Oh Christmas Tree

This year my dad was able to get Evan his very own Christmas Tree. Here it is! He decorated it by himself. And yes it is in the middle of his room. I will say he has added 2 "light" bulbs to the ears of his alien since I took this picture. Pretty funny!

Bubble Gum Logic

Today I made Evan carry his old backpack to school. When I picked him up from school he popped a piece of bubble gum into his mouth and started the chomping. And I mean chomping!
I asked him where he got it he said from Papa...of course! ;) A full piece of Bubbalicious. He then tells me that this gum is good, not like GG's that loses the flavor. (yes, that would be JuiceFruit. My mom has been chewing the same gum for YEARS!!) He then proceeds to take it out and stick it to his palm. Excuse me? Back in your mouth, please! Then he wraps a piece of paper around it and gets a "fresh" piece. He did this multiple times!
Fast forward 2 hours later. We are in my office, full of people, when he goes for a fresh piece. Last piece Kid!! He decides to share with everyone. G says this is like that gum Bubbalicios, so good you just swallow it. Anakina and myself say, it is Bubbalicious! Swallow!!! G, did you just swallow your gum? Yes! It's so good!
We get ready to leave and as walking out and Evan goes for piece #??? I've lost track and apparently control. I asked him what did you do with the piece you just had? I don't know, must of swallowed it!

Santa

In the months leading up to Christmas, Evan has often said he did not believe in Santa. Yeah, I thought we were off the hook here. Nope! This month he does. Yes, he wants the gift from Santa. I really don't know if he truly believes in Santa or not but I'm also not willing to ruin it for him if he does. He knows the true meaning of Christmas, JESUS! I'm not to worried. I know many of you don't believe in "humoring" your kids, I understand but we started this before we were believers and well I feel as long as he know what Christmas is really about we're ok.
Bryan didn't grow up with Santa so I'm thinking this is new for him. Lol. He cracks me up. We were going over the last of our Christmas list and I told him we needed to get Evan a gift from Santa. Any suggestions. Yep he had one alright. Socks and underwear! As long as he believes in Santa lets get him socks and underwear. His theory is, Evan won't want gifts from Santa if that's all he's going to get. Funny. And totally true. I had an idea. A new Bible! Evan has been asking for a new Bible for about 2 months now. He wants to be able to look up verses. He currently has a "picture/story" Bible.
So that's it. Santa will bring Evan a Bible and yes I see the irony and I love it!

A day to be Thankful

We had the opportunity to serve to the Poverello House Thanksgiving afternoon. When we got there, we were taken out back and given a job. We had to swap out pepperoni sandwiches for turkey sandwiches. The Poverello House gives out 3 meals a day. This was for lunch, a bagged lunch which included: a sandwich, chips, a drink and a sweet. Because of Thanksgiving they wanted each lunch to have a turkey sandwich. We worked with about 8 other people. Evan was in charge of putting the pepperoni sandwiches in the bin and bringing us turkey sandwiches. He was the youngest one in our group and he made everyone smile. He stacked the sandwiches in his arms as high as he could. We did 500 bagged lunches. It was awesome. It was soon time to head in and serve lunch. We prepared and were given our duties. Bryan was on gravy, the rest of us (Evan, my mom and myself) serving dinners. We prayed as a group before people were let in and then it began. We served 360 meals in our 2 hour shift. We soon moved to clean up. We got to take trays and clean off the table to prepare for the next person to fill the seat. As we waited Evan asked, "Mom, don't they pray for their food?" Me, "That is why we prayed before they came in, some people don't pray before they eat."
I was reminded of Evan's dinner time prayer "and please bless everyone who is eating right now." He soon got a lesson on exactly why we were there...to serve others. Yes it was a teachable moment. I used it. He got many talks during that 2 hours but all in all I wouldn't have had it any other way. After we had served all the meals we were cleaning up and they said the kids who were serving could have the balloons. Evan had wanted some so I gave him a bunch. Soon after a Hispanic lady pushing a stroller with a maybe 2 year old in it walked by. She didn't speak English but it was clear she wanted some balloons too. They were all gone! I told Evan and he quickly ran her down and gave his to her. He asked if that made her and the little boy happy and I told him it did. It made me happy too.      
Yes I think he gets it, it is far better to give than to receive!

