Chocolatey Scouts

Another year, another miserable pinewood derby experience. 

(We seriously gotta figure out how to make faster cars. Is it that we're not cheating? Is there a parent pinewood derby class somewhere?) One thing is for sure, we are learning how to be gracious LOSERS! That's an important life skill, right? I think we are getting it down!

Here is Ky's chocoleriffic pinewood derby car--dedicated to Grandma Luke, of course! Sorry Grandma... the car made in honor of your M&M devotion was cute, but SLOOOOOOW! 

We also got to decorate a cake for the blue and gold banquet last week. Together, Kyler, McKenna, and I made this AWESOME pig hot tub cake! I spent half the day watching youtube videos on how to make homemade marshmallow fondant... thus the darling scout piggies! (Though darling, I wouldn't recommend fondant making--very messy and time consuming. I think my palms are still slightly dyed pink too.) However, unlike the car, our cake was a WINNER! Every scout there was fighting over who got to eat a PIG BUM! 

Yep... this cake (work of art) was sliced into about 15 minutes after it was completed. Kind of sad. Thank goodness it will live forever on the blog!

When Mom Leaves Her Phone Behind

There is nothing my children love more than getting a hold of my phone. It's always a joy to click on my phone photos--only to see 200 images of Ashton's tongue. A few weekends ago, I left my phone behind for McKenna while she was babysitting. The kids think it's so fun to take pictures of themselves, but what they don't realize is that they are incriminating themselves. Here are just a few of the things that go on when mom leaves her phone behind during a two hour period...

Abuse to the Little People

Gobs of Adolescent Self Portraits

Enormous Amounts of Weirdness

And Messy House Evidence

The real question is: Do I WANT to know what's going on when I'm gone?

Flashback Friday - 2003

I thought it might be fun to remember some images that came way before the blogging era... on Fridays! Here is one of my favorites of fearless McKenna Lyn from 2003. Seems like yesterday.

Crazy Cupid's Cafe

I've decided that my greatest talent is making things way harder than they need to be.  The night before Valentines Day, I was feeling everything but warm, fuzzy, 'lovey' feelings. Here's why:

 When I was a kid, I loved making friendship bracelets. A few months ago, I showed my kids this mad skill they didn't know I possessed. It kept them busy for an entire day. I had the brilliant idea of making bracelets for Valentines. I figured that making a few a day would be fun and totally do-able. That is, until my kids quit making a few a day. Of the 90 homemade Valentines here on this bench, we made 60 of them the night before!! Plus, I discovered that my badly needed circle punch was in a box buried deep in our storage unit... the very box I've needed about hundred times this last year. It made for a late evening. But aside from making me extremely grumpy, the bracelets were a hit and my kids felt awesome.

The next morning, I had slept off my grumpiness and was excited to get to work on our family's annual "Valentine's Dinner." I was planning on adding some fun new elements thanks to my new brain that thinks for me (Pinterest). A cool new dessert... a fun game... And this is what happened mid-dessert making.

If you think this was bad, you should have seen my shirt. 

Not feeling the love.

It was a stressful day. 

I was late. Behind. Hurrying. Clumsy.

But I somehow made it to this moment... seeing my family seated together around our table--my kids giddy to have Grandpa, candy, and candlelight--and somehow everything was perfect. 

And again, thanks to other talented women who put this stuff on the web for other non-talented women like me, I had this awesomely cute "Mystery Love Menu."

No one knew what they were ordering or the order in which it would come.

 Grandpa's first course made sense...

 But some people got dessert FIRST!

And others (Justin) got utensils for an appetizer!

It was a memorable Valentines Day for sure! 

But no matter how many days go perfectly or disasterly, in the end, things eventually work out because I somehow married the "BESTEST" Valentine ever. This guy...

 ... a man who manages to be the favorite parent to all of my children, a man who works himself to the bone for our family, and a man who is beautiful enough to be a vampire. (You may not understand this reference, but just know that it's the highest complement I can give and an inside joke!)

Happy Valentines 2013!

Kyler Turns 10

One of my favorite people turned 10 last month!  Kyler is one of the most unique boys you'll ever meet. I love being his mom. One of my piano students informed me that he is the "coolest kid in fourth grade." I couldn't agree more.

In his own words, here's a look at Kyler at age 10:

* Favorite Color: Yellow

* Favorite Food: That thing I get at Cafe Rio

* Dream Job: Motorbiker

* Best Friend: Zach Warner

* Something that scares you: Being buried alive

* Something that makes you laugh: My Mom and Dad

* Something that gets you excited: Going on a trip

* Something you wish you had: Human sized hamster ball

* Something you're good at: Skiing

* Favorite Book: Hunger Games

* Favorite Season: Winter

* Favorite holiday: Christmas

* Favorite school subject: Math

* Favorite Primary song: "Choose the Right"

* Favorite thing to do: Play with my family

* Something you'd like to learn: More math

* Something you'd like to see: Disneyland

* Worst day of your life: Future day I die.

