Harvest Party

Despite several of the Stevens crew battling the flu sickies, we forced ourselves out of P.J.'s Saturday and made Scott's famous award winning chili to take to the ward Harvest party. We had already missed Micah's last cross country meet, the school harvest party and several days of school. Thankfully I was able to escape during the middle of the week to catch James juggling act in the YM/YW talent show. Wow our ward has got talent!We were instructed in the electric slide, line waltz and leather slap line dances. The best part was watching the hubbies attempt to learn a new dance after years of their skills being locked away in hibernation, after all who needs good moves when you've already caught your wife. I was thoroughly amused.

When we got home, we put P.J.'s back on, put kids to bed and watched BSU football. It was a great night, which would not have been feasible without an awesome oldest son to cuddle the two little ones until they fell asleep.

Greg Stevens (our handsome eligible brother) performed with the Boise Institute choir. He had a dance number and participated in several songs. He even pulled Danielle out of the crowd to dance with her, super cute partner. He was thoughtful and gave us tickets ahead of time. We had a great date with Micah and Danielle. We went out for an ice-cream afterwards at TCBY...yummy!

Thomas the Train

We have a true obsession for Thomas the Train at our home. Grandma has so kindly fostered the love, providing ample trains and track for hours of enjoyment.
Everyone knows all the names and sounds of each train (including Grandma).

Granny has even added to the fun with a few trains.

I am so glad the kids love the trains.

I know what these two would love for Christmas!

Fall is in the air...literally, the trees gift of beautiful leaves has given hours and hours of fun at only the cost of a few loads of laundry. The kids load up empty boxes with leaves and then dump them on the trampoline.
They also love stuffing their clothing and doing bump wars...that would be Danielle's brilliant idea.

Blankets by the dozen have been dragged out back for multiple purposes...forts, leaf beds, padding for flying off the deck while throwing leaves. Yeah we've had a few loads of laundry. I especially love the ones that fill the vents with leaves.

The Twins...Gina and Greg requested racquetball for their birthday. They are 30 this month...almost over the teeny bopper hill! It ended perfect with both being ultimate champions and a good time. Grandma Stevens made a delicious dinner on Sunday for us all to enjoy. Family is the best!

My early mornings are so chaotic getting 5 lunches made and 5 children on the bus (backpacks, sign this, brush teeth, do cute hair, make a yummy breakfast). My afternoons are filled with taxi mom for football, cross country, ballet, piano and preschool. Evenings are filled with games, races, scouts, school events, activity days, dinner and homework... but the middle of the morning until lunch I get time with these cute little boys. We read stories, play trains and cars, color and cuddle.

This is definitely the little piece of heaven in my daily routine. I love my little boys and the time at home with them. My favorite Eliza self-portrait of the week. She found a good use for the Perfect Push-up equipment.

James Kyle is giving a speech right now for the hopeful election of Student Body President. I was shocked when he said he needed posters one early morning. I asked him when he wanted to work on them with me and he said "Oh Mom, everyone else has had their campaign going all week, can you make them and bring them to school today?". I did my best at the whip it out version of Vote for James. He is dressed so handsome and has been practicing in front of the mirror for last two days. Papa Stevens gave some good advice on how to present himself, let's hope it pays off. Every little success builds confidence.We laugh at our FHE sometimes. We definitely have some weeks more effective than others. This week was a real winner, but at least we are consistent.

St. George Marathon

Whenever anyone asks Scott or I where we are from, we usually giggle, look at each other and say we're Gypsies! We both have moved around our whole lives and cannot count the number of apts., homes, wards, trailers and yes add campgrounds to the list. Everyone has a place in their heart that feels like home, no matter how long or short they have lived there, because of happy memories. My happy memories and heart belong to St. George, Utah. I spent time there for many years, in many homes but with my family including grandparents. That is where cousins were, Sunday roasts with extended family, a small town with a beautiful temple in the middle and many afternoons spent hiking in the canyons surrounding. We traveled to St. George this past weekend and despite the massive growth and change in the area, I still had excitement and emotion bubble to the surface as we drove in. Maybe it was because I got to drive past my grandparents old condo (it is for sale, I asked Scott if we could buy it) or maybe it was driving past old stomping grounds shared with cousins, or maybe it was having another Nielsons frozen Custard Concrete, or it might have just been the sight of the red rock and Snow Canyon. Whatever the reason it felt like my distant home only to be visited never to be lived again and it made me happy! First stop was the Dixie Convention Center. Scott was pretty impressed with my navigation skills and memory of street names despite not living in St. George since 1989. We went to the St. George Marathon Expo to pick up my running packet. Scott took advantage of all the discount running booths and somehow I made out like a bandit with new running clothing for next spring. We had James, Isaac and Eliza with us. They had fun collecting free samples and gear. It was like a Saturday at Costco, except for athletes.

James liked the climbing wall. Next stop was to visit my cousin Paul McInnes and his family. He is so amazing. His journey has not been easy nor paved with stability. He is the only other member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on my mother's side. He joined at 18, served a mission at 19, came home and married his long time sweetheart in the temple and is expecting his sixth child. I loved every minute with Paul and his family, catching up on the past 12 years, learning more about his life, meeting his children and spending time together. The time was too short.

