Sweet little voice :)

Evie has started talking a lot more lately. Like full sentences. It's so fun to hear what she is thinking about in that little, cute, curly haired head of hers! The other night we had to make a mad dash to Wal Mart. It was 5:30 pm...rush time. I was trying to find a parking space and there were people all over, either in their cars or walking. Always in my way. I finally got really impatient and yelled (in the car, of course, not at anybody) "I HATE THIS PLACE" at this point I was hungry, irritated and not feeling "great." Then I hear Evie's sweet little voice from the back seat say "don't worry, mom." It hit me, right then. Why do I let these little situations like this make my blood boil? What makes me so impatient. Evie brought me back to reality. I learn from her daily. She is ALWAYS saying "thank you" I tell her she is beautiful, smart, sweet, wonderful, perfect, an angel, a princess...anything. She always says "thank you, mom." I give her food, get her out of her carseat or in, I open a door for her - you get the picture- she says "thank you, mom" In turn when we tell her "thank you" she always follows with an immediate "your welcome" My mom ingrained in our heads very early on to say "thank you" even up until we were older she would always ask us...."did you say thank you?" it was almost to the point of annoyance. But I am so glad she taught us those basic manners. I notice a lot of adults don't know how to say "thank you" and there is nothing more irritating than a child who doesn't know how to say those words and their parents are not prompting them at all. I'm not saying I am a perfect parent...not in the least! Still learning every day. We are still working on "please" she is getting there :) But this was always important to Owen and I. To teach our children how to respect themselves and those around them by learning these important manners. A simple "thank you" "please" and "your welcome" will get you a long way in this world. So glad Evie is learning this so early on!

Grandma and Grandpa Visit!

Last week Owen's parents came to visit on the way to see Owen's sister in Oregon. Evie was so excited. We talked about it the whole week leading up to it. When they arrived they gave Evie a special present....and she LOVED it!
Owen's mom picked up this Big Bird backpack for Evie and she was in Heaven!

The night was full of Big Bird backpacks, Pizza, Ice Cream Cake (for daddy's bday), a visit from Uncle Milt, reading books with grandma (can you guess which books? Yep! Little Critters :)

There was also reading with Grandpa! Evie enjoyed finding the spider and crickett that are on each page of the Little Critter books~

Morning came and Grandma and Grandpa had to leave. But not with out a few book readings!

Evie finally warmed up to Grandpa and gave him a hug..... We had such a fun visit! Can't wait to see you guys next week :)

Grandma and Grandpa also brought a very special surprise for Evie......

A "big girl" toddler bed! We talked to her about it all week. It was white when they brought it up. I wanted to put the rag quilt I made her for her first birthday on it. So I decided I wanted to paint her bed yellow. So, it took me a day to paint and let it set......and then while we were at work Tuesday night, Owen had come home and put it all together for her...

This was her face when she saw it! I didn't get the very next face with her chin dropped to the floor! She LOVED it! I love the yellow....it's so cheery - just like my little Miss Evie :)

She kept telling me how tired she was and how she wanted to take a nap. So we got ready for bed and this was her face:

She was so excited to sleep in her big girl bed! She had a hard time the first night. She wouldn't stay in it, so we had to put her back in her crib for the night...good thing we didn't take that down right away! These last two nights have gone better. I have to rock her to sleep and then lay her in it. Hopefully I won't have to do that long.....Next step: Potty Training!

It's been too long.....

I can't believe it's been a year since I was here.....

With these wonderful family members....

I love my family so much and miss them and that beautiful blue water everyday! I would give ALMOST anything to go back :) Thanks again, Angie - for the best vacation of my life...seriously!!

Decorating...kind of

So, when we still lived in Boise we bought an old entertainment center from the DI. It was an older one with a top and a spot inside for a TV. We bought it for $15. Owen cut the top off and then connected it to the shelves (as seen below) to make a stand for the TV...obviously. Anyway, it was dated looking and we had painted it black. I really wanted to add some color to our living room because, as you can see, all of the walls are bright white. When we first moved in, I told Owen that I felt like we were living in an insane asylum of something....so much white! Back to the story....we had talked about doing different doors on our entertainment center. I really wanted a bright red to go with the painting you see above the TV (which will be moved to above the couch on the opposite side of the TV hopefully in the near future) Anyway, given the tools Owen didn't have, he still managed to make new doors for us! I think they turned out so good! I picked out the red color and I LOVE it! We distressed it a little bit so the black would show through some.

