Thank Goodness For Big Sisters

I remember being scared at night as a child.  I remember thinking that "things" were lurking under my bed and in my closet.  I remember climbing into my sister Suzy's bed where I was welcomed, comforted and often offered Big League Bubble Gum and other goodies from her secret stash in her drawer.  I remember playing possum as I was carried back to bed.  I remember waiting for a few minutes before getting up and going back to her room.  I remember... so coming upon this really made me smile.  Thank goodness for big sisters!

A Little Less Wise

Well, Justin and I survived our first child's surgery... oh, and so did the child!  Yes, at only 11 years old, McKenna's now without wisdom teeth---making her just a little less wise... or so we teased her!  We never dreamed we'd be doing this so soon, but at Kenna's orthodontist consultation, they discovered that her wisdom teeth were blocking her 12-year-old molars.  They ordered those suckers out, and out fast!  A $2,000 bill was hardly what we wanted at Christmas time, but the oral surgeon literally scared me into it--saying that if we missed mother nature's timing, extracting her teeth would get REALLY expensive.  So, during Thanksgiving break--McKenna got a lot of down time!  

McKenna's always had a good attitude about everything, and this experience was no different.  She actually looked forward to surgery, and never uttered a single complaint after--EVER!  She's also a pretty tough cookie.  She can just do pain.  Really!  I gave her pain medication the first two days, but I really don't think she ever needed it. During her surgery, Justin ran out and found her a porcelain Christmas bell to keep by her side to ring whenever she needed anything, and she really enjoyed that... maybe a little too much.  "Ding-a-ling!  Ding-a-ling!"... all day long!  I think I now know what servants from long ago felt like when they were beckoned by such bells.  Starts to make you crazy after awhile!

 McKenna & Brothers enjoying down time together!

 McKenna was sure showered with lots of love that week!   Aunt Brooke and kids stopped by the first night with Orange Leaf ice cream.  (I can't believe I didn't take a picture!)  Grandpa Luke stopped by the following night after working at the temple to surprise her with roses.  She really is smiling here... That's as big as it gets with swollen cheeks!

Grandma Stevens stopped by with sweet gifts and a bag full of board games to play with Kenna.  Yep... I'm sure of it... my kids have the best grandparents (from both sides) in the world!

McKenna's fun friends, Kamry & Milly, stopped by with this giant card and Jamba smoothie mix.  I think they were a little shocked by Kenna's face, but they handled it with such grace, and made her feel loved and not self conscious at all!  I was so touched by this gesture that I was holding back tears the entire time they visited.  It was just so sweet.  

 McKenna drinking her Jamba the next morning... she was thrilled because it was soooo good!

Day 4 after surgery was Thanksgiving!  McKenna knew she would only be eating jello and soup which I brought just for her, but again, she didn't complain.  She also came up with the idea of arriving at the party as a chipmunk!  I was really impressed that instead of going to the party feeling uneasy about how she looked, she turned the joke around and got in on the fun!  She's a pretty special girl.  That's all there is to it!  Well, two weeks post surgery, McKenna is actually still a tiny bit swollen and thin as a rail--but back to playing football with the boys at recess and eating whatever she wants! 

Kindergarten Days

I should have been a Kindergarten teacher.  I have this thought all the time.  I love the creativity, the celebrations, the explorations... I just love this age!  This month, Carson's class celebrated their 50th day of Kindergarten by dressing up in 50's clothes, learning about 50%, reading 1/2 a story, eating 1/2 a doughnut, doing 1/2 of a worksheet... So funny!  I love it!

This is Carson's favorite pose.

Fonzi (Mason) and the Nerd (Carson)!

I also got to attend the Kindergarten Thanksgiving feast!  This was ultra exciting for the class because they got to have hot lunch at school like the big kids!

Ashton was also super excited to carry his very cool sack lunch and go to school too.  When I pulled up to the school, Ashton replied, "Bye Mom!"  He was totally set to go to school all by himself.  He hates being left home everyday, and he was just sure that "his day" had finally arrived.  He was bummed when he found out that I was tagging along too!

