Random happenings at the Evans' home

 Silly girls.

 All girl!  She begs me to wear my jewelry every day.  She picks out my earrings and tries to dress me often.  It's always a dress and lots of jewlry:-)  Today she put all my jewelry on and was in heaven.

"Come and see this mom"  Madison called me to see this.  She is such a mother.  Abby just loves it!

This is how I found Abby one day.  Madison wants a baby so bad, but she will settle for Abby being the baby.  They play baby all the time.

Garden...Before and After

 I have loved gardening for the first time this year.  We planted the tiny and plants and walla, they grew.  We have even had our first lettuce from the garden and it was delicious.  

Look at them now!!!!

Notice the missing lettuce?  We ate it!

Outside Water Fun!!!!

If it's hot, we are here... 

 Abby hasn't gotten the concept of sliding down the slip n slide, instead she walks down it and drinks the water.  Occasionally she will fall on hit her head and laugh.

This is Madison's friend Sam.  They went to preschool together and love to have play dates. 

 There she goes...she get it!

Clare...it must be an age thing:-)

Photo-op with the girls...5 and 3

My little kindergartner...

Happy Father's Day

These pictures seem to say it all concerning what a good dad Brian is.  He is that good as a husband also and I am so grateful that he's mine.  He has been working so hard this intern year, but always managed to have time and energy for us.  He has always had his priorities straight when it came to work, church, and family.  I'm sure it's partly because he had a great role model growing up:-)  Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do. 

Fasting vs. paying tithing...

I know which one I would choose to do, but for Madison is was different.  During breakfast I explained to the girls that I wouldn't be eating with them since I was fasting.  Madison had prayed once to learn how to fast back when everyone fasted for her to sleep through the night without an accident.  So after breakfast she announced that she wanted to fast too.  I told her it meant not eating anything and that she needed to fast for a purpose.  She said she would fast for:  Her to be a better big sister to Abby, for Abby to be a good sister, and for mom to make new good things that she will like (food).  She then went and said a prayer to start her fast.  It was right before church and I was trying to be a good mom and help Madison and Abby pay their tithing.  Well, since it was Madison's birthday last month she had quite a bit of tithing to pay.  I dumped out the money and had her count it along with Abby. Abby had fun putting in the envelope and couldn't wait to lick it while Madison was distraught about giving her money away.  She kept saying over and over again through tears, "But then I won't have any money.  Can we put it in savings instead?  I want to use it for spending money.  It looks like spending money."  She was convulsing by this point and beyond reckoning with.  Abby then joined it and said she didn't want to give away her money either.  At this point I told Madison that we wouldn't give her tithing to the Bishop until next Sunday after we have a FHE about it and if she still doesn't want to pay it she doesn't have to.  The pressure was on.  Madison was willing to fast, but not pay her tithing.  I can handle that.  Madison made it all the way to Sacrament and then said she was done fasting (she knew Abby got snacks after the Sacrament was passed) so she turned around in her seat on the floor and folding her arms kneeled on the pew and closed her fast.  Fast forward to FHE Monday night:  I had bought a bag of jelly beans and had the Scripture in Malachi 3:8 ready to read.  We sang "I am a Child of God" and then Abby said the opening prayer.  I had prayed before the lesson that Madison would understand the doctrine I was about to teach.  After the prayer I read the scripture focusing on the fact that it was God's money in the first place and that he only asks for 1/10th back and then he will pour out blessings, more than we can receive.  I then gave each of the girls ten jelly beans and asked for one back.  They both agreed (reluctantly) and I pointed out that then the Lord could bless them.  I had them hold out both hands holding the 9 jelly beans and began to pour the jelly beans into their hands until they were overflowing and spilling onto the couch, legs, and such.  This just made them laugh with joy at receiving so many jelly beans and having me spill them all over.  I then read the scripture again as they stared at the jelly beans all around them.  We talked about blessings the Lord is willing and wants to bless them with as they pay their tithing.  I then asked Madison is she wanted to pay her tithing on Sunday and without even having to think about it said, "Yes!  Do I get to eat all of these?"  They were so giddy and excited about the lesson and I feel that the Spirit taught them what tithing is, why we pay it, and that it's a commandment.  I learned this on my mission from Sister Call.  Sorry I'm babbling, but this is for Madison to read later.  I then read an excerpt my mom had typed up from her journal about me paying tithing when I was 5 3/4 years old.  It was neat to show Madison how I payed my tithing when I was her age.

Madison graduated from Preschool...

Today was one of those bitter-sweet days where I am so excited to see Madison grow up and all, but sad that she will be starting Kindergarten in the fall all day.  The graduation was outside and very simple, but personal for each child.  Madison went up in front of the entire group, stood on a chair by Mrs. Annie while they showed pictures of how they have changed since the beginning of the school year, what they love about Stone School, how much they have grown (3/4 " since Sept.), and a picture they drew of themselves at the beginning of the year and one they drew at the end of the year.  Madison ended the year as a mermaid according to her drawing.  Then they pick a stone (for stone school), pose for a picture and then it's the next child's turn.  Madison just glowed and was so excited to be a part of it all.  During the graduation she asked me to hold her cup so she could clap for the 'kids'.  I was touched this year by Madison's teacher when Madison was having a really hard day and was in tears entering the preschool.  This is very unusual behavior for Madison so Mrs. Annie sat down right there in the walkway, put Madison on her lap, and just held her until she felt safe and loved.  Mrs. Annie truly knows the children and their different personalities.  She recognized that this was not normal behavior for Madison and took the time to comfort her even though kids were coming in, clamoring for her attention, etc.  Madison will always know Mrs. Annie loves and cares about her and she quotes her all the time.  What a blessing it has been to watch Madison blossom into a very confident child.  She used to be afraid of new kids at a playground, but now she can find a friend no matter where we go, she is social, talks to adults, loves to watch seeds grow, and is fascinated with butterflies after watching them go from a small caterpillar to beautiful butterflies in her classroom.  She has just started to play Chess with her daddy just like he played with his.  He is so patient in teaching her and she is so eager to learn.  It's her new favorite game and she is catching on to what moves the different pieces can make.  I'll post pictures later:-)  I forgot my camera and my friend took some and will e-mail them to me.

Happy Easter...

 I know it's so late and I didn't even photoshop the pictures...but something is better than nothing right?  They had so much fun dyeing the eggs and then leaving them for the Easter Bunny to get and hide for them.  The Easter bunny was pretty creative and hid some in very hard spots.  Luckily we found them all and didn't smell it days later:-)

 Abby spent most of her time glittering eggs.

 Brian just likes to dye them one solid color and get them as dark as possible.

Can you feel the love?

Are these mine?

 I was helping a friend with a maternity shoot and this is what my kids loved doing while we were shooting.  I think they picked all the dandelions for the people there and fed them to the goats...they were so friendly and loved the attention and food.

These are the many faces of Abby....