Youth Conference & a Pizza Party

 This weekend was Youth Conference.  Neither of my boys have ever been so of course I made them go. Xander was especially unhappy about this but I am so glad he went obediently.  He has been so obedient lately and I am grateful.  I think they had a good time but neither will admit it.  Christy sent me the following 2 photos and she sent me a video of everyone singing Happy Birthday to Xander. 

The conference was overnight in Flagstaff so Ian promised the little boys a pizza party.  On the way to get the pizza Max told me that it was his dream to eat pizza out of the box on his bed.  So of course we let him and Evan do just that.  We aren't dream killers over here. 

I love my boys.

Injured

 This year has been a crazy injury-filled one for the boys.  Xander broke his wrist, Max lost 1/2 of his tooth, Ben broke his arm, Xander broke out in a crazy rash, Xander got stung by a scorpion and Evan got a black eye.  Above is Ben getting his cast off - I don't know who was more relieved - me or him.  That thing SMELLED!  After he got the cast on he still continued to go to every football practice and game - his coach gave him an award at the end of the season for his endurance and perseverance.  That kid is awesome!

 Poor Xander - he woke up one morning with this rash.  We are thinking he is allergic to penicillin since he was on antibiotics at the time.  The poor kid had to get a shot in the butt :(

 I am amazed that Evan's black eye was the first trampoline injury this year - he took it in stride.  I think he was glad that his glasses covered up more of the injury.

All these injuries have made me grateful that we have wonderful health insurance.  I'm so thankful for Ian's job and benefits!

Soccer

 Once again Evan is playing soccer with Rowan this season and he loves it.  I love that it is teaching him to be confident and he's getting exercise!  He's favorite position is goalie - and I have to admit he rocks at it.  It's rare a ball gets past him.  He loves to have all of his brothers come watch him.  Above Max and Ben are showing their "brotherly" love. 

 While I LOVE watching Evan play, I also love spending time with this girl.  She is awesome. 

 Max loves her to - he keeps her entertained. 

Soccer playing boys - they love being on a team together.  I love that they are best friends.

Robo

Saturday morning was crazy for me - I got up early, ran and then had a baby shower to go to.  While I was gone Evan woke Ian up and told him all about "Robo".  Here is how Evan explained it to me:  Robo is a business where Evan will build robots and computers and sell things. He wants to make money to help our family to live. 

Well I guess the thought of making robots and computers was overwhelming to Evan so he settled for selling stickers and lemonade.  Ian cleaned up an old stand we had in the garage and took Evan to the store to buy lemonade.  He then helped Evan make signs and set up chairs and an umbrella for him so he'd be comfortable. 

I was at the baby shower when Ian sent me this picture.  He told me to hurry on over to buy some lemonade. 

I love my little entrepreneur.  He made quite a bit of money for only having about 5 customers.  Thanks to aunt Laura and Cathi who stopped by. 

Fall Break Lodge

 Fall Break has flown by and I am so thankful I got the chance to sneak away to the Lodge with the boys for a few days.  Wednesday morning we helped my mom and dad pack up some stuff from their house (they sold it) and then we headed up to the high country.  In Show Low we stopped at Safeway for groceries and Michael had fun prancing around the parking lot with a skeleton head and arms.  It was hilarious watching him wave and try to pick up stuff with the arms - like the Saturday Night Live skit with the small hands.  Ben could not stop laughing. 

 Thursday we woke up to gray skies, wind, thunder and rain/sleet/snow.  The weather up there is a fickle thing.  We drove into town to make our requisite Wal Mart trip and by the time we got back the sky looked blue.  However, it continued to rain the rest of the day.  Some highlights from Thursday:  watching The Pioneer Woman on the Foodnetwork - she's making homemade pizza and ice cream pie.  Evan says, "Don't erase this grandma!  We need this food."  Later I told the boys that I used to make pizza from scratch when they were little.  Max quips, "And now all she makes is Digiorino :/

 Kim and Brian came up late Thursday night (yay!).  Brian kept Evan entertained most of the day Friday.  Evan built a robot out of Jenga blocks and then he built the word "Robo" out of the blocks in honor of a business he wants to start (more on that later)

 We also discovered just how double jointed Max is.  Freaky.  He then showed us how he can bend his legs in a weird way and walk on his feet.  That boy constantly surprises me. 

 I love when the boys are together makin' music.  For a long time on Friday Joe played guitar and him and Michael sang while we played 5 Crowns. 

I decided to travel home late Friday night - Ben and Max stayed at the Lodge with the folks and Kim and Brian, which left me with these crazies.  Michael stayed awake the whole way home to make sure I didn't fall asleep.

