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.

The Boy

Not exactly sure where I went wrong...

Celebration

November 23, 2008 is the one year anniversary of Mosey's sealing to our family. Ava and I worked on a little project to represent how we are feeling this time of year.

For the celebration we looked at pictures, talked about what we remember from the sealing day, and had a little treat with one candle for each of us--since all our lives changed that day.

Moses was just interested in getting to the food.


My girls lookin' fan-frickin'-tastic. --Matt


Ava really likes taking pictures these days.
We are so glad these kids are ours!

My Boys Are Back In Town

Matt and Moses went to Utah over the weekend for Uncle Mike's funeral. We are all glad to be back together. Mos is spending today sleeping off all the excitement. I will admit that it was more difficult for me to have Mosey gone than Matt. I'm pretty used to not seeing Matt much, but it was hard to not have my Mosey. However, Ava and I took advantage of the girl time and watched some movies, went shopping, went to the toy store, ate whatever we wanted, and yes, she slept in my bed.

And since I haven't been keeping up with the blog too much lately I thought I would take this opportunity to throw up a few pictures.

I guess it's about time I get to Halloween (thanks for the subtle hint, Mom). Moses was a pirate. The very same costume I bought for Ava a couple years ago because I couldn't pass it up in the store when I saw a little black boy wearing it in the picture on the front of the package. Even though I only had a little white girl I made her wear it and she looked darling. Now it has been passed to Mos and he is way cuter than the boy in the picture that made me buy it.

We had no say in Ava's costume. Kinda like most things when it comes to Ava. The girl knows what she wants and always has. Not what I would have picked out, but she was cute because she always is. Trick-or-treating she went up to everyone and said, "My name is Ava and I'm a unicorn." Of course all these people already know her, but she just had to set the record straight.

Matt pointed out that he and Ava have the same smile in this picture. What did I get myself into?

Apparently this is how Moses likes to eat his potatoes--raw, through a bag. He also tried out a raw onion last week when I was making dinner. He didn't think it was too bad.

A little show of manliness. These things happen.....quite regularly.

Ava's most recent tea party guests.

Mosey's new favorite thing to do. I'm quite certain he gets this from his Grandpa Scott.

And lastly I would like to leave you with the words I jotted down from Ava's song she was singing in the bathroom Saturday night while the boys were gone.

I miss my daddy
He went on a airplane to see his family
Grandpa Scott and Grandma Kay and Sadie--
that's Grandpa Scott and Grandma Kay's doggy.
My daddy went away and took my Mosey.
I so sad cuz I miss them.
What will I do?
Help me go get my Daddy and Mosey.

Dear Moses,

Last night, while you were sleeping, a black man was elected president of the United States. You do not know what this means for you now, and truthfully, neither do I. But what I feel is an overwhelming sense of hope. Hope that this means a better world for you. Hope that you really can be judged for the content of your charater. Hope that when you see your face reflected in that of a powerful man, you will know that it's true--you can be anything.
All the world will know Barack Obama's story. You, son, are just starting to write yours. I have always, and will always, believe in your greatness. Now everyone else knows too--a little black boy with a white mama can change the world.

Love, Mom