Zoo Trip

We don't go to the zoo very often because every time we go all the animals seem to go into hiding and let's face it the Phoenix Zoo is pretty ugly and gross compared to the San Diego Zoo!! It just has not been worth it to have SERIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED kids! But the weather has been so nice we decided to try again. THE KIDS HAD SO MUCH FUN!! EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL was out and in up close full view!

This crazy monkey came right up literally NOSE TO NOSE pressed against the glass with my kids and just stared at them for about 30 seconds! I hate the Baboons-they totally scare me, but it was so cool! It was like they were connecting creature to creature. These Giraffes are my favorite. They are so sweet & gentle looking. And they seemed just as curious about us as we were about them!

Words...

Words I hear everyday that I love... okay some I would rather not hear everyday...

but let's be real!

Good Morning Sunshine! I am so happy to see you! Are you HAPPY!?... I love you Dada!... TIME ME!... Can I have a play date?... Singing, singing, singing ... Hey!!!... It's my turn!... I love you, Buddy!... Give it to me!... Look at this Little Lady!... Giggles, giggles... Settle down!... Can we have MOVIE NIGHT!?... GO OUT!!... Can I have treat?... I want to see!!!... Mom, watch what I can do!... ME FIRST!!! (bath time)...LAUGHING... I want to help you make dinner!... I'm HUNGRY (x 27)... Please put your stuff away!... Get down... I want oatmeal for breakfast!... Bye you! ... I can fit this whole thing in my mouth!... Can I have gum?... 789... I love you sooo much!... Which way are you turning?... I'm gonna wave at you from the window okay!!!!... I love you!... Good night Bronson, I love you!... Come here Baby Bear.... LOTS of miscellaneous noises and sound effects... Bronson, sit down and eat!... What are you doing?... Please Mom!... many sounds of smooches... Time to turn off the TV... Thank you... that was so nice!... Mama, can you come say a prayer with me so I won't have bad dreams?... DAD'S HOME!!! ... Please go wash your hands... Do you have to work tomorrow? ...What do you want for lunch?... Can we read... Can I color in my room (after bedtime)... Time to brush your teeth... Can i go on Webkinz?... Feel my head right here, feel how sweaty I am!!... Sweet Dreams!!!... Do I have to do my homework?... I need a tissue!!... I'm done!!... OWWW!!... Thank you for being so respectful!...

My favorite as of lately:

"Don't make me snap my fingers in a "Z" formation,

Hip rotation,

Elbow, Elbow,

Wrist,Wrist,

Girl, you just got Dissed!"

(of course said with quite a bit of attitude!)

especially funny coming from a 5 yr old boy, complete with actions! :)

Did you know you can turn your Blog into a BOOK!?

We all blog to keep in touch with others and let the world know what's going on in OUR world...but so many of us also blog for journaling purposes too. Don't you want to remember all those funny/sweet comments from our children, fun family events, heartfelt thoughts we feel about our loved ones. Did you know you can turn your blog into a book? I came across this website and thought it was a great idea- had to pass it along....

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

HAPPY to be GREEN!!

I have always looked forward to St. Patrick's Day, especially as a child! How fun to set Leprechaun traps, eat green food, and have the "permission" to pinch people! :) It has particular meaning now because Billy is 1/4 Irish-his Grandfather is full Irish, his parents immigrants from Ireland! So it is something fun we can celebrate with our kids who are of Irish decent!

This year it took on special meaning for me....after years of searching for a better ways for my family to be healthy & kind to our planet... I have fully committed to BEING GREEN!! I celebrated the beautiful "greens" of our Mother Earth. I want so desperately to take care of our beautiful planet to provide for our generations to come!