The Three Little Pigs

Bryan recently brought home his computer a huge 24" Mac. (It was at work.) Since then Evan has discovered old cartoons on youtube. He is fascinated with old Disney cartoons. He loves Goofy and Donald Duck. But has recently started with The Three Little Pigs. Tonight as we were eating dinner and watching youtube. (Yes, most families gather around the TV, we gather around the 24" Mac.) Evan said "I think the Big Bad Wolf is like the devil and the Three Little Pigs are like us, like all the world!" Yes Evan you would be correct and we must build our house out of Brick (Jesus)!

A Symbol

So Evan went to the Dollar Store with my mom and Mia the other day. He came home with a few items. This house box being one of them. My mom tells me that when he saw this he told her it was a symbol. Of what you may ask, "Our family." Apparently there were several houses he could have chosen from. The came in three different sizes (he picked the middle size for us). He even had to examine what the pictures were and settled on the one with the dog.

Pregnancy & infant loss awareness day (october 15th)

I will be lighting my candle at Hume! Please if your not too busy take just an hour, light a candle at 7pm and let it burn for 1 hour! Thanks. To my niece and all your sweet baby friends, we miss and love you and will see you again.

Crazy Sleeper

This was Evan about 3:45am this morning. Bryan always checks on his before he leaves for work in the morning. Minutes later he was in bed on his pillow with the covers up by his neck.

Girls

So about 2 weeks ago Evan comes home from school asking if he can have a play date with a girl in his class. I told him I needed to speak to her mom. We mapped out a tentative date. the next morning at school they arrived as we were getting out of the car.
Evan: Mom there is her mom! Go ask her!!
Me: Umm ok. How about we let them get out of the car first.
Evan: Ok but your ask her right?
Me: Yes Evan I will.

Well the date we picked didn't work out so we'll try again. It's a must. He still asks when the play date will be.
He comes home today and says another little girl wants to have a play date with him and asked if she could come over. I said wow, ok sure. I know these kids and their parents so I'm feeling ok about it.
He then says so mom when they come over don't let them get markers and start writing L O V E on my wall or anything.
Um WHAT? Then he tells me that one of the girls in his kindergarten class last year thought he was her boyfriend.
Oh my goodness! Really. It cracks me up and even more that he is so embarrassed by the whole thing. i asked if he was and he about freaked. Oh to be 6 and in love....lololololololol.

School is boring!

So Evan, how was school today?

It was boring and I don't want to talk about it.

Umm, ok???

So everyday he has told me that school is boring. Really, how can that be? He just started the 1st grade. He's learning new things. It can't be boring. His first day, he came home with a list of 2 weeks worth of spelling words and 3 weks worth of memory verses. He doesn't have spelling words the first week. So we study Day 1, get to where he can say his verse by himself without help. I wanted to work on the spelling words but he wasn't having it and I let it slide since it was for next week. (That was Monday.) I had choir Wed, he and Bryan stayed home. Bryan got the job of bedtime and homework. Here is how homework went.

This is what my husband text me: Evan read the verse once on his own, then repeated it 3 times on his own. Too easy. So I went over his spelling words and he nailed every single one without looking at the paper at all.

Seriously, are you sure you have the right kid? I need to talk to him in the morning. Maybe it was boring?

Evan I need to ask you something. Do you go over your spelling words in class?

No Mom.

Then how did you know how to spell them?

Mom, it was the weirdest thing! I just did. (Bright eyed and a huge grin on his face!)

We'll see how he does on the test next week!

Monkey on a mission

Evan is attached to Monkey. Jen gave it to him with a matching sweater from Children's Place (Mia got the same but the girl version.) He didn't attach to it a first (or I'd have gotten a new one!) He carried Monkey with him everywhere, church, on the way to school, GG's, Auntie's and he slept with it EVERY night.

