Carson at Age 7

 On March 30th, our cute Carson turned seven! He really wanted to have a birthday party this year, and since his birthday fell on Spring Break, he enjoyed TWO days of celebration--one on the actual day and another on 'party day' when his buddies were back in town! Two cakes, two parties, twice as many gifts... DOUBLE THE FUN!

Cake #1

Cake #2

Carson Luke Stevens... a personality impossible to describe with a few pleasant adjectives. Carson just does not fit into a mold. He came to this earth with a unique and confident spirit all his own. He makes every decision because he wants to--not because of peer acceptance or to please adults. He is constantly fascinated with different things... He sees life as his own adventure... He moves at his pace... He does things his way... He is Carson. And we couldn't love him more! Here is a look at Carson at age 7 in his own words:

Stuff I Love...

* Coolest Color: Red, of course.

* Books I Love: The Magic Tree House Series. 

* Best Buddies: Tyler Fisher, Noah Ferney, & Caleb Warner

* Favorite Show: Power Rangers

* Favorite Song: "Do You Hear the People Sing?" From Les Miserables

* Food I Could Live On (And he actually does): Waffles with peanut butter, Pediasures, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches

* Favorite School Subjects: Math and Art

* Favorite Treasures: Swords, Costumes, Magnifying Glass, Flash Light, and Skylanders
* My Hero: My Dad

* Things I'm awesome at: Skylanders, Soccer, Beat boxing, Dancing

Stuff I Hate...

* Food that makes me puke (literally): Pretty much all food other than waffles, peanut butter, and pizza.

* The Grossest thing I can think of: A woman that's naked!

* The scariest dream I ever had: Kyler and I were playing games, and there were two dogs... a chihuahua and a vampire chihuahua... and THEN a giant centipede came and ate both of them!

My Thoughts...

* Three words that describe me: Fast, Creative, and Smart

* When I was little: I lied. A lot.

* The superhero I'm most like: Iron Man, because he invents stuff like me!

* This year I'm going to try to be better at: Focusing in school and making better inventions.

* Is it better to be strong, rich or smart? Smart... cuz if someone was chasing you, you could hurry and make a trap!
* At what age should people fall in love? Just whenever they fall in love. Have you been in love? Once. (Addison) What did it feel like? Tingly. How many girls love you? Tons... like four.
* What makes a person popular? Singing probably. Like Vocal Point guys. They are famous.

* If a genie could grant you any wish, what would you wish for: To be rich! So I could buy all the Skylanders I wanted!

The Wicked Piano Teacher

March is a busy piano month for our family with Piano Solo Festival and my own studio recital happening the first two weeks of the month. Even though I had half as many students participate in festival this year, I was forced into the illustrious title of Festival Chairman--making this year's "festival week" the most busy year yet. All of my eleven students played well, and my three kiddos each received perfect scores... A feat that was harder than ever. I remember learning about Beethoven as a kid... about how his wicked father would stand beside him and whip him when he made a mistake. Though I own no whips, I sometimes think my children think of me as a cruel, unloving mother who forces these terrible, unwanted music lessons upon her children. Kyler cried, stomped, and pouted for weeks before festival--threatening and begging to quit. He perfected his pieces the night before festival much to his mother's dismay. McKenna, on the other hand, loves piano, but the demands of her dance classes seem to be overshadowing piano a bit. We are trying hard not to let that happen as we I know that piano will be more useful throughout her life. Her pieces were very prepared, but then she went away to her dance competition--missing a week of practice and festival itself. She was a little rusty when she got home (on the day of her make-up judging), but she almost always performs better under pressure--a trait I sure wish I possessed! Her judge actually clapped for her after she finished. I was one proud teacher (and Mama)!

This was Carson's first year playing in festival, and, very unlike his older brother, he didn't have a nervous bone in his body. He just couldn't wait to get in there to meet his judge. Before starting his piece, he sat on the piano bench and had a five minute conversation with his judge--a first, for sure! 

Kyler, like always, literally played to perfection. He is sooooo talented... which is why I will soooooo never let him quit! Sorry son. (Insert wicked laugh here.)

