Easter 2012

A birthday the week we moved in, Easter the next... life goes on whether you're ready or not.  We somehow pulled it together and had a nice Easter Sunday--even dyed Easter eggs after church since our normal routine had been bulldozed by the move.  We attended our new ward for the first time.  It felt strange, but we found comfort in celebrating the one thing we all share in common... the love and hope that our Savior gives us.   It was a wonderful day.

Look Who's 6!

That would be....

CARSON LUKE STEVENS!!!

In honor of the cutest six year old ever, let's take a walk down memory lane and bask in his cuteness.

5.1 pounds of cute.

Easiest (and cutest) baby during a family photo session--hands down.

One year old birthday party... so cute you could die!

Halloween at two years old.  I want to eat him up-he's so cute.

Age three--demonstrating his undying love and spot on sense for costumes/characters.

So tough... and cute.

Four.   Seriously?  Gap model-worthy cute.

Age 5.  "Do I dazzle you with my excessive cuteness?"

And do you know what makes Carson so cute?  Not his bright blues eyes, but the sparkle in them.  Not his dimples, but the reasons he makes you laugh.  Not his face, but his inquisitive, creative personality. It's hard to describe Carson if you don't know him... but he's one of a kind.  That's for sure! He is a joy and a wonder.

I have never looked forward to a child's birthday like I did Carson's 6th.  His birthday fell on the closing date of selling our home.  It was a week of upheaval, hard work, mess, change, tears... but I knew that by Carson's birthday, the bulk of the work would be completed--so I lived for that day--telling myself and my  family that we would celebrate like crazy on Carson's birthday.  And we did.  We left the piles of boxes where they stood and enjoyed a day of play after a very, very long and hard week.

We began the morning with gifts... adding more weapons and costumes to our already mass supply of them. (I know this because I had just MOVED them.  It killed me to buy MORE STUFF!)

Carson's going through the Power Ranger phase... a phase each boy must pass through.

The kids had a blast at IF's new trampoline park. Wore them out good!

We ate at Red Robin, watched the Muppet Movie (greatest movie ever), and shared cake and ice cream with cousins.  And please forgive the lame cake candles.  I couldn't find the regular candles, so we compromised with these.  (You know... 5 + 1=6?) Hey, it was a sheer miracle that I was able to bake this cake from scratch given the mess I was in. 

It truly was a day of celebration... and rightly so.  We love our CUTE Carson so much!

Plenty of Piano

March 2012 is going down as the craziest month ever.  Of course our buyers would select the one month I loath to close... the Piano Marathon Month!  The first weekend of the month is piano festival.  I was actually too overwhelmed with relocating our family to get too stressed about festival.  For the first time ever, I gave my all to each student during their lesson time--but then allowed myself to let them be accountable for their preparation.  I just didn't have the time and energy to fret like I normally do.  I had 16 of my 20 student participate.  Here are my favorites.  Glad they're taking this so seriously.

A picture of how all students and teachers are actually feeling on festival day!

The second weekend in March was my Spring Recital.  Carson has been begging to participate for a few years now--so this year he got to play "Dinosaur Music Night" even though he hasn't officially started lessons.  (Thank you Grandma Stevens for teaching this to him while babysitting.)  He was so confident and cute up there.  

The King

Okay... I'm going to brag now.  (Isn't that what blogs are for?) Kyler is proving to be quite the Brainiac.  (It may seem weird to take a picture of a report card, but I had messaged this to Justin who now receives snap-shot updates of our lives since he travels so much.  It just happened to go great with this story.)Yea... 99% averages.  Not too shabby.

Do you remember doing multiplication wrap-ups as a kid?  You know--those plastic multiplication cards where you have to string the problem to the answer?  Rimrock's entire 3rd grade participated in a "Wrap-Up Competition."  For weeks, the kids practiced at home and at school--timing themselves to see how quickly they could complete all 12 wrap-up cards.  Every day, Ky's class would dub a King, Prince, Queen, and Princess of the wrap-ups.  Kyler was consistently King of the class... but how would he stack up against the other classes?  That question spurred Kyler to practice HARD every night.  After school, he and his buddies traded in their basketball for wrap-up cards--racing against each other--trying their best to beat Kyler!  Man, Kyler was so fast...  He averaged 10 seconds per card.  (Each card took me at least 20!)