It's not only about recycling! There are so many great product alternatives out there!! There are many cleaning supplies that are Eco-friendly. But you don't even have to go to a health food store to find them anymore! At Target and other places-Clorox has new Green Works products that not only clean well, but smell good- it will leave you wanting a lemon-lime slush! And sorry, you might actually have to trim those nose hairs, because these products will not be burning them off! :)

There are great toiletry items too- like organic toothpastes, hair products, soaps, etc. Not only are they better for us humans, they don't have chemically engineered ingredients that are harmful to the environment! Even little things like toothbrushes & shampoo bottles- figure out how many toothbrushes and shampoo/conditioner bottles your family goes through in one month, in one year. Now think about every household in our country contributing that much non bio-degradable waste every year! You can rinse those bottles out and recycle them! That is something most of us probley don't think about! You can get these great Preserve toothbrushes, (Target, Walmart, Sunflower Mkt, Sprouts, T Joes) that are 100 % recycled plastic-partly from recycled yogurt cups. When you are done using it, you put it back in the case (also completely recyclable and made from renewable resources) and mail it back in a postage-paid mailer. They turn your used toothbrush into products such as park benches. Pretty cool!!

Recycle your junk mail- not envelopes, just all the ads, flyer's, etc!

Next time you are in the grocery store look for Organic products! Not just produce but canned goods too! Pesticides and other chemicals added to foods in the form of preservatives etc, is not only SOOOO HARMFUL to our bodies, but to our Earth. It contaminates our soil and water sources and is really bad for the environment! Have you ever read the food labels, do you know what you are putting into the mouths of your children? We get only one body -which is too precious not to take care of!! How about planting a garden! I absolutely love this! And in the beginning I was a little skeptical, because before this I had certainly NOT inherited my Dad's green thumb! But I learned...you can LEARN how!! Not only does it bring back the "old time" traditions of our ancestors and teach the importance of loving and nurturing our Earth, but it is a great family bonding activity! The kids LOVE to watch the "fruit of our labor" grow! You will have food for your family that is not "genetically modified" or full of poisonous chemicals! You will also be prepared for those "hard times ahead"- as for told for many years by our loving prophets, when you may have to rely on your own skills! Now is the time to prepare!

How about trying some natural remedies and homeopathic medications. We have used these almost exclusively for years and they do work really well! You would be amazed at what you can find! The people at Sunflower Mkt or Sprouts are really great at helping you get what you need! These products are naturally made, with ingredients that have been used for centuries. People have existed on this planet long before we had drug companies and prescriptions. The great thing about these products is that they actually get to the root of your problem, and help your body naturally correct it, rather than temporarily covering up the symptoms! No side effects, and is not harmful to your body!

Spend some time out in nature...sit by a tree. Feel of it's power and grandeur! Connect with the beautiful creation all around us. This planet has an amazing story to tell! You can find it and it's illustrations in nature!

I hope that this will spark an interest for all of you reading this! I just want to spread the word of something I feel so passionate about!!

And with love, I hope you are able to catch a little "Luck o' the Irish" this year!! IT's SO GOOD TO BE GREEN!!!

Enjoying the Fruits of our Labor...well, actually vegetables :)

September of last year we planted a garden, more of a "trial garden" since I do not have a very green thumb. My dad is an avid gardener with a huge garden. It so so fun during the summer to go out and pick tomatoes off the vine, apples, peaches, and all the other yummy things he can grow. We decided to plant from seed carrots, lettuce, green onion, and radishes. We have carefully tended our little seedlings and excitedly watched them grow into vegetables! It is SO COOL to harvest and eat something that you have actually grown!!! I am totally hooked! The kids love to check on the garden, pick weeds, and water. I love continuing the tradition my dad has started and hopefully when our children are grown they will look back with love on these special memories. We want to teach our children to really appreciate and respect nature and all that Mother Earth can give back if we take care of her! We are thinking green!! And trying to do our part to preserve the earth and instill the value of hard work! (Yes, I would consider myself a tree-hugger, not a hippie. And a naturalist-organic and all natural in every way when possible. Yeah! for so many more options out there! And no, I don't do Tofu!) Billy and I hope to someday be almost totally self sufficient. Gardening helps us continue on the path!! Our "trial garden" has expanded! Now we have planted tomato, bell pepper, green beans, onion, squash, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon, cantaloupe & strawberries!

Our Beautiful Desert

Bronson and I went on a hiking field trip to the Usery Mtns. I couldn't believe how VIBRANT and ALIVE the desert was! (in about another month it will all be in bloom) It was such a beautiful day and great to be outside. I was fascinated to hear all the facts the kids have been learning about our beautiful desert that I had never know before.

