Christmas Pictures

Here are the Christmas pictures. This one is of the girls together, Madison full of it as ever!

And here is the family photo!

Just in case I missed a few of you this year (and I apologize, but hey it happens!), here is our christmas letter. I will have to add the picture later, Blogger is being silly and won't let me add it correctly. But this is better than nothing! Hope you all enjoy!

“Top 10 Reasons why Christmas will be different for the Evans’ Family this year”

10. Rob will for sure be home for Christmas since he got the new job as Wing Executive in June.

9. Madison will get to enjoy all the lights, music, presents, and of course Santa.

8. The three dogs, Maggie, Brodie, and Daisy, will get to spend lots of cuddle time with Jenna since she has a nice long winter break.

7. The whole family has a lot to be thankful for this Christmas, Jenna and Rob both have good, stable jobs, we got to do lots of fun stuff this year, like ride Horses at Aunt Gayle’s in Virginia, Jenna got to tour Washington DC, and we will be surrounded by great food and wonderful family.

6. The family will be thinking about all the soldiers overseas, especially one, Rob’s Brother John. We will be praying for safety to all those overseas and safe returns for all of them.

5. Jenna and Rob have made lots of great new friends this year, thanks to sorority, church, and their jobs. They have lots of friends to surround themselves with all year long, let alone on Christmas.

4. Aunt Carrie’s Kitchen remodel is finally done!!! It was a lot of work, and a lot of time, but it was all well worth it! Now Madison gets the chance to make a mess of her kitchen too!

3. Cousin Bailey and Madison go to Daycare everyday together, and their parents are so thankful for the loving caring support that we get at daycare, and of course for all the fun and friends we have.

2. Madison is walking, and running, and terrorizing everything, which means that come Christmas, there will be so many pieces of paper to play with, and string from one of the house to the other, let alone the great picture opportunities that will make.

1. The number one reason Christmas will be different in the Evans’ Household this year, because this is Madison’s last Christmas as an only child, next year she will have a younger brother or sister, since Jenna is due in July!!! (Not to mention the younger cousin she will also have, since Jenna’s sister, Sara is due in March!)




Merry Christmas from the Evans’ Household.
Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Holiday season!

Organized Garage

So this weekend turned out to be pretty good even though it started out really crappy. We were planning on going home to Basin, but we got over 20 inches of snow this week, and all roads in and out were closed until late Friday. So instead we decided to get busy, and by busy I mean we cleaned! Today we organized, de-cluttered and down-right cleaned out garage. Most of the time our garage is an absolute disaster, usually I can't even park in it, let alone try to get something done in it. So today we rearranged, reorganized, and even decluttered the house! And it feels amazing! I wish I had taken before pictures, but I didn't so instead, you only get to see the end result.

This is Robbie's wall, he got these flags a long time ago and just can't seem to part with them, so in the garage they go.
Here are the new cabinets, one is designated solely to my crafting supplies, another is solely golf, and the third is a lot of everything. The little one is truly a lifesaver, up until today one whole large shelf in my pantry was designated to liquor ( I know we're a bunch of lushes) however now that one is locked up and is now the liquor cabinet, so I got more room in my pantry. I am so excited!

Here is the other wall. I know three trash cans is a bit ridiculous, but one is for recycling, one is trash, and the other is compost! The box is my sisters dishwasher. When she gets her new kitchen cabinets in, we will be doing a complete renovation of her kitchen, watch for more info on that, as I am sure it will be interesting and so exciting!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We sure did even though it wasn't exactly what we had planned. It sure was productive!

Look what I did!!

So this weekend I got to do a little bit of crafting, which was great. However at one point I was ironing and I looked over and look what my little girl was doing. I think I just might have a future sewer in my house!Here she is playing with the thread!

Here is my baby playing with the scraps of fabric that she pulled off the table.

And here it is, look what I did! This is a christmas card holder, and it is so easy to make, and just cute as can be. I am making some for family, and can't wait for them all to use them come Christmas time.

Trick-or-Treat

Well here is Madison and a co-workers kids. We all showed up at another co-workers house at the same time, so it only seemed appropriate to take a picture of them all together.

Here is Miss Madison right after I got her dressed and her hair done, isn't she so adorable.

Here she is again. Thanks to my mom for making the costume for me. I had good intentions of doing it myself, but time just got away from me, and I just didn't get it done. So thanks grandma, it looks great!

