Missionary Farewell

I may be a bad mom since I skipped town the night of my baby's 4th birthday, but in my defense I had a pretty good excuse.  My baby brother (13 years younger) is all grown up and ready to embark on his next adventure on a mission to Spokane, Washington!  Early Saturday morning before the sun was even up we ran a 10k together.  We've never run a race together before but with Mark's ROTC training he was up for it so thanks for helping me scratch my race itch.

 I didn't take this picture but had to include it on my blog since it was on my camera.  Our cheerleading squad at the finish line led by Theresa.

 I will entitle this one "eat my dust" lovingly.  Got to love sister photographers and I actually like my non-sweaty backside better than the front :)  It was a very sparsely attended race in conjunction with Simi Valley Days and I actually won women overall in 45:16 and got a lousy sweatshirt--not even a hoodie!

 Doesn't Mark already look the missionary type all spiffed up in his suit?  Just needs the name tag which he'll get tomorrow and he's ready to go.

 I got to see lots of people I knew growing up from Simi 3rd ward (and Simi 1st that's now 3rd) and my cousin Sandra and her family whom we would see every Thanksgiving came down from Tehachapi.  Thanks for keeping it lively Sunday afternoon.

 The family picture.  Sadly Melissa couldn't make it from Cambodia.

 Add in baby Jordan the best nephew (on the Bartholomew side!) and Grandma Schultz.

Love you Mark and look forward to emails from you over the next two years--you better write!

Ballerina Princess Birthday Girl

I can't believe it's been four years since baby Evelyn blessed our family with her presence!  She is such a joy to have in our home and too cute.  We celebrated her 4th birthday for the most part a day early since I flew to California the evening of her actual birthday (bad mom I know).

 Getting ready to open presents

 All she said she wanted for her birthday was a Barbie so mom & dad obliged with a Barbie and pony

 Happy Birthday girl

 A present from aunt Lisa, doesn't she just look so fancy?

 The strawberry birthday cake I attempted from scratch

 Blowing up the candle

 On her actual birthday dressed up as a cute ballerina since she had her first ballet class and loved it.

 I'm thinking about entering her in Toddlers & Tiaras since she's just too cute! Then again, we wouldn't want to ruin a good thing.

 

We had this caricature taken of us a few days ago and it may be true.

 

What we love about our Evelyn Rose, a very fitting name (that is making a comeback) for this little girl.

• Such a happy girl with a beautiful smile
• A great sister and so excited for her sisters to come home and play since I know I can be a very boring mom!
• Loves to make up songs like the blanket song and many others--watch for some great hits coming out later this year.
• Loves to break out dancing with a sister playing the piano.
• Excited about preschool and the four other girls she shares two days a week with.
• Can now spell and write her name and enthusiastic about learning her letters and how to read.
• Easy to run errands with as a free cookie at the store is all she needs to behave, although I may take her on a few too RS visits and she'll tell me--"NO more visits!
• I just have to add that Evelyn has been my only thumb sucker and every day she tells me "I stopped sucking my thumb" and then everytime she gets her special blanket the thumb comes out too.

We love you Evelyn and can't believe you're a big 4 already!

From the Mouth of Babes

I just have to record this writing assignment by my sweet Elizabeth this week as it just made me laugh.  I guess they were working on similes and she went overboard.  Spelling is corrected since I don't like things misspelled and I added some paragraphs.

My Family Portrait

By Elizabeth C

I have a great family!  First there is my mom.  My mom is as fun as a video game.  She takes me to fun places and plays fun games at the house.  My mom is as nice as a kitten.  She loves me a whole bunch.  My mom is almost as cute as a mouse.  Sometimes she's really loud.  But that's O.K. I still love her.  She's still my mom.

Next, let's talk about my Dad.  My dad is as funny and fun as a monkey.  When I get hurt he looks at it and says WOW I think we need to operate.  Then he gets a knife and pretends to cut it open.  Sometimes he is as loud and as short-tempered as an angry lion.  I do not like it when he's like this.  I love my dad.

My sister, Evelyn is as cute as a button.  One day every time I scratched under her chin and she said "goo goo gaga" then made a cute face.  She is also playful like a monkey.  She always wants to play with me and Rachel.  We usually let her play.  She agrees with if you teller to that nice.

Then there is my sister Rachel.  She is as short-tempered as a scared raccoon.  If I get her hurt by accident she scratches me like a cat fighting a dog.  She has sharp nails.  Really sharp nails. 

Finally, there is me. I am as talkative as a radio.  I talk a lot, a lot, a lot and I mean a lot.  I am also as fun as a clown.  I make jokes a lot at the table.  Sometimes they're not funny.  I don't like when that happens.  I am as hyper as a jaguar.  A lot of the time I like a wild animal.  I love my family!

Going Going Gone

That could definitely describe my feelings about summer and with this the last unofficial weekend of summer it has flown by and I want parts of it back!  But really, I'm posting about Rachel's lost tooth.  It's been wiggly for a little bit and Friday Rachel came home with it hanging by a thread so when Eric came home he gave one quick, painless tug and out it came.

 Yesterday we had corn on the cob so I had Rachel put one in the place of her tooth.  Oh, and when asked why she and all the other girls had their pajamas and these headbands on at 5pm she said, "We're playing spies" with her 'why do you even have to ask that question' expression. I still don't get the connection but they had fun.

And speaking of gone, this little one after waiting so patiently when her sisters went to school without her officially started preschool on Tuesday.  Let's see what mischief I can come up with during a few free hours to myself (when I'm not teaching that is).