A "not so Bum" on the freeway

Yesterday I was getting off the freeway on Val Vista and I saw on of those "Bums" holding a sign at the top of the off ramp. But this was no ordinary bum. He was well dressed holding a perfectly stenciled cardboard sign that read:

" It's my day off, just need some BEER MONEY. God Bless"

I had to laugh...great sense of humor! And I'm sure he probley did get some money just for being honest!

Little Cassanova

Bronson is a romantic at heart. He is very "in touch" with his emotions and feelings. He has always been a Little Romeo! So, he has a crush on a little girl in his preschool class, well a big crush actually. He loves to sit by her on the carpet and be her partner for centers, and she loves to be his because he is so fun to play with! He is always drawing her pictures and letters and wants to shower her with gifts. When we went on the hunt for the perfect Valentine's he so lovingly picked out the best stuffed animal (his favorite thing in the world) for her and it broke my heart to tell him that we couldn't buy her the "one that is bigger than me". It also broke my heart to tell him we couldn't buy the one that sings, etc. I felt so bad because we wanted so badly to give her something he loves, to show his affection. I tried to gently explain that his other friends would feel bad if they didn't get one too, etc. I also wanted to encourage a friendship, while not encouraging the romantic feelings part. He is so sweet and caring and wants to show his love, I am already feeling quite scared and worried about him getting his tender heart broken! He is only 5! We settled on a tiny Dalmation puppy (fits in your hand) so he would be happy with unhurt feelings and hopefully the other kids won't notice. So a week later I see him with a big ball of tape in his hand. He was taping a Hershy kiss to a leaf he picked, because it "looks like a St. Patrick's Day leaf" (clover, it was actually a weed). So I had him pick a flower out of the yard, since the leaf was covered in dirt, and it was a....weed. He taped the chocolate to the flower and as pleased as can be to give little Rachel a flower and chocolate. And about all that kissing stuff.... "Did you know that Sadie has already kissed a boy! She kissed James in my class! GROSS! YUCK!" Whewww!! Thank goodness!!! OH, and he did tell me I was still his Valentine! You, are my I Love You, Bear!

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW

We decided to take a spontaneous trip to Flag for snow. Woke up, threw our stuff in a suitcase and left. Rained/snowed on us all the way there & all the way home (which made driving very slow, especially home because the highway was snow covered, plows trying to keep up) and almost the entire time we were there. But there was a little break Monday morning in the snow coming down so we headed out to go play. Unfortunatly every store was sold out of "snow gear" and due to growing kids we had to piece together outfits, Bronson's outfit totally cracked me up!! He had a good coat & snow bibs, but snow boots were too small, and there were none to be found, not even irrigation boots which had worked in the past. So we settled for cowboy boots that were 4 sizes too big. Brookyln ended up wearing jeans & irrigation boots that were about 3 sizes too big. Oh well, they had fun and for the most part stayed warm. Good thing we went to play when we did because the next storm came in and was COLD with heavier snow and WIND!!! Burrrr! But when it was still it was so beautiful and serene with thigh deep wonderful, fresh powder. We saw several cars completely covered over in the driveway, people shoveling sidewalks and pathways, I do have to say... I love to visit the snow but I am so thankful I do not live in it!

Beau & American Idol

Beau did awesome, and it seemed to be such great exposure for him at the American Idol concert. Jordin performed along with Melinda Doolittle, Sanjaiah, Chris Robinson, Rageddy Andy, and other A.I. contestants. There were also actors/actresses there from popular Disney shows & other movie coming out- the Bratz movie, Suite Life w/Zach and Cody, Drake & Josh, That's so Raven, & others. Signing autographs, taking pictures, which Beau also did after he played. Notice the line, which actually goes back almost to the end of the tent! So fun to watch that!!! At the end all performers were on stage together and it was exciting to see Beau up there with the "stars". Unfortuanatly not very good pictures because of lighting but fun!! Great Job Beau!! We love you!

Why NOT to get a TATOO...

"Mom, this is the reason you shouldn't get a tatoo...." as i walk into what lookes like something really painful, gauging by clenched eyes and moans coming from Bronson. "It really hurts when you have to get it removed." says, "Dr. McClusky" (Brooklyn), which is the name of my OBGYN who delivered both of them. They had given each other marker "tatoos" and then were getting them removed! I swear....kids are SPONGES! They remember everything, even stuff you didn't know they knew :)!!

