Dancing Queens

Even though I have a daughter, my home pretty much feels like a house of boys.  Yes, we have barbies and dolls somewhere... but McKenna can usually be found winning the WWF tournaments, sword fights, and burping contests.  The male influence is very, very strong.  You can imagine my surprise, then, when I came upon the entire family having a "Dancing With the Stars" moment in the family room.  How nice of McKenna's brothers to indulge her fantasies for at least 60 seconds!

 Ash's expressions are priceless.

 Few people know how hilarious Kyler is!  He's always in the center of the fun.  However, after the moment passes, Kyler gets paranoid about photos of evidence.  Kyler specifically told me that I was not allowed to post this picture on our blog, but I heard once that it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.  He'll thank me one day. 

P.S. Check out my hubby's bulging fore-arms.  What a stud muffin.

(Now I'm going to hear it from Kyler AND Justin... my two peas in a pod!)

Brooklyn's Playground

Have you ever wondered what a perfect moment looks like?

It looks like this:

Not a care in the world... just a moment of laughter and happiness.  Isn't childhood supposed to be filled with moments just like this one?  But have you ever wondered what it took to make this moment possible?  Probably not... but thanks to my Dad, my children were able learn a little bit about the compassion and effort of a small town that made this moment possible for them.

My hometown of Pocatello, Idaho recently pulled together to raise over $800,000 dollars for the building of a park that would allow children with all abilities to play together... an exceptional accomplishment in a down economy when businesses are failing and pocketbooks are slim.  It's quite a story... and I'm proud to say that my dad is a main character.

My father, Arlo Luke, has lived an extrodinary life… a life filled with hard work, talent, opportunity, adventure, posterity, faithfulness, devotion… and most importantly, influence.  He stands at a mere 5’4’’ tall, yet something about his presence is very large.  I’m not sure what it is exactly… perhaps it’s his passion for life… or maybe it’s his dramatic way of expressing himself… but whatever it is… this man has always stood very tall.  My entire life, I’ve watched my father make amazing things happen.  Whether it be his service in Boy Scouts, his company, his community, or the church, my dad has been instrumental in creation and lasting change.   His latest venture, “Brooklyn’s Playground,” is yet another creation he's personally pushed and shaped that will now bless the residents of Pocatello forever... as well as his own grandchildren and great grandchildren when they stop by to play.

"Brooklyn's Playground" was built in honor of a Pocatello family's 5-year-old daughter who was born with spina bifida.  While playing with her cousins at a park, Brooklyn Fisher fell and suffered a concussion.  Her family realized that there was simply no safe place for their child to play.  And Brooklyn is not alone.  Over 11% of children in Pocatello have a disability... that 3,000 children with no place to play.  This heartfelt story captured the hearts of Pocatello residents--inspiring fun runs, lemonade stands, grants, business donations, personal donations, bake sells, garage sells, carnivals… all donating their proceeds to the building of Brooklyn's Playground.

Brooklyn just happened to be at the park playing the night we visited!

It was like meeting a celebrity!

Once the money had been raised, the literal design and building of the park was accomplished through the service of sports teams, youth church groups, elementary children, disabled men and women... anyone who was willing to pull on some work gloves and dig in.

Five hundred to eight hundred people volunteered everyday during Build Week.  Forty different organizations and churches took turns feeding these volunteers three times a day... Wow!

This tractor was painted by my Dad.  Fun fact:  My savvy Dad got the John Deere company to donate $5,000 to the park in exchange for the tractor to be painted yellow and green!  Nice one, Dad!

The park was filled with Pocatello history and heritage.

A homage to Chief Poky himself!

The park was enormous!  It felt more like a "destination."  I literally lost my kids in there... that's one big park!  I don't even think they got a chance to explore everything there. 

 Everything was handicap accessible...

A high and low set of monkey bars.

My boys' favorite toy at the park... the dangerous one.

What a beautiful site... children in chairs and children not... playing side by side.

Thank you, Grandpa Luke, for a family night of learning, understanding... and play!

We love you!!

McKenna Turns 11

Last Saturday, we celebrated 11 years with our spunky McKenna Lyn.  How quickly time is flying right now... Is it because our schedule is too full?  Is it because we're working harder than ever?  I'm not sure... but all I do know is that every morning, McKenna is a little less of a girl and more of a young woman.  She's suddenly sharing my shoes, jewelry, panty hose... and asking questions that are hard to answer! Though she is changing rapidly, she still retains her bubbly, energetic, and adventurous personality.  Just the other day, her friend's mom told me that her daughter can never play with McKenna at recess.... because McKenna is always playing football with the boys.  Yep.  That's McKenna.

As always, a birthday breakfast in bed... even though she's never been much of a breakfast eater!

Justin surprised us that morning by putting on home videos from her birth.  She LOVED seeing video from her baby shower, her first room, and being adored by her family on the day she was born!  Boy, I forget how darling and tiny she was... only 5 pounds and 4 pounds by the time we left the hospital.  I also forget how unexperienced and scared I was as a new mother.  It was both painful and humorous to watch me figuring out how to take care of her... Let's just say, I've come a long way.  Perhaps this is why oldest children always come with such strong spirits... They have to put up with first-time parents!  