We were grateful for their hospitality, letting us crash for the night. That night I tapped into my girlie side and painted my toe and finger nails while we visited. I was relatively calm considering the daunting task at hand. I was fighting the pain of a wisdom tooth extraction that was infected and still taking major narcotics. I knew that by 1:30 A.M. I would be taking my last Ibuprofen and preparing to run 26.2 miles.Paul got me up at 3:30 A.M. and I amazingly woke up, after a couple hours of sleep, with very little discomfort in my jaw and face. I had everything ready for my race, thanks to a Mother-in-law who completely outfitted me, including Gels and drinks. We left for the starting line by 3:50, Paul has been a volunteer at the St. George marathon for 11 years now, he directs the buses. I got to cat nap in his warm van as bus after bus dropped off over 5000 runners at the start of the race. There is much significance in running the St. George Marathon. My father and mother ran this race together years ago, my dad has done a total of 6 St. George Marathons and as Young Women we were always volunteering at the aid stations, handing out waters. I started training for this race a year ago only to be injured and give up my spot. I promised myself that this year, with my baby turning two this fall, that it was going to be my year to follow in my parents footsteps.I loved the marathon. The scenery was beautiful and the volunteers, fans and support awesome. I loved the race, that is until the last two miles, when my body was screaming at me and my muscles decided they were not going to perform no matter how much my mind and heart willed them to continue. I kept looking at my watch in the final stretch trying to figure out how many seconds I had to make my Boston Qualifying goal.Scott jumped the spectator fence and tried to run with me into the finish. He kept yelling at me to sprint, he didn't know how hard I really was trying. I had never felt that kind of exhaustion before, especially after a week of not eating and being sick with fever.As I crossed the finish line I was coherent enough to stop my watch and colapse into the arms of the medics. I think I blacked out but only for a few moments. Scott took this brilliant picture. He wanted to capture every moment. I stayed in the tent long enough to be given fluids and have my vitals taken. I was momentarily crushed realizing I had missed my goal by a few seconds. I admit I never wanted to run again in my life at that moment.Paul and Heather had stayed with the three kids while Scott hopped the fence so he went back for them and then we headed out. I had a chance to visit with a few other gimpy finishers. We all agreed that the weather was perfect and that it was an incredible race. My official time was 3:41:02. I feel really blessed to have been able to run at all and to finish without injury. I will never stand in the the elite section of the race, the roped off area, with bon fires, before a race, for the predicted winners all wearing their cool Boston warm-ups...you know the kind! I will always have a supportive family waiting at the finish, cheering me on...even better.

Paul and Heather were so fun to see. We drove to Springville and then to Payson that day. I was so spoiled to with and visit Scott's sister Janette and my cousin Tiffany. Tiffany had my favorite muffins waiting for me when we got there. The next morning she treated us to homemade cinnamon rolls, tortilla soup, cantalope from the garden, scrambled eggs and all the fixings. We felt truley loved. Heidi and her children came over to visit for the morning also. I love my extended family, they are the best. It really was a fantastic weekend and we were grateful for all the support in Utah and back at home in Idaho. Grandmas helped by watching Thomas, Gideon, Danielle and Micah.

Papa Stevens came by unexpectedly this week as a nice surprise to fly kites in the windy weather. The kids followed him down to the open area, near the ponds. They sure enjoyed Papa's visit.

An unexpected visitor!
Wow, Isaac caught a big one right before the weather changed.

Cross country part 2

Micah had his second cross country meet at Eagle Island Park. It was the Bob Firman Invatational...huge meet! They had teams from Utah, Nevada, Oregon etc. Micah seemed really calm about the large crowds of competitors.

We were so proud of his run. He gave it everything he had finishing with another improved time of 16 minutes. Go Micah, maybe you will decide to like running after all.

Great running buddies

Cross country

Micah started cross country with the North Star Charter school team. They are considered division 2A. I traveled with him to Horseshoe Bend for his first ever running race. For anyone that thinks he is taking after his mother and just Loooves running, think again. He has a future wrestling team he is thinking about, coming this winter! This event will go down historically in my mind as one of the funniest pre-teen moments ever with one of my own. Micah ran a trial test the week before in 22 minutes for 1.8 miles. Not exactly blazing a fiery trail for a boy his age but great effort. I gave Micah a challenge, run the whole way without stopping. I knew he could.

Micah started out near the back with a huge smile and not a care in the world. I was so excited for him. I ran around to all the best spots and cheered him on. On the last corner before the sprint in, I yelled at Micah that now was when he could let loose of all his speed. I could see him dig deep and start to turn his legs over faster than ever.

This is where it gets funny, maybe only because I am his mom. He came into the flagged area and slowed down. I couldn't believe it, I thought maybe he had mistaken where the finish line was. Oh no he needs to keep running, I thought. Not a chance. Micah raised his hand and proceeded to get high fives from about 15 girls all chanting his name. They were all in a long row (not all seen in the picture, but you get the idea). I busted up. Micah was having a grand ole time.

Micah finished with a time of 18 minutes for his race. Way to go Micah!

EMS football

James Kyle is our first football player. He travels to Eagle Middle School everyday after school at North Star Charter ends. He started two weeks late but has not missed a practice since. He plays corner back and has been given good field time.

He has had a haircut since this picture, but he was becoming quite fond of his curls!