Evans Update.

Here's a quick update on whats been happening around here.

Kadies school choir sang in the Cardston Music Festival.  She was pretty excited to go and sing, especially because Haylie and Micah were singing with their choir too!  They did great!  After Kadies choir was able to stay and eat lunch with the Magrath, and Cardston kids.  Sounds like they had a pretty fun day!

Kadie also played in the grade 5/6 school b-ball league.  The girls all did so great.  Some of them had played before, and some of them were just beginners.  Matt was the team coach, and I was a bit nervous for him when the organizer said, "This is just a fun league, but remember it is Raymond..."

Matt's Grandma invited me and Kadie to go and watch the High school Show Choir.  We weren't able to sit together, but we all had a lot of fun! It was fun to watch the kids singing and dancing around.  Kadie is really excited for High School so she can be part of that!  I like going on dates with Kadie!





For Easter we went out to my moms house and had an Wiener roast at the river.  We rolled eggs down the hill, and did a egg hunt.  The kids all had a BLAST!  I love doing things with my kids, that I loved to do as a kid.  But it would have been way more fun to me if I hadn't been so sick!!



Matt's really excited that the motorbike season has started.  He loves that we live just 5 minutes from the track.  Nixon absolutely loves it when dad gives him rides on the big bike. 



I came home the other day to this:



Last night Spencr lost his first top tooth.  I think he looks so cute!!



April Day 2 and 3

Well I kind of fizzled out on my March Photo Challenge.  So I'll start again for April.  Here it goes:

Day 2 - Colour

We have never lived in a house long enough to have a garden or flower beds.  So its kind of fun to see these buds coming up.  I'm excited to see what they turn into!

Day 3 - Mail

Here's some bills I'm paying, and the big envelope goes to Gma Evans.  Shes so fun.  She sent all her grand kids Easter pictures to colour, and then they had to send them back to her to hang on her Easter Wall.  (I didn't know that she had an Easter Wall!) 

Thanks Gma.  It kept my kids busy for a while during conference.



And just a cute pic of Nix on our walk today.

Day 17

Day 17 - Green

Last week was a bit crazy in our house, so I didn't prioritize my photo challenge.  I'm hoping that things will be back to normal this week, and that I'll be able to keep up with my blog/pictures.

So here it goes- Green.  Of course today is St. Patrick's Day.

I'm not sure why, but I love this day!  I woke up this morning and got some green bread mixed up.  Turns out I didn't add enough food colouring to the bread and it only had a very slight hint of green.  I'll know better next year.  Then we made some green pancakes for breakfast.  Everyone got dressed in their favorite green outfit- some wore more green than others.

I love trying to make a green meal for supper, unfortunately tonight Matt and I had to work at a Bingo for my kids swim club.  I was not really excited about this, but I would rather give up a few hours than pay $200 extra dollars to get out of it.

So here is Matt in all his glory, ready to work at a Bingo!

Matt was hilarious!  He was working all the old ladies, to get them to buy his tickets.  I think he was the number one ticket seller tonight!

The kids also had to make their leprechaun traps tonight.  Here are some pics.  I'm going to pray tonight that we catch that little guy, because a pot of gold would be really great about now.  I guess if we don't catch him, Matt and I can win our fortune at the Bingo hall!

Day 11 and 12

Day 11 - Someone You Talked To Today

This past weekend has been really hard for Matt and I.  His old business partnerr of 5 years, and really good friend passed away in a snowmobile accident on Friday.

After working so closely with someone, and being together everyday, and then suddenly loosing them is harder on us then we realized it would be.

His wife, Lara, now has 4 young children to raise on her own.  The oldest is turning 8 in a few months, and the youngest is almost 1.

Needless to say, my heart has been breaking.  On Sunday Matt and I were able to go and visit with her.  I am so grateful to have friends in my life who are so strong.  She is a rock.  I was amazed at how she was able to share her testimony with us, and comfort us as we morned for the loss of her husband.  

I'm so grateful to the Halls.  I'm grateful for all the experiences that we had together - the good and the bad.  We will miss Steve.  Thank you Lara for sharing your husband with us these past 5 years.

