Tribute to Grandma Jane

This all happened because Madelynn thought I looked like my Grandma as I was cutting the boys' hair one evening. So she decided to document it (not knowing that Grandma Jane doesn't have a computer, and therefore will not even see)!

A little background about my sweet Grandma. Mary Jane had her own beauty salon that was attached to the far end of their house. In the middle section of their home was the towns' only movie theatre (which my Grandpa ran for many years until it was no longer profitable). So imagine how fun for us when we went to visit, we saw free movies and I got to play in the salon with the dryers and the spinny chairs and the big sinks! My Grandma would often give me a perm or a haircut, I am sure glad perms were in style back then! After close to 50 years she finally retired this last year. She always said that she thought one of her two granddaughters would take over the business one day, unfortunately that would mean moving to a VERY small town where business of any kind is not flurishing these days! Maybe one day I will go to cosmotology school, but for now my boys are my loyal customers!

Stetson Power

Andrew and Madelynn are both playing Basketball this year. One loves it and the other one is tolerating it~ I'll let you guess the answer to that one!

Andrew has never played on a team before and you would never know, he is fun to watch! It took him a while to get used to using his hands instead of his feet! Drew seems to have a certain quality about him that exudes leadership. Although he is new to the sport, the other boys look to him for guidance and want to follow his lead. I am so proud of him for putting forth the right example to those around him wherever he is!

Madelynn liked the idea of playing with her friends, but doesn't love the hard ball being randomly thrown her way! I think as she has had more practice and a better understanding of the game she has enjoyed it a little more now that the season is about over. She is so funny, she told me that she is perfectly content sitting on the bench cheering her team on (I don't know if I will be able to talk her out of the whole cheerleading thing)!

Regardless of who loves sports and who doesn't, I love them both for being who they are!

Blueberry Bliss

Our local Grocery store was having

a blueberry sale this last week. So because of my recent (as of Jan. 1) diet restrictions (i.e. sugar, anything I love) I went and bought $20 worth of berries! I love them, they are so yummy to eat straight out of the package (rinsed of course) or in muffins (not really on the diet unless made with whole wheat flour and Splenda sugar) or in cereal (which I don't really eat because I can't stand milk) So anyway, you get the point! I am on a fruit kick.

Mr. Independent

This is the scene I came upon the other day!

My son is 5, yet he thinks he is the small version of his 11 year old brother. Here he is making hot chocolate, he then proceeded to pop some popcorn. I just hope that the rumors of radiation, or electro-magnetic rays or whatever due to microwaves isn't true!

Fun with HAIRSPRAY!

Madelynn getting ready for our G.N.O! Me and Madelynn posing before our date!

Kadi, me and Carrie dining with the girls (Taylor, Averi and Emma) at the Olive Garden - yum!

We all had so much fun at the musical, Madelynn loved the music and dancing! She was somewhat disappointed though when I told her that Zack Efron wasn't going to be playing Link. It is always a great time when the girls go out on the town!

To Read or not to Read

Okay, so yesterday was not my finest one of the year so far!

I let the kids have friends over to play, made homemade calzones and cookies for lunch, even blogged finally! Not sounding so bad you say, well then I looked through the stack of books on my nightstand, looking for something to fill my brain and keep me preoccupied so that I wouldn't eat all the cookies I made or just eat all day in general! I found a book my friend Kadi had lent me a while ago -Nanny Diaries- I got into it right away and found myself sitting in the same chair ALL DAY! I get into such a zone when I find a story that takes me to another place, I love it, but as soon as it is time for dinner, I am still reading! As soon as it is time for bed, I'm still reading! Rick comes in and asks if I would come down to read scriptures (his New Years Resolution, he is soo good), I say that I am reading! Midnight rolls around and I finally finish the book. I look at my surroundings and realized I missed prayer and goodnight hugs and kisses and I feel awefull!

I know that my obsessiveness sometimes is a little overbearing when it comes to some things, but I never thought that I would choose a silly book over reading scriptures and saying goodnight to my kids! Tonight will be over the top with love and affection from mom!!!

New Years Wish

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year! We have been spoiled with dad home for the last few days, he is now back to work and I am back to blogging!



We had a terrrific Christmas, our day was filled with fun surprises from Santa, and from mom and dad! The kids were elated to find a Wii game system and some fun games to go with it! They had to search for this gift, but once they opened the games, they had a pretty good idea what they were getting! Rick and I just sit back and laugh at thier faces and over the top excitement, Oh to be a kid again!



We had planned a trip to Pagosa Springs, but when my good friend found out that they were not able to come, we decided to stick closer to home. We were invited up to a condo in Vail, so we stayed one night there, went sledding and up to Beaver Creak Village (I must purchase a fur coat before going back there): The next day we headed up the road to Glenwood Springs. The weather was soo cold, but once you step foot into the pools, wow.....so warm and relaxing! We stayed over night there and soaked for as long as our little fingers and toes would allow.



We were able to see two fun movies over the break, Alvin and the Chipmunks and National Treasure. We loved them both!