One telling sign of her age was that she was not concerned about opening presents that morning.  She was content to wait until evening... something I've never witnessed with my kids before.  However, it was her brothers who could not wait any longer.  The excitement was just too much!

Carson and Kyler had put so much time and energy into deciding what they wanted to give McKenna with their own money.  My very generous Kyler had saved up $40, and wanted to spent every penny of it on Kenna.  He even gave money to Carson so that Carson could buy her a gift too.  It was touching to see his love and giving heart.  I couldn't bear to let him spent all of his money, so in the end, the dollar store provided a way for them to give her oodles of things without breaking the bank. 

My silly boys even wrapped her gifts inside food boxes so that when she unwrapped them, she'd think she had received a cake mix and a box of Capri Suns.  Such sweet brothers who love their sister so much!

McKenna modeling a few of her brother's gifts... .25 jewelry.  

Her brothers were so proud of themselves.

Ashton opened all of McKenna's gifts for her, and McKenna thought it was endearing... more evidence of a grown up girl.  That never would have gone down nice a few years ago!

 That night, McKenna went for a night out on the town with her dream date... her Dad.

At Olive Garden, the couple enjoyed pasta...

 a birthday dessert...

 and the movie, "A Dolphin's Tale."

 Afterwards, we had cake and ice cream with Grandparents and cousins!

 McKenna is posing for me here.  Ashton blew her candle out for her. 

He's so helpful!

And finally, for posterity's sake, here's a look at McKenna at age 11:

Favorite Food:  Curry

Favorite Candy:  Sour patch kids

Favorite Movie:  Aquamarine

Favorite Movie Star:  Selena Gomez

Favorite Song on the Radio:  Party Rock Anthem

Dream Occupation:  Artist, Wedding Dress Designer, Singer, Dancer

Favorite Fad:  Monster High Girls, Mythology, & Dragons

Pet Peeve:  Brothers

Best Friends:  Brothers, Kamri Sorenson, & Cambria Seymour

Dream Day:  Surfing and "Chill-laxing" in Hawaii

Hobbies:  Piano, Violin, Ballroom Dancing, Softball, Art, Friends, Comforting Ashton

What grosses her out:  When her brothers don't flush

What makes her happy:  Art, friends, and helping others

What makes her excited: Performing

Happy 11th Birthday McKenna!

A Stevens Spook

"When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween!"

Fall Soccer 2011

Another soccer season has come and gone and I have lived to tell the tale.  I'm starting to realize and accept that my purpose in life is laundress, taxi driver, and supplier of juice boxes.  It's quite a feat to get kids to every game and practice sometimes.  It doesn't sound hard, but it is.  I figured out that there's only 3 months out of the year that we don't have some sport going on.  Thankfully, Kenna didn't do soccer this year.  Three kids in soccer just about killed me last time.  Our boys weren't on winning teams this fall, but they both ran and ran and tried the best--and we were proud.  It was pretty funny to see their different personalities on the field.  When Kyler scored, it was as if he could care less.  No expression.  Just cool.  Mr. Suave.  When Carson scored, he jumped up and down with his arms high in the air in triumph.   Polar opposites for sure!  Here a quick look and our soccer season:

By Request

You know times have really changed when your 5 year old comes up with post ideas for your blog!  The following picture set was thought up and posed by Carson himself.  I merely snapped pictures at his command.

Background info:  At kindergarten last month, Carson's class celebrated Johnny Appleseed's birthday.   (This is one of the many reasons why I love kindergarten!  Johnny Appleseed, Columbus Day, and Dr. Suess's birthday are celebrated as much as Christmas!)  Carson was really excited about this cool historical person... and especially excited about his cool new 'tin pan' hat!  He wanted this hat documented on the family blog... so ladies and gentlemen, I give you:  

The Story of Johnny Appleseed!

By Carson Stevens & Mom

Johnny Appleseed was a kind, gentle man who spent 49 years of his life roaming the America wilderness planting apples seeds.  It was his dream for America to be covered with apple trees so that no one would be hungry.  He even planted apple seeds on kitchen tile floors in his shark pajamas!

Bam!  It was amazing how apples would appear instantly after being planted!

(Love the expression... quite the thespian!)

And that is the story of the legendary Johnny Appleseed.

The End.

Day 2 of October Snow

Few activities entertain and engage all four of my children at once... but snow can!  On Day 2 of our unseasonable snow day, my kids were frolicking in the snow by 9 a.m.  It was melting fast, but that didn't discourage my kiddos one bit.  I peaked out my kitchen window to check on them and found them working hard and serious on a snow fort.  This little project kept them busy for 2 1/2 hours!  Ahhh!

I was pretty impressed with their determination!

Reality check:  It's never all fun and games.  I got to deal with this pleasant mess while a poor piano student waited patiently on the bench.  I returned to the piano studio with mud smeared all the way down my shirt.  Real classy.  

I'm happy to report that the snow is officially gone today (except for remnants from our Snow Family and Snow Fort.)  We're praying we get fall back for a few more weeks before the long, long winter really begins!