My First Orchestra Concert

I took orchestra for about a month in 4th grade, so I'm really happy that my nephew Parker has been continuing his ambition to play the cello. His first concert was on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. It was great seeing how happy he was seeing all his family watching him from the audience. I'm glad I was able to go.

Theme was about Arizona's Centennial Birthday, so everyone was dressed in cowboy and pioneer clothing.

The little cowboy cello-ian.

(Sophie wasn't in the best of moods that evening.)

January Birthdays

The best thing about January: We start by celebrating Mom's birthday and end by celebrating Kristi's! It's the simple version of a "Month full of Birthdays."

This is the smile of a happy mother. I love you Mom!

(Heather had to keep pulling the cake back 'cause Kolytn kept trying to blow it out, silly boy. Finally Kristi just had to blow really hard. Of course, the boy scrambled off her lap as soon as they were out.)

(Everyone says my camera is really old. But does an old camera get this good a picture in dim light? I bet you couldn't even tell that the lights were off.)

A Cracker Barrel Experience

Last thursday I had the awesome opportunity to join two of my bestest friends to a late night "dinner," though actually we order breakfast. Originally we were planning on going to IHOP but then my friend Haley saw the sign for Cracker Barrel while we were exploring Bass Pro Shop and pleaded that we change the restaurant. It was so much fun being with my friends in a place that has meant so much to me through my childhood, I just needed to draw it!

As the picture shows: my friend Shelley (who wore a hat, which is extremely rare), me, and my friend Haley (whom was very excited for this adventure).

Baby-sitting in January

After a confusing week trying to figure out who exactly I was babysitting Saturday evening, I was finally landed with the Johnson kids! We had an amazing time watching "Phineas and Ferb the 2nd Dimension," the sorcerer's apprentice," and "Wall-E." We picked oranges and juiced them (unfortunately they wouldn't eat them, even after Ii found one as big as Kotlyn's head!) The night was filled with burning cheese crisps, ice cream, diaper changes, legos, and finished with a fort. My favorite part? Finding this boy while calling to him to come get his ice cream.

Every time I told Karter to smile he would stick his spoon in his mouth, silly boy!~

A Stewart Christmas Day

Stewart Christmas Part 2

After church at my parents ward, with an accompanying Heather and Karl, we all drove back home to begin their portion of present openings. However somehow Ryan and Amy arrived after and Evelyn opened the first presents. Her biggest was this adorable pink wagon and a horse stuffed animal that fit perfectly in the wagon... as did she!

the Johnson's arrived maybe half an hour after Ryan and Amy and quickly got started on their presents from Mom and Dad.

(look at those 2 cuties!~)

though Karl and Heather opened their presents before the Johnson's, I didn't get pictures snapped yet so I made sure to get them after. they both got exactly what they wanted: Karl a toy helicopter and Heather a Skil saw.

(doesn't my brother look smashing in his suit?)

(i love this picture, i find humorous seeing Heather so pretty in her dress excited to get a "saw"...)

after the Pratt's arrived and his helicopter had charged, Karl tested it out. unfortunately the battery didn't last long and the time it took to charge was long, but we all enjoyed watching him fly it!~

the Pratt's stack of presents was HUGE! ...probably because they're number has grown to a whopping 7 people! they rival my own sibling count!

(unfortunately, every picture i took with McKay and his new Thor equipment had red eye in it. o well, he still looks mighty!)

i'm not sure how but i didn't get a picture of Ryan...

funny that i didn't get this finally uploaded till January 10th and yet Blogger still posts it from the time i began working on the post. o well, i just had to make sure it was perfect! its my family after all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I love you Mom and Dad, Steph Aaron Parker Dallin McKay Sophie Jenna, Heather, Ryan Amy Evelyn, Kristi Kevin Kimble Karter Koltyn, and Karl!!!! <3

A Stewart Chistmas Morning

Happy CHRISTMAS DAY!!!

first photo. Mom and Dad and a smichen of the beautiful tree. it took nearly half a dozen pictures before Dad finally smiled for this one.

me and my new blanket. i told Mom that I wanted this fleece gingham for a new blanket. she made it even better by adding some owl flannel to the ends!! i contained my screaming with thanks yous.
(obviously not my best hair morning)

art supplies, i can never get enough!~
good thing about having 2 cameras, i take pictures of Mom and Mom takes pictures of me and Dad. everyone's photographed!

my sister Stephanie sewed this church bag for my Mom. Mom was surprised, i was jealous. its so cute and my sister has such great talent. good job Steph!

took Dad a while to understand most of his gifts, so smiles are rare, but i have a feeling that he'll put his new "toys" to good use.

Mom had the least number of presents (Dad and I tied), so she got to open the ones for "Grandma and Grandpa Stewart" aka "Mom and Dad." her necklace is a new one from Dad, she asked for a long one and that's what she got, but it's really pretty too!

Mom's camera was having malfunctions (seen in my bad hair picture), after getting his glasses and doing some tinkering, Dad was able to fix it and snapped this cute photo of Mom.

at first Dad wasn't sure about these wrenches from my brother Karl and then he realized what they were and a giant grin grew across his face, i think this might have been his most favorite gift, i haven't seen him smile so much in a while. good job Karl!

if you know me, you know i love owls. this Christmas i received a owl jewelry stand, an owl calendar, an owl journal, an owl mug, 2 owl dish towels, an owl necklace with my name on it, an owl necklace that doubles as a clock, a blanket with owls on it, and an owl figurine.

'O,O' <"Merry Christmas! hoot!"

Lunar Eclipse Morning

yesterday my teacher mentioned that there would be a lunar eclipse this morning starting at 5:45am. so i set my alarms and got up at 6am and considered going outside to see the moon. what luck that i could see it from my bedroom window!! so i set up my chair, got wrapped up in my blanket and sat and watched (while sketching out a couple future paintings since i sat there for an hour).

then about 10 minutes before it ended as the dark side of the moon had a redish hue and the light side took on a yellowish hue, i thought how cool a picture of it would be. so i ran down stairs grabbed my camera and was disappointed as usual with crummy pictures of a black sky with one white dot.

... i wasn't going to except that. so i grabbed my sketch book instead and some color pencils and drew my exact view. sorry its hard to see, cheap color pencils means zip contrast, very light picture.


(i realized that while i was drawing this i should have done it more for things in the past rather than just not posting. apology to my blog for ignoring it for a year!)