New Baby!!

Welcome to Hunter! He was born 2/24/2012 @2:03 PM. Weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz and was 19.5" Long.

HUNTER

We've decided that ours are the cutest babies. Sorry everyone else!

 Drew

Avery

Luke

All Hallows Eve

We had a great Halloween month! The Evans household can't seem to let a good holiday go to waste! We had a lot of activities planned, the kids enjoyed every minute of it. I'll fill you in and then add all the pics! One of our favorite things to do is read stories! So we have a lot of fun halloween stories we read every night in October. Luke has his favorite book he calls his 'Scary Book.' The pic below is Aves and Luke reading that book together (so cute).
For our second year now we did caramel apples, which the kids like to decorate but then Avery wanted all the caramel off before she would eat her apple! hey she eats healthy. Drew and Avery's preschool went on a fun field trip to a pumpkin patch with a hayride, slides, corn mazes, bouncy houses, and tractor rides. They each picked there own pumpkins which we painted later. They were pie pumpkins which we have used to make pumpkin muffins and cookies much better than canned pumpkin. We had a bonfire with some friends, we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows. The kids stayed up late singing halloween songs and listening to scary stories. We carved our pumpkins, played with homemade pumpkin spice playdough (smells soooo good, get the recipe off of theidearoom.blogspot.net).
We visited my parents in Logan Utah, where they have an awesome pumpkin walk with the coolest displays (it would be fun to do one in our yard). My fav was the calvin and hobbes display, which sadly none of the young kids understood! We went on a "witch hunt' in the woods on my parents farm. We also spent HOURS making homemade apple juice which turned out really good! The kids had a blast dropping the apples in a apple crusher that andy had to crank with his own hands. This job was true man labor, it was crazy. But the juice turned out really yummy.

Lastly, we did Trick or Treating, After a delicious bowl of chili we were off. I am not sure what the kids liked better going door to door for candy or handing it out. Our neighbors set up a fire pit on there driveway and give away hot cocoa, so after the crowds left we went down with the kids and spent a fun time in front of the fire. The kids were excited to get into there costumes. Drew was a monster truck (made from a cardboard box with real lights attached) Avery was Dorothy her fav part were the red shoes, and Luke was a Lion! We had a blast this year and can't wait for next Halloween. Now bring on Thanksgiving!

Happy Mothers' Day!

I have three kids all 4 and under.  From 6am to 7pm sharp my kids are my life. From running around cleaning spills, diaper duty,  taking turns playing cars, basketball, and dolls, filling sippy cups, finding binky, cleaning more spills, diaper duty again, wiping bums after someone goes potty, fill snack bowls, making lunch, filling sippy cups again, cleaning more spills, trips to the doctor, trips to the store, kissing owies, braking up fights, diaper duty yet again, playing cars, basketball, and dolls...to cleaning more spills. I collapse at night and really find myself thinking about how fun it was to be with my kids.  I wouldn't have it any other way. I have learned so much from being a mom. First off, kids are so quick to be forgiving. I make mistakes and get mad when I shouldn't, just when I think I have 'damaged' my kids they come to me with hugs and lots of love. Secondly patience; it may take Avery 20 min to put on her seatbelt or Drew my want to wear his pants on backwards and shirt inside out...but its okay! My house isn't always in perfect shape when Andy gets home, there is usually toys scattered around...but that is okay too! My kids are healthy and happy and we have so much fun imagining and exploring together. We have our bad days but mostly our days are good. I am constantly reminded why being a mom is the best! So here is my list of why I love being a mom:
1. The random hugs from behind
2. little voices begging me to play with them
3. strong determination to accomplish things (like putting your seatbelt on all by yourself)
4. listenig to a 4 and 3 year olds logic and reasoning
5.  the 'forever long kiss' (as we call them )
6. watching them read stories to themselves
7. reading them stories
8.Giving answers to every Why question out there
9. The wave good bye when i lay my baby down for the night
10. waking up to Drew and Luke yelling "mommy"
11.playing 'tickle monster'
12. watching my kids play together
13. Listening them bear there sweet testimonies
12. Hearing them pray
15. Watching them try to force a sad face when they can't help but smile
16. seeing there faces light up with excitement
The list is endless and while being a mom can be exhausting and frustrating at times there is definately more good then bad! The best is yet to be.  This poem sums it up for me

You are the trip I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky.
 Happy Mothers Day!!

Yes i know Christmas is over...time to move on!!

So a ton as happened since my last real post, but to spare you the details, i will share with you our 'winter schedule.' Winter is somtimes a hair pulling season for mothers, especially if you get to be home all day with three super active kiddos all 4 and under. So to stay sane i have to have a good schedule for me and my kids to do to fill our sometimes long days.

Mondays -Treehouse  Museum

The treehouse museum is so cool. It is a museum where you basically step into different stories. They have a train area, farming area, utah state history section, a big treehouse the kids can play in, they have a big theater room where kids can dress up as storybook characters and act out a story while a narrator reads the story, they have singing time.  They have a craft room, they have a music rooms the kids can make music in. I mean it has been the greatest discovery in the Ogden area and it is really cheap, mondays it is like a dollar a kid. We Love It!!

Tuesdays is preschool day.

Drew goes to preschool three days a week for two hours but on tuesdays Avery has her own little Joyschool she attends with kids from the neighborhood. This is a special day because she is a big girl like her big brother and gets to go to preschool all by herself!!

Wed Laundry day, the kids help me do the laundry, and we just play inside with our toys, sometimes we play with a friend ...

Thursday is our library day, i don't have any pics of that but we enjoy looking at books and my kids love to be read to. The library also does a fun story time and they have lots of fun activities for the kids to do.

