August 31, 2010

Evalie Says...

This evening when I told Kate we needed to get our picture for the day, she asked if she could take the picture. I told her she could but asked what she wanted to take a picture of. Right away she said, "Can I take a picture of you and daddy?"

Not to shabby, huh? I was afraid it would be of our legs or our heads would be cut off.

August 30, 2010

Evalie Says...

We have been doing some coloring in our house. The Dora posters were bought with full intention of having Kate color them. As you can see, they have become pretty popular with Josh and myself....

August 29, 2010

Evalie Says...

Look at what Kate can do!

She can turn the lights on and off by herself!!

When did she get so BIG?

August 28, 2010

Evalie Says...

Today we spent some of the day playing in our playroom where either I or Josh played with Kate while the other picked up the house a bit. We were having some friends over for a BBQ in the evening, and our house had become a bit of a disaster after one week of school. While playing in the toyroom, Kate showed off her amazing people drawing skills. If you will notice, we are now into drawing a body along with our heads! Maybe arms and legs will come next...


I felt like such a dope after all our friends left because I never took a picture of all the fun we had. I felt like I was on cloud nine during the party. It is so much fun to be surrounded by friends and company.

Kate also had such a blast playing with her friends, Charlie and Cael. She informed me that, "Charlie is fun." We might have to have them over again real soon!

August 27, 2010

Evalie Says...

This evening Josh and I went out for a few drinks to celebrate our good friends, Fred and Judy's 30th wedding anniversary. We met Fred and Judy when we moved to town. They are very good friends of my Aunt Ann and Uncle Paul, and they also attend our church. Fred and Judy have always been a bit of a role model for me when it comes to marriage, and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate with them.

August 26, 2010

Evalie Says...

This year Josh decided that he was going to participate in a fantasy football league. This is new territory for Josh and for myself. I'm not sure what we (um, I) have gotten ourselves in for! Tonight was the big night of the "draft" (who knew they had a draft for this thing?!?). Josh informed me that he was heading upstairs to the office to participate in the draft. Girls were not allowed!!
Anyone up for a bachelor / bachelorette fantasy league??

August 25, 2010

Evalie Says...

Kate has fallen in love with magic shows which I have no idea where she learned about them. Perhaps it comes from her magic sticks and wands or even a cartoon, but this evening she performed a little magic show for Josh and I. She used a stick from the yard as her magic wand. It was one of the funnest things I have ever witnessed in my life! We were playing out in the front yard and she had Josh and I sit down on the hill. There she proceeded to ask for me to come up to be her assistant and do some magic with her. She pulled a bunny out of her hat and made him disappear. Of course, there were lots of bows! I love her imagination these days.

August 24, 2010

Evalie Says...

This evening I couldn't find my daughter! She went missing in her toy room. Can you spot her?

August 23, 2010

Evalie Say...

Tonight our picture of the day is not a picture I took, but a picture that my sister sent me. You see my new beautiful niece was born today.

Kennedy Lin Rousseau

August 22, 2010

Evalie Says...

Today Josh participated in the 1/2 Ironman distance triathlon at Palo. He participated in it last year, and he wanted to do the same. Last year it rained and then became very hot. This year there was a delay due to fog and again become more very very hot!! Saying it was warmer than last year is an understatement. Josh did a fantastic job on the swim, but something in the bike went wrong for him. His right leg started giving his problems during the last five miles of the bike, and he said that he was peddling with only the other leg. Last year was pretty hard on him as he ended up walking much of the half-marathon. We (he) made a decision during the transition from the bike to the run that he shouldn't hurt his leg any further and should not finish the race. It was hard to see the disappointment in his face, but he and I both knew we were making the right choice. He seems to be a little embarrassed, but I don't think he has anything to be embarrassed about. I think he is amazing!

Running to the start of the swim...

Playing in the grass during the fog delay...

Playing in the sand while waiting for daddy to swim...

Waiting to swim...

And we are off!

Go Josh!

Waiting for Josh to swim in...

Looking Good and full of smiles..

I didn't get any pictures of him on the bike. I promise for better pictures at the next one in Waterloo.

Saturday, August 21

Evalie Says...

Today we went shopping at the outlet mall near our house. Kate asked if she could have a toy, so we went into the Toys R Us outlet after she had been well-behaved. In the store, there were these cute stuffed animal toys of the characters from Toy Story 3. I had showed them to Kate, and she feel in love with them. She sat there on the floor of the store playing with all of them and having them talk to each other. It was so cute!

