Like my mother does.

I have a super amazing mom! I don't tell her NEARLY enough how much I appreciate her. She helped me SO much with Evie while I was working, and still does. I love how much she loves Evie. I love how thoughtful she is. I love how accepting she is of others. I love how she learns from the past. I love how she understands. She's such a sweetheart! I love you mom :)

I tried to post this song, but it was taking forever, so here is the link instead. To my sweet mom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX-04oKskFs

Rewind: Halloween!

Evie was a little fairy for Halloween this year! We walked across the street and went to the 'Mayors Walk' around the Rec Center for 'trick or treating'. Evie had her head in her candy bucket the whole time, digging for more yummy treats! She didn't hardly look up!

Hopefully next year she'll be more into the dressing up thing, I had to wrangle this poor girl to get her in her costume!

Evie turns 2!!!!

Each and every post about Evie I always have to say TIME is not on our side! Especially with a 2 year old! It's just FLYING by! Evie is such a sweetheart! We had a lot of fun with her party! I decided to do a 'Cookies and Milk' theme, because what 2 year old doesn't jump for cookies and milk! I know Eve does!

The week before Evie's party was HECTIC! I asked (FORCED) Braden to finish our dining room before the party, and when your house is going on 101 years old, it's not always as easy as it seems. We didn't quite finish, but at least it was somewhat presentable! :)

Evie LOVED having all the kids at our house! It was so packed, I just kept hoping everyone was comfortable! We've NEVER had that many people in our house, but it was so fun! I wish I would have taken more pictures! I didn't really slow down to think about it :) Thank goodness for the wonderful Jess! She snapped most of the pictures from Evie's party! I wasn't even thinking about it! THANKS JESS {have I told you, you're awesome!}

We just love Evie Grace to pieces! She's so smart, happy, loving and SWEET as a cookie! I know as soon as I press 'Publish Post', another year will have flown by and we'll be planning a 3rd birthday! SAD! So I am going to try and soak up every little moment!

I'll end with a little 'Evie-ism':

{Evie was in the tub: "HAAY, Baby! I'm in the bath . . . OKAAAY!?"}

Good Grief Child, YOU'RE ADORABLE!

My sweet 2 year old! Wait, WHAT!?

First of all, I just have to say that time HAS to be going faster. I can't figure out how it's possible that I have a 2 year old 'baby' girl!

Evie Grace is just the sweetest little girl! She has the most tender and loving personality. There have been countless times where Braden and I simultaneously look at each other and say, "Evie is such a good girl!" She really is SO good! Let's not forget that she IS going to be 2 tomorrow, and we all know 2 year olds can be a handful - but really, she's good!

Lately Evie has been addicted to the TV! It's nice when I'm trying to get ready for the day, or clean, but she would honestly watch TV ALL day long if I let her! Literally the second she wakes up she says one of the following: "Monkey!" "Mickey Mickey Mouse!" "Waberry!" or "Bear!". These translate into Curious George, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Strawberry Shortcake, or Winnie the Pooh.

Evie also L.O.V.E.S. her babies! Which, contrary to popular belief, does not mean it's time for me to have another one . . . yet! :) We got her an American Girl Bitty Baby with the crib and high chair! I can't hardly wait until tomorrow to give it to her! It's killing me! She is so motherly and loves taking care of her babies. She even takes care of Braden and I. I'm telling you, she's that good!

Just a few other randoms about Evie @ 2 (for my own remembrance): She loves to color - especially with MARKERS, she is experimenting with more words and putting multiple together to express herself, we can usually get her to mimic anything we say, she loves her little friends - she's always talking about Kai Kai on her toy cell phone, she loves to get on facebook with me and look at pictures of her friends :), she knows every word of Baa Baa Black Sheep, Wheels on the Bus, and Old McDonald's Farm, she loves listening to nursery rhymes in the car, her ears have not changed over the past year!

Whew! Just love this little girl! Party pictures to come :)

Last Day

Today was my last day working at Anadarko! It was kind of a hectic and bittersweet day, but now that it's all said and done I couldn't be happier! I'm so excited to be home with Evie! YAY!The office took me to lunch today and even showered me with gifts :) One of which was an awesome camera! Since Braden had class tonight, Evie and I went out and took some pictures with my new camera. Enjoy :)
Ahhhhh FREEDOM from work! LOL!

Update: We're still alive!

I hate when I don't blog for so long! I forget everything! So I'll do my best to update for the past 2 months!

• Evie has become seriously independent! There aren't many things she wan'ts help with anymore . . . especially things like playing in the pool @ the rec center, or at the park, which can be S.C.A.R.Y.
• I QUIT MY JOB :) Well, I'm still working for a few more weeks - possibly months, but I did it! I'm so happy for myself, and more importantly EVIE! She needs me and I'm so happy I can be with her all the time now! :) :) :) :)
• Braden got hired on with Anadarko Petroleum, and he really enjoys his job! We're so proud of him :) Such a good hubby & daddy!
• We've been riding our bikes like crazy. Evie packs her babies, a movie, and her cell phone and she's good to ride in the trailer . . . as long as we make her think it was her idea! LOL
• We took Evie to Seven Peaks in August and she had the time of her life! She went down at least 4 big slides with her daddy! She also LOVED the kiddie pools, they had so many little slides and fun things for her to play on. She wore herself right out - we had to make a bed out of one of the tubes for her to sleep on.
• We also went to the Larsen Reunion the first weekend in Aug
  ust. We all had a great time! Evie loved being outside so much, playing with her cousins, dressing up like a fairy, and painting!
• And last, but not least - we're having mixed emotions about summer being over soon :( BUT at the same time - who doesn't LOVE everything about FALL {besides how many sticks fall from my trees and make my yard look trashy . . . boooo}.

{My Silly Girl}

{Where's Evie??}

{There she is :) She loves swimming @ the Rec Center - and playing in the lockers while I change! They are just her size!}

{Painting @ the Larsen Family Reunion - Evie's an artist!}

{Evie's new favorite thing - swimming in the backyard butt naked}

{Sleeping @ Seven Peaks in the tube}

{Evie loves dressing up lately. She put this shirt on of mine and I had to snap a picture because it looks like a formal gown LOL}

{And lastly, Evie is entering the terrible two stage! There are some days it makes me laugh, some days it makes cry, and some days it makes me crazy! But we sure do love her!}

Happy 4th of July

Today I am especially proud to be an AMERICAN! There is just something about this holiday that leaves me on the verge of tears all day long! I feel so overwhelmingly BLESSED to live in this country, the BEAUTIFUL USA. I sat with Evie and some of our FAMILY @ the parade today watching the VETERANS drive by and all the American FLAGS. It seriously chokes me up! There are so many BRAVE men and women who fight for our FREEDOM on a daily basis - truly amazing.

THANK YOU!

I love this picture of Evie - it just screams FREEDOM to me! What an awesome thing it is to know that Evie can run, and play outside, and that she will always have place to call HOME!

We are so BLESSED! I could not ask for more!

Happy 4th of July 2011