Okay, I know I have totally neglected our blog!!!!

I can't believe I havn't posted in SOOOO LONG!!! January was completely a blur, now it's almost mid February? Where does the time go?

I was looking thru my pictures from Christmas and found this one...

Yes, this is BILLY...at our Christmas "White Elephant" exchange. This was the gift he chose, fully understanding & accepting it as "an interactive gift". Meaning the reciepent of this had to "have the experience" it contained-which should have been the warning flag. But Billy, always being the good sport, and loving filling the comedian role, took it. Not only did he don the MULLET, glasses, and DISCUSTING redneck teeth, he left it on the entire night! We were literally rolling on the floor crying, he looked so gross!!! He looked like a totally different person! In fact if I would have seen him walking down the street, I may not have even recognized him! What a good sport! Bronson was so proud of the gift he "won"- the infamous cat clock that was an actual wedding gift given to Kash and Tiffany. It returns year after year, sometimes with it mysteriously appearing in different people's cars before the night is over, so the real "winner" doesn't have to look at it for a whole year! Although it may not make it back, Bronson insists he is hanging the clock in his room, it may have to "unexplainably disapear."It was such a fun ending to our Christmas celebration!

Beau and American Idol

Hey all you AMERICAN IDOL FANS..... there is going to be a concert (celebrity charity event?) with JORDIN SPARKS(winner of last season's Idol) and other contestants January 30th. Notice the name in the bottom left corner...That's right, Billy's little brother Beau is a phenomenal drummer. He and Jordin were in the Drug Free AZ competition together, which Beau won and got his own tv commercial for it! They became friends and after winning American Idol, Jordin called Beau to come audition for her band. The record label ended up going with an "older" band, unfortunately Jordin did not get much say in the decision, but what a great opportunity for exposure! Billy's mom got online to try to get tickets to this concert and noticed his name on the advertisement! How cool is that!! CONGRATS BEAU!!! CAN"T WAIT!!

Another addition to..."The World According to Bronson"

At the dinner table we were talking about some people we know who are not very good parents. I mentioned that they should take some (MANDATORY) parenting classes and then Bronson says......

And they could use an ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE too!

...and then goes on eating his dinner...

Brooklyn and Grandma Great.....

A few weeks ago Brooklyn spent the night at her Great Grammy's house (my grandmother) with Lacey and cousin Isabella. The next afternoon Grammy took the girls to see Grandma Great who is Brooklyn's great, great grandmother. Today she told me a funny story about her. "Great Grandma Great" is 92 and her mind is not quite as sharp as it used to be and she doesn't really leave the house anymore. Brooklyn is not used to being around really old people... She kept staring at her "wobbler" (neck) because it was so funny looking..."You know Mom, that thing that a chicken has..." (in Brooklyn's words...) "Then she asked me if I wanted to touch her neck. Grandma Great said kids always like to touch it. I touched it and it was so squishy and weird! I was biting on my lip so I wouldn't laugh. Then I just couldn't stop staring at it because I wanted to FLING IT AROUND and feel it again. It WAS SO WEIRD! IT WAS REALLY FREAKING ME OUT!! Mom, will my neck turn into a chicken neck like that? I DON"T WANT TO GET OLD AND BE A RAISIN!!" She is telling me this in the car as I am trying to drive while laughing so hard, picturing her in this situation. This is totally a "JUNIE B. JONES" kind of moment! AHHHHH, how great it is to be a kid!!!

Pictures taken in 2005 at Grandma Great's 90th birthday party

Happy Birthday Kielee!!!!

Turning 20 today!!! We LOVE YOU!!

CELEBRATE BEING YOU!

YOU ROCK!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Stockings are hung, house is decorated, gifts are being wrapped, Christmas music is constantly playing through every speaker in the house, trees are up-hot pink of course for Miss B, blue for Hank (don't you love how kids decorate trees, with all the ornaments in one spot!), white in the play room, and of course "my" tree. :) I can't get enough!!