I love spending time with my parents and sister.  It is wonderful to go to a place where I can be me and feel unconditional love.  I can't begin to say how much I needed that.  Plus they all like me!  I can't ask for more than that :)

Star Student

Last Friday Evan announced that he would be Star Student the following week.  Since Evan hasn't been too keen on school lately I thought this would be a fun change for him to be spotlighted each day.  WRONG.

On Monday he had to fill out a poster-sized newspaper that asked all sorts of questions about him.  With Max's help he filled most of it out.  But he couldn't think of what he wanted to be when he grows up (a scientist??  a cowboy???  a builder?  and acrobat?) every answer sounded bad to him.  And then he couldn't commit to what his favorite movie is.  Every movie suggested what shot down.  I had to send some pictures with him to school and Evan agonized over which ones to send and what to say about each one. 

On Tuesday he had to bring his favorite book.  According to Evan his favorite book is Frog and Toad.  Well we don't have that book.  I don't know if he was in denial or what...but Tuesday morning was rough.  I finally sent Stellaluna with him.  When he came home that day he announced, "Huh..that book was pretty good...but it was no Frog and Toad."

On Wednesday he had to talk about a family tradition.  Luckily he thought of one and made me write it down in case he forgot.  On the ride to school he kept asking, "What's the tradition again?"  I'd say, "Remember...you had me write it down.." and then he'd question me over and over again about it.

On Thursday he had to bring in the Estimation Jar with something in it.  Everyone in the class then gets to "estimate" what's in the jar.  He was so nervous that he'd forgot how much was in the jar that he wrote it on a piece of paper and taped it to the inside of the lid of the jar.  And then he worried that some kids might cheat and try to look at the lid.  By this point I think both he and I had an ulcer from this Star Student crap.

Today (Friday) was the worst.  Evan was supposed to bring 5 things from home to show his class.  He found 2 things fairly quickly (his favorite rock and his 3 DS).  Then he found a ceramic animal he made and a Mario Brothers mushroom eraser.  That took about an hour.  He couldn't decide on the last thing.  I was going to be late for work so I made him get in the car and stopped by Circle K on the way and got him his favorite candy.  Starburst.  For some reason that made him cry which made his glasses fog up.  It's seriously the saddest thing ever when that happens.  By that point I'd had it and when we pulled up to the school I made him get out of the car.

Being Star Student is way to much pressure.

Breakthrough

Sometimes I look at this boy and can't believe he's getting so old.  And so big.  When Evan was little he threw a lot of fits - some of my "friends" would talk about it behind my back.  It was hurtful and for a long time I wondered if it was a reflection of me as a parent.  It's so easy to judge someone when you have never gone through that situation yourself.  I wondered for a long time if he'd always throw a fit when he didn't get his way or something made him upset.  Luckily, his fits are now fewer and far between - and usually as a result of him being tired or hungry. 

Evan is a quiet, shy boy with a quirky streak.  He is inquistive, creative and has an awesome sense of humor.  He brings so much happiness and joy to our home.  Last year he started kindergarten and it broke my heart.  I think it was harder on me than him.  He liked school, had friends...but never played with anyone at recess.  His teacher and I both thought of creative ways to try and get him to talk to other kids or play with others.  But he was content just keeping to himself and playing his own games at recess.  He went the whole year never engaging or playing with anyone at recess.

This was hard for me because it again felt like I was failing as a parent.  Maybe I didn't have enough play dates or introduce him to enough kids his age.  He loves his cousins Josh and Rowan (who are his age) but I still worried I did something wrong. 

This year started out the same.  Every day I ask him what he did at recess and every day he'd say, "Play my game by myself".  The other day I told him "Your goal for today is to talk to a friend and play with him at recess."  Evan replied, "Uhhh...not gonna happen"

Yesterday when I got home Evan said, "Ask me what I did at recess today."  So I asked...and he said, "Played with my friend Adam.  We played on the slide and the best part is he sits at my table in class."  It made my day.  Heck it made my week.  And today when I picked him up he told me all about the game him and Adam played at recess today. 

I don't who this Adam is...but I already love him.

First Day

 July 22 was these boys first day of school.  It should've been Xander's first day too but he likes to be different so he didn't actually start until the 25th.  I want to document that I spent the whole week before school started getting the boys ready.  This included buying Ben real shorts.  Like NOT exercise shorts.  Yet here he is on the first day in a pair of old exercise shorts.  Sigh.  I asked Evan how excited he was for the first day and he said "This much" (see picture below)

 And speaking of Evan...how crazy is it that he started 1st grade!  Seriously crazy.  And sad.  All at the same time.  Where does the time go?  Ben started 8th grade and Max is now a 4th grader - which is the top grade at their school.  So Max rules the school :)  His teacher is the same teacher that Ben and Xander had for 4th grade.  At first he wasn't too excited but after being in her class for 2 weeks he is really enjoying her sense of humor.  Max can do and understand sarcasm like nobody's business.