 Cute Ashton just can't wait to get in on the action too! I wasn't even planning on dressing him up for the recital, but when he saw everybody else in there fancy duds, he dragged his out as well. Same goes for the piano photos. No one leaves out Ash! After we took this cute picture of him, it reminded me of a photo of myself as a child--though I hadn't seen it in years. Just for this blog post, I found the box with the album... and I was right! Matching pics!

It is so important to me that my children learn an instrument. Music has almost always been a part of the happiest and most sacred experiences in my life. Keeping the practice and lessons in my home going is a daily battle (that I fail at most days), but it is my greatest hope that, one day, my kids will get to that point where music is no longer a chore (or cruel punishment), but a delight! ...That they'll experience a "musical moment"... one like I did singing the Hallelujah Chorus in a college classroom where the Spirit filled my entire being with the knowledge that the words I sang were true. Then, just maybe, they will think of ME... the relentless, mean, screaming mother that drug them to that point... and forgive me. 

Persistence

I think Mr. Mandino and Kyler would have gotten along smashingly. When it comes to math, Ky's persistence is admirable. When it comes to wanting a motorbike or quitting piano lessons... oh, heaven help me. 

Persistence works both ways.

The Best Big "Brudder" Ever

To his teacher, he's the kid who talks a lot. To extended family, he's the one who doesn't eat. To his primary teachers, he's the one who sings really loud. To his sister, he's the one who makes her late for school every day. 

But to Ashton, Carson is EVERYTHING.

His wolf brother. His scalley wag matey. His target practice. 

Or in other words, the flip to his flop.

 Ashton sure lucked out being born after Carson... Why? Because he inherited the greatest play mate in the world. Carson's shining talent is "imagination"... the best thing that could ever happen to a younger three year old brother. Those two are never bored. Carson doesn't do bored. He is inspired by everything. After watching Les Miserables, they played "Jean Val Jean" for goodness sakes! (Whatever that is! But they liked it!) Their current favorite game is dressing head to toe in black as "Ninjas" and trying to somersault and dive throughout the house without anyone seeing them. Yes, they leave a constant trail of clothes and weapons throughout the house, but all they need is each other=Happy Mom!

This is them playing "Inventor and Assistant"!

This is them playing "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

And this is them putting a spell on Kyler. 

Aside from playing, Carson has taken it upon himself to teach Ashton how to read.

As well as how to play the piano! (I love hearing Carson say, "No playing while I'm talking, Ashy." Wonder where he's heard that before?)

 Just today, I came upon this sight: Every stitch of clothing they had been wearing in a giant heap. What could they be up to now?

Sumo Wrestling. Of course.... I've learned that this is how brothers say "I love you."

Ashton calls all friends, "BRUDDERS." Caleb Warner is his "brudder". The boys in his preschool class are his "brudders". Even the kid at the park who becomes his friend for a brief five minutes is his "brudder". I think it's so cute, that I don't correct him. Especially because I know that (Thanks to Carson) Ashton has learned that a "Brudder" means exactly that -- a "Friend".

Kenna At Nationals... and "The Bun" - 2013

All year long, ballroom studios around the country put in hours of work and miles of dance steps for four days in March: The National Ballroom Championships. For a little dance company in Idaho, this week is their Olympic Games. After considering dozens of other scenarios about how to juggle the boys at home, work, and piano festival, it was decided that Justin, alone, would forge through this four day competition. I was pretty devastated. I was missing McKenna's Olympic moment! But Justin promised to make me feel like I was there... and he came through. In those four days, I received HUNDREDS of texts and pictures updating me on McKenna and Extremes every move.  Here is a glimpse of McKenna and Justin's trip to Nationals:

McKenna was missing three days of school, so being the good girl she is, she got right to work on her homework on the way down.

See how hard she is working?

 The Marriot Center.

"Brother Bear" wins First Place in Latin Division 2.

(They were disappointed to not make division 1, but winning first place in division 2 was the next best thing!)

"Home on the Range" wins First Place in Smooth Division 1.

(And might I add that they beat out BYU Youth... this has only happened one other time for Pre-Teen Gold in 10 years!)

In the individual syllabus event, McKenna and partner Brady were thrilled to win 3rd place in Samba/Paso! Only one other couple from Extreme placed in the syllabus events. This was a huge honor! McKenna loves telling people that in Samba, she is "third in the Nation!"