We also bought a new rug to put in our living room. The whole downstairs has vinyl/hardwood flooring. I'm not gonna lie. Not my favorite. I hate sweeping and mopping! In our next home I would limit the hardwood to the kitchen and the dining room...but not the main living area. Doesn't feel as homey to me. Anyway- I'm so lucky to have my handy man/ carpenterish husband. Good job, Owen- turned out great!

We bought some handle/knob things to put on, but haven't decided if we want them or not...we will see :)

I made this yarn wreath when I went to Coeur D'Alene. The little ghosts are outlines of Evie's foot. She loves getting her feet and hands traced! It is fun to have a little bit of Evie in our halloween wreath!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have made a few friends up here that like to get together and do little craft/sewing projects on Sat. nights. We leave the kids at home with the husbands and have a girls night. Owen is so supportive...I think it has something to do with the fact that I don't complain about living here quite as often as I used to! A couple Saturday's ago we made these cute fabric pumpkins. Super easy and cute! Evie loved them too! She carried them all around the house the first morning she saw them. The newness has worn off, now and she leaves them on the table :) I love Halloween. My mom always puts up the best decorations. I'm sad we won't be able to enjoy them as much this year....BUT, we are planning on going down to Boise for Halloween so we will get to see them a little! In case you are wondering. Yes, Halloween with my family is worth a trip. We always have a fun party with lots of food and dancing and costume contests and trick or treating with the cousins! We can't wait!!! Still trying to figure out our costumes!

OCTOBER!

The local high school put on a pumpkin patch. It was unlike any pumpkin patch I had ever seen, but Evie enjoyed it and the pumpkins were cheap! All of the money went to the High School FFA.
Evie loved these ones because they looked like eggs. I think she was convinced that was what they were. She kept saying "eggs, mom"

Tried to get her picture on the straw or hay bales (Owen is always correcting me, I don't know which is which - it all looks the same to me!)

She picked up a perfect little pumpkin and carried it the whole time. She didn't want a huge one..she just wanted one that was her size! This was the patch. Basically pumpkins in a dirt field. But it was fun!

As soon as we got there we recognized a little boy that is in our ward and he also comes into the gym. He caught sight of Evie and went right up to her and said "Evie, I like your name." It was the cutest thing I have ever heard. Evie looked down all shy and said "ank u" His mom told me that he talks about "Evie at the gym" quite often. Another mom at the gym told me the same thing. Her son always says he wants to go to the gym to see Evie. I told her I thought kids liked to say her name because it is easy to say. She looked at me and said "no, I think it's because she is cute." I guess we better get prepared. Owen will be the typical "redneck" sitting on the porch with his rifle when she has her first date. Maybe we just won't let her date til she is 21. That sounds like a good option :)

Happy Birthday Darling! (Yesterday!)

I can't believe I met Owen when I was 18 and he was 22 :) He was such a hunk! Still is, of course!
A picture of us 8 years ago!

Happy 30th Birthday breakfast with his favorite little girl in the whole world! This day was a little low key for us. I had to work 3:30-7:30 pm. On our way home from work Evie and I decided to stop and get daddy a DQ ice cream cake. Boy was he surprised and excited! Owen's parents are coming to visit on Thursday so we will do a little bday party then. And eat the rest of the ice cream cake because there is a lot left over! I couldn't ask for a better husband. I am so grateful for his hard work and determination. I'm so grateful for the career path that he has chosen to pursue so that he can provide for the needs of our family. He is always thinking of me and watching Evie so I can go do crafts with my friends on Saturday nights. He is the best daddy in the world and Evie loves him more than anything. Whenever we get home and daddy is there Evie will say "there's daddy's truck" or "i want daddy". She loves playing with him and getting chased and tickled. He is so patient and kind and loving. We are so grateful for a righteous preisthood holder in our home! Love you Owen/Daddy! Happy 30th Birthday!! :)

Little getaway

A couple weeks ago one of my closest friend, up here in Moses Lake, invited us up to her parent's lake house in Coeur d'Alene, ID for a few days. Owen, being the hard working and wonderful husband/father he is, couldn't make it because of work. But Evie and I had a blast! The house was beautiful and had the most beautiful view. Pictures wouldn't do it justice :) The house was beautiful and now I know why you like to go there so much Jenny :)
We spent the few days playing on the dock, doing a little boating, playing on the beach, kayaking, side trip to the park, eating, crafting and laughing hysterically when it got too late. It was a much needed break - thanks again Jenny, it was so much fun! Plus, it always feels good to be back in Idaho!

Evie and her friend Ellie coloring with sidewalk chalk :)

Evie enjoyed swinging in the hammock! You can't tell, but the view was awesome!

Evie loves to swing!