Family Letter 2011

This year we had a lot of fun adventures! One of our most recent in our memory was surprising the kids with a trip to Disneyland last October! It was epic! We told them we were going to “go for a drive” and packed up the car in the middle of the night and left. Ian’s response when we got there, “We were coming here the whole time?!? Why didn’t you tell us?!?” Seeing the surprise, shock, and hearing Ian scream with delight was the best part of the trip!

Brandon is still working at Stampin’ Up in their IT department. He is a Systems Administrator. It keeps him busy and can cause him to work long hours at times. He enjoys his job and the people he works with.

I still work as a supervisor in the check fraud department for Kroger. I enjoy the people I work with and the daily challenges that are presented to me. The job can be different every day, and keeps me on my toes.

Ian is in the second grade, and is doing really well. He loves to play video games and to play on the computer. This past year he played basketball and baseball for the first time and loved it!
He also played flag football again, and really enjoys that as well. Ian is trying to convince us that he is ready for tackle football next year. He is a BIG helper around the house and often surprises his Mom and Dad by offering to do things without being asked. Ian has become quite independent in the last year. He STILL wants his two front teeth for Christmas, but it looks like he’ll have them for next year instead.

Audra started Kindergarten this year. She absolutely loves school, and is becoming quite the reader. Audra often walks around the house with a notepad and pencil trying to write stories and sound out words. Last spring she had her first dance competitions and loved it! Her dance class took 1st place for their lyrical routine at both competitions, and 2nd and 3rd for their jazz routine. Every day she asks “Do I have dance today?” When she is not dancing, she is riding her bicycle with her friends or creating some artistic masterpiece (not always on paper)!

Neville turned one last February and finally decided to start walking three months after that. He is quite content to be the baby and definitely knows how to work that to his advantage. Neville refuses to walk up and down the stairs or out to car if he doesn’t have to (at least if Mommy is around). He loves his brother and sister, and is a very happy, charming boy. Neville loves
Mickey and calls him “Bobo” because his “blankie” has Mickey on it. If there is a Mickey Mouse to be found anywhere we go he will find it!

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and happy New Year!

Love,

The Stevens Family
Brandon, Brittainy, Ian, Audra, and Neville

Fun Creations

4th of July Cake

My cousin posted a link to this on her FB page, so of course I had to try to make it :P

Chocolate Pineapple Rum Cake

I have been taking a cake decorating class with my Mom. When we were finished, I decided to recreate my favorite cake growing up. My parents used to order this cake for my birthday from our favorite bakery. For my first go at it, I don't think I did too bad :)

Ian's Dance Festival

Every year Ian's school does a Dance Festival. Last year each grade danced to music from a certain decade. This year each grade wore white T-shirts that they painted. All the dances were so cute, and Ian had so much fun doing it. I just can't believe how big he is getting. He is such a great kid and a huge help to both Brandon and I. He is starting to turn into such a little man :)

Our Dancing Diva

This is Audra's first year in dance, and she loves it! This is her in her Jazz costume. Her class took 4th place at their first competition and 3rd in their 2nd competition.
This is Audra in her lyrical costume. Her class took 1st place in both competitions!

Family Pictures

We were very lucky to get some wonderful family photos. It's been a long time since we have had actual family photos taken (usually we just have the kids pictures taken). I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family!!!

Birthday Boy!

At first Neville would only pick at the orange icing around the cake. Brandon had to dig Neville's hand into it to make him start eating the actual cake. As you can see once he started he had no problems eating it.
This is the cake I made for everyone else to eat. It was fun to make!

This is the cake I made for Neville.