About a month ago, Monkey disappeared. He was no where to be found. I back tracked all of his steps but found no Monkey. Oh great. Evan was sad. He didn't know where he left him and claimed he hadn't taken him out of GG's house. Well she basically ripped her place apart looking for him. Mia even felt bad for him and went to Build A Bear to make him a new monkey. She even dressed him in Star Wars pj's. It put a smile on Evan's face and he happily slept with his new friend.
Not long ago we had dinner at Bryan's grandma's house and Evan was reminded of his original Monkey. Kay had so graciously made Evan a flag for the tree house and put a picture of Evan and Monkey on it. He brought me the flag saying, "I'm keeping this cuz look mom, MONKEY IS ON IT!" I told him the flag stays but it will always be here and he can look at it whenever he visits.
We go home that night and as I was putting him to bed he tells me, "I really miss my monkey!" Sad face and all! I have to say my heart broke a little (ok, a lot!) When he woke up the next morning he had his new monkey. He proceeds to tell me, "Mom, I like this monkey but it's just not the same!" Again heart breaking.
So what does a mother do? She starts the search! I looked on ebay with no luck. So I go to facebook. I wrote on the wall of Children's Place to see if they could help me out when low and behold a dear friend had the answer to my prayers. She had looked on ebay for me and found "The Monkey." Yes it was $27.00 but priceless in my eyes. I text Bryan and he gives me the green light. Monkey ordered now the wait.
The Monkey arrives and I show it to Evan. "MONKEY!!!!" He immediately grabs him by the tail and throws him in the air (his favorite thing to do). When we get home he asked me, "where was he? Did someone have him? How did he get here?" I responded carefully with,"He came in the mail." Evan's cute little brain responded with, "Maybe he was on a mission trip in Africa?" "Sure!" I said.
Oh goodness, am I lying to my child? Well I'm not telling the truth. He loves that monkey and I love him!


This was the last picture of his monkey. The day before he disappeared. And he had to make sure he was buckled in.

Nose picker

Mia: (slaps Evan's hand) Evan don't pick your nose! Auntie I told Evan not to pick his nose, is that a good girl?

Me: Yes Mia, he shouldn't pick his nose.

Mia: Evan if you pick your nose it will bleed.

Evan: No, your nose bleeds because it's dry. I pick my nose and it has never bleeded. I pick it cause it's dry.

Mia: Hummm

Me: Mia do you pick your nose?

Mia: ummm sometimes. (To Evan) I don't even know how to pick my nose Evan.

Evan: (showing her) You stick your finger up your nose like this and feel around for the dry stuff then you just scratch it out. It doesn't bleed cause you got to get that dry stuff out, like this.

At least he doesn't eat it!! But I think I need to keep Kleenex with me at all times!!!

feeling sorry

Mom, I feel sorry for dad.

Why?

Cause he has to go to work at night and he doesn't get to sleep a lot and he doesn't get to go to church on time.

Oh, that's nice of you.

Mom, I feel sorry for you too.

WHY?

Cause you left your phone at church and now you can't talk to anyone.

Pumpernickels

Evan, "Mom do you have any more pumpernickels?"

Me, "what are pumpernickels?"

Evan, "I don't know, but do you have any?"

Me, "no."

Answered Prayer

I got a call tonight from my mom as I was reading Evan his Bible story (we just started his Bible again. So we are at the Beginning!) Normally I wouldn't even have my phone with me, let alone answer it. I did to both! She told me I got a letter in the mail at my grandma's (I used her address for all my court stuff so Erik wouldn't have mine) it was from CYS (the place we do our visit exchange through.) They have cancelled the rest of our visits. I picked Evan up from his visit on Saturday, we are headed to the car when he tells me he didn't ride in a car seat from or to the visit. Wait...WHAT??? You mean no booster? No mom, just the regular seat like you sit in. Stop, turn around, we go back inside and I get ready to tell the lady what Evan had just told me but he beats me to it! :) She said she'd write it in the report and I'd probably be getting a call from the supervisor, she had some other things to right down. Oh REALLY! No she didn't tell me what they were but the letter did. And so did Evan on the way home. Apparently he also drove from and to the visit. No he has no drivers license. Oh wait...he did call me about 3 minutes after he picked Evan up, driving and talking. It just gets better and better. Well we will more than likely end up back in court but for now no visits! And that makes Evan a happy boy! I know whatever happens it's God's plan and I will continue to trust Him. I have seen him extend Erik chance after chance. It's like God keeps trying to reach him and he keeps backing away, every time! Thought he would change but so far he hasn't. I will continue to pray for God's will and guidance. I trust you Lord, wholeheartedly. Thanks for not giving up on me!!!

6 going 13

I was putting Evan to bed the other night and he told me he needed a sign on his door.

Me: What kind of sign?

Evan: No girls allowed sign!

Me: Why?

Evan: Well you know in case Zion or Kennedy come over they can't come into my room.

Me: Umm why would Kennedy or Zion come over? Evan, what about Mia?

Evan: Of course Mia can come in. But that's it! I don't want them messing up my stuff!

He told Bryan about the sign as he was making it.

