Chapter Books

Evie and I started our first chapter book tonights. My parents read to me when I was younger, my mother read us the Pink Motel, The Three Investigaters, and many other mystery books. My father read us the Lord of The Rings Series and the Hobbit. They took turns reading to us but it was always a non-stressful time in my childhood which seems rare looking back. I decided it was important to continue so at Barns and Noble shopping this Black Friday Evie and I picked up our first chapter book to read together. It is Twilight Sparkle the Crystal Heart Spell a My Little Pony book. It's fairly simply and a story line Evie is already familiar with so I thought it would be a good starting place. Evie was a bit wiggly tonight but she asked a lot of good questions about what certain words meant like "what is a courtyard?". We made it through 2 full chapters I was thrilled! Being a mom is the best ever!

Evie's 4th Birthday Party Announcements!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

I know it's early but both Evie and I are getting excited! :) I'll be sending these out a little closer to the actual date, and after Josh's graduation. 

A Few Status Updates About Evie Lately

Evie's been learning about Christmas traditions, and she's getting really excited! I am so excited this year I can't wait for Christmas day because both of my girls are finally able to start really getting into it. Here's a few things that made me smile from Evie lately; 

Evie just asked me if she could talk to Santa when he comes, I said "no he comes while you're sleeping" she went to walk away turned back around and said "how do you say 'thank you for the presents' if he's not talking to me?" I in stunned surprise said "you leave him a note and cookies" she got a big smile and said"great idea mom!" 

- - - - - - - - 

Josh just called for Evie and Inara he says "girls come upstairs" and Evie replied "I'm not a 

girl I'm a beautiful princess." Josh says "okay beautiful princess come up stairs!" Evie says "can you come carry me like a princess?" When they got upstairs Josh went to throw Evie on her bed and she said "NO! It's against the rules to throw the princess."

Evie's Drunk?

Here's a conversation that happened at our house last night. It all started because Inara has her bottom 2 molars popping through and she was cranky from the pain. 


Josh: When I was a kid my mom would put Whiskey on my gums and then she says you were always such a mild mannered kid. I said mom I wasn't Mild I was DRUNK!!! (quoting Ron White in a conversation he was having with my dad) 
Evie: I"m DRUNK! 
Josh: No you're not drunk don't say that you'll get me in trouble. 
Evie: YES I AM DRUNK
Me: Evie' don't say that!
Evie: Okay okay I'm not drunk.
Me: Run into the bathroom so I can fall over laughing.

So today Evie came up to me and said "mom I can't say Jerk can I?" and i said "no you can not it's not nice to say" she went off to play, and came back a few minutes later "mom I can't say Damn it can I?" I said "Not until you can tell me what it means Evie. No you can't say it." she left, and came right back "mom I cant' say shut-up can I?" I looked at her and said "Evie you can say those things in your room if you want to say them but we don't say them around anyone else." she looked at me and said "only in my room?", "yes in your room" I varified for her. She said "okay thanks." then she left. 


Later I walked by her door she had her two princess talking to each other and one said "I can only say shut up in my room, mom said." to the other. The second replied "me too." 

Tooele Memorial Park

Yesterday I went up to my mother's house (Gay Lynn) and spent all day learning to can spaghetti, salsa, pickles, and jalapenos. We had a blast visiting, and getting to chat while working on learning a new skill. The girls watched some TV on NickJr, and played with one of the neighbor girls outside (her name is Hope). At about 4pm I had to leave to go get Josh from his van drop off because it was Voting day for the county out here. I got there a few minutes early and had just intended to be stuck in the car til Josh was dropped off, however, Evie had a brilliant idea. "Why don't we go to the park?" she asked. There was a park ac across the stress from Josh's van drop off and absolutely no reason to not enjoy it! So we did...

George Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden Utah

Being in Mineralogy and Geology myself it's really no surprise to me that Evie is absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs! So the first weekend of September we took Evie and Inara to see the Dinosaur park in Ogden. It's about an hour away from our house but well worth the drive. They both had a blast! we're going to try and get to the one at Thanksgiving Point and the one in Vernal before it snows. It was a lot of fun to walk around and read about all the different Dinosaurs with Evie. Inara just loved that we were on a long walk. 

My Little Paleontologist. 

She doesn't look so big when she

stands against a Dinosaur. 

Riding the Hatch-ling. 

