Evie's tea party

Would you like a spot of tea?

Evie wanted a little party with a few people back in Billings after her birthday. For Christmas she got a lovely tea set from her great-grandma and it was the source of inspiration for a tea party. I made tea sandwiches and painted sugar cookies, along with cut up fruit and veggies. Evie picked out peach tea to serve. It was a lot of fun! The cutest moment was when her cousin Parker, seeing everything set out, told Evie and her friend Olivia, "OK girls! Should we sit?" and they all came to the table, like the little ladies they are, and had tea. They were so polite and sweet! Even Olivia's brother Dylan joined in for tea. Of course, the nonsense started later when they retreated to Evie's room, fueled by sugar, and played dress-up and sang to Evie's tapes. It was a lot of fun, and I think we'll have to do this again. Scones and crumpets next time?

Evie pours for her friend, Olivia

Enjoying treats and conversation

Handpainted sugar cookies. I had to give a close-up since I'm pretty proud of these.

Little Red Wagon

They aren't heavy! They're my brothers!

Zevon and Guthrie got a red wagon for Christmas. It has been the source of much joy and tears in our household. They love to climb in, climb out, pull and push, which is great except they want to do all at the same time. The minute one twin sees the other pulling, he wants to as well. So he climbs out, prompting the other to scream because there is only one pull. So I pick one up, put him in the wagon, causing the other to scream and want in, too. Then Evie wants to pull, and all is calm for 30 seconds until Evie wants in, too. It is a two seater, so it fits the guys, but we've proven it doesn't fit all 3. The afternoon I took these pictures, I finally just took turns pulling 2 kids at a time, with the third standing and crying in the middle of the yard. We got lots of looks from people taking their dog for a noon walk. Lovely.

Guthrie tries pulling while Evie pushes. Zevon is pleased as punch to sit.

Ballerina Evie

Prima Ballerina Evie

For the longest time, Evie has been saying, "when I start dance class..." Or she pretends she is going to dance class by getting into all her ballerina wear and telling me what they are learning in her class. Evie doesn't have to pretend any more! For Christmas she was given dance lessons by her Grandma Bev, Grandpa Wayne, Aunt Megan, and Uncle Chris. She goes twice a week to Beginner Ballet at the Y. She loves it! After every class, she shows us what she is learning (how to spin without getting dizzy, how to curtsy, how to skip properly). In the information for the class, they stated what the kids were expected to wear. A skirt was not on the list, so we didn't worry about it. But we got there and every girl had one! Evidently the girls like having something to spin and who can blame them? So, Evie had to raid her closet for something appropriate (thus the summer skirt you see above). She is having a great time and the activity is so good for this 5 year old jumping bean.

A proper curtsy

New Years Evie, 5 year edition

Evie hoping for a strike!

For Evie's 5th birthday, Grandma Bev had the great idea to go bowling and out for pizza. Evie had a blast, and we all had a lot of fun, too. She loved getting her own ball, using the ramp, and letting her ball go. We even gave Zevon and Guthrie a try at bowling. Pizza afterward was yummy. Right after we sang her happy birthday in the restaurant, the table next to us started in another round of 'happy birthday.' They were celebrating someone's birthday, too! Evie met another person who has grown up thinking all the fuss of New Years Eve was all for her, too.

Evie celebrates knocking down a bunch of pins

Guthrie and Will watch excitedly to see how many pins they got

Zevon takes his turn on the lane with some help from Will

Evie and her Great-grandma enjoying watching everyone bowl

Aunt Megan and Guthrie take a time out from bowling

When we got home, it was time for presents and cake. Evie requested an angel food cake and we topped it with icing and candles.

Silly Ambush! This present is for me!

Barbies that can ride bike? What will they think of next?

Happy birthday Evie!

It seems like just yesterday I was holding my daughter for the first time. She has gone from a laid back baby who loved to eat to a high energy preschooler who is particular about what she eats. She knows her ABCs, writes and illustrates her own books, counts to well over 30 (and more with some help), plays with her brothers, loves playing outside in sun or snow, and has a wild imagination. It is hard for me to imagine that she will be starting kindergarden next school year! When she was born, I would look at her and wonder what she would be like as a 5 year old. Now I know! It has been a lovely surprise. Keep up the good work Evie! You are doing great!

Christmas in Minnesota

Grandma Bev and Evie read a book

A few days after Christmas, we made the long drive east to see my side of the family. I was excited to see my family, but I was not excited for the drive. I am happy to say it was one of the smoothest travels I've ever had with my young family. There were a few rough spots, but for the most part the kids were very good and the roads and weather cooperated.

Just like at home, there was very little snow in Minnesota. We did get a few snowy days and Evie was very happy about that. We enjoyed time with Aunt Kaitlin, Aunt Megan and Uncle Chris, Great-Grandma, and of course Grandma Bev and Grandpa Wayne. Of course, there were more presents to open and more good food to eat.

Looking back on the pictures from this time, I think what the kids enjoyed most was having more adults to read them stories. I have more pictures of them being read to than opening gifts! (That could also be because 3 kids opening gifts is a little crazy and taking pictures was a little difficult.)

Guthrie and Great-grandma enjoy a book

Zevon gets a turn with his great-grandma

Yay! Batman!

