New Year's Day crafting with Livy!
The boys love when Uncle Christopher is in town and he treats them to Higley Hot Dog!
We got a Gabb phone for the kids to use at home and Collin will occasionally take it with him to a practice or friend's house. I thought his text to me was so sweet. This boy's love language is words of affirmation. (And gifts!)
Goodbye 2021! Hello 2022!
Making bracelets with a kit she got for Christmas.
Weston was grandchild of the month. I love the surveys Paula has them fill out.
My most hated chore. I felt so seen.
*trumpets trumpeting!*
My porch swing is DONE!!!! Travis is straight amazing. He basically crafted this with no guidance. I love it so much! It fits a toddler sized bed which our friends so generously gave us. I love the farmhouse look and the long, thick ropes. It's better than I could have imagined! And I use it all the time. It's my favorite spot in the whole house. I just keep books on the porch so I can sneak out whenever possible. I'M SO HAPPY!!!!
For FHE, we had our first, annual Evans family award night!! I printed certificates and recognized each child for achievements and progress they've made this past year. I made them individually get up on the coffee table when I presented them their award. I love these kids so much. They are learning and growing so fast and I'm so proud of everything they do. And more importantly, the kind people they're striving to be. It wasn't an elaborate night, but I want to spruce things up for next year!
I got the nicest surprise when Yolanda Ulibarri text me saying they were in town for a conference that Ryan was attending and wondered if we'd want to meet for dinner. We met at Blanco Tacos y Tequila in Scottsdale. It was fun to catch up. They live in Colorado and their three boys are are 16, 14 and 12, I think. Of all our conversation, the thing that stuck with me was her saying that her oldest son doesn't want to date because the girls all seem to just like the girls. Or it's hard to know which girls are actually interested in boys. Which was so sad to me!
It's not very often that we make it to open gym for "nastics" but when we do, this boy is a happy camper! It was extra fun to meet cousins there!
When your brother says the Taco Bell wings are legit, you gotta go try them, haha! Not especially a wing lover, but not too shabby. At least there was no diarrhea afterward. Did I share too much?
I don't remember what occasion got us to Jeremiah's but who really cares.. that place is delicious!
The garage was in desperate straits. It was time to purge. And that meant getting rid of all our many baby items. And I didn't even feel sad about it. I think that's probably a good sign. We did keep one highchair and stroller though. Oh and the pack n play. I am an aunt, after all! We cleaned out every cupboard and reorganized everything! Ohh the satisfaction!!!
Trav was given Suns tickets and it was Weston's turn to be guest of honor!
I think this was my favorite meme of the whole year.
Our wonderful Annie is leaving on a mission to Las Vegas! We are so sad yet happy! She is an angel and our kids adore her. Now I have to find a new piano teacher... bummer!
We don't have an activities committee, so we just put on everything ourselves. I think it's fun to design the invites.
Remember that prune picture of my face I mentioned last month? I swore I'd never do anything like this, but here I am, eating my words. I went to my cousin, Jonathan's wife, Emily, who does aesthetic injections. She recommended cheek fillers to help with the crows feet and some small injections around my mouth for the smile lines. I was really scared to get it done but more scared to ask Trav. He is not a fan of this kind of stuff. In complete honesty, I probably would have just done it and hoped he didn't notice, but it was really expensive. He's a peach and eventually came around to it after a very long talk. Not in the sense that he agreed or wanted me to, but he wasn't going to stop me. Thank heavens it didn't really hurt. Just a lot of pressure. And I didn't get a black eye or droopy face. Score. I didn't think it was very noticeable at all, but go figure... you know which of my children actually noticed?! Weston. My most oblivious child. He looked at me and said, "What's different about you? There's like something in your face." I just laughed and didn't really answer him. Then a few days later, he asked again when we were driving and all the other kids were confused and like "What? I don't see anything." But he was insistent and trying to get them to see what he was talking about. Again, I just laughed and tried to change the subject. Well then, it was Sunday and the kids were sitting in the chapel waiting for church to start and I walked up and stood in front of them and Weston couldn't contain himself. He loudly exclaimed, "Mom. WHAT is in your face?! It's like you have two balls on your cheeks!" I was dying, haha! So I explained it to them. I don't think they understood at all. Hopefully God will forgive me if I'm being a terrible, vain example to my children.
Before and After
I follow this local girl on Instagram who gardens and she was hosting a class, so I went. I didn't know anyone else and felt super awkward, but hey. It's good to get out of your comfort zones, right? And I was rewarded by getting to partake from the yummiest and prettiest charcuterie board! All the citrus was from her trees.
Sometimes after I pick up Tanner from preschool, I'll pack him a lunch and we'll go visit Grandma Sharon or more often, Grandma Ann. He loves it and so do I!