We spent New Years Eve at home. I made one of my favorite meals, chicken and dumplings (although it never quite tastes like moms). We drank shirley temples in margharita glasses (don't ask me where I got them, they aren't used unless it is New Years Eve), the kids loved to do cheers every five minutes while we ate! Then we watched the ball drop in New York, the kids lasted longer than I thought they would, and they actually slept in!



All in all it was a great ending to the year! I am so excited for 2008, I already have kept one of my resolutions, (working out every day)! I am hoping to stick to it and hopefully make a few more as I think about what I want to accomplish this year!

Once again...

HAPPY 2008




Madelynn as my co-chef, we thought our hard work was picture worthy!

Christmas and our Getaway!!!

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day and our trip to the Hot Springs! Enjoy....

The Weekend Before!!!

This weekend we had ton of fun and of course, I didn't have my camera to share the memories with you all.

Friday was the kids first day out of school until Jan. 7! Drew went to work with Rick where he successfully dented a brand new golf cart. I just recently found this out, but apparantly he was a little bored and decided to go take one for a spin in the tennis courts where they keep them, a pole must have jumped out in front of him and the rest is history! He did have fun regardless of the lecture he got from dad, and then I proceeded to give dad the lecture on knowing where and what your child is doing at all times! I was at home babysitting and preparing yummies for our annual friend Christmas party (which was as usual a blast... Thanks Aaron and Carrie)! Madelynn started having a fever at around 5:00, just before we were taking them all to Grandma for a sleep over, she ended up only needing a little medicine, but I was just waiting for the phone call to come and get her!

Saturday was busy with Andrew's first indoor soccer game, so much fun to watch! I could feel my soccer senses hightened again, I love that! Then out to lunch with Grandma. Rick was plowing snow all morning, we love the snow, but the bad part is missing dad all day! Then off to the grocery store for a few items (cheese for the beef log we recieved at the party), turns out I was gone for over an hour, (Kohl's was right there, I couldn't pass it up, I found some more great stocking stuffers!)
I made it home just as everyone was finishing their baths, yeah I missed that fun arguement!

Sunday comes way too early! We were up at 6:30 to get ready for church, made it on time and had a wonderful Christmas program! Afterward we vegged and then had our neighbors over for dinner. The weekends always fly by, but this time it was okay! We are so excited for tonight and tomorrow! Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Card

table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff">Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Traditions

Behold the fourth annual Woodland Park Christmas Tree! We love going up to the mountains to hunt for the perfect tree that will help us celebrate the season! Every year this tradition seems to get a little easier, the kids are bigger, this year there was hardly any snow to worry about, and it only took all of 20 minutes to spot the right one!

I of course left the camera in the car, so the actual cutting it down wasn't documented, but I'll just tell you that it is always fun to hear the Evelo family yell "TIMBER" as loud as we can! This is a Spruce tree, therefore it is quite a bit more prickly than your fir trees (I know this because my husband is a tree specialist) So hauling it back to the van was a treat! I was in the middle with all the branches around my head, I put up my hood so that my eyes wouldn't get poked out. Andrew was on the back end, and Rick was up front, at some points in our travels, I swear I was carrying that thing on my shoulder all by myself!!!! Rick was also supposed to navigate where the tree stumps were so that Drew and I wouldn't trip, he only let me down once, so picture me falling with a pokey tree on my shoulders, not pretty! Needless to say, Rick was reminded ever so gently that he had to let me know about things that could potentially break my ankles!



















We made it home and I started wrapping the 1100 lights the next morning so that we could put the ornaments up when dad came home! We always love to look at the old ornaments from years ago, the kids get so giddy when their ornaments say the year they were born or remember when they made a certain one, every year Santa brings them a new ornament that they can hang on the tree, it is something they always look forward to. Our traditions get more important every year, we love sharing this time together as a family and as our children grow we truely appreciate it more!

Happy Birthday Drew Man

Drew at the Zoo
Drew in a chair with friends everywhere

What a cute scout he is!
He is growing up to be an outstanding guy

Eleven years, my how time goes by!

Did you like the rhyme? I am such a poet, only the best work for my sweet son! Andrew is so much fun to be around, we are truely blessed to have him in our family!

Bronco Fever

Yes, we were this close!
Go Broncos!



This is a little outdated now, but I just had to post about our Monday night football experience!

Rick acquired tickets from a friend in the turf business (don't ask, all I know is they were free).

So I was honored when he actually asked if I wanted to go, I've never been a huge Bronco's fan but I promised to be on my best behavior and not whine about the weather or that I was hungry! (sounds like the talk I give my kids before taking them places) Hee



Anyway, we had a great time, the seats were by the North endzone about 8 rows up. I have to say that I enjoyed the game way more up close and in person, the crowd is crazy and the game is just so much more interesting! I loved watching the cheerleaders and yelling IN-COM-PLETE, can you tell I am easily entertained! Best of all, the Bronco's actually won!!!

Turkey Time in Wyoming!

Rick's sister Jennifer (in the back), Rick's brother Tom
Aunt Keri, Desarie, Grandma Vony, Tyler, Uncle Curt
Cassi, Madelynn, Drew & Riley


We had so much fun visiting family in Wyoming (the pictures didn't turn out so well, and then my battery was dead)
We ate, visited, four-wheeled, played pool and went to the movies and ate some more! It was great to catch up with family that we haven't seen in over a year!