Evans Edition

Friday, February 20, 2009

Craptacular

Getty's Valentine box. A work o fart, wouldn't you agree?

"Sit on the pot and let your Valentine drop." Won 87% of the 3rd grade votes and 76% of the 4th grade votes for best Valentine box.

We're so proud.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Hunk-a, Hunk-a Burnin' Love

"I don't want to go to school today, Mom."

"Why?"

"Because at rug time, this girl puts her head on my shoulder."

"Hmmm...what could you do about that?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe you could wait til *Sadie sits down and then find a different place to sit."

"It wasn't Sadie. It was Brooklyn."

"Oh....

"Sadie's the one that raises her hand after you do and answers exactly how you did."

"No, that's Hannah."

"Oh....

"Is Sadie the one that draws pictures for you?"

"No, that's Macey."

"Oh....

"What does Sadie do?"

"She blows me a kiss in the middle of class."

"Oh....

"Good luck at school today, Sweetie ;)"

*(Names have been changed to protect the innocent. Just following your lead, Linda =)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day

Wow. A lot has happened in 18-plus years. Rob looks so young and red-headed. He's gotten so gray that people think he's blonde.

Love my bangs-to-heaven look. Hairspray, and lots of it.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Little Miss Kiss

An announcement is in order. Elle has lifted her ban on kisses.

It's true.

And to celebrate, after bestowing smothery kisses, she flings her arms above her head as if to say, "Yay, Me!"

We agree. And merci beaucoup. We love you, Cuppy Cake.

MK has decided that everyone is pretty but her. [Me cringing.] She even saw a wedding photo of me and said, "Wow. You used to be pretty, Mom. I wonder why you didn't have any friends." [Uh...thanks. And I had some.]

She doesn't go around with her head hanging down, she just accepts this as a fact and tries to make the best of it.

Middle school is grizzly.

I've posted the evidence—three photos of our Beauty, which I submit as proof of her teenage insanity.

I rest my case.

Mrs. B. Gets an A

Getty loves his 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. B. He mentioned the other day that he was sitting next to her, so I probed, thinking he'd gotten into trouble (wild assumption, I know), but he said, "I sat by her, because I like her. She's the only teacher I've had that smiles a lot and laughs at my jokes."

What do you figure we owe that teacher?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Sunday Awards

I got this idea from Linda Eyre (author of "Teaching Children Values"). You make up your own awards for whatever positive values you want to reinforce (I used mostly Eyre's ideas, because boy can I copy creativity!). I have used wooden blocks, but the new felt ones are more user-friendly. We take a minute on Sunday to discuss who deserves which award for the week and then hang the award on the person's bedroom doorknob. The letters on these awards stand for:

LFR: Leader for the Right

PA: Positive Attitude ("Cheer up! Things will get worse!" [Pres. Packer said that, not me])

RAM: Respect and Manners (desperately seeking)

SA: Soft Answer (Holy crow! This award is rare.)

TF: True Friend

HUP: Honesty Under Pressure ("Tell me the truth, or you're grounded for a week!")

SS: Self-starter ("I did my chores after you told me 8 times.")

Always looking for ways to use positive reinforcement, because (NTB) I've got natural talent for crime and punishment :).

Friday, January 23, 2009

Pigtails to Puberty

Why is it that pigtails have the power to launch my sweet dollface from babyhood into childhood? Must time march on?

Here's how I see it. In order to enjoy your 15-month-old, you have to say good-bye to your 14-month-old. FOREVER. A death of sorts. Morbid? These are my thoughts.

Don't get me wrong, there are some things I happily leave behind. Middle-of-the night feedings, for example. Lugging around a carseat in the crook of my arm all over tarnation. That I can let go. But the baby who thinks I am the moon, the sun, and all the stars, I'll miss her.

My 14-year-old told me the other day, "You're too nice and friendly to my friends. It's embarrassing. You just need to chill." Bless her heart. Some things I won't miss.

But, as I age, I'll tend to forget the small visitor who stands next to me as I have just sat down to eat. She patiently waits for the smell to reach my nose and turn off my stomach, so I'll be sufficiently motivated to freshen her diaper. I'll forget about the inconvenience.

I'll only remember the sweet cheeks (both kinds), the chubby little hands around my neck, the squeals of excitement for tubby time, the plump thumb popped sweetly into her pucker.

I'll have to say good-bye to my baby. There's no way around it. But... I get to say hello to a brand new toddler. And that's not a bad thing.

Ahoy Matey!