At these events, there are usually some celebrity sightings... Recognize this profile? This is Louis Van Amstel from Dancing with the Stars. He choreographs for Center Stage Ballroom Company in Utah.

And this guy was a judge... Yep. That's also a Dancing with the Stars alum: Jonathan Roberts. (Marie Osmond's partner!)

 Justin also sent me updates of the coolest and craziest costumes!

As well as all of the awesome food that McKenna and Justin were enjoying!

And all of their silly photos...

 And you might think that the next photos are silly, but they are SOOOOO NOT! They were the.... wait for it....

 HAIR PHOTOS!!!!

 Oh yes, these were REQUIRED photos. You see, I was just a tiny bit nervous about Justin doing slick-n-shiny buns, gluing on fake eye lashes, and applying stage make-up... only because he has never held a mascara wand or bobby pin in his life! (Hey, I didn't want my 12 year old looking like a clown... or worse, a hoochy mama! Can you blame me?) I went to great lengths to prepare Mr. Mom. I grouped and labeled all make-up items, typed out step-by-step instructions and even DREW a diagram of how to do the ever looming BUN! This came morning one for approval:

I was so very proud of that Dance Daddy. But to tell you the truth, I had no doubt that he could do it. If the man can build a house, he should be able to pin a bun, right? However, I was surprised at how quick my humble husband went from meek to mega cocky.

Me: "So, how was your first bun?"

Justin: "Pssshhh. So easy."

I then began receiving texts throughout the day that McKenna was dancing so well... probably due to "the most amazing bun she's ever worn." But I went from amused to officially annoyed when McKenna, herself, said that "Dad's bun was so so so, good, Mom! I think he does buns better than you." 

Stop right there. 

Crossing the line.

Check out Justin's work on Day 3:

(Just kidding! This was the work of a fellow Mom!)

Well, the battle of the buns will probably continue, but there was no arguing over the winners at Nationals. Move over Utah.... At the end of the week, it was announced that little ol' Extreme Ballroom from Idaho Falls, Idaho was the overall winner of the entire event!  Utah pools from thousands of kids. Idaho Falls does not. We are lucky to get 10 guys on a team! With these odds, it is simply AMAZING what this dance company is creating. We feel so blessed to be a part of this company!

McKenna had a fantastic experience... And I am definitely sure that she had a lot more fun with her dad than she would have had with her el-cheap-o-mom. I, for sure, would have been too sensible to indulge in the late-night pre-teen swims and the All-Night-Party! This mother is too fragile... sleep is required! But oh, not party-hardy, Dad! They played twister until 4 a.m for crying out loud!!

Many moms have since commented to me about how impressed they were with Justin. Few dads would have (#1) taken work off to help his wife or (#2) attended at all or (#3) attended happily or (#4) sat through hundreds of syllabus heats--listening to the same dumb song over and over to the point of insanity and (#5) become Mr. Fabulous Hair Extrodinare!! Yeah, he's pretty great.

It was a week of fun memories! I hope we (meaning ALL of us) get to do it again someday!

And my buns are better. Just sayin'.

Captioned Ballroom Photography

Ballroom is so much fun to watch... especially when it's danced by professionals. They make it look so easy! McKenna and Justin got the opportunity to watch three of the nation's top ranked pro's battle it out last week, and McKenna said that when the men danced the jive, it looked like they were FLYING! Yes, they literally make dance become art.

However, trying to capture images of this art form is quite another thing. Justin tried to take some pictures for me, and instead of basking in the beauty... we had a laughfest at the strange faces and positions caught in still photography.  

Just take a look at what happens when ballroom is photographed:

This is what happens when you forget to take a potty break...

"Oh snap... I seriously should have taken that potty break!"

This is what happens when you invite vampires to the competition...

 "My darling, I can only describe your beauty as... DELICIOUS!"

"I vant to suck you blood!"

This is what happens when you invite vampires AND blind zombies to the competition...

This is what a wardrobe malfunction looks like...

This is what happens when you combine ballroom and shock collars...

PRETTIER pictures of our little dancer to come...

Flashback Friday--October 2006

Another favorite. 

And that Power Ranger costume is still seen around the house daily. Great investment--that one!