Still plugging away at those swim lessons at EVO that he complains and cries about.
My goal this year is to read one book a month! So far I'm enjoying this one by Brooke Romney.
We had to have a delayed Bunco party for Paula's birthday due to people's schedules. I was just going to miss because it was going to be really inconvenient with dropping Olive off and picking her up from dance, but my mom was nice enough to help out when I asked. The kids love when Grandma has them because she usually gets Wendys for them. :)
Can I just say I absolutely love casual date night dinners followed by errands with Trav?
Xaviers never disappoints.
All the kids on the street came together to create this massive leaf pile! I will not be sad when I no longer have bits of dead leaves all over my floors and stuck to the kids' socks.
Collin had his first football game!!! I was SO NERVOUS!!! I had no idea what position he'd be or how much he'd be playing. I didn't even know his number at first! It's #55. With the sun setting and fun music playing on the loudspeakers, it felt like such an idyllic evening. I can't even remember the position he played but he didn't get on the field until well into the second half. We all went nuts when he ran out though. Cheering and screaming for him! His pants were too big so he kept hiking them up. I never thought I'd want my son to play tackle football but he was relentless for over a year, begging and begging. Now that he's doing it, it doesn't feel that scary. We drop him off at the school M-Th for practice at 6am. It's dark and so so cold. I wouldn't want to be out there, but I'm glad he's getting to have this experience. Coach Pyles seems like a really decent coach with high standards.
Time for Camille's bridal shower! I cleaned my house all week. But especially the day before and day of, I swear I was scrubbing every nook and cranny. I had no idea our house was so disgusting. I think 150 people were invited so I was stressed my house wouldn't be big enough. I guess they thought they were having the reception at my parent's house so they wanted the bridal shower somewhere else. Anyway, I decided to open the sliding glass wall and having seating on the patio and wanted those pretty garden lights hanging above. I thought I could do it myself, but when I was up on a ladder trying to figure it out, my dad called me and offered his help. How could I refuse?! Holy cow, I had no idea what a production it would be! They were out there for hours. I felt so bad. I fed them soft tacos first, then felt pretty useless. I love how it turned out though!
We had SO MUCH yummy food. I made Russian Cream in individual cups with berries on top. Mom made chicken croissant sandwiches and Shelley and Marcie and Abbey brought salads and caramelita bars. Camille's family brought the most amazing platter of veggies, bread and dips and cookies and sheet cake. Allison made Monte Cristo sandwiches and brought a lot of the decorations. I did a game where I asked Camille a question, then played video of Craig answering the same question, to see if their answers matched. If they didn't, she had to eat a jelly bean that could either be yummy or gross. We had a great turnout! Molly, Kate and Aunt Marcia came from the Lindblom side. Natalie, Aunt MaryAnn and Abigail came from the Udall side. The grand majority of guests were for Camille.
I guess it was old person day for Spirit Week! Weston was all in.
I fell running on Guadalupe Rd. right in front of the church building. Had to be the hardest I've ever fallen. My phone and waterbottle went flying. I literally laid on the ground and didn't even move for probably a full minute. I wondered if I had broken anything and how I was going to get home. Somehow, I got up and limped a few feet then started jogging again. Exercise is dangerous for my health. ;)
My cute friend and neighbor, Hillary, wanted to party at Skateland for her birthday, so Collin, Weston and I joined in on the fun! Standing outside on a weekend night, waiting to get in was somewhat terrifying, haha. Different demographic around those parts, that's for sure. Collin and Weston were sweet enough to skate with their old mom, too! Hillary comes from a big family and almost all her siblings live within a couple miles of us. And I have to say, they are a HOOT. Such darling, enthusiastic personalities! I truly admire all of them and love how close they are to eachother!
Just getting ready for Valentine's Day!
I was asked to sub as Primary Chorister. I dread this calling over all other callings! I have an absolutely terrible voice. But hardly anyone will substitute so I figure I can take one for the team. Jennifer Breese does it right now and she is Ah-mazing! So cute with the kids and has such creative ideas. I brought a table full of makeup and accessories and let one child from each class come up and pick something to put on me. Junior primary wasn't so bad, but senior primary wasn't going to let an opportunity pass, that's for sure!
Travis's uncle, Ned Brimley, passed away. He had lived over a decade without his wife and wasn't in good health. It's always hard to lose someone but I got tears in my eyes right after I heard, thinking of him finally with Arlene again. My mom text me this and I thought it was nice of her.
My cousin, Jill, lives in north Mesa and has the best yard full of citrus trees! She so generously let us come and pick until our bags were bulging!
Olive went on a field trip to the Goldfield Ghost Town! Her group's chaperone got them ice cream and sent this picture. I think they had a lot of fun!
