Great Relatives! :)

A few weeks ago my mom got severe pneumonia, lost 10% of her lung & had to have the infection scraped out & drained to stop the infection from spreading. After being in the hospital for a week she was able to come home for a looonnngggg recovery. At least she was going to recover though! Thankfully, family stepped up & came to help out. Heather & Holly came to help with the first few days home then Aunt Maureen, my mom's sister came & stayed for three weeks. I love Aunt Maureen & so appreciated her being able to come. Plus, it was so fun to spend some time with her again! The kids loved her in fact when we picked Aunt Maureen from the airport Elena said, "you have Grandma's voice." Thanks Aunt Maureen for your generosity of time! It took a load off all of us. We really enjoyed your company! I know all of my sisters would have been here if they could. Your prayers were greatly felt & mom is getting better everyday! 

Aunt Maureen with Zander & Elena

At the end of Aunt Maureen's stay Marcie came to town! We had a great time & she was a big help too. Two days before Marcie left Dad was feeding/throwing the cows some hay, 10ft up, from the hay truck. He got his hand stuck, slipped, & landed on the big cement manger. He's lucky he didn't break his back or become paralyzed. The doctor said he is in amazing shape for his age & never saw such strong bones- it's all that milk & cheese! Dad now has two broken back ribs & will take about 6-8 weeks to recover. Luckily, Mike is still in town & can take care of the cows & yard. Between the incredible ward members & family support, Mom & Dad have a lot of help & will get through this major trial. Thank goodness for   priesthood blessings is all I have to say- Both accidents/infections could've been a lot worse!

I love my family & am very grateful for all of them!!

Cassie with the girls! 

Natalie, Elena, & Brooklyn

Trying to get a picture of three 1 year olds!?

Natalie 21 mo, Troy 15mo, Zander 19 mo

Elena & Brooklyn were best friends

They both love to pose & have their pictures taken too!

Elena thought it was great to be able to read to Brooklyn, she didn't try to eat the book like Z usually does!

Remembering the moments they get along!

For the most part our children get along and enjoy each other. They are siblings though & definately have their fair share of  disagreements & yelling matches. I want to remember the fun times when everyone is getting along &  enjoys playing together. 

We are blessed to have happy, healthy children who love life & make us laugh!

Elena & Zander find the funniest things to do together & then laugh histerically! I was working on the computer one night & they thought playing on the futon was great fun!

The one second of down time then...

Pounce!!

Gabe joins in on the fun!

Then Dad gets involved...

What a happy face!

Tickle Time! :)

Z loves the sock puppet Aundrea made!

AAAHHH Quiet time!

"We love books!"

Playing on the bed!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Two nights before Halloween, we finally got around to carving some of our many & big pumpkins we got from Grandpa Hill's garden. They were huge & beautiful!

We tried to keep Zander busy by letting him play with some of the goop! He found out quickly that it didn't taste very good but made a great mess on the ground when thrown!

Elena wanted a funny face but sort of scary face one with her name carved on the back

Gabe carved the "Ghost in the Graveyard" & of course wanted his name carved in the back! (Luckliy they have short names!)

Aundrea carved a ghoulish dog with "Happy Happy" it was supposed to be "Happy Halloween" but it was late & we were tired! Zander (me really) carved a quick weird looking pumpkin.  

Then came Halloween Night...

Waiting for the ward trunk-o-treat to start. 

Costumes were done very quickly this year due to minds changing at the last minute!

After the bags got filled & running out of candy it was on to the neighborhood!!

Zander- catapillar, Elena- Sleeping Beauty,

Gabe- Vampire Cowboy, Aundrea- Zombie

"No more pictures...Let's get on with the Trick-O-Treating!!"

The weather was just right, bags got filled to rim with candy, everyone was mostly happy- 365 days till next Halloween!

Soccer Season!

Gabe had a great soccer season with a terrific coach & team! He learned so much this year playing on one of the Star teams with the Middleton Soccer League as the "Flaming Skulls!" Gabe scored two goals and had at least 4-5 assists. He absolutely loved playing this year & improved so much! Coach Ruby said he's never seen such

energy! Gabe even got called on being too aggressive, one game, when he pushed a boy over as they were dribbling down field trying to get the ball from each other. To be fair,  they were both pushing, Gabe was just stronger! 

