"i pooping"

Evalie Says…..

Back in the beginning of June, I had this great urge to attempt to introduce the “potty” to Kate. We first got out the one that I had been trained on that I inherited from cleaning out my dad’s house. The hole didn’t have a tray on it, so it would have been a very big mess if she ever did her business. So, we just had to make a trip to Target to purchase her own potty. Josh and I stood in the little potty isle for far too long examining features on little potties. We decided on one with a little less flair.

I knew that this idea of potty training my child was a little on the premature side, but I thought since she had been interested in watching me do my business that I should tap into this curiosity. I knew she would not tinkle in the potty, but I thought perhaps this was an answer to our pooping problems. So every time I noticed the little grunt face and heard the words, “I pooping,” Josh or I would put her on the little potty. And low and behold! She pooped on the potty. This all happened on a Saturday while I was at class. (Josh informed me that he taught her how to rock back and forth!)

Well, it didn’t last long. She is completely over the little potty that sits next to the tub. When she starts her grunts now, she definitely tells me, “no!” when I ask if she wants to sit on the potty. I guess we will have to wait until her curiosity strikes again. Although every once in awhile, Kate uses the potty as another seat in the house to read books on.

Pigman Sprint

Evalie Says.....i know i am so very far behind, but i promise to catch up!!

After Kate was born, Josh decided now that he was a father he should probably go have a physical done. Perhaps my hypochondriac wore off on him, or the fact that he had not seen a doctor since football season his senior year. Anyway, away he went to visit Doctor Winters. He came back with great results minus this cholesterol levels and his weight. With his family history, he decided to do something about it. He began eating healthy and exercising. His goal....to do a sprint triathlon. When my husband puts his mind to something, he does it.

This year would be the same. He signed up again for the Pigman Sprint along with another sprint. He improved on his time from 1 hour: 41 minutes to 1 hour: 24 minutes. I have encouraged him to up the stakes and do a half triathlon. He agreed and signed up for the Pigman Long Course. Who know perhaps Hawaii is calling our name for a full triathlon in the near future!

Needless to say, I am so proud of him and how he turned his health around. He is a pretty amazing guy that I'm lucky to call my husband....

kate enjoying the view...

josh and his running buddy, brad

waiting patiently to get started..

finishing up the swim

biking back in

starting the run

finishing up the run

another great year boys!!

Jumping

Evalie Says...

At Jessica's graduation, we were able to go swimming at the pool in our hotel. Kate was a little scared at first, but by the end of the second day....we were jumping in, blowing bubbles to the fish, and kicking our legs!!

This summer might be filled with many days at the pool....




Much love, evalie

Jessica Faith

Evalie Says...

Last weekend was a big weekend for me as I watched my niece, Jessica Faith, graduate from high school. She has grown into an amazing women that I'm so proud to be an aunt of. I feel that I can't take much credit for the individual that she has grown into. It was always so hard to be around Jessica when she was little because it brought so many emotions. It doesn't make it right, but I hate myself for not being a part of her life until she got older. I truly thank and love her step-dad for stepping in and being that father figure in her life after my brother passed away. I will always admire him for the love he has for her.

I just know that she will go far in life.....my brother would be so proud....

Jessica and Kate

All the Henery Cousins

Jessica and My Sisters

A high school graduate!

So beautiful....

I love you, Jessica

A Quick Update

Evalie Says...

After talking to my sister tonight, I realized that there might be some people out there wondering how I'm feeling these days. I thought I would give you a quick summary...I've been feeling pretty good! I still have my moments when I feel a little faint and can feel multiple skips that take my breath away, but I haven't had any racing beats for a really long time. Every once in awhile I get a little heavy chest, but it is pretty sporadic (should I be knocking on wood?!?)

Anyway, this past Wednesday I went for a check up with my cardiologist. It has been four months since my last set of tests. He only ran an echo cardiogram to check the function in the left ventricle. We were all hoping that the "damaged" part of the left ventricle would have began to repair itself, but we ended up finding out that the it is still at the same level. Not bad news because it is not getting worse, but not great news since we were hoping for my heart function to improve. So, we continue to monitor my functions and remain on my medication. I go back to see my doctor and have more intensive testing done in six months.

Josh and I also had a LONG conversation about what type of exercise that I can be doing. I went in there with high hopes that I could start running. I really wanted to be able to run a 5K with Josh sometime this summer, but I was told that running and jogging is out of the question. I am able to bike and to power walk, so Kate and I will be hitting the sidewalks of Cedar Rapids this summer. I'll take companions if anyone is interested...

Much love, Evalie

Coloring Eggs

Evalie Says…

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays. Actually any holiday that holds a family tradition, is near and dear to my heart. Growing up Easter was a holiday that we spent with my dad’s family. At the time, my grandparents lived in West Point, Nebraska and they lived in my dream house! They had this amazing front porch with a swing hanging from the ceiling, an amazing basement to play in, a neighbor’s yard that was always mysterious to me, a great hill to roll down and a wonderful yard to hide Easter eggs in.

On Saturday night before Easter, we would all gather around my grandma’s small table in her kitchen and color eggs (this was one of the reasons why I wanted to inherit this table). I have the fondest memories of coloring eggs with my siblings and my cousin, Jenica. The next morning, the Easter Bunny would have hid the eggs along with these homemade baskets that my grandma made out of old strawberry baskets. We would gather our eggs and baskets and head off to sunrise service at their church.