Bryan: Does that mean Mom can't come into your room.

Evan: Yes, parents are allowed...and so is Mia.

Glad we got that straightened out!

Caleb aka Soup

I love Caleb! Today they laid his grandma LawrEl Hurley to rest. When I saw Caleb this morning he was his bubbly, smiley little self. The first thing he said was "My grandma died!" My mom, who was standing next to me said, "yes and now she's in Heaven with Jesus." Caleb's response was, " yeah, Satan didn't get her! Satan didn't get her!" Very matter-of-factly! I love it and he is so right! Satan did not get her. She is rejoicing in Heaven today. I like to think she has gathered some white, purple, lavender, pink and 1 red balloon today. LawrEl, they will never forget you or all you meant to them!

My Daddy

Recently when I put Evan to bed we go over how he and Mia are related. I usually have to explain how they are cousins. He mostly closes his eyes and shakes his head and says wait I just don't get it. Well tonight as I was explaining I used the example of his 1/2 brother. He is not related to me so he isn't related to Mia (not her cousin.) This brought up the topic of his visits. He asked me if he still had to go. When I said yes, he frowned and said he didn't want to go and he wanted his first daddy to go away and his second daddy to be is only daddy (me too Evan, me too.) He said he didn't like going to the visits, his little (2 1/2 year old) brother is mean. He said he hits me and punches me in the stomach and I tell but he doesn't get in trouble and I don't want to go anymore. Do I have to go. I wish I could say no but I can't. Yes, Evan you still have to go. What if you just don't take me? What would happen? I don't know, I'd get in trouble. Can't we just stop. There is a loop hole in our custody agreement. If he misses 2 consecutive visits all visits will be cancelled. He visits the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month and at times has missed 1 but not 2 in a row. I have often wondered what God is doing in this situation. I know that there is a big picture here I just don't see all of it. I got some of the pieces but not all of them. Faith! yep I'm walking by it. I do know this God has given Evan a daddy. Not one that shares a blood relation but one who loves him, cares for him and is a mirror to. He is a great role model and they are so much alike I often forget they haven't been in each others lives for ever. Bryan and I have had the conversation that we both think God was preparing Bryan for Evan long before he knew him and I believe that to be the truth. We know God listens to little kids and I pray he listens to mine.

Movie Fun

Looking for something fun and cheap to do this summer? Me too! How about a free movie? Twice a week!! My plan for the summer is starting to unfold! :) These same movies and times are also playing at Manchester.

See you there.

Fresno Stadium 22 & IMAX250 4304559-447-3247
06/15/2010-06/17/2010
Charlotte's Web (G)
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG)
06/22/2010-06/24/2010
Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (G)
Astro Boy (PG)
06/29/2010-07/01/2010
Doogal (G)
Monsters Vs. Aliens (PG)
07/06/2010-07/08/2010
Tale of Despereaux (G)
Planet 51 (PG)
07/13/2010-07/15/2010
Wallace and Gromit (G)
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (PG)
07/20/2010-07/22/2010
Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
Aliens In The Attic (PG)
07/27/2010-07/29/2010
March Of The Penguins (G)
Where The Wild Things Are (PG)
08/03/2010-08/05/2010
ARCTIC TALE (G)
Kung Fu Panda (PG)
08/10/2010-08/12/2010
Clifford's Big Movie (G)
The Spy Next Door (PG)

Why am I so Weepy?

The other day a friend of mine got her hair cut by a lady I sing with in the choir. Her description of me was "weepy". The sad thing is I have been wrestling with this for the last month. What is my deal? I mean come on! I cry almost every Sunday when I sing in the choir, when we pray in church or during a meeting and a lot of times when Doug Holck is telling a story. I am weepy!!! Is it bad? Is it annoying? Can I make it go away? Do I want it to go away? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know? Guess I'll go sit in the corner and cry about it...lol jk not really! But I am weepy! Even my husband has started using my name instead of saying crying, he thinks he's funny. :) He is!

Hylarics

Hylarics: Evan's word for lyrics

He was a Buffalo Solider ja
Came a from a raska
He came from Mexico
He was a buffalo weirdo
Always on times
He was going to Mexico
Always there for a thousand days

Random

This morning Evan decided he needed to wear his alien hat. (And wore it inside Target!)

He went to work with me, along with his backpack full of legos, 2 movies and a lunch bag full of food (which he ate almost all of!) He was great in my office.

