Seriously, People

I have come to the realization that I entitled my Christmas post "Christmas 2009" and no one called me on it. C'mon, folks, help a girl out once in a while.

Happy Martin Luther King Day

I couldn't let this day pass without saying a little something. You all knew I would. Today I watched the "Dream Speech" on YouTube. I would highly recommend doing that to all of you. I know you think you know it, but I always hear something new in it and reading it is not the same as hearing the words from the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and seeing the people in the crowd that day. Today what struck me the most were these words, "Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Yes, there has been progress, as evidenced by the event this nation will witness tomorrow. Yes, there are still difficulties ahead.

I tried to find some sort of MLK Day celebration near me that I could take my kids to today. I couldn't find anything. I sat down to watch the speech alone while the kids played in the back room. About 15 seconds into it Moses came out and climbed up next to me on the couch. He laid his head down on my shoulder and watched with me. Everytime the crowd would clap, Moses would clap too. Thank you, Dr. King.

How Awesome Am I

So during finals just before Christmas on a not so warm sunday night. Lisa and I heard just a small scatching throughout the evening night. We followed the sound quiet and still we moved through the house. Just to find a creature sturring--- it was even a mouse. So I sat still and I sat long and I caught that tail of that tiny little mouse.

Christmas 2009

What did we do on our break? Well, we...

Mos gettin' in the spirit while we packed up to leave to drive to Utah.

Ava and Matt made this little work of art after a good snowfall.

Grandpa and Moses are tight. Really tight.

The kids performed the nativity. I am pretty certain you will never in your life see a cuter shepeard...

...nor a cuter wiseman. Trust me.

Mosey helped daddy with his shoveling duties. (Please ignore the pink boots--you all know why he is wearing them--his father would not spring for some new ones so he got the hand-me-downs.)

My lovely sis-in-law made these little houses out of rice krispies and then the kids decorated them (aka ate loads of frosting). They turned out really cute.

Christmas Eve we decorated cookies with the kids. Matt is really proud of his frog in the top right corner.

Matt also made this "Lisa cookie". Looks just like me, eh?

My dad busted out this beauty. That must be where I get my artistic abilities from.

Christmas came and we opened presents to the delight and merriment of all.


Checkin' out the new goods.

This little girl loves this sweet backpack/sleeping bag. She sleeps on the floor every night now.

We got to see Grandpa Scott.

We also got to see Uncle Brian and Aunt Erin (not pictured).

Yes, things get quite affectionate at the Stephenson household.

Ava perfected her mad winking skills.

Daddy and Ava took the buggy for a spin in the snow.

Mos showed his sister some love.

We had an early birthday party for Ava because she wanted her cousins there.


She must have made a really good wish.


Almost all the grandkids fit on my dad's back for a horsey ride. I think he made it about 3 steps. The horsey is gettin' old. In fact, I think that horsey was pretty old back when I was getting rides on him.

I pulled out one of my drums to entertain the kids while we packed to leave. Couldn't find the sticks, but they were happy with wooden spoons. Someday I'll bust out the whole set for them.

We arrived home safely and jumped right back into real life. Unfortunately.