This service was one of my favorite services as a child. I loved singing the Easter songs and listening to the choir on the balcony. After the service, their congregation held a breakfast in their social hall. It was always scrambled eggs with ham, and it always tasted amazing! Each table had a white table cloth and was lined with jelly beans. After church, my cousins and I would spend hours outside hiding and re-hiding our colored eggs….

When Kate gets older, I pray she is able to share a story like this about her memories of Easter coloring her eggs with her cousins…

Pictures from Easter Weekend

We Say...

a ton of pictures

of our Easter weekend...

time with grandpa loren and kelly

plus the whole rapp clan

even time with the henery cousins

what a great time...

making laps at grandpa loren's

kate and momma

yum...black olives

great grandpa rapp

enjoying the sun

coloring eggs with the henery cousins

i got this, mom

hmmm

why can't i put them all in my cup?

leyla...what do you think?

kate, sam and leyla

would you like some lipstick, kelly?

the Easter Bunny came!

i love my grandpa loren

Easter dress

kate and rylee

cheese??

henery cousin

kate can you sit still?

seriously?

okay, seriously kate sit nice like your cousins...

awe..

We forgot...

Evalie says:

Just a quick little story on your Good Friday...

Josh and I had many thing to get done last night since we are leaving today to visit his dad for Easter. We got dinner on the table a little later than normal. Once we were all seated at the table, we dug in forgetting our prayer. Kate had noticed that we had forgotten it. She reached over to grab my hand and then Josh's. As soon as she had both hands she said, "Amen."

Again, Happy Easter

Plants

Evalie Says...

Josh and I are what some people call the competitive type. We makes bets or compete about pretty much everything on a daily basis. It is just part of our relationship. It is one of the joyous events in my life.

At times, we make wagers but not always. For example, in the past few weeks we have competed on our cooking skills (I make a better lasagna), made wagers on who will be be kicked off American Idol, bet upon the the neighbors selling their house, how many inches of snow we will really get, will I have school/a late start or not, who can get more hugs or kisses from Kate, and the list goes on...I love seeing Josh's look when he says, "i bet..?" You can only guess what it is like on an award's show night!

Well, some of our competitions happens without being verbalized. On Ash Wednesday, our pastor created centers during the service. After the sermon as a congregation, we walked around the sanctuary getting our hands washed, oils rubbed on us, ashes upon our foreheads, communion, and last of all we planted a seed in a cup. When we arrived home, the two cups found their home on our kitchen windowsill.

Throughout this season, we both have been caring for our seeds as if they were our second child. Then one day, I noticed that my seed has poked out first. I just had to let it be known to my husband. I could see pure disappointment in his face that his didn't germinate as fast as mine. I guess the competition began that day. I had noticed that there would be days that Josh's plant was nicely watered, but mine would be a little on the dry side. Then there was the day, that while washing Kate's high chair tray, I knocked Josh's into the sink. I quickly tried to save it without Josh knowing. We both wanted our plants to grow big and beautiful, first.

In the end with Easter this Sunday, the competition has ended without any words like it started. Throughout the middle of our growing, we started lose site of the true meaning of watching our plants grow. A few years back our pastor gave a great sermon on watching a certain tree during Lent as it comes alive again after the winter. This was the purpose. I can only hope we have the same excitement on Easter morning in church as we did when our seeds poked through the soil.

Josh and I will continue to be competitive on a daily basis. Who knows what our next friendly competition will lead me to think...

Happy Easter!











Mine is on the left ;)

Spash and Shake

Evalie Says...

I find complete joy in many activities these days.

Bath time with Katherine is one of these wonderful pastimes. The other day Josh joined her in the tub, and there were many splashes, smiles and giggles to be heard.



I also can't resist turning on the toddler tunes and watching Kate shake her hips...I smile and laugh from the pit of my stomach!






More joyous activities to come in the following days....
Much love...

Mom

Evalie Says…

Yesterday my mother would have celebrated her 61^st birthday. I tried to think of little ways to celebrate her all day long. As I grow older, it becomes harder and harder to continue celebrating the woman that she was. I’m constantly trying to keep her memory alive in my daily life. I aspire to be more like her everyday.

I wanted to name Kate after my mother the minute I found out that I was having a little girl. It took some time to for Josh to get on the same page as me, but I think he finally got it in the recovery room after my caesarian. It was something that I wanted to do to honor the woman that she was. I can only hope and pray that we raise Kate to be such an amazing person. I am glad that there have been moments in my life that I see my mother in my daughter. And I truly thank God for that.

I’ve struggled with the how I will teach Kate about my mother, but I have started small. If anyone knows me truly, you will know that my baby blanket, Kee Kee, holds a very special place in my heart. My mother knitted Kee Kee for me when I was a baby. I’ve had Kee Kee as a comfort in my life as long as I can remember. Kate has taken a liking to Kee Kee.

I love seeing Kate take her little fingers and push them through the knitted border like I used to do as a child. I love seeing her snuggle up with her when she lies down in her bed. I love seeing her carry her around the house. I love seeing her eyes brighten up when she sees Kee Kee.

In my life Kee Kee symbolized my mother. Whenever I needed a mother to comfort me, I had Kee Kee to make things get better… I hope as Kate gets older, she realizes that Kee Kee is not only a part of me but a part of her grandmother.