Monday, September 26, 2011

Since we've been home...


(I would really like it if all of you could please sing the title of this post like Kelly Clarkson's "Since you've been gone", 'cause I sure do. Thanks!)

 When we first came back to reality after our fun summer, Evan was pretty bored with me and asked to go to Grandma's a lot.
 Evan's buddy Tyson turned 3 and had the best birthday party ever!
 Everyone got to make their very own Lighting McQueen's!
 Evan loved it so much he wouldn't let it go.
So cool! And we even got to take it home.
 There was racing and a romping game of red light, green light!
 Best day ever! :)
 My Sundays usually consist of baking a trying new things; these delicious brownie bites were a recreation from my sister-in-law's wedding back in April. They were yummy, easy and so pretty!!
 Nate has been working like a mad man, because it is the end of the fiscal year. (We are now on our last week! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Evan is so tired of spending all of his days with just me, and it is still pretty hot, so we are usually stuck inside. One night, I had just had it, so Evan and I went and got a pizza for dinner and ate it a park! It made a huge difference in our moods. He is telling me "Cheese!!!" in this picture; he's really good at that. :)
 He kept saying, "Woah, woah!!" and acting like he was riding a horse. I guess that might be what you would say if you were riding a dinosaur. Who knows?
 He has just discovered his new favorite place in our front yard. He runs here as soon as we are outside and says, "Cheese, mommy!"
 Then he laughs and laughs and laughs as we play peek a boo in the tree.
 We took a few days to go visit my sister and her kids, so we could have a break from missing daddy. Evan was thrilled to push this stroller everywhere during my niece's soccer game. And I can't believe this is the only picture I took our whole time down there visiting!
 Evan has been introduced to story time at the library, and then he loves to go read books afterwards at the little kids table. One day we found this cute little book and thought of our sweet friend Millie in Indiana. We wished we could have bought it and sent it to her, but this pic will just have to do.
 Nate was in charge of getting Evan ready for church one Sunday, because I had to be to the church early. They showed up and I couldn't help but laugh at Nate's style. He made Evan look like an 80 year old man, with side parted hair and all! Still pretty stinkin' cute though.
 We went to a Labor Day barbeque with Nate's team from work, which luckily is made up of a lot of our friends from church, too. Tyson, Dexter, and Evan always have a great time "hanging" out together.
 This is Evan's favorite new stance. He will be walking somewhere and suddenly decide he needs to be on his head. He does it in the bathtub, the hallway, the store, the park, you name it. There is never any rhyme or reason to why he is doing it, but it cracks me up every time, nonetheless.
 On September 11, our patriotic town always puts on the Parade of 1000 Flags. Last year, Evan and I got to participate by helping out our cub scouts. This year, since dad was busy working on that Saturday, Evan and I decided to walk down and enjoy it. It is a touching parade, and Evan was thrilled by so many flags and sirens and policemen, etc.
 The flags are all walked to the park near our community center and planted there. It is a beautiful sight and it makes me thankful to be a member of such a unique community. Evan and I went and visited the flags several more times after the parade before they are taken down. For me, it is a wonderful way to remember.
Here is my most recent Evan, taken a couple of days ago. I just adore him.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Summa, Summa, Summatime! Part 7: The Wedding

Nate and I had planned our vacation home a long time ago, so we could be to his reunion and get out of the miserable heat for a bit. Then my dear friend Shanell got engaged and was going to be married the middle of August. There was no doubt  in my mind I would be there for her wedding, so I somehow talked Nate into letting me just stay for about 3 weeks without him, instead of driving back to Cali with him, then turning around 2 weeks later and driving back to Utah with Evan by myself for the wedding. I'm grateful to him for letting us do that; I know it was hard on him to be a bachelor again. But we missed him lots, too, and I don't think we will be doing that long of a time apart again!!

 A couple of nights before Shanell's wedding, she had a bowling pizza party in leiu of a reception. It was the best idea ever! Evan and I had a blast bowling, and did pretty dang good!

 That's an 81 for Evan's score, if you can't tell. By himself! (With the help of bumpers and a ball stand)
He was generally pretty worn out every day of our vacation. Most evenings were something similar to this...two hours before bedtime.

 He melts my heart.
 I got to leave Evan our last Saturday at Grandma's and head to Logan by myself for Shanell's wedding, the reason for our whole month long vacation. I was thrilled to see the incredible progress of the Brigham City temple from the freeway!
 And even more thrilled as I pulled into Cache Valley. It's so refreshing, calming, satisfying, just a general sense of GOOD every time I make that last turn out of Sardine Canyon. 
I was so happy to be back at the Logan Temple. This is my temple, that's all there is to it. It feels like home, and all I wished was that my husband could have been here with me on this beautiful day.












This was seriously the most fun, relaxed wedding I have ever been to. The ceremony was at noon and then there was a dutch oven lunch (that was beyond incredible), and that was it! Day was done by 5, and it was perfect. But most of all, I don't think I have ever seen Shanell so deep down happy, and that made everything worth it. I love that girl.
Before I left for the wedding, I was asking my mom if I could borrow a purse, since I wasn't going to need to take my entire diaper bag. This was one of the ones I left out, and I guess Evan really took a liking to it. Shh, don't tell his dad :)

Summa, Summa, Summatime! Part 6: Willow Park Zoo and Carver's Petting Zoo

We spent a day in Logan catching up with lots of friends and eating all of our favorite foods! I took Evan to Willow Park, and it was pretty much the best thing that has ever happened to him. He love that he could see the animals so close, and it was a perfect evening for strolling the park. (When is it not a perfect summer night in Logan? Sigh.)

 Evan is certainly getting used to having his picture taken. While watching the ducks, he just turned around and said, "Cheese, Mommy!" So I obliged :)
 He was laughing so hard at these ducks that were so close to the fence. And I was laughing so hard at the sight of him!
 The monkeys were our very favorite part. They were awfully friendly, and more than happy to put on a show for us.




 Here is Evan and our friend's daughter, Penny. They had a blast together and were so cute at the restaurant.
I got my very first pedicure, and I am in love!!!

 We made our way over to the Valley with Grandma Susan and Trayson one day, and had a blast at Carver's Petting Zoo. It was nearly the same price as Hogle Zoo, but way worth it! The kids could feed and touch any of the animals. I highly recommend it!





































We ended our fun filled day at Five Guys Burgers and Fries (not Iggy's, as you might think from this picture. Iggy's is next door to Five Guys), which has a new location in Ogden and that is super awesome!!!