Couldn't resist posting Camelot as Pirate Cutie Petutie. As you can see, this particular pirate is more meekness than mutiny. Case in point: direct quote [to Hubs], "Thanks for getting my booger." [To me], "I love how you make chocolate," (which was actually cinnamon and sugar). "Thanks, Mom, for the kiss." Shiver me timbers, he suffered a serious smoocher attack after that one.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Family Portrait on Granny's Stairs

Should we frame it?

Tubular!

The neighbors rented a tubing resort for the night and invited us and several other families in our neighborhood to surf the snow. MK quickly met up with Meckenzy and Mckinsie, who each sported an 80's snowsuit (one in peach and the other in pink/teal) with "professional tubers" taped on the back. Totally radical.

Burnin' a Hole in My Pocket

On Christmas Day, Hubs and the kiddos walked down the snowy street from Grandpa's house to Great-grandpa's house. The recent widower gathered the kids around him and said, "I hear you have a savings plan..." MK, "Yep, that's right." G-grampa says as he passes out $20 bills, "Merry Christmas! Remember the money is for your future!" PG gave Hubs a knowing look and said, "My future starts tomorrow."

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

In the Hood

The kids haven't seen this yet. I'm embarrassed for them already.

Tag: Ten Favourites!

Been tagged by Sarah the Brit Wit. She calls them: Favourites!

Top 10 Favourite TV shows:

1. Jon & Kate Plus Eight (Thanks, Jen! She does have great and practical ideas!)

2. BYU Devotional

3. BYU Education Week

4. KBYU Conference report

5. KBYU Total Body Workout

6. Kids by the Dozen (they ALL [that I've seen] home-school and build their own homes by hand!)

7. What Not to Wear (DVR, FF to the last couple of segments)

8. Dr. Phil (watched 10 mins. of it last night—it was the first time in about 6 months! Where are my priorities!?!)

9. King of Queens with Hubs

10. Law & Order with Hubs

Ten Things I Did Yesterday

1. "Total Body Workout" with Cam and Cy

2. Drove Cy to kindergarten and later picked up the 3 Mids from elementary. Dropped them off at the house, and went back for MK at middle school.

3. Drove in the blizzard to AF Rec. center to sign Mia up for basketball and then to the bank to make a deposit.

4. Drove to grocery store for dinner ingredients (I never do this—it's against my principles of efficiency and proper prior planning [blah, blah, blah])

5. Drove carpool to and from scouts. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)

6. Drove MK to YW and picked up Mia from b-ball practice. Singin', "I love my dang Suburban, espesh'ly when I'm in it!"

7. Gazed lovingly at the falling snow (I'm not in charge of snow blowing)

8. Made food and cleaned house

9. Read some scrips

10. Snuggled with Hubs in the Cuddlebag for two hours

All's well that ends well!

Top Ten Favourite Restaurants

1. Zupa's (Lobster Bisque)

2. Epic (incred signature Pear Gorgonzola salad)

3. Wingers (Sticky-finger salad) (For me, the restaurant is synonymous with what I eat there. I never vary. Variety may be the spice of life, but predictability is my bread and butter.)

4. BOYCOTTING Chili's! (They dropped my all-time favorite meal—Caribbean salad—from the menu. Unforgivable.)

5. Tuscany (pork chops and garlic mashed with Mile-high chocolate cake for dessert)

6. Los Hermanos (combo burrito)

7. Sampan (General Taos chicken and Shrimp Lo Mein)

8. The Pie (Pepperoni and Root Beer)

9. Jamba Juice (Cardio-something or other)

10. Training Table (cheese fries and salad)

Ten Things on My Wish List

1. Hubs would stop FREAKING OUT about the ECONOMY

2. Puddin' would give me kisses on demand. (Ok, let's be reasonable... that she would give me even ONE kiss at some point, preferably before her 2nd birthday.)

3. I could memorize all the scriptures, cover to cover, and all Conference talks. When I hear the truth, it changes my life, my heart, my attitude. Forgetting is my problem.

4. A photographic memory in general would be great

5. I could dance like my girls

6. Mia's hair

7. MK's outgoing, fun-loving way with people.

8. Mary Poppins would pop-in to demonstrate to the kids that cleaning is all about sugar and magic!

9. Someone would fix me a super-nutritious (and yummy) lunch every day, because I'll tell you what—I'm not goin' to all that effort. (I get overwhelmed easily when it comes to food prep.)

10. Someone would follow me around the house, pat me on the back, and say, "Wow. You are just a super amazing person. Look at you go! Have I mentioned how remarkable you look in your ponytail and sweats? Quite stunning, really...."

I tag all interested bloggies! Ready... set... GO!