Fourth of July....A Little Late

Evalie Says...

This year we spent 4th of July here in Cedar Rapids. My sister, Kristin, and her family were spending their family vacation in the Dells and thought they would swing down to see us for the weekend. We didn't do anything real exciting, but we still had a great time...

Kristin and I had some great sister bonding time by staying up way too late on Friday night when they arrived. We talked on our back patio into the wee hours. We believe we have solved all the world problems, or perhaps only a few...

Leyla and Kate have begun their "loving" cousin friendship. Leyla's favorite saying all weekend was, "no Kate!" Kate liked to tell her, "share". There was even a time when they both barked at each other from across the room for a while. It was a riot to watch! I know they will be best of friends when they get older...

Taryn enjoyed reading to me from her new books that she got on a trip to Barnes and Noble with Josh and her dad. She even read to me her journal that she kept during her vacation. It was priceless....she is growing up way too fast...

A few pictures to share of the girls playing in our backyard and their 4th of July outfits...

Zoo

Evalie Says...

For Father's Day, Josh asked for his gift to be a trip to the Omaha Zoo. Even with the rain, we had a great time. Kate loved all the animals, just as Josh hoped she would. I think this might become an annual trip....

Happy Belated Father's Day, Josh.....We're so lucky to share our lives with you...We love you...

-Evalie and Kate-

"Doo Doot"

Evalie Says...

During the school year one day when I picked Kate up from Linda's, both Linda and her daughter, Michelle, met me at the door excited to tell me about Kate singing. Michelle asks me right away if Jason Mraz is my favorite singer and if I listen to the song I'm Yours. I inform her only when it comes on the radio, but that I like the song and sing to it when it does. Well, they both insist that Kate knows the words to the song and that she is right on key. I question it, but I don't think too much of it.

About a week later, Kate and I had to take a trip down to North Liberty. I'm Yours came on the radio, and sure enough Kate was singing her heart out!! It was the cutest thing on the face of the Earth. I mean she can sing little nursery rhymes with me, but this was something different. As soon as we get back from North Liberty, I looked up the song on YouTube to show Josh. Of course, she just starred at the screen. So, we bought the CD to listen to it in the car to hear her perform. Slowly we moved to a few singing performances with the YouTube video. Her car performances are her best.

Since Josh and I were crazy in trying to get her to sing to us, she has become addicted to listening to the song on YouTube. She will take our hands and lead us to our computers announcing, "Sing Doo Doot!" We may have created the youngest Jason Mraz fan...

An attempt to catch the singing on video (she usually stops when I pull the camera out)




(I have given up on the videos. I have two really good ones, but for some reason I can't upload them. This one gives you somewhat a picture of her singing.)

Backyard Fun

Evalie Says...

This summer has been full of backyard fun.
"Outside," says Kate every morning and points to the back door.
It is the only way I can get her out of her PJ's.
Boy will I miss these morning and afternoon play dates in our backyard when the school year begins...

"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