The Flaming Skulls 

Coach Ruby & Star Chief of Police, Chief Ramage

Brian, Matthew, Ali, Davis

Alisha, Gabe, Blake, Aaron

 

Gabe kicking the ball up the field & running as fast as he could to dribble it up to the goal.

Gabe, Brian, & Blake running to see who first gets the ball- Love the big smile Gabe!

Chief Ramage brought his police car to one of the practices so we could get some pictures. 


Gabe looks a little nervous- Elena I might have to worry about!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELENA!

September 26th, 2005 
Elena Mardi Evans was born!

 Having to be induced a week after my due date she finally came weighing 8 lbs 10 oz & measuring 20 inches. During the last bit of labor my placenta abrupted & the cord wrapped around Elena's neck so she came out blue & didn't breathe for 2 minutes. Thank goodness for quick & wonderful Dr Lovelace who untangled her quickly then handed her to the skilled neo-natal nurses who got her breathing. It was the longest two minutes of mine & Brian's lives but then we heard her cry letting the whole world she was here for good! 

Elena was our chubby baby who was happy & laid back. She actually slept really well which was a nice change!

Aundrea & Gabe loved holding & taking care of Elena

Elena was blessed December 4th by her daddy

 4 years later Elena is happy, says whatever comes into her mind, loves to dance & sing, loves playing Barbies, dolls, watch movies, dress up like a princess. Elena is very fun entertaining to have around. She says the funniest things! She mothers everyone even if they don't want to be! Elena loves spending time with her Grandmas & Grandpas & asks to call or go over to their houses at least once a day. She is very loved by her sister & brothers! Her bossiness can be a problem but for the most part they play very well together! 

Elena loves her big bed & all the pink & purple she can get without infringing too much on her roommate Zander- I don't think he minds though, not yet anyway!

(He has his cool manly doggy decorated crib on the other side of the room but he loves Elena's big bed too! More room to jump!)

Elena wanted a "Barbie" birthday so I made her funfettie flavor cake with sparkly pink frosting & the accessories to make Barbie beautiful! Then we lit her on fire & cut her up! 

Dallas is always there to help!

All her cousins that live in the valley came to help Elena celebrate & eat Barbie!

Elena wanted a pinata so badly, mainly just to get candy but none the less, she wanted one so she got one!

The main part that holds the pinata up broke on the first swing so Brian had to hold the pinata & more than once got his fingers hit by the girled up light saber! What a good dad!

Feeding Frenzy!!

Before Elena opened her presents Aundrea poured confetti all over her as a special treat!

Barbies, puppies, & Barbie books- that's what Elena asked for & once again, that's what she got!!

"Thanks Aundrea- you're my favorite sister!"

More Barbie clothes! Elena really was excited since that was what she asked for! I think she was in shock over how many she got!

"Thanks to everyone who came to make this day so special for Elena-  Aundrea, Gabe, Zander, Grandma & Grandpa Evans, Grandma & Grandpa Hill, Aunt Jodie, Uncle Todd, Aunt Cassie, Uncle Mike & all the cousins that go with them!"

Elena had a wonderful 4th birthday!! She's already planning her 5th!

Go BSU!

Finally, Thursday, September 3rd, the long awaited game between the Boise State Broncos & the Oregon Ducks came around! It was a very busy day with Aundrea's first volleyball game of the season, school, & trying to get Elena & Zander to the babysitter... But we made it to our seats with time to spare- even though Grandpa wanted us there 1 hour earlier! We had a great time as always! The weather was beautiful & the game was spectacular! There's nothing like the 1st football game of the season, especially when your team is so fun to watch! ESPN broadcasted the game nationwide, & different sections wore either Orange, Blue, or White. The sight was pretty cool!

Brian, Gabe, Aundrea, Grandpa Evans, cousin McKenzie, & Grandma Evans

Waiting for the shuttle to take us from the parking garage to the stadium.

Opening ceremonies were pretty great with the armed forces being represented!

The fly over is always breathtaking & fun!

With our seats all the way to the top of the stadium we need binoculars & blow horns to see details & be heard! Well not necessarily the horns- we're pretty loud when we yell. I'm sure the team heard us! Except for the long hike up the steep stairs, we love our seats- no one is behind us yelling unlike the poor people in front of us.:)

What a view!!

Gabe & Grandpa really enjoy this special time together!

McKenzie, Aundrea, & Melanie

GO BRONCOS!!

We won by the way! :)