Notice that Carson's Thanksgiving dinner also includes Cheetos and a PB&J... Hey, a mom has to make sure that her picky eater doesn't starve!  He was actually a little embarrassed when I supplemented his dinner.  I was shocked because Carson is rarely embarrassed!  Impressing the peers... I guess it starts in Kindergarten!

I have to admit, I was nervous to eat school food... repressed memories I guess!  But it was actually yummy!  It was fun to spend some one on one time with Carson--a rarity for sure!  Carson is a delightful, entertaining child who brings a smile to my face everyday.  I'm so THANKFUL he's mine!!

Lip Sync 2011

As I reflect upon my blessings this month, without a doubt, one of the greatest blessings in my life is my children's wonderful school--Rimrock Elementary.  It's rated one of the best elementary schools in Idaho, and we often have people moving to the area just to have their kids attend this school.  The scholastic scores and programs are top notch, but another great aspect of Rimrock is that this school has a lot of FUN! Every year before Thanksgiving vacation, they hold a lip sync assembly.  It's actually getting pretty competitive to be selected!  Twenty five groups auditioned this year, and only ten groups were picked! Luckily, both Kenna & Kyler got to get in on the fun!

Meet the four most "PRETTY" 5th graders ever!

(Milly, Kambria, McKenna, & Kamri)

McKenna and her girlfriends had a blast pulling off the most sarcastic lip sync in Rimrock history.  They flitted and floated across the stage to the tune of "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story.  Their acting was so good, and they were simply hysterical!  However, I think the humor was a little over most of the elementary kids' heads.  They were left a little confused, thinking... "but they're not pretty."  Oh well.  The parents loved it!  I tried over and over to upload the video, but it just isn't working!  Just imagine the hilarity.

Meet Alvin, Simon, & Theodore... and their homeboy DJ!

(Haydn, Paxton, Kyler, & Brady)

Kyler has the greatest friends.  An all-boy group trying out for the lip sync is pretty uncommon--that in itself shows what a fun group of boys they are.  They weren't one bit afraid to bust out a move in front of the entire school!  Paxton even broke out the "sprinkler!" A girl in Kyler's class told him that they were the "coolest and most popular boys in 3rd grade."  Haha!  The chipmunk theme related much better with the elementary crowd--and they were a crowd pleaser!  I was so proud of Kyler.  

It was so fun to watch my kids create, work, practice, and laugh with their friends!  What a sweet time in their lives.  I am so thankful for my children's good friends and the many good experiences we are having... even when times are hard.  I am reminded over and over how very blessed our family is.  Life is good.

In Honor of Thanksgiving

Sweet Kyler handed me this note last Sunday... in it you see a glimpse of this boy's heart.  Such a tenderhearted boy!  I thought it would be fitting to post this during the month of thanks, and I don't want to forget it.

Halloween 2012: A Love/Hate Relationship

Oh Halloween, how I love you and hate you... how you delight my children in one moment and terrify them the next... how you fill my home with excitement and gore, how you make me fatter even though I swear you won't, how you leave me exhausted while wiring my children, how you charge my creative juices, how you make me laugh and then cringe in disgust.  I love you.  I hate you.  

This is Halloween 2012.

One thing I LOVE about Halloween is that looking back through my kids' costumes is like looking at a memory book of their interests.  McKenna discovered and fell in love with Greek mythology this year.  This delighted me to no end because mythology always fascinated me too.  I was also thrilled that of all of the beautiful and talented heroines to love, she chose Athena--the Goddess of Wisdom.

The BBF Goddesses:  McKenna & Kamry

 

Striking a glamorous goddess pose at the school carnival!

McKenna with friends, Rachel and Lydia, at the Ward Trunk or Treat.

Kyler and I fell in love with this costume idea from Aunt Kari... a nerd zombie that got stabbed to death by pencils.  Disturbing?  Totally!  But this costume turned out to be the best experience for Kyler.  Being nerdy and silly was a stretch for him... not really his style.  But he got SO much attention from this get-up that he became really proud of it, and began feeling comfortable about getting into the character!  Some houses gave him several pieces of candy because they were so impressed with his costume.  He thought that was the COOLEST thing ever!  He learned that it's more fun to be fun!!  He wants to be something really creative next year too!