The night before the competition, Kyler was already nervous, and when he's anxious, his Tourettes increase.  I was nervous that his blinking would affect his speed and focus.  I talked to Dr. (Aunt) Brooke about our dilemma and she prescribed a dot or two of natural 'calming' DoTerra oils.  When I told Kyler about how the oils would help him, he got a huge smile on his face, but then his face suddenly fell.  He said that he wouldn't use them because "it would be cheating."  (How did I get such a purely good boy?)  I assured him that it would be like eating a healthy breakfast or stretching out before exercises.  After much discussion, he agreed to consider it and take them in his back pack.

The day of the competition was the day before we were moving.  I was stressed, overwhelmed, and emotional as I was frantically packing--but even with such a high pressure day, my thoughts and prayers were with Kyler.  This little competition meant so much to him, and he had worked so hard to prepare for it.   

At 3:00, he entered the house with a sad expession... and then slowly revealed something from behind his back... The King of the Wrap-ups Prize bag.  (The trickster!)  He won by about a millisecond.  (Hallelujah!)

The King's Winnings

And yes, he did apply just a dot of oil at recess...

 A dot containing gallons of mental confidence!

Partners In Crime

"To the outside world, we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each other's hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time." ~Clara Ortega

I am a lover of words... and I really love this quote.  It speaks truth.  And I know this quote will prove true for my youngest boys who have formed quite the team this past year.  Carson is a fascinating kid.  He has the hugest imagination and lives in his own world most of the time.  Lucky for Ashton, he gets to come along... and he couldn't be happier about it!  He follows Carson around like a puppy dog, obliging Carson's every command.  It's a win/win.

 The few hours before Carson goes to school are the happiest hours of my day!  Carson and Ashton wouldn't even notice if I decided to abandon them.  These two are too deep into their current adventure–usually half naked/half in costume and ALWAYS fully armored with weapons galore.

 If I happen to pass by their game/world, I am always killed.  I have gotten really good at "being shot" and dying a dramatic death.  It makes them so happy.

Am I worried that my boys will grow to be serial killers?  Heavens, no!  I have fully accepted that my house is ruled by testosterone, bugs, and guns.  I get the hugest kick out of their natural boy instincts, imagination, and the fact that they are entertaining each other!

 Here's a confession:  When I was expecting Ashton, I really wanted a girl... BAD!  Not for me.  For Kenna. I can't imagine life without a sister... I love mine so much.  But as I see these two brothers who are becoming the best of friends, I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing my life with all of these darling boys.  Darling... even as they threaten to scalp me.  They are so much fun!

A Spa-cial Day

"Things are never quite as scary when you have a best friend."  ~Bill Watterson

I remember feeling that way growing up.  And I feel that way now.  As our family is experiencing change, I have leaned heavily on the support of my best friend.  Friends are so important... especially for girls.  I am so thankful for McKenna's sweet best friend, Kamri--her 'BBF' since second grade. 'Good friends' is something I pray for my children every night--and I'm so thankful McKenna has this blessing in her life.  When Kyler got invited last Saturday to go skiing with his best buddy, I really wanted to plan something fun for Kenna and her girlfriend.  My neighbor told me about the "Princess Package" offered at our local Cosmetology school.  For $10, your little princess can get her hair and nails done.  Fun.  Thrifty.  Perfect!    

The "Before" Shot.

Getting Glammed.

After.

These two girls looked so fancy, I felt weird taking them home afterwards.  They needed a prom or wedding to crash!  (Funny side note:  See the maniquin in the background?  My two little boys (who had to endure the pampering date) where obsessed with this odd head!  They literally could not pull their grubby hands from this head's face.  Tracing her nostrils, rubbing her cheeks... It was funny!)

Oh decisions... this took a long time!

They both went for zebra nails... very 'on-trend!'

I think Kamri has the cutest profile!

Photo shoot in the lobby!  Don't mind if we do!

Beautiful girls--inside and out.

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."  ~Henri Nouwen