It Is Finished

I'm a person who makes lists.  I have lists everywhere---in my purse, in my coat pockets, on the fridge...  I think I like making lists... not because they keep me organized... but because I like the feeling of crossing off a task after I complete it.  You can imagine, then, the overwhelming feeling of relief I felt when I tied the last knot on a little project that I've been working on for eight years! 

Behold:  THE STOCKINGS!!   

I stole this tradition of homemade stockings from my sister Lori.  When Justin and I were first married, we spent Christmas Eve in Lori's home.  I watched as Lori's kids lay in front of the fireplace--gazing at the stockings they'd had their entire life--and laugh and fight over why their stocking was the best!  I loved that they loved something their mother had made them... something that would be passed down and remembered forever.  I'm a sucker for all things sentimental--so right then and there--I decided to adopt this tradition.  It seemed like a great idea at the time... But boy, I had no idea how many years that little decision would affect me!!  As I look at these stockings hanging neatly in a row today, I love them.  But in all honesty, I hated those stockings most of the time.  They made me bleed once or twice and swear a few times more than that. They were truly a labor of love, but I can now proudly say:  IT IS FINISHED!  I think each stocking deserves a tribute of their own... 

Justin's:

Mine:

Kenna's:

Ky's:

Carson's:

And, as of December 23rd, Ashton's:

They really love them!  See?

A little stocking trivia:

The Hardest Stocking to make:  Kenna's

The Easiest Stocking to make:  Kyler's

My Personal Favorite Stocking:  Kyler's

My Least Favorite Stocking:  Carson's

The Kid's Favorite Stocking:  Ashton's

Stocking Detail I Hated the Most:  Candy Canes & Scarves

Stocking Detail I Enjoyed the Most:  Faces

The Stocking That Took the Longest to Make:  Ashton's... 3 years!!!

If you ever stop by and get a chance to see the famous stockings, please tell me how fabulous they are... even if you are lying.  It makes my tired hands feel better!

He's BAAAAAACK!!

Our kids were delighted beyond measure when we heard a pounding on our door pretty late last week... only to open it up and find our traveling neighborhood Santa!  We love this neighborhood tradition and feel lucky when we land the big guy since their are so many houses in our subdivision and only 25 days in December!  However, we've discovered that this jolly fella is only fun when the lights are on.  Quail Ridge Santa proceeded to make every single one of us jump, gasp, and even scream during his 24-hour stay with us.  It's pretty scary to see the figure of a man in the dark when you're not used to having him there... even if he does have rosy cheeks and a twinkle in his eye!  The lyrics, "He see you when you're sleeping.  He knows when you're awake..." have an all new meaning for me.  Think "Twilight Zone" music or the theme from "Jaws!" It's downright terrifying, I tell you!  It's probably a good thing that he only visits one night a year.

"Although it's been said many times, many ways, SCARY Christmas... to you!!"

The Messiah 2011

The Christmas season doesn't really feel "official" until I get to sing a little Handel!  Perhaps, that's because I've been doing it every December for as long as I can remember.  Yes, last night I watched my Dad direct Pocatello's annual Messiah Sing-in for the 27th time!  My Dad's involvement started long ago when the Messiah was just a Highland Stake fireside where Dad played the viola in the small orchestra.  He then participated as a frequent soloist and eventually became co-director.  Each year this little event grew bigger and bigger--bringing in people of all faiths--until it couldn't be considered a Mormon/Stake event any longer.  Pocatello's Messiah is now held in The Stephen's Art Center, accompanied by a full orchestra, and features over 10 (pretty professional) soloists.  However, regardless of the level of ability, one thing remains the same... this oratorio, which was written in 24 days, is divine.  It's a miracle.  That's all there is to it.  Every time I sing the words--"Wonderful!  Counselor!  The Mighty God!  The Everlasting Father!  The Prince of Peace!"--the Spirit testifies to me that this is true.  It's been a thrill for me as a parent to have my children attend these last few years, watch their grandfather's legacy of service, and be a part of this glorious music!

Justin, Carson, and Ashton were sick last night and stayed home... so that left me sitting between McKenna and Kyler working a little frantically to keep them both on the right page and measure.  But boy, they were troopers.  They both sang the entire thing!  Even Kyler was reaching for the high A's with me!  And the most wonderful part... watching tears stream down McKenna's face during the "Hallelujah Chorus."  At that moment, everything was right in the world.

Also worthy of mention...it was a unique experience to sit in front of my brother-in-law, Mike, last night.  He proceeded to "BAAAAA" in my ear throughout the entire rendition of "All We Like Sheep."  Or how about when my mother proceeded to politely tell that usher that, "No, she would not un-save her seats" because her husband was the head-hauncho after all!  Ah... family.  It's the best!

How do you know that you truly have the greatest Grandfather in the world?... When he fulfills his grandson's wish of climbing to the highest seat in the auditorium even though he's in charge of a million other things! Look close... Grandpa Luke, McKenna, and Kyler are waving from the very top!

Personal note to one of my favorite blog readers:  Thank you, Dad, for your showing us the importance of community, service, sharing our talents... and taking time for what matters most.  Love you more than you'll ever know!--Jodi

Vocal Point Mania

BYU's 9-man a capella group, Vocal Point, just celebrated it's 20th anniversary... and I'm pretty sure we've been going to their concerts for a least 10 of those years!  Justin's brother sang in VP while attending BYU and then became the group's director--so my kids have literally grown up to this music--making their C.D.'s the most played music in our home, falling in love with the ever changing cast of boys, and spitting, spitting, spitting away with the vocal percussion beats.  Oh, the beat boxing... that's another post entirely. It's taken over ALL three of my boys.  Yes, even 2-year-old Ashton walks around all day making gross sounds and spewing saliva like his older brothers.  (It is a boy thing by the way... neither McKenna or I can do it!)  I'll take the spit showers, however, because my children have been very blessed by this group and their music.  The impact has been pretty profound... My kids have been exposed to years of wholesome, uplifting entertainment--a rarity in the world today.  They've learned that developing and sharing talents is "cool"--an especially great lesson for my sons.  And most importantly, they've felt the Spirit as they've listened to VP testify of the Savior through word and song.   And talk about impression... Did I mention that Ashton's first full sentence was: "I want 'We Will Wock You!"  Yep--quite impressionable.

Well, the Vocal Point love was amplified by a million when the group got cast on NBC's reality show, "The Sing Off!"  These college boys who've slept in my home and ate at our table suddenly became famous rock stars.  Every Monday night was an EVENT--filled with screams and cheers... totally unbiased though! 

We just couldn't miss their final concert at BYU before the new semester.  

 Serious fans... and love smitten girls!  Miss Hailey Jo even got a kiss on the cheek from Jake Hunsaker to which she replied, "I'll never wash this cheek again!"  Classic.

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!!