Guthrie tries out his new monkey hat

First Christmas in Montana

Evie, Zevon, and Guthrie on Christmas Eve

This Christmas felt a little odd for 2 reasons. First, married to a pastor, I have gotten used to Christmas Eve being hectic and running late into the night with many many services. Second, I've been used to Christmas either being rainy (Seattle) or white (Minnesota and occasionally Seattle). This year, our Christmas was pretty laid back, if you don't count the fact we have 3 kids to get dressed and I played with the bell choir before both services. Since we only had two services and we live only blocks from the church, I wasn't rushing to get on the road or waiting for Will to get home after midnight. Also, this was not a white Christmas, much to my dismay. But, it was a lovely walk to church for services. It may have felt different than Christmases in the past, but it was still wonderful.

Christmas morning brought gifts from Santa, Christmas morning church with Grandma Rhonda and Uncle Jody and Aunt Leanne, and Christmas day dinner. In the evening, we went to Aunt Becky's house for more good food and presents.

Evie plays with her Polly Pockets from Santa while eating her Christmas orange

Zevon and Guthrie try out their new scooters (twins on wheels...what were we thinking?)

Evie and Aunt Leanne working on a Dora workbook

The boys help their daddy try out his new toy: a lap steel guitar

One of the perks of the almost 50 degree weather is getting to try out your new scooter. Uncle Jody and Evie made several trips up and down the street while Evie got the hang of it.

Evie's little snowman

New oven = TV

They are each calling dibs on the first cookie

Our oven inconveniently died the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, leaving us to cook a turkey as well as bake a cake and rolls at our church (thankfully only a few blocks away), as well as make creative use of crock pots. We picked out a new oven using the after Thanksgiving sales. We have twins so we picked out the one with duel ovens, of course. The new one wasn't delivered until a little before Christmas, just in time for some cookie baking. Evie and I made up some sugar cookies and I put in a test cookie to see how our oven would do. By the way my kids reacted, you would think I put a new cartoon on the TV. They were mesmerized by that one cookie baking! Our old oven had survived since the 50s or 60s. Here's to our new oven lasting at least that long and keeping my kids entertained.

Push, pull, get into trouble...

...these are the three things my children try to do every day. Here is the evidence:

Zevon: Find magazines and rip them up.

Evie: Tie a rope to the toy bin, help Guthrie jump in, and get Zevon to help you pull.

Guthrie: Find your sister's old mittens and ask her to put them on your feet.

Guthrie and Zevon: Empty out the drawer to your toy box, climb in, and look cute.

O Christmas Tree!

My three little Christmas elves: Evie, Zevon and Guthrie

It was our first Christmas in our new house and we needed a real tree to top it off. We picked out a white pine, hoping that its long flexible needles would be soft in case the boys ran into the tree or pulled it down. I didn't have high hopes for this tree staying up through the holiday season, but it didn't suffer too much. Will requested blue lights and I picked out the wood, metal, and cloth ornaments (ie, not breakable) to decorate the tree with. It was a rather haphazard affair, since the boys took off every ornament that they could reach, as fast as we could put them on. As a result, our tree was bare on the bottom 1/3 for most of the Christmas season.

Reindeer are so funny!

What a goof! Zevon showing off his sillier side with his dad.

Guthrie picking out an angel to chew, I mean, put on the tree.

Evie is the star of the show!

Gus got bored with the tree and settled into the toy bin.

Guthrie and Zevon playing with the Fisher Price nativity set (or, as Evie calls it, an "activity set" - I guess it does keep them busy).

Pre-K Christmas Concert

Evie (in the wig) as a kissing grandma

Evie was very excited for her preschool Christmas concert. She was going to be a grandma, and she got to wear a wig she told me. I was curious, and on the day of the concert, the wig did not disappoint. I think her grandmas would have been very proud of her performance as a grandma. She stepped up and acted the line, "The grandma at the door says *kiss kiss kiss* (pucker up and go mwa several times), on Christmas day." Her outfit was complete with pink glasses, gloves, and of course a wig. She was pretty cute.

Look how cute and sweet she is!

Many of you think my daughter is all sweetness and light. I present Exhibit A (photo above) to prove the existence of Evil Evie. All I wanted was a picture of her in her cute dress after the Christmas program. I was presented with this child. Excitement of the Christmas program + cookies and lemonade + need of a nap = one cranky Evie

Snow day!

When October rolled around, I knew I needed to find snow pants, boots, hats, mittens, etc for all my kids. We are in Montana, and I thought that meant snow. Instead, we have been enjoying a very mild winter. We are now in January and I think there have been maybe 4 snow days. So, when I title this post "snow day", it actually narrows down the days considerably. This is from beginning of December and we were greeted with a few inches of snow just right for playing in.

The minute breakfast was done, Evie begged to go outside. So, we suited everyone up and headed outside.

Our cute snow bunny

Guthrie finds slides are hard to climb up when all slippery with snow

It may look like Zevon is practicing his Billy Idol sneer but he is actually annoyed at his hat that keeps on slipping down his forehead

Evie doing some snow angels (and showing the green grass underneath)

Guthrie kept on losing his mittens, Zevon's hat kept on giving him trouble, and, come to think of it, Evie was the only one who had a blast. Thank goodness for hot chocolate and graham cracker snacks inside.

Church Christmas Program!

Where have we been?  Life has been a circus for our family over the last couple of months.  I can't believe we are nearly to Christmas, but all the evidence points to that being the case.  

Evie was in two Christmas programs this last week.  She had one for her school and one for the church.  We'll get the school program pictures up next, but here is our angel Evie Lu in the church program.

I think I see my mom!

Along with being an angel, Evie was the champion triangle player.  She played more of a jazz triangle with some interesting syncopation.

You have to keep an eye on your director.

Remarkably the boys sat quietly in the front row for the entire performance.  I think they like seeing their sister on stage.