* Best day of your life: The day I was born.

* Something you know is true: The scriptures

And in my own words, here are a few of my favorite things about Kyler:

* I love that he shares every treat he ever receives.

* I love that he gets laughing so hard sometimes that he turns red and has to gasp for air.

* I love that he is driven. Whether it be winning a race or getting a good grade, he gives it every thing he has.

* I love that he has a sensitive heart. He takes people's feelings very seriously. 

* I love that he is dependable. I trust him completely.

* I love that his primary and school teachers always tell me that he is the best kid ever. ('Cuz he is.)

And finally, here are some pictures from Kyler's birthday. His birthday wish was to spend the day with his favorite buddy. His awesome Dad (whom Ky inherited his awesomeness from) took the day off work to give Kyler the funnest day ever. 

Happy Birthday, Ky!

The Provo Competition

Yes, another ballroom post. (With more to come, I'm afraid.) We are learning that if you even dabble your toes in the ballroom world, it quickly takes over your life. Last month, we attended our first "away" competition in Provo. In those two days, I learned a few things:

1. While these young kiddies are dancing all day, the real ones in pain are not the dancers. It's the mothers on the bleachers from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Padding for the booty is a MUST.

2. As much as you love dance, after about six hours of ballroom, you start to hate it. 

3. You are only as good as your partner. A mediocre girl with a better than average boy wins every time.

4. More hair gel.  More make-up. Always.

5. It's amazing how well you get to know the person beside you on a bleacher after 12 hours. It was really weird when I realized I was sharing chips, cookies, and secrets with a person whose name I didn't even know.

Yes, I didn't love the two-day dance marathon, but I have loved this year of ballroom for my daughter because SHE has loved it so much. She has made good friends and learned so much.

Pre-teen Gold--McKenna's team.

 On the evening of the first night, the most exciting thing that could ever happen to a gymnasium full of ballroom dancers--happened.

Derek Hough decided to drop by.

Um, yes... THE Derek Hough from Dancing with the Stars. The Mormon one. The best dancer on the show one.  I think I've always had a pretty level head when it comes to celebrities. They wake up ugly and stinky like everybody else. I get it. But, for some reason, when I saw him across the way, I turned into a giddy, 12 year-old-Beiber-like fan. Not going to lie... I was totally STAR STRUCK. 

Here is McKenna "touching" him.

  And here is Derek Hough's back. (I'll spare you from all of the other angles. Unless you want them. Call me.)

Another exciting moment came when McKenna and partner Andrew won first place in Elementary Swing. I guess this is pretty awesome at a regional competition. And it was, considering that we didn't even have many other second rounds all day. McKenna, as you can clearly see, was surprised/ecstatic/over-the-moon happy! And this girl, can I just tell you, is tough as nails. She was up the entire night before in our hotel throwing up with the stomach flu. Throughout the second day, she was physically weak from her rough night, but it never showed. I was so proud of her!

Carson Takes the Dance Floor (By Storm)!

 It started with his love of his costumes. 

If I hadn't taken him to Kenna's dance dress rehearsal last year, I would not be blogging about this right now.

But it happened. 

Costumes... Carson... Dance.

However, had it not happened, I would not be giving you the, hands-down, cutest set of pictures of all time.

This is Carson's first ballroom competition:

Move over sister! Number 366 is about to rock it, Cha-Cha style!

Future Derek and Julianne Hough

The morning goes like this. I am combing Carson's hair. 

Me: "Carson, do you know what this competition thing is?" 

Carson: "Nope. I don't really what to go."

Me (in persuasive/manipulative voice): "Did you know that you could win a ribbon if you're the best dancer?"

Carson: "WHAT?! I can win a ribbon?!"

Me: "Yep. You just gotta smile BIG and be the best dancer."

Carson: "I can do that!"

Big Smile. Check.

Best dancer. (Not to mention the only one on beat and not resembling a train wreck.)

Check. 

Partner is a doll. (That always helps.) Check.

They win first place in the Pee-Wee division!

(Justin and I are on the sidelines... snapping pictures furiously... laughing hysterically... knowing how stoked this kid is going to be!)

 Sweet Victory!

Second time around is the Swing. 

(He is pumped 'cuz this ribbon thing is fun!)

(Mom misses this dance because she is looking for ice because Ashton somehow manages to trip UNDER a table, receiving a huge goose egg in the center of his forehead. Mom makes it back just in time for the ribbon ceremony--out of breath.)

Will he win again?

 He does!

My deep thought blog moment: Of course, I have hopes and dreams for my children, but becoming amazing sports stars or dancers is not among them. Rather, I simply long for them to experience that feeling of confidence and satisfaction from doing their best... that sense of worth... that small moment of pure joy... like when you're six years old and you are handed a blue ribbon for winning a dance competition! Isn't a happy life just a collection of small, happy moments--making the drudgeries of everyday life worth it? This was one of those perfect, happy moments. For Carson and me.