Day 12- Fork

Today was my 13 year wedding anniversary.  The kids had swimming tonight that I was supposed to drive for, it was going to be a crazy evening.  So I told Matt that I would just make him dinner at home.  But as I thought about things, I realized that sometimes the kids need to be put on hold, and my relationship with my husband needs to come first.

So I switched driving days, and Matt and I went out.

We went to Lethbridge to a new restaurant.  Sagineese.  (I know that I spelt that wrong)

It was good, and fun to be together.  

I feel like I can't take my husband  for granted.  Life is just too short.

Thank you Matt for spending 13 years with me.

I love you more today, then I did when I married you.

Day 10

Day 10 - Loud

Today I have decided not to do my scheduled picture, instead, I'm going to post an old pic.

Day 9

Day 9 - "Red"

I think this photo challenge can be interpreted how ever I want. 

 So instead of "Red" for today, I'm doing "Read".

When we lived in Stettler we started reading the Book of Mormon together as a family.  Today, 4 years later, we finally finished!!!

Yes, it took us 4 years, but I am honestly so proud, and excited!

It was really special today as we read in Moroni, the challenge that he gives us to "ask if these things are true".  We talked a bit about that and why the Book of Mormon is so important to our church.  Matt and I were able to bear our testimonies to our kids.  I really felt the spirit with our family this morning.

I'm thankful that we are starting this tradition with our kids, to read the scriptures together.  And to have family prayer.  I truly believe that by doing these things our family will grow closer to each other.  And that all of our testimonies will grow.

I'm excited to start this book again.  I feel like now we are more consistent with our reading.  This year we started getting up early to read, instead of trying to read at night, and I'm amazed at how much better this works for us! 

 I love my family, and I love teaching them the gospel.  I love reading the scriptures, and then explaining to them what we just read.  I love it when they get into the stories, and they don't want to stop, because they want to see what is going to happen! 

I really do love the Book of Mormon.

Tonight we will enjoy the "fruits of our labours", by going to DQ for blizzards!!

Day 8

Day 8 - "Window"

Here's a picture taken just before bed time tonight.  See the window in the background?

I promise this is how our evenings are spent.  Sitting around together, reading, talking, laughing, and singing together.  Bedtimes in our house are just so peaceful!

Day 7

Day 7 - Something You Wore

Wednesdays are one of the busier days in our house.  We have a few different uniforms to wear today.

Chase has Cubs.  Here he is in his Cub uniform.  He absolutely loves cubs!  It is his goal (and mine) to get his whole sash full of badges.  Hes doing pretty good so far.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Kadie and Chase both have swim club.  Its amazing how much they improve in such a short time.  They are way better swimmers than I am already!  Here's Kadie in her swim club attire, minus the swim cap.

This year Kadie also decided to play in the grade 6 spring basketball league.  Matt is the coach, and its fun for them to do this together.  Kadie has sure learned a lot about basketball during the past couple weeks. 

 I was a bit nervous about this basketball.  When the guy in charge called with Matt's team list, he said, "Now this is just for fun, but remember it is Raymond!"  Yikes, that is pressure!

Day 6

Day 6 - "5 pm"

5pm is usually the craziest time of day.  Today it wasn't too bad.

I'm watching 2 of Tracie's kids while her and Steve went to Vegas.  The kids have gotten along so well!  I love just standing around where they are playing and listening to them talk to each other.  Kash and Nixon are so funny!

So here is what 3 of the kids were doing at 5.

Nixon had just woken up from his nap, and he usually wakes up like this:

I'm trying to make supper.

All in all, a pretty uneventful 5 o'clock.

Day 5

Day 5 - "Smile"

Heres Kadie working on her homework after school.

The pictures a bit blurry, because my camera died, so I have to use my phone.

Day 4

Day 4-  "Bedside"

Well heres my bedside table in all its glory!  Don't judge.

Day 3

Day 3  "Your Neighbourhood"

In December we bought a house in Raymond.  Here it is. 

