Evalyn Scout is 1!

Evalyn Scout is 1 year old. Now, this was a little bit confusing for her because she wasn't aware of proper birthday etiquette and traditions. However, I will translate her thoughts in alignment with each picture so that we all can see what is going on in her head.

Not really sure what it means, but I love "birthdays"!

I never get to lick icing off the beaters, I hope it is my birthday tomorrow too.

Bwaaah!! Where is my beater full of icing?! I hate birthdays!

Oh. Bless my heart, I do believe that this is edible. And, it has icing on it!

"Happy Birthday" to me...

No forks allowed!

This was awesome. We had a family dinner where the only rule was "no utensils allowed". I had the brilliant idea of spaghetti and jello. It was fun, but we did start to feel a little bad about how hard of time Evalyn was having as she tried to get some jello on her tray!

One of those days...

It seriously was one of those days. You know, the days where 5 o'clock comes around and you are still wearing your bathrobe over your clothes, the house is a disaster (and it looked beautiful this morning when you first woke up), you have no idea what to prepare for dinner, and you wrack your brain trying to figure out what you actually did today. You know, one of those days.

I've spent most of today throwing up. Olivia and I did paint- and then spend just as much time washing up all the paint. We also went biking- and then had hot chocolate afterwards because it did snow today. Yet, sometimes I look around and it seems that everyone around me is leading a bigger, grander life than I am. It feels like I don't have much to show for who I want to be and who I am.

Last night, I was trying to teach Olivia (she will be 3 years old in May) about Easter. She was asking all sorts of questions about the Savior's crucifixion and resurrection. I summed it all up by telling her that we needed to be like Jesus. She looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I want to be like you and Jesus."

Definitely a 'melt-my-heart' moment.

My girls are my life now. My family is my focus. I may not be where I thought I would be when I started planning out my life oh-so-long-ago (those of you who've known me the longest are nodding your heads), but this is where I am now. And even though it is 8:48 p.m. and I am still wearing my bathrobe over my clothes, it is ok. My husband adores me (heaven only knows why...seriously!) and my daughters think I am the best cook, coolest dancer, fastest runner, most creative, amazing singer, fantastic reader, funnest and lovingest and besterestest mother ever! And you know what? To them, I absolutely am.

March Forth!

It has been awhile and life is not really that busy, just crazy as it always is when I'm at home with 2 crazy girls. However, it is "March Forth!" today and to celebrate, I am posting a new blog.

Evalyn will be 1 year old this Saturday and that has come as a real shocker to me: She is not that old yet! She understands more than I give her credit for. Yesterday, I was trying to take care of twenty things at once, and somewhat facetiously asked her to "go find her taggy blankie for me". She waddled (still working on the steadiness of walking) back in a few minutes and handed me her taggy blankie. Now, I've begun 'testing' her to make sure it is not all in my head. It is hilarious how well she can follow directions like 'go find sister', 'hand me that book', or 'play the piano'. I just assume that Olivia is the only one old enough to understand things and it is amazing how fast Evalyn is growing as well. She thinks she is pretty darn cool with her walking- still unsteady, but growing more and more confident every day. Right now she has taken off her socks and is trying to fit cheerios in between her toes. I love to just watch her.

Olivia is an awesome big sister. Evalyn loves to get up at the crack of dawn and she and Olivia share a room. Evalyn will stand up in her crib and just start yelling to wake up the rest of the house. This morning we find Olivia throwing in stuffed animals, books, and even crackers (she climbed up onto the counter in the kitchen to get them) into Evalyn's crib in hopes of getting her to go back to sleep! Sometimes she would love for Evalyn to be smaller- Olivia still tries to hold her "baby style" and that doesn't work out so well. And even though they can drive each other absolutely crazy, Olivia is Evalyn's biggest advocate and defender; and Evalyn is Olivia's biggest fan. I love it.

Of course, their daddy thinks they are both angelic and amazing and advanced in every way. Because they have him fooled so well (they are both always so smiley when daddy comes home from work) and he doesn't care one bit, I am dedicating this page to my favorite girls and my favorite man. They are incredible. Even when I want to lock myself in my room with a "Calvin and Hobbes" and some chocolate ice cream with the threat of "I don't want anyone to come through that door for at least 30 minutes!"... I still love to hear them laughing and playing and loving life together.

She starts!

Evalyn is 11 months, 17 lbs and ready to take on the world. She has been standing by herself for about a few weeks now, but last night she walked about 4 steps by herself. Then, she stood up again, and then proceeded to give herself a standing ovation. What is that? Well, you stand up, look around to make sure you have an audience, grin, and start clapping with glee. Cute. Crazy. I'm not ready.

Here We Go!

So life is going full blast again. After being sick for 3 weeks, finally going to the doctor and getting some "help", things weren't getting better. So the doctor suggested that I just get two shots of some pretty strong antibiotics (heck, it could have been jello for all I know) to take care of everything. How many of you knew that those type of shots are normally given in the... rear? Seriously?!? It took him about 20 minutes to convince me that it had to be in a major muscle (I emphatically told him that THAT was not a muscle at all- let alone major) and my calf would not do. Anyways, the end of the story is happily ever after and I am now feeling marvelous. Everything is still cold here in the middle of nowhere, but I just discovered that Valentines Day is coming up this weekend so that should make for a night out to the city. Following are many pictures, and much monologuing on my part. If you're not a grandparent, you might just want to skim...

As Jacob says, "they are true Peruvians". For some strange reason, the girls love to gnaw on the chicken bones. Not a favorite pasttime of mine... but to every child their own...

So, Evalyn was all nice and quiet, just playing by herself. I was unsuspecting until it was too late. She had found her sister's crayons and was munching away. I love the green teeth! Can you tell that she is in agony over the unfairness of it all?

Kissing fish faces are the new fun thing. I don't know where she learned it, but it is just so dang cute!



This is Olivia on a day where her hair is actually straight. She has a great cackle-laugh going on here.

Pity Day

Today I have been sick. Actually, I was sick yesterday as well, but I was hoping that I would wake up feeling "all better". My friend, Nicki, called today and I could hardly talk to her because of my lack of voice. It was pathetic and I was really disapointed.
Olivia and I ended up making some bread and homemade noodles to help and help it did. Food can seriously comfort the soul. Another friend dropped by about 10 hostess pies (you know, those little declicious things that contain nothing that was once living and have about 20 grams of fat per serving and are ridiculously addictive) and so this evening is getting better:) However, before I eat all of them during one movie, I need to remember what Olivia said to me earlier:
"Mom, when you get frustrated you look like a silly elephant."
Coincidence, I think not. Definately time to get a little more active on the aerobic side...