Hugs all around

The other day we had the joy of watching Cousin Bailey while her mom and dad went to work for a bit! We had a great time, the girls always have a good time together, even if they are both just stealing each other's stuff the whole time! Anyway we were making them lunch and they both wanted to be in the kitchen, so i was trying to entertain them away from the action and this is the video that we got. They are both so dang cute!

Enjoy!!

Another First

Well this is a first that I am definitely not bragging about, but let's face it, it happens to every kid about this age at some point or another. The other night Madison was playing so intently. Needless to say she lost her balance and even though I was sitting right there, I couldn't stop it. She smacked the coffee table so hard! At first I thought she hit her nose and thought there would be blood everywhere, but when I picked her up she had a big old bump, and a little scrape next to her eye. I quickly rushed her into the kitchen and got a bag of ice to put on it. This little girl has some pain tolerance because once I was finished with the bag of ice, all she wanted to do was play with it, and didn't even seem to notice her eye anymore. Before she went to bed that night she had a huge bump, but this is what we found the next morning. Anyway, here is the evidence of her first Black eye!! Poor baby!

Here she is brushing her teeth, well at least trying to!
Here it is again, poor baby!!

Bailey and Madison Dancing

Aside from my living room looking like a disaster zone (thanks to the kids), this video is halarious. Bailey really gets into it, and Madison just mainly likes to spin around and laugh!

Vegas

Carrie and I went to Las Vegas for her 30th birthday and it was awesome. We did so much, rode the roller coaster at New York, New York, went to In and Out (was absolutely amazing, even if it was a pain in the butt to get to and from), went to the Thunder Down Under, halarious!, went to Mystere, a show by Cirque De Soleil, it was so amazing, gambled a little, and ate a ton of amazing food.

This was pretty much the theme of the trip, let's just say that the 24 ounze chelada's were cheap and cold!!
Carrie and I out in front of the Mirage, there was so much water, kind of amazing since it is in the Desert.

Carrie and I going to the Excalibur.

Carrie with her "Dick Stick" and one of the best Margarita's ever!

More catch up pictures

Madison so exhausted that she just collapsed!
Madison's first smore, thanks to Auntie (adopted) Lindsey, thanks Lindz!!

Here she is again, trying to eat it all in one big bite!

I am sure she will kill me for posting this, but oh well, here she is in all her "who" Glory!

So much

I have so much to catch up on. Sorry I have been absent from the blogging world, but we've been super busy. Since I last updated, I've had fair, horse fair, state fair, a trip to vegas with my sister, Madison's first camping trip, and alot of fun. So instead of writing a lot, I am just going to post of bunch of pictures.

Madison so tired from the day that she feel asleep in her Mashed potatoes!

Bailey and Madison playing in the pool at Carrie's house, while the boys built Carrie a patio.

Madison being her stubborn self, she wouldn't eat the corn unless grandma was holding it, she wanted to eat it like a big person, it was so cute!

4th of July

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,and tortured before they died.Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

Madison's 1 Year photos

A while back we got Madison's 1 Year photos done, and as always, they turned out great!!

She's so photogenic
I love this one!

She got super excited in the bath-tub

And of course her being miss angelic, of course we all know this isn't true!!

Memorial Day Weekend, Vacation, and Time at Grandma's

So we have had a lot of fun since Madison's Birthday. We went home for memorial day weekend, then we went on a vacation to Red Feather lakes with the whole family, and then after that, Grandma and Grandpa took Madison home with them for a whole week. Here are a few pictures from all of those events.

Here is Bailey before we left for vacation, we got the pleasure of doing her hair, it's so stinking cute!

Here is Madison and Bailey in the Red Wagon on vacation!

Madison and Uncle Shane playing in the water, as well as Bailey and Sara.
Grandma and Madison looking at the water, she was so fascinated by the water, it was so cute!

Madison at Grandma's house in the water. She loved the pool, and played in it 3 days in a row!!

Madison's 1st Birthday Party

As many of you remember, Madison's Birthday was well over a month ago and I am just now posting pictures. Well it was a blast, we had a lot of wonderful people over, a bbq, and of course lots of cake. I made the ladybug cake for Madison, and then bought a delicious cake with cream cheese frosting, because it is way better! Anyway, here are some pictures from the party!

Me, Madison and Robbie mid-cake.
Ladybug cake just for Madison!

Black frosting may not be the way to go!!

Madison and Bailey in Maddie's favorite birthday present. She still lights up every time she sees this car, she just loves it!

Favorite Things Swap

I found this on a friend's blog, and well it looks fun!

