their personalities are really more like mysteries that require patient unfolding every day. Kyler is one of those people.

Kyler was born with an old soul. A quietness. An awareness of others. He is, without a doubt, my most submissive, sensitive, and responsible child. He's also the most trying, challenging, and needy. Where McKenna and Carson are happy-go-lucky, Kyler is a stark contrast--chronically disappointed. In one moment, he has me ripping out my hair... and in the next... wondering if I am teaching him or if he is teaching me. It's hard to explain, but the events of a recent morning illustrate this rare boy much better than my adjectives ever could.

A few mornings ago, Justin left very early to show a farm to an interested buyer. I was well aware of the events that would follow. I've seen it hundreds of times.... Immediately after waking, the kids would go down to our bedroom to cuddle with their Dad (as they always do) only to be startled to find him gone. Kenna and Carson would be disappointed, but they'd get over it quickly and continue on with our morning routine. Not Kyler.

As predicted, Kyler emerged from his room with his usual moody morning expression, ignored me, and headed straight for my bedroom in search of his Dad. (It's okay. I've come to terms with Justin holding the favorite parent position long ago. I really don't blame the kids... I like Justin better than me too.) Moments later, Kyler reappeared with that 'let down' face that I've come to know so very well. With a voice on the verge of tears, he said, "Where's Dad?"

"Oh, here we go," I thought. It was time for the unleashing of 'Kyler Drama,' and I really wasn't it the mood for it. I quickly said something to the effect of, "Look Kyler. Dad's showing a farm this morning. It's really important, and it's really GOOD. I need you to stop feeling sad for yourself, and instead, start feeling happy for our family. Got it?"

Kyler gave me the brattiest glare he could muster, rolled his eyes, and walked away. I was actually thankful that I got off that easy.

About ten minutes later, Kyler came into my bathroom so I could comb his hair for school. In a softer tone, I tried to smooth things over between us just a bit. "Kyler," I said, "Maybe you could say a little prayer for Dad today."

What Kyler said next stopped time for me. He looked up at me with his pure, honest face, and simply said, "I already have."

That simple reply describes Kyler perfectly. He is a boy who struggles with so many things, and yet always has his heart in the right place. Always.