Photo Challenge

So obviously I have not blogged in quite a while!  I need a little motivation, so thanks to my sister Leslie, I now have a reason to blog again.

Last month she did a blogging photo challenge.  I think it was to help her blog more, and it also gave her a reason to take more pictures.  I need help in both areas, so Ive decided to copy her.

Here's how it works.  I'm given a list of things I need to take a picture of, and each day I take a picture, and blog about one thing on the list.  Easy right? 

So here it goes. 

Day 1  "Up"

Matt has challenged our kids to do push-ups, chin-ups, and sit-ups everyday.  Nixon thinks its really fun!

Day 2  "Fruit"

Yesterday we took the kids skiing.  Heres Spencer and Marlie eating some lunch.  I know that this isnt fruit, but it is what I had.

Alice organized a ski trip for some of her homeschooling friends, so we decided to tag along.  The kids had a blast.  I was only going to let Chase and Spencer ski, but Ali had an extra pass, so Marlie went as well. 

The kids had so much fun skiing, and they all did so great!

Kadie went on a ski trip yesterday with her school class.  She had to wake up early and be to the bus by 6am.  Matt and I both got up, to help her get ready, and before she left, I said we should just say a prayer.  This is something that I don't do as faithfully as I should.  So I said a quick prayer of safety, and asked that she would have a great day.

That evening I got a phone call from my friend Carrie, who Kadie was driving home with, and she said that they got into an accident.  The roads were icy, and the car in front of them started spinning, Carrie wasn't able to stop, and she T-boned the other car.  Both cars went into the ditch, and because there was so much snow in the ditches, they didn't roll.  Everyone was fine, nobody got hurt.

 When we talked about it after she got home, I told Kadie how greatful I was that we had said a prayer together that morning, and asked that she would be watched over and protected.  I was happy when she told me, that that was one of the first things she thought of after they crashed.

I am so greatful to know that Heavenly Father does watch over us, and Im greatful that both mine and Kadies testimonys of prayer were strengthened yesterday.

A Month of Stealing

For those of you who don't know, we have just moved to Raymond.  I have been so excited to move back to Southern Ab, where the grass is greener, the air is sweeter, the people are nicer... 

Well I have been excited, but I'm starting to think that we are not wanted in this little Mormon town.

It all started two weeks ago, when we woke up to discover our van missing.  We drive a beautiful 2002 Pontiac Montana minivan.  Apparently exactly what small town thief's are looking for.

We found our van a few days later, parked in church parking lot.  I guess someone just needed a ride to the church in the middle of the night!?  Doesn't look like they caused any damage, but that was the first sign that maybe we should keep our eyes open, or at least keep our eyes on our stuff!

That same week, Chase brought his football to school.  Sure enough when he went to play with it at recess, it was gone.  He told the teacher, but she didn't do anything about it!  No announcement over the intercom, no posters were made - nothing!

Chase found the ball the next day, back on his shelf.  That was our second warning to get out!

Then just last night, the thieves followed me to HillSpring.  I went to my cousins baby shower, and had a great time.  We were the last to leave, and I went to put on my brown Old Navy Boots, only to discover them missing too!!!!  Someone stole my shoes!!!  In the middle of winter!!! 

In their place was a nice pair of brown UGGS.  We all know that the UGGS are a better boot, I'm sure that they cost a LOT more than my Old Navys.  What else could I do, than put them on and go home? 

 Some people might say that things are starting to look up for the Evans family.  But I think my dad said it best when he said, "Sure hope there's not Foot Rot in those boots..."

We should probably pack our bags right now, and move back to Blackfalds.

Making Buns

Today I needed something to do to entertain Marlie and Nixon while everyone else was at school.  I decided that it would be fun to make some buns with them.  It all started out great, until I turned my back to Nixon.  While I was distracted with something else, he decided to crack an egg, on Marlie's knee...

She really wasn't happy about it!

Nix thought it was great!

Halloween 2011

Thank goodness another Halloween has come and gone!

There was a LOT of debating as to what everyone would be!  I thought it would be a great idea for everyone to find something in the dress up box to put on, so that I wouldn't have to spend money on costumes that never get worn again.  But they all had other plans. 