To appreciate my work, you must see the profile view! 

In character?  Yes!  But he refused to wear a 'Kick Me' sign or have toilet paper coming out of his jeans.  I was bummed.

Brady and Kyler

Halloween has become a week-long holiday... that's something I HATE! Carson wore a few costumes this year.  (Funny Story: Carson found a bloody ax at the Halloween store which he really wanted, so he excitedly asked me if he could dress up as a MURDERER!!!  HATE, hate, HATE!)  Carson ended up becoming...

The Vampire!

"Do I dazzle you?"  Eat your heart out, Edward!

He also wowed everyone with another of Kari's creations:

FRANKENSTEIN!

Mason, Carson, & Noah

Carson, Christian, & Kyler

Carson dancing his heart out in a Wii competition at the Halloween carnival.

  He takes a lot of pride in being a good dancer!

One thing I LOVE about Halloween is the creativity it inspires!  My neighbor (who I've wrote about before in my posts) loves Halloween and hands out candy in a different way each year.  Trick-or-Treating at her house is like going to an event.  You never know what she'll do!  This year, her garage was transformed into a haunted dentist office!  Haha!  Here are her dentistry tools:

 Yep... Kyler had a cavity.  Open wide!

Carson was too spooked to get his own check-up, but he did get the dentist's treats... toothbrushes and apples!  Brilliant... I LOVE it!

Here's the saddest thing of all... I have no pictures of Ashton from Halloween 2012!  He refused to wear the TWO darling costumes I had for him!  But, he really dug Trick-or-Treating and every morning he comes down asking for his pumpkin bucket (HATE).  Well, on to more uplifting holidays!  Let the festivities begin!

Monsters In Concert

If it seems like I've been in a witchy mood lately, it's probably due to the fact that I've been listening to nothing but minor thirds and diminished chords for two months straight... but like they say, if the broom fits, ride it!  Yes, Halloween music has been in full swing since September in preparation for my "Monsters in Concert" recital!  Ironically, it's a less "scary" recital because playing in costume makes it super fun!

The Goddess of Wisdom & The Witchy Piano Teacher headed to the recital!

I just about died when one of my newest students, Chapin Wiscombe, headed up to play with his face completely covered!  I whispered, "Can you see?"  And he simply nodded.  He played flawlessy and took home the prize for "Scariest Costume!"  

Kyler won "Funniest Costume."  Unfortunely, my camera died half way through the recital, and I didn't get a picture of "Best Costume."  Little Emily Bohman was the most darling Asian Princess you've ever seen!

Natalie & Madison Burr... these two are so talented... they are a piano teacher's dream come true.

I was so touched (and nervous) that my mom and sister, Kari, came up for my recital!  Having them there meant the world to me and made the whole day extra fun!  Kari was taking pictures for me, and this picture was taken while the recital was in progress... I think she and Carson were having a little too much fun together.  She became his best friend that day.  Carson is dying to take piano, and I promised him that he would play in the next recital.

The Witch & Robin Hood (Jacob Bohman)... one of my funniest students!

The Nerd Zombie rocking not only the music but socks and sandals!

Witch #2 (Grandma Stevens) & The Gangsta' (Jaden)!

When I moved to Ammon, I set my limit of students to ten.... and I somehow have 22 now!  It takes a lot of time and is challenging working at home, but also rewarding.  My students have the ability to make me smile, cringe, and gasp all within a 30 minute lesson.  They're my friends and I truly care about each of them. I thank my lucky stars that I had a mother who made me practice and was diligent in teaching me herself.  I spend so much time teaching others, that I often don't have the energy and patience to teach my own... but I look to my mom's example and try to keep my own children on schedule.  By giving me the gift of music, my parents also gave me the ability to serve musically almost every Sunday, the ability to provide income for my family, and most importantly--the joy and satisfaction that only music can give.