We are already into the 3rd week and all of the boys are doing well (so far).  Evan loves his teacher and likes school (sort of - we still have to drag him out of bed in the morning).  Max likes school and loves playing football with his friends at recess.  Ben and his friend Ian both made the Bogle football team.  Ben loves his social studies teacher, Mr. Daniels and likes being a 8th grader much better than a 7th grader.

As for Xander..he started Chandler High School, his mother's alma mater.  He likes it so far.  What he likes most is going to school with Joe and Michael.  I must say that I like that too.  His favorite classes are choir (which he has with Joe and Michael) and Seminary.  He also likes culinary - I'm hoping this means he will cooks dinner every once in a while.

I'm hopeful that I'm going to be a much better blogger.  Let's get this party started!!!

Random

 Ben goofs off.  Sometimes I am amazed how such an awesome boy can be mine. 

 Evan sleeping...again.

Max and Evan at the Lego store.  It's fun to just browse - all though Max can walk out without begging for any thing, Evan has a harder time. 

Evan turns 6

Evan turned 6 on November 6th.  I told him it was his "magic" birthday and I did my best to make it a magical day for him.  We got Bosa donuts for his class before school and then stopped at the book fair and bought a book for his class library (it's a tradition at his school to give a book on their birthday).  The best was when we got to his class, the kids that were there immediately surrounded him and wished him happy birthday.  My shy little boy was grinning ear to ear.

Although I had to work in the morning, I was able to get the afternoon off to spend with the birthday boy.  As I walked up to get him after school, his aide saw me and immediately got my attention.  "You'll never believe it" she said.  "Evan played with another boy today!"  This may seem weird but Evan has struggled since the beginning of the year with shyness.  His teacher, aide and I have devised numerous solutions and schemes to get him to engage, but to no avail.  Today, a little boy named Zane (who concidentally he invited to his party) shouted, "C'mon birthday boy, let's go play!" at recess and Evan ran to play!  Numerous boys have asked him to play before and he has always refused.  So this was a MAJOR breakthrough!!!

On the way home he proceeded to tell me what a great day he had - filled with friends, donuts, story time...his teacher told me that it was his best day EVER.

At 5 we had a small party at Peter Piper for a few of his friends.  He included Aunt Kimmy and grandma and grandpa on his list :)  Kimmy came but unfortunately grandma and grandpa couldn't make it.  Grandma made up for it by taking him on a special birthday date on Saturday.  He misses grandma and grandpa so much and talks about them all of the time.

He had such a fun time at Peter Piper.  I had fun watching him run around and play with his friends.  He had such a great day.

Facts about Evan:

favorite color:  orange
favorite food:  pizza or hamburger
favorite treat:  starbursts
favorite show:  Spongebob or Ninja Turtles
favorite(s) thing to do:  crafts, make books, give mom, dad or Ben tests

For his birthday my mom got him a wallet and he LOVES it.  Ian made him a pretend drivers license and Evan loves to put cards and money in his wallet.  It is so cute.

Interesting facts about Evan:

He routinely falls asleep eating or in the car

 He loves to draw.  Below is a picture of him with his self portrait:

 He always is creating or making something.  Below is the beard he taped on his face.  Him and Max like to make disguises :)  Currently we have no tape or glue in the house - Evan has used it all. 

 For his birthday he really wanted a Spongebob movie.  He kept telling me it was in aisle 7 at Wal Mart. :)  Below he is opening the movie. 

 Pictures from his party:

Evan's friend Sam won the jackpot! 

Michael's 4th grade teacher's son is one of Evan's friends and attended the party.  I had to get a picture.  Coincidentally she was Max's second grade teacher too

Sam wins the jackpot for a second time.  He ended up with more than 1,000 tickets

Ben won the jackpot for Evan :)

Ruby, Ro and Addy signing a birthday t-shirt for Evan

Last year at his birthday one of his friends blew out his candles.  Well, Evan did not forget and kept mentioning it all day - how Kelson blew out his candles and this year he wanted to blow them out.  Well, wish granted! 

Happy birthday Evan!

Half day

 I am so thankful for our friends, the W fam.  The boys had a half day a while ago and they invited us over to swim. 

 I didn't take many pictures but managed to get these with Max, their dog. 

 The boys had a blast swimming and jumping on the tramp.  We are lucky to have such good friends that live so close.

Hair-do

 I love this picture of Evan and Max.  Notice the glove on Evan's left hand.  Just because you never know when you will need a glove at church..

 Evan loves to do hair. 

 It's hilarious watching him do Ian's do.

Love that boy.

Josh turns 6

 Joshua celebrated his 6th birthday by having a fun filled water party. 

 There were games...

 water balloon fights and slip-n-slides...

 but the biggest hit was the inflatable water slide

 Joshua is such a smart, fun kid. 

Evan and Max both had a great time.