I AM WOMAN.....

I did the most strenuous thing other than laboring for 30 hours. I did the 5k Volkslauf! What an adventure to trudge through waist high dirty water for a half mile, run/slide over and down many muddy hills, move my 140 lb body upside down by rope over a swamp of cold water not to mention climbing up 10 foot walls/poles/rope ladders and the like while being weighed down by mud-filled, water soaked shoes, dirt in the eye and more scrapes and bruises I care to note. I did it with Kati, Stephanie and my cousin Christina...3 great friends who helped make it memorable and entertaining until finally, at last, after 1 hour and 26 grueling minutes I crossed the finished line! I don't remember much after that other than guzzling water, and munching on grapes and oranges.
Yes, if it weren't for the cheers of my children, family and friends I wouldn't have been so determined to finish. My husband was the voice of inspiration encouraging me to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. It was a combination of fun and pain I can't wait to do again. Sophia participated in the 400 yard kids race shortly after with Christian and with Stephanie's boys. We had a great time. Next year I plan to compete in the 5k again to improve my time and maybe someday I will have enough guts to attempt the 10k. For now, I plan to heal and recuperate. Hopefully I will be able to wear a dress to church in the distant future when my bruises disappear and I will be looking forward to shaving my legs again when the scrapes are gone. Otherwise you might just be seeing me in sweats for a while! In the meantime if someone wonders why I am hobbling and in such pain I will say with pride "I did the Volkslauf!"

Snapshots from disneyland

A trip fit for our princesses,,,and our little pirate!

We took our second and final vacation of the year. It was off to the Magical Kingdom to see where the princesses really live (reality check for Ava- they don't live inside our TV!) While enduring the heat wave we were able to wait in 20 minute lines to get on the girls' most favorite rides (all of them!) and blow many Benjamin's for our 3 day trip. Daddy wasn't the most anxious about going but made the best of it by acting goofy in line or while on the rides. Thankfully our trip is over and I won't have to hear him say "Girls, lets go to the cabin instead of Disneyland" and hear their reply with long faces and wide eyes "No Daddy!"

This wasn't only a weekend for the girls to enjoy the happiest place on earth, but also for Clint to make a man out of Ezra by insisting on Pirates of the Caribbean paraphernalia (gun, hook, etc). Yes, ever since daddy came home last week to see our handsome little Snow White all gussied up with high heels, a crown, bracelets, and purse, pushing a baby stroller things around here quickly changed. Clint decided it was time Ezra mastered throwing of a football, spitting sunflower seeds 5 ft. while wrestling a bear, and proper oiling and cleaning of your gunS! Ezra's schedule is booked solid tomorrow as he learns 1000 things to do with your bike, followed by latest and greatest ju jitsu moves.

So while we have 2 pretty smelling soft beauties in the house my little boy is slowing morphing into a smaller version of his daddy which isn't a bad thing but then I will blink and soon I will be buying shaving cream for two.

buying stock in cranberries

We finally made it to Morro Bay thanks to the invite from Courtney and Coby. It was a much needed and anticipated vacation that left us with some lasting memories! Lots of fish & chips, clam chowder and a hefty doctor bill. Yep, it wouldn't be a vacation without something going wrong. No Clint didn't get attacked by a shark or stung by a jellyfish while surfing. Ezra didn't fall and bust his lip and Ava didn't hop in the front seat and try to drive the car. Sophia sadly was stricken with the passing of a kidney stone Monday afternoon. It wasn't until we had an ultrasound of her abdomen and a couple x-rays that we spotted the goat-headed culprit that left her little insides a mess. She is feeling much better now but hasn't passed the stone as of yesterday. She did however earn the name "Pebbles" from Grandma Judie. I can't tell you how sad it was to watch her in agony and listen to her say "Pray Mommy Please" "Jesus Heal Me" After prayer and much pleading her pain subsided somewhat. We were able to play at the beach and collect seashells on Tuesday and that marked the end of our fiasco. Needless to say, we have a gallon of milk in the fridge, a pitcher of tea, and three bottles of cranberry juice! We are also wearing necklaces made of dried cranberries to ward off the "evil stone spirits. " And will be welcoming any recipes or delicious baked treats made with cranberries. Stone ya later!