We go to Daddy's office and he's bouncing off the walls.

We head home and he puts his alien hat back on and is out in 2 minutes.

I wake him up for dinner, he tells me not to touch him. I tell him Daddy and Casey are here. He shoots up, out of the bed and he's off!

We have dinner, ran out of regular spaghetti noodles so we have twisted spaghetti with meatballs.

After dinner we watch Fantastic Mr. Fox. If you haven't seen it, it is the most random movie I have ever seen.

The perfect ending to my random day!

A grateful heart

This is a thank you note from the 4th grade classes at FCS. Both teacher, Mr. Weimer and Mrs. Krause had each of their kids sign it for Bryan. He leads worship on Friday. This is his 2nd year and he loves it. It has been a blessing for everyone in our family. A few times Evan has been able to go and watch.

Thank you 4th grade for giving my husband the oppurtunity to worship the Lord with people he loves! He truly enjoyed it!

We are grateful for your love and prayers!

Praying for a friend.

Tonight before Evan went to bed I reminded him he needed to pray for his schoolmate Max. This was his prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father I'm praying for my friend Max.
Help him to get better, help him to be happy and not sick.
If he dies, help him to be happy with Muffin (GG's dog), Mia's sister (Madison), and Auntie's dog (Trek).
We want him to get better and be happy.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen!

with Special Guest star JARROD MARKARIAN

So we are blessed to be loved by a wonderful family, the Markarian's. Jarrod (Matt and Vanessa's son, who is going to be 11 in a few weeks) gave my mom a laptop! I know right, who does this? A kid with great parents and a heart of gold! My mom had a laptop, well kinda, it was given to me last year and well that person asked for it back last week. When I told my beloved friend (Vanessa) how irritaed I was, she simply listened (as she always does!) A few days later, she let me in on a little secret, Jarrod was going to bless my mom with his laptop! I have to admit, the tears welled up in my eyes (I've been known to be a bit "weepy" but that's another blog at another time). Well today Jacob (our computer guru at church) cleaned off the "borrowed"one and transfered my moms stuff to the new one. I was there when Jarrod presented it to her and I can simply say she was in shock. She told me about an hour later that she "can't stop crying, what a blessing they are!! Mia wants to know what's wrong...tears of joy!!" Mia, "I like those kind!" Me too Mia.
Mom, you deserve it. I have watched God bless your socks off. Everytime something that looks like a bad thing happens to you, God turns it around and you ALWAYS glorify Him, just as he wants you to!
Jarrod, may God bless you for your loving, giving and genuine heart. You are such a special young man and I am pleased to know you. I can only pray Evan grows to be the kind of young man you are turning out to be.
Matt and Vanessa, you got a great kid! I love all three of you. You ALL have done so much for me and my family!
God is great!!

Steeeeeeeve

If you haven't seen Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, you need too!

Today was our last day a Mommy and Daddy helpers. Bryan has been dubbed Steeeeeve. He was at a table one afternoon when he did the mustache thing to Hayden. It was over from there! They have called him Steeeeve ever since. And they always try to get his non existence mustache.

One day he even got a talking to by Mrs. Witters. BUSTED!!!!

Since today was the last day I felt I couldn't let the year end

without the infamous Steeeeve and mustache picture!

We both enjoyed working with the Witter's Critters but I think Bryan (Steeeeve) liked it more.

Back Seat Driver

So Evan who is 6 is the ultimate back seat driver.

He tells me which lane I need to be in. What the speed limit is and what speed I'm going. I am not allowed to speed because he is sure to tell me I am breaking the law. This morning he let me know when I needed to turn. Oh Evan, the joy you bring me. 10 years my sweet boy and you will have your chance behind the wheel.

I'm the DJ he's the rapper

Two peas in a pod here! Singing Brave Saint Saturn Shadown Of Def on the way to and from church as well as at our picnic today. Here are some of the lyrics:

I'm the DJ he's the rapper,And the homeboys try to step,I'm the DJ he's the rapper,In the valley of the shadow of def.Yo, homeboys come and homeboys go,But I still kick the Latin Lingo,Mi Espanol es no bui bueno.I'm stone cold rhymin and spinnin on the wax,I give the old ladies heart attacks,cause I'm fresh and dope and I'm dissin wac MCs.I've got all my teeth capped,Chains to show my wealth,And I check myself,Before I wreck myself.

Love my guys! And love how they are so much alike!