Friday is our either watch a movie with popcorn day or swimming day. Of course i can't just take my kids to the a regular pool how boring is that, it has to be a big aquatic center with an indoor waterslide, and playset built in the swimming pool, complete with a lazy river and water guns every kids' favorite things!! Thought i had a picture of this place but i guess i don't, i will try and post it later.  So thats our week it is pretty fun and keeps us busy during those slower winter months!!

Santa vs Christ

During the Christmas season we find  and should focus on all the symbolism relating to Christ. We know what the candy cane represents and the wreath, and the bells and the tree and of course the star...but what about Santa Claus. The main character for children during this special season. I have a book entitled, "I Believe in Santa Claus" It explains the similarities between Santa and Christ, which I had not thought of before but which I find interesting. So here it goes!
He wears Red. (Isa 63:2)
His Hair is White. (Rev 1:14)
He Comes in the Night. (1Thess 5:2)
He Loves little Children. (Matt 19:14)
He knows we are Good. (1 Tim 2:3,4)
And He brings Gifts. (James 1:17)
So I guess I do believe in Santa Claus!!

So I was reading about Christ's birth in the Book of Mormon. Nephi was asking the angel to tell him about certain parts of Lehi's dream. The angel responded by telling Nephi about the condescension of Christ. I started to think about the Shepards and what it must have been like to hear those words from the Angel that the Son of God was born in the city of Bethlehem. The scriptures say that the shepards came with haste to see the Child.  We know that the shepards probably were taught there whole lives that one day The Savior would be born and to prepare and watch for it. I tried to put myself in their position and feel what it would be like to witness this event. I found that we now are not too far off from how the shepards felt as we too have been taught our whole lives that Christ will again come. We too have been taught and are preparing and are watching for that grand event. Except it will be even more grand than when he came the first time. As joy will replace sorrow and peace will replace turmoil in our world. I often imagine being told that Christ has finally appeared again. How will I feel? What will I do? Will I be prepared? Will I hear the angels from heaven rejoicing over this momentous event that they could not restrain? I would like to think I would be just as the shepards and leave immediatly to witness that grand event. Because really nothing else will matter. I think I would have a list of emotions from humility to excitement, peace, to pure joy (to say the least). At this Christmas season I  hope we can all imagine ourselves being apart of the first true Christmas. May we all be ready and prepared for when we hear the declaration from the angels announcing once again that Christ, God Son has come.

Day 6: Christmas Giving

I have a book called, Christmas Treasures, it is a collection of stories from general authorities. There is one story by Gene R Cook, where he lays out what a person might do to make Christmas great. Since I have been trying to think of things I can do this season with my family, I thought you might as well. Enjoy!
1. I will do acts of charity for others
2. I will seek to give of myself spiritually to others
3. I will find someone to help and to pray for
4. I will secretly fast for someone who has a problem
4. As an offering to God, I will find someone who really needs a blessing and provide it.
6. I will extend my love to all
7. I will comfort the sick
8. I will visit widows and the homeless adn share with them the scriptures
9. I will sing with someone who needs to sing
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we these an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least ot these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:34-40).

Fellowship of the Unashamed by Henry B. Eyring

    I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, or slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talk, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.
    I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power.
    My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I can't be bought, compormised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
    I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach until all know, and word until He stops me. And when He returns for his own, He will have no problem in recognizing me. My banner will be clear.

Pretty straight forward. The best gift to give our Savior is our hearts this Christmas Season.

How did they come up with putting Tinsel on trees?

Well here's your answer!

'The Story of Christmas Spiders'

In a quiet cottage in the woods lived a gentle widow and her eight children. The widow worked very hard to keep her children warm and well-fed, but money was not plentiful. When the air grew crisp, and the snow began to fall, the widow knew Christmas was coming. But instead of feeling joyful as the holiday approached, she felt sadness and sorrow. She knew that she did not have enough money to buy her children any gifts to open on Christmas morning.

"I cannot afford new toys or books," she thought, walking home through the woods one night. "What will I give my children?"

On Christmas Eve the family ate their simple Christmas dinner together, and the widow tried to conceal her worries. After tucking her excited children snugly into bed, she pulled her chair close to the fire and tried to erase the visions of their little disappointed faces from her mind. After all, what fun is Christmas morning without gifts to open?

"Perhaps a Christmas tree would make my children happy," the widow sighed.

She put on her coat and hat and walked through the woods in search of the right tree. She chose a small but beautiful evergreen, chopped it down with her husband's ax, and brought it to the cottage.

For hours, the widow carefully decorated the fragrant tree branches with colorful fruits, bits of ribbon, and Christmas cookies. Then she blew out her candle and went to bed, hoping the tree would make her children's empty Christmas a little bit brighter.

While the tired widow slept, tiny spiders crept from the cracks and corners of the cottage. They had watched her hard at work, decorating the tree for her children. Onto the branches they jumped, spinning delicate strands of silky web which gracefully covered the small tree from trunk to top. It was a beautiful sight.

When the family awoke on Christmas morning, they could not believe their eyes. The webs of silk had been turned into pure silver, covering the tree with dazzling brightness! During the night, Santa Claus had come with gifts for the children and saw the tree covered with spiderwebs. He smiled as he saw how happy the spiders were, but knew how heartbroken the widow would be if she saw her tree covered with spiderwebs. So he turned the silky webs into pure, shining silver. The next morning, as the widow watched her children sing and dance around the beautiful shining tree, she knew it would be a wonderful Christmas after all!

From that day forward, people have hung strands of shiny silver tinsel on their Christmas trees in honor of the poor widow and her tiny Christmas spiders. -- By Stephanie Herbek

Kids can teach us alot about Christmas