Life lately for the Stevenson family

After much begging and pleading on behalf of my most loyal reader I have been asked to post much more frequently than usual. Without getting to really plan out this one I hope it will be entertaining to whomever needs a pick me up. I have been pretty busy with all the hats I've acquired that sometimes one of my roles spills over into another one of my many responsibilities. Take for example: I am leaving playgroup Tuesday with Ava in my hands trying to squeeze shoes on her feet that for whatever reason don't fit...why? oh maybe because they are black, strappy Reef sandals with pirates that belong to her brother! Secondly, during quiet moments with my husband where I am finally able to snuggle up and wind down I find myself wondering what exactly was in Ezra's diaper that I changed earlier! Finally, I watch Sophia stand in line at school yesterday and I take inventory of all the little boys in her class who have the qualities I am looking for in her husband! The sweet little Hebrew boy with the cutest crocheted yamaka whose name I still can't pronounce seems like a good candidate...after all he didn't even know what a Buzz Lightyear toy was. I could see that union for sure. A sweet boy who says he isn't allowed to write his name with a crayon only a pencil. Now there is a little man with values!
We picked up our Halloween costumes a few weeks ago (thank you grandma judie), Sophia is a princess-big surprise there! Ava is Belle- her favorite princess (just like mommy) Well I'm not Belle for Halloween but she is my favorite princess-hence the last blog. Ezra is a fighter pilot. My mom says he looks like a miniature John McCain, see for yourself with the attached picture. I love Fall because of the changing of the weather, it is marked by warm bubble baths in which I inevitably dropped my latest novel in the water. I bake too many pumpkin related desserts, and explain for the umpth time "No sweetheart, God did not make werewolves, witches, vampires or ghosts, they are just make believe!" which doesn't convince the bad dreams to stay at bay so we pray more, I stay in her bed longer, and spray more of Great Grandpa Mike's nightmare potion (which coincidentally smells like Old Spice). Yes Fall is upon us, a time for family gatherings and warm cozy kitchens and more memories and traditions to create! May this time of year be a blessing to your family too!

From beast to beauty-a difficult transformation

It wasn't until we were at the cabin watching one of Ava's favorite princess movies Beauty and the Beast that it hit me...panifully...I am like the beast. My tendency to react negative too quickly to something the children do only proves my theory. If you remember from the beloved classic tale the beasts' servants remind him over and over "You must learn to control your temper!" This struck me a few days ago. I want to be like Beauty: soft-footed, long flowing hair, a gentle spirit, a kinder heart, and a waist size that is dreamy! So, I am praying for those things but not counting on the hair and waist part so much. I remembered the fruits of the spirit in my plea with the Lord to help me be more patient and respond more kindly with my children. One of the key points that stuck out as I read Galatians 5:22-23 was that self-control was among them. I am too often reminded of times when I have said something unkind to someone I love or to a stranger because I am choosing to be selfish. There isn't always going to be a chance to seek forgiveness or reconciliation. Take this for example.. I was on the phone Saturday morning with Toys R Us, the children were running crazily through the house...screaming! I heard the doorbell ring. I was in my nightgown and wasn't about to open the door so I used the little speak easy window on our front door because by this time the strangers have knocked and Sophia pushed the chair over to answer the door for me. I kindly said "Oh, no thank you" and proceeded to close the little door when the lady said "Oh, we aren't selling anything, we are just here to encourage voters to say Yes to marriage as a man and woman...."at this time the representative from Toys R Us is on the line asking for a model number, the kids are assuming grandma is here and are bouncing all around screaming "grandma" and I unkindly react by saying "I don't want to talk to you right now, it is not a good time." Ok it may have sounded firm but kind but trust me my spirit wouldn't have been convicted if that's all it was. So after the burden I am feeling for being so rude I decide to throw on some clothes, throw the kids in the bike trailer where we proceeded to ride up and down the streets for 30 minutes so I could find those ladies and apologize. However; I never found them and though the Lord forgave me I still have a twinge of guilt for not rectifying the situation. So...It only takes a moment to spew venom that lasts forever. Hopefully this has been a turning point for me to be a better wife, mom, friend and stranger. Now it is off to watch Snow White, maybe all the animals from the surrounding area will gather around me as I sing! I may just have a blue jay land on my finger :)