It's really quite simple: as a participant, you will be asked to choose at least three objects (i don't think anyone would mind if you decide to send more) that are some of YOUR favorite things to send to your partner... maybe it's an apron you made, your new favorite book, or that favorite flavor of lip gloss. be creative & most importantly have fun with it! objects can be new or vintage, bought or handmade... just remember, it is best to send something the you'd be pleased & excited to receive yourself.

If you want to participate, go here.

I know I have been a huge slacker lately, but I am hoping to get all caught up on posts today. I have been working non-stop since Robbie got back from Alabama, so I have lots of pictures to post and lots of things to talk about!

Happy 1st Birthday Madison!!!

Exactly one year ago today, Miss Madison came into our lives. She is the most wonderful thing to ever happen to us, I just couldn't imagine my life without her!! Happy Birthday Baby Girl, We love you!

We are having her Birthday Party this weekend, when Daddy is back, WAHOO!! I will post more pictures then.

So True

So as many of you might know, when I was younger, I never wanted kids, and even after Rob and I got married, we were going to wait at least 5 years, if not longer. Well funny how things change. I got this email this morning and I just have to post it, it is all so true. I can't tell you how many times most of these thoughts have ran through my head!!! Just something to think about, especially for all of you that think you won't have kids, or you won't have them for a long time!!

Awesome Mom

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond

between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom .

Send this to someone who you think is an awesome Mom.

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.

Madison missing Daddy

Well earlier this week at daycare Madison had quite the breakdown. As most of you know Robbie is in Alabama for a month for Squadron Officer School. Well on Wednesday, at daycare, one of the other dad's came in to pick up their child, and he was wearing his uniform. Apparently, Madison thought it was Robbie, started walking towards him, and then realized it wasn't daddy. She cried and screamed for over an hour, poor baby, she was so upset.

However the upside of Daddy being gone, is that Madison is officially sleeping through the night. We have been struggling with this for some time, and Robbie just hated listening to her scream, so he would always go in and give her a bottle, or comfort her. Well I knew that this wasn't going to benefit her (or us) in the long run, so when Daddy left that was my cue to let her "cry it out". After 6 long, long, long nights, we are finally sleeping through the night, WAHOO!!! Mom can't be happier.

We got a ton of snow down here the past two days and work was even cancelled on Friday, so we are just enjoying each other's company, gotta love snow days!!

Easter

Well our Easter was pretty calm, we were without daddy, because he left for 5 weeks for Squadron Officer School in Alabama, so it has been pretty low key around here. Anyway on Easter we went to church, then went out to lunch. After that it was home for naps, which weren't long enough, but better than nothing. Here are a couple of pictures from the big day.

Madison with Aunt Carrie on Easter morning. She was all dressed up in the cutest dress, however it is hard to get an 11 month old to hold still and smile for pictures, so this was the best I could do.
This is Madison first thing in the morning with her Easter Basket. She had a ton of fun playing with the eggs and got some really cool books, the Easter Bunny was sure good to her.

Here is a Video of Madison in her pretty dress and walking. That's right, I said Walking!! She just started last week, but thank goodness she got started before Robbie left. She is still pretty wobbly, but doing great considering. It's a short one, but hope you all enjoy!

Sick Baby

Well on thursday morning we woke up to a very sick baby. She had thrown up in the middle of the night, and we didn't know it, so she was all gross. Anyway we determined that the sick belly was from a severe cold, she had been coughing really hard all night long. So when the clinic opened we took her in. Well she just has a cold, but they are worried about it getting worse over the weekend, especially because she still has a very upset tummy. So for the next ten days we have to give her breathing treatments. They aren't so bad when she is about asleep, but it is really a two person job in the middle of the day. Anyway here are some pictures of my baby falling asleep during her treatment tonight. I know many moms have been through this, but man it is hard to see your kiddo so sick and just not enjoying being awake right now. Poor babies!!

At least the doctors office gave us a cute little fish mask, doesn't make it any easier, but sure is cute, well as cute as an oxygen mask can be.

Bailey turns 1

Well even though Bailey doesn't officially turn 1 until the 24th, Sara had her her first birthday party today, and it was a blast. She was a great baby, and of course dug right into the cake. Enjoy the pictures.

Bailey in her hat.

Madison eating and in her party hat.

This is the cake that we all pitched in and made for Bailey, it turned out great, better than expected actually.

Here is Bailey while we were singing Happy Birthday to her, and she was so excited.

Here is the whole family post cake.

Here is one of her first bites, she just loved getting it all over her face.