Josh and I chuckled at her for a bit and let her play. Then Josh got down on his knees to talk to her about getting two of them to take home. She quickly grabbed them all up if fear that he was going to take them away. After a while of convincing, we decided that we would get Woody and Jesse.

They are her new "friends". She took them everywhere we went today, and I am afraid they might come everywhere we go. As she feel asleep last night, she needed her "friends" to sleep with her.

Watch out teddy, you might have been replaced. Although, she did introduce Woody and Jesse to teddy tonight when they went to bed. When Josh went in to check on her, she had Woody and Jesse tucked under her arms.

Friday, August 20

Evalie Says...

My daughter today didn't sit at the table to eat her breakfast while Josh and I got ready for work. Instead took her toast and positioned herself on the couch to watch cartoons under the blankets.

I felt her pain, it was so hard to get up and moving this Friday morning.

Good thing it is Saturday tomorrow. With our luck, she won't sleep in!

Thursday, August 19

Evalie Says...

Tonight Josh and I are completely worn out from the first full week of both being working parents again. Kate is complete back to her 'school' schedule, and we are two tired parents. We are looking forward to relaxing this weekend. Okay I take that back, I'm not sure how much relaxation is going to take place when Josh has his big triathlon of the year on Sunday.

Even though we were pretty exhausted, we still had a great game of hide-in-seek out in the front yard.

Wednesday, August 18

Evalie Says...

Today was my 26th first day of school! We were running out the door this morning like every morning so no first day of school was taken. The kids were great, and I'm looking forward to a great year. I might have chatty kids this year : )

This evening while chatting with Kent and Lisa, Kent informed Kate that he had a new present for her. They had found a glow stick wand for a dollar and thought Kate needed it. I wasn't sure who was more excited to see how it work, Kent or Kate.

Tuesday, August 17

Evalie Says...

Today we got to spend some time with my wonderful cousin, Amy, and her husband, Shannon, and son, Aiden. They were doing a tour of Iowa for vacation and were making a pit-stop in Cedar Rapids. We went out for dinner with my Aunt Ann and Uncle Paul and then went over to their house to play. We forgot to take any pictures of Aiden and Kate playing until they were both worn out watching videos on cell phones. What a life!

I sure wish that Amy and I lived closer. I sure love her...

Monday, August 16

Evalie Says...

No matter how much I tried, this little girl was not having her picture taken today.

We get to see this side of Kate a lot.

This is the

"I don't want to!!"

side of Kate.


Even though this side of her tests my patience,

I love this side of her !

August 15, 2010

Evalie Says...

This morning Kate and I broke out the play-dough to create some fantastic creations. Kate wanted to make faces, and I thought they were pretty cute. I thought you would like to see how fantastic they are!

Kate's Face

My Face

Our Faces

August 14, 2010

Evalie Says...

Today we headed down to Des Moines in the late afternoon to visit my best friend from high school and well college too, Alyssa. She was having her 30th birthday BBQ party at her house. It was so nice to see her and her family. Kate really loved playing with the swing set and all the kids. Alyssa and my mutual friend from college, Carmen, was there with her daughter. Kate really enjoyed playing with her the best.


I love being around Alyssa. It just makes me so happy!! She really is a true friend who gets me.

Eating Away!

A little blurry picture of my bff, Alyssa.

Playing with Lucy's doll (Alyssa's daughter)

Brynn (Carmen's daughter) and Kate

August 13, 2010

Evalie Says...

This evening was a Friday Night Movie Night in our household. We placed Toy Story 1 in the DVD player and all hopped on the couch. In the middle of the movie, Josh suggested popcorn time. Kate didn't want popcorn but cereal in her highchair. So, we brought the chair in while so she could eat and watch the rest of the movie.

When she got down to the milk, she turned to Josh and asked, "Can I drink my milk without my spoon?"

Josh replies, "Of course!"

And I grab the camera!

I promise, she doesn't usually use her highchair. Only when she really wants to : )

August 12, 2010

Evalie Says...

Today was my first day back for the school year. It was a long and very eventful day at school to say the least. A lot of work needs to be done before the kids start next Wednesday. So naturally , it was so wonderful to come home to play with Kate and relax.

Kate and I went to Kent and Lisa's to ring their doorbell to return some books we borrowed. They were not home, so we laid on the hill in our front yard and looked at the sky until we couldn't take the heat any longer. We were only outside for about 20 minutes, but during that time I realized how I already missed my time with my little bug.

Quotes from Kate -
Tonight while playing with Kate and her doctor set in her toy room, she wanted to check my ears with her otoscope. She takes a look in my ear and says, "Mommy, you got frogs in your ears. I will get them out."
I just lost it!