Spencer just HAD to be a ninja!  He begged and pleaded for me to buy him a ninja costume.  I finally gave in.  Then he begged and pleaded for me to buy him a ninja double blade sword!  I told him no, and bought the dollar store sword.  He wore His costume to school, minus the sword, because "no weapons at school".  He then came home and took it off, and wore an old pumpkin costume trick-or-treating, because his ninja costume was annoying!!  There goes $15.00 down the drain!

Chase saw Spencer's ninja costume, and he HAD to be a ninja too.  And he told me that he would buy his own ninja double blade sword with his own money!  oh brother!  We went back to the store to buy another ninja costume, but they were sold out.  So I asked if he wanted to be a pirate again.  He agreed to when we found the beard and mustache, pirate hat, eye patch, and earring at the dollar store.  On the way to school the wind blew off his mustache and beard, never to be seen again!  He went trick-or-treating with a friend from school.  He thought it would be so great to go with a friend, I think he did have fun, but he also realized that it is fun to go with his dad too.  Matt takes trick-or-treating pretty serious!  Chase didn't get nearly as much candy as he normally does.  Not that I'm complaining about that!

Kadie really wanted to be Medusa this year for Halloween.  She has been talking about it for a couple weeks, so I decided to figure out how to make a Medusa costume.  I envisioned a crown of some sort with snakes sticking out everywhere, but the only snakes I could find were jelly ones at the dollarstore.  I tried to glue them to wire, to make them stick out, but the glue wouldnt stick to the snakes.  In the end we just tied floss around them and tied them to a big elastic, and they just hung down her hair.  Definatly not what we had in mind, but she agreed to it.  I also had to make her a dress of some sort.  We agreed to a toga type dress, modest of course with sleeves.  I hate sewing, and my mom was out of town, so unfortunatly I was on my own to figure out this costume.  I had one white sheet to work with.  I didnt want to make any mistakes, and ruin my one sheet, so I did what any normal parent would do, I made a practice outfit for Barbie.  It worked pretty good on Barbie, so I sewed up the same costume for Kadie.  She was happy with it, and she looked pretty cute!

I saw a gypsy costume online, and decided that Marlie would make a cute gypsy!  I was right, she looked so cute, and was proud as could be!  Matt took the kids out trick-or-treating, and then came home when Nixon was done.  A friend of mine had homemade doughnuts that she was passing out, so I took Mars, Spenc, and Chase over there.  We decided to do her whole street while we were there.  At the first house, Marlie started limping and saying, ouch ouch ouch.  I asked what was wrong with her feet, and saw that she wasnt wearing shoes!!!  What was she thinking?  I made her still walk to all the houses on her own.

Nixon did NOT want to dress up.  Here's me trying to get the pumpkin costume on him (yes this is the same costume that Spenc ended up wearing!) to go to the school costume parade, but he would NOT wear it!  I was really worried about later that night.  He did end up wearing his Knight costume that Gma Evans gave him for his b-day.  He looked cute, but I didnt get any pictures.

We all had a fun day.  For supper I made jell-o worms, and mummy dogs.  I figure that Halloween night is too crazy buisy and rushed to force my kids to eat something healthy!  The kids thought it was pretty fun!

Sunday Fun

Today our fun started when Matt spotted a frog in the grass.  He caught it, and showed the kids.  A couple minutes later we found another frog.  The kids were so excited, and wanted to find more, so we went to the pond by our house to catch frogs.

Here's Chase catching one.  There were soo many!

Everyone was on the lookout, and there were seriously, soo many! 

Spencer and Kadie were proud of their catches.  Spenc named his Likeable, because it didn't jump out of his hand.  You wouldn't believe how many frogs there were.

Nixon didn't like touching them, so he was given the job of holding the bucket.  He liked to watch them jump around in the bucket!

Here's our catch!  We didn't count, but I bet there were 40 frogs in there!  It was nasty!  But the kids loved every second of it!

After we let them all go.  It was a really fun Sunday activity!