Well, actually it has been Christmas at our house since before Thanksgiving. We put our trees up a few days before (although we didn't officially turn them on until that night). On Thanksgiving night my parents have the "lighting" at their house, where they turn on all the lights and we all "ohhh" and "ahhh", cheer, and shout "Merry Christmas!" The day after lights on our house went up thanks to my Dad and Landon who showed up at my doorstep with ladders and lights ready to hang! I've really got the GREATEST FAMILY IN THE WORLD!!!Tonight the kids had "movie night" a weekly-sometimes more often :) Evans' family tradition. During the last few months it has been Christmas movies from Elf to White Christmas to the Santa Clause and everything in between. But tonight they watched The Nativity. Most of the time I am half cleaning up/etc. half watching, but tonight they asked me a few times to "snuggle" and watch the movie with them. I had dishes in the sink, stuff to put away, laundry to be folded, but I couldn't resist.

As we watched I was thinking about how blessed I am to have these sweet babies. I want to soak up every second, I want to remember what they smell like, what we talked about, how they sounded, what they look like when they are sleeping tonight. As the movie ended and we lay on the couch in the dark with only the glow of the tree, we just listened to the "angels singing" (music at the end of the movie). It was so peaceful. It was heaven! As I tucked them in bed in my heart was so full of JOY for the opportunity to be a mother. To be able to share these kinds of experiences with them, to have daily conversations about Jesus and angels, to teach them about God's love, and to help them remember they have great work to do here. But they are here to remind me what Heaven is like! They are here to bring awareness of those things that are not seen. They also remind me that I need to live in the moment. Not be in such a hurry to get on to the next thing. To treasure the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Even with the anticipation of Christmas mounting, tonight I don't think they will be dreaming of Santa or having "visions of sugar plums". Hopefully they will fall asleep dreaming of our beautiful Savior's birth and the true meaning of Christmas.....

Thankful for rain...

I LOVE THE RAIN!!

I love listening to it hit the roof in the middle of the night, i love watching it fall while eating breakfast, i love driving in rain, i love to go shopping while it rains, and I love watching my kids play in it. I remember as a child after a big rain my dad would take us across the street to the church parking lot and let us splash and swim, and ride out bikes through what seemed like waist deep water. It was like Christmas to pull out the rain boots, coats, and umbrellas out of the hall closet to go play! I loved pretending, I loved the imagination of it all!

During the last 2 weeks of rain Bronson has LIVED outside in it! Loving every second! This day he went through 6 different outfits, 3 coats, 3 pairs of shoes, finally resorting to shorts so "his pants wouldn't get wet". That lasted all of 2 minutes! Oh well, I loved watching him try to ride his bike while holding the umbrella, talk to the birds, play on the "soggy" tramp, and use his imagination. I remember these days well, i hope he will too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLY!!!!

December 7th...CELEBRATING 29 YEARS!!

Throughout the day today I have been thinking about how blessed I am to have you in my life! I have been thinking about all the little things/quirks/habits that I love about you-

THERE IS SO MUCH TO LOVE! Here are a few....

I LOVE... how you lay on the ground to cuddle and chat with the kidS

...that you dance around the house singing your favorite songs

...how you change the lyrics to fit our lives

...that you are focused on the future and have a plan to accomplish your goals, but live in the moment

...that you can be strong and firm when you need to be, but have a soft and gentle heart

...how you type with two fingers :)

... your bright green eyes

... how warm and safe your embrace is

...how you still cut the crust off your bread

...your contagious laugh

...that you always make sure I have a clean car to drive

...that we have our own secret language

...notes left around the house for me to find

...your cute boyish charm

...bed head hair after a nap

...how you love to play

Josh, Beau, Billy, and Dad Evans

Elk Hunting in Flagstaff last week... got a "cow" meat processor guy estimated it to be 700 lbs...WOW! He weathered thru rain, wind, snow, and temps in the low teens to get it...not to mention the huge task of trying to haul it back to the truck!! Let's just say it didn't make it there in one piece! Guess you know what our freezer will be full of...that's right... a couple hundred pounds of meat...to go along with the deer :)

CONGRATS BILLY!

HE'S IN!!! Billy has been accepted into PARAMEDIC SCHOOL!!!

Congratulations!!