The Stevenson Story

This year I had a pretty low key birthday. And it was great. I got a package from my mom with a super cute present for me, and clothes and valentines for the kids. We still love playing with the things from that package. Thanks mom! We started out the actual day going to the library for a math and science class for 2-5 year olds. It was fun, and then the kids loved picking out batman and princess books. We came home and had leftovers for lunch, and then went down for their naps and quiet time, and then a few people called me for my birthday! Thanks for the phone calls- they made me so happy to know I have such great friends and family. I picked Eric up a little early from work, and then we ordered Papa John's pizza. (Thanks Anna and Joe!) And went to play at a pirate park while it was cooking. Not just a pirate park, it was a pirate park with Arthur the aardvark characters on it. Pretty much it is AWESOME!!!! Totally on the top ten things to do when you come to Portlan...

Everyday after naps and quiet time this week Jack has asked to do an "activity". This involves us going onto my pinterest page, to the kiderooskis section, and choosing an activity that looks fun that we have all the supplies for at home. Here are a few of the "activities" we have done this week. Shaving cream with toy figurines They were a little hesitant to get their hands messy at first and kept wanting them wiped off, but then after I said I wasn't going to wipe them again until they were all finished they dug in and had a grand time for twenty minutes. Avey liked wiping it all over her arms. She's telling you she got a little on her shirt. The next day after our shaving cream success, I decided to go a little crazier and make cloud dough. (Flour and baby oil) This was really fun as well, but REALLY messy for a 2 year old. We won't be doing this activity again until I can have it outside and not worry about it getting ground into the carpet, ...

We finally got our dressers and headboard painted, and most of the stuff organized and moved where we want it. I know where everything we own right now is, and can access anything so easily. I just walk around my house so happy all day. It's way easy to keep clean too. So far fantastic! The front of our town home. We are an end unit so our fence in the back connects to this open grassy area. In the summer I hear all the kids come and play in our cul-de-sac. I'm way excited! Here's our bedroom. Thanks for new bedspread, sheets and bedskirt Larry and Carol! We haven't had a matching bedset since Provo, and I was excited to get it as an early birthday present! I LOVE IT! And that it was on clearance made it even better! I love my treadmill. Happy Sigh. I'm glad we were barely able to get it up the stairs and into our room. And there's my dresser on that far wall. I love my HUGE bathtub. Double happy sigh. The kids bedroom. Aka guest room for anyone t...

On New Year's Eve at 5 AM, I hopped in our car with Avey, and Eric hopped in the truck with Jack and we drove all the way to Portland Oregon. It was a great trip, the weather was only sketchy in a little part of Idaho, but otherwise AMAZING, and I was reminded at what great travelers my kids are. Although I had never driven that much in my entire life (Eric always is the driver for our family) I stayed awake and we got there safely. I'm sure because of much prayer and angels helping guide our way. Avey with my favorite thing of the trip, the video ipod! We stopped at a playplace to let the kids run around, Avey was so happy to see Jack! This was like a little push the button down and a note sounds toy. Avey was "playing" and singing her whenever I hear the song of a bird song. It was the cutest thing. They were so happy to run around for awhile. And us in Portland! This was actually last night, eating Papa John's pizza (thanks Anna and Joe!) and watching Kun...

This was our cute toddler music class (minus Scott and Caleb) on its last day. This class was so much fun, and I think I'm finally figuring out some important things about teaching toddlers music. Like emailing the songs to the mom's the week BEFORE class, so they can get familiar with the music before they show up. I will miss these cute kids and their moms. Thanks for a great time! We went to our ward christmas breakfast. (Which by the way is the most awesome idea.) Avey wasn't scared or upset with Santa, but she also didn't really care she was on his lap. Jack on the other hand was SOOO happy to be on his lap, and couldn't wait to tell Santa he wanted a caterpillar for christmas. Just a toy one he had seen in a store, and he still wanted it a month later. Then we sent Eric off to Portland to work for 2 weeks and find housing while we finished packing up and celebrating the christmas season back in Utah. We went to the Christmas Symphony concert at Abravena...