Taking a ride on the Flintsone's 

Dino together. 

I love these pics. 

My little dino burgers!

Wave "Hi"

Inara loved the baby dino exhibits. 

Run Evie Run! 

A Day At Great Grandma Pelli's House!

This last weekend was the 2nd Annual Rock Shop Rock Show something that I organized and orchestrated the past 2 years in a row at my parents rock shop. It's one of my favorite things we do all year, and I am in charge of getting it done. Because I knew my two little angles would be abandoned to entertain themselves while we entertained over 300 guests I called my grandmother and ask her if she might take the girls for the day. They had fun, and so did she! I felt horrid leaving them all day for 2 days in a row, but I know now it was absolutely the perfect thing to do! Thanks Pelli! 

 (Hi Pelli)

 Little Inara is still waving so cute! 

 This rocking chair plays music, I think they really loved it

what do you think? 

 I'm not sure if she was singing

or signing. Hum... Will have to ask 

Pelli. 

 I LOVE THIS PICTURE! 

 Team work to pull the music cord!

"I Refuse to smile for you anymore." 

Hee Hee she's getting more and more

stubborn. I just can't wait to 

have a red headed 2 year old (that was sarcasm). 

Some pictures of Evie doing her school work.

Here are some pictures of Evie doing her school work! 

Putting the dots in the round circles. 

After she figured out what she was 

suppose to do she was pretty good! 

Figuring out the ballerina Puzzle! 

Getting closer... 

She was so proud of herself! 

Completing the pattern... 

It's a good thing she has mighty pattern powers! 

More pattern practice. 

Handwriting practice

More handwriting! 

She's getting pretty good at following lines! 

These are just a few of the work sheets we practice everyday... we also do reading rug time (where I read to them) and Brill Kids Reader and Math programs. Evie will do a Hooked on Phonics lesson everyday, and he really likes to sign! I'll try to get more pictures for the grandparents soon! 

Parent-Teacher Gymnastics Classes

Evie graduated from the parent-child classes in gymnastics last week. Today she went to her first class with out mom or dad!
I was working so Josh took it and photographed the entire thing from the window in the lobby! He texted me every few minutes and reported back that she did every trick, sat on the mat during warm up, played with the other children, listened to the teacher, and followed the leader! Can you believe how much she's grown up? I can't!!! I am so appreciative to Evie's grandma GG for helping us to be able to afford this great opportunity for our children, and also to my father for re-arranging countless schedules to give me days off, or let me barrow a vehicle to take them to class.

 Umbrella Tent! 

 Evie is the first child in line (furthest right)

Evie on the far left. 

Bye Bye Crib

For the past nearly 3 years now I've had a crib in our home, that I set a baby in every night. We graduated Evie from her crib after Inara was born. Inara first slept in our room in a basinett and then when Evie was comfortable in a twin size bed, and was able to lay down and go to sleep we moved Inara into the crib.

Well we're finishing moving the last of our furniture tonight and tomorrow, and hoping to have the mother-in-law suite cleaned out on Sunday so that we are fully moved into our new home. Part of that furniture was a slightly too small crib. I debated for hours - DAYS - about what to do, do I move it or do I go ahead and graduate Inara to a twin size bed? You wouldn't believe the agony it brought me to fold up that crib and not move it to the new house.

Wednesday night Josh assembled the girl's bunk beds, and we decided to not put the slats in for the top bunk until we could afford another mattress. So we just put the bottom bed on. I put both girls in the one bed and let them sleep together. I must have gotten up 20 times during the night to check on Inara.

In the morning I found the two of the snuggled up together. Evie had her arm around Inara, and Inara was totally snuggled into Evie the way she snuggles into me when I let her sneak into my bed. I nearly cried. My girls were just fine, in fact they seem to really enjoy sharing a bed. We'll get another mattress after we get back from California but until then I'm super paranoid about spending money. LOL

I'm still sad to see this crib being moved to a new home, but glad it will be put to good use. It's just silly how attached we get to the things our children use.

"I'm being a scary monster"

Evie is in that 'pretend' stage where she is something! A few days ago she was a butterfly hero, and before that it was a scary monster! Here's some of my favorite pictures:

Scary monster stomp. 

Scary Eye's  

Butterfly Super Hero

Enjoying Summer

Here are some pictures of the girls at the rock shop with me enjoying the summer weather, which out here has been scattered between thunder storms.