Evalynn Nancy is 11 Months Old!

Our precious Evie is 11 months old.  She is such a whiz and so fun to watch grow up.  We all adore her so much.

She claps!  Yay for 11 months!

Evalynn started take steps about a week ago and now she's practically running.  She's such a determined little sass.

Evalynn loves exploring, playing outside, taking walks and bike rides, and being with her people. 

She knows what the lion says and the elephant and sometimes the monkey.  She likes to mimic the animals in our Noisy Zoo book.

Evalynn loves Ruby kitty and playing in the water.  She doesn't love no-no's or being alone!  She's brave and falls a lot as a result, but doesn't stay down too long.

One more month until 1 year, little sister.  Life with you is such an adventure!

Week in the Life {Sleepover, Surprise Visit, New Words, Outside Play}

Sunday, July 19th
We woke up at Grandma and Papa's Sunday morning.  Sleepovers are always a treat.  Evalynn was an absolute bear through the night and I realized it was because she was cutting a tooth - she woke up with tooth #5!!  The other 4 and Mike slept in the camper, which the kids thought was an absolute delight, and woke up to a thunderstorm.  Ev and I were up early because she is a turkey, and we tried to be quiet and not wake Grandma up, but....Ha.

Papa made up french toast and then we spent the morning playing and visiting.  I had the kids take a rest because family was coming for supper and I knew they'd play hard!
Evie had loves for Nannie when she got there!

These boys just play so hard...

We had a great supper, and enjoyed visiting and playing games.

Evie and Uncle Brad...this is my mom's younger brother from ND.

Never enough time when family comes to visit.

Ameliya and Xavier both enjoy heart to heart visits with people.  Renae told me she had a good visit with Xavier and I appreciated how willingly all of the adults included him in their beanbag toss games.  Here, Mia is filling Renae in on life - they were talking about when she was so sick and Renae told Mia she was sure glad she isn't sick anymore and Mia said, "yeah, but I did get a lot of treats when I was," and she giggled and giggled and giggled.  She's not wrong.  She did.  We spoiled her rotten.

We had a late night Sunday, but it was worth it to get to visit with all our immediate family plus our ND folks. 

Monday, July 20th
We started slow Monday after a busy weekend and rested a lot.  The only picture I took all day was of Ev's new tooth - I took it when she was already angry - I didn't make her angry to take it.
Bottom to the left of the middle chiclets.

Zayden completed his pledge memory challenge!

Mike took Zayden and Natalee for their ice cream reward for completing memory challenges and grabbed a couple pics for me.

Tuesday, July 21st
I started my morning out following a pair of our robins.  We have two pairs nearby now!

Breakfast chats with my boy...

We were outside Tuesday evening and I took these sweet pictures of my sweet swinging babies.

Worn out Evie.

Wednesday, July 22nd
I left on a walk while Mike was still home Wednesday morning to try to clear my head and I found this statue.

So honestly, Monday and Tuesday were hard.  Hard, hard days.  Some special needs were striking back, I'd actually had to call Mike home from work for help with a child, and I was in a miry pit.  My sweet friend knew I was in a pit and sinking, and she showed up Wednesday from an hour and a half away, just like it was nothing.  She brought lunch and snacks, she brought a mom cheer bag, but more importantly she brought love and companionship.  She visited with me while I cleaned out my school hutch, we solved all the world's problems (kidding), and the children had a great time with each other.  I took no pictures until the end of the day - right before they left we took the kids to the park and found it to be empty and safe to play.  They had a blast and got hot and sweaty and completely beautifully filthy!

So very thankful.
I made Chelsie take a picture with me before she left - after we were hot and sweaty from the park.  Ha.  Not that I do my hair anyways these days.

Thank you, Chelsie for your selflessness and reminding me I'm not alone.  Love you, friend.
Even Evie was dirty faced when we got home.  She said another new word, though, and has said it consistently the rest of the week.  "diaper"

Thursday, July 23rd
Mike and Natalee had an early morning.  They headed to the city to the orthotist to pick up her new custom shoe inserts.  We're praying these help with some of her recent pain.
Ornery Evie in the morning...

Mike and Natalee were back before we had finished with breakfast!  Mike headed to work and I tackled the junk drawer on our hutch! 

Much more serviceable and ready for school now.

When Mike and I got home from work, Natalee and I went to the shoe store for new shoes.  She sized up half size with her new inserts.  We found her two pairs and I snagged a cute pair of slip on shoes for me, too.

Pair #1 - black with rainbow edges - for "playing, slipping on quickly, and daily use."

Pair #2 - purple!  For "going out."

After supper we went outside to enjoy the evening. 

I played "hammock ball" with the kids, in which the pitcher (me) sat in the hammock and pitched the ball to the children. 

Evie came to help me (we use a wiffle ball in the yard, not a hard ball).

After hammock ball we played peek-a-boo and Evie started repeating the words after us.  I'm in awe of her little brain growing everyday.

Friday, July 24th
Let's see - I spent a lot of time on Marco Polo catching up with my friends on Friday.  I also reminded all the Facebook peeps to be KIND while folks start having to make decisions for schooling as the schools roll out their re-opening plans.

When Daddy came home the kids got in the pool.  I made supper while he watched them, and then he and I (and Ev) actually ate and visited alone while the kids swam.

Then I served them beef stroganoff outside and they got back in the pool!

Saturday, July 25th
A day of sleeping in, lazy mornings, cartoons, and CHORES!  Mia and Zayden were charged with cleaning up the garage, Ruby's cage, litter, etc.  Dad did the lawn.  Mom did the laundry and bathroom (and all the other things mom does in a day).  The chairs got cleaned, bedding got washed, and so many other things. 

The kids swam late afternoon and we had roast and smoked pork that I had frozen a few weeks ago for supper.  I love easy - and I served the soggy kids outside, which meant clean up was easier, too!

Little Sam thought he could use the bug spray on his own and got his eye.  I brought him right in and flushed it out and put him in the shower.  Sigh.  Even "natural" sure left a sting.  Hoping it looks better in the morning.

We did a rotation of showers and making beds and everyone tucked in quite readily after a busy day!

Week in the Life {Papa's Bday, Memory Work, Graduation Celebration}

Sunday, July 12th

Worship at home.  Zayden really enjoyed the music.

 

We spent the rest of the day resting, relaxing, reading, and enjoying being home.

 Xavier completed his president recitation challenge.

He earned his ice cream and chose cookie dough blizzard from the local ice cream trailer.

Monday, July 13th
Good morning, Evalynn!

Our days were filled with lots of play and sunshine, and a couple of rainy days mixed in.  Monday Zayden needed a nap.

We enjoyed the beautiful evening on Monday and were all outside when Daddy got home. 

He and Ev had a row when he wouldn't let her eat bird poop.

Tuesday, July 14th
Morning wrestling...

We were going to grill, but it was raining when Mike got home, so I fried chicken (almost as healthy as grilling, right?) and made a nice supper.  While I was doing that, I had the older two kids come in and work on doubling a cookie recipe.  My purpose was three-fold - (1) cookies are delicious (2) doubling a recipe is great math skills and (3) when you double a recipe you have enough to have an excuse to yard visit friends that we've been missing.

 They did a wonderful job!

We had a big supper - we're working on passing the food around the table and each person serving themselves politely!  Here's Little Sam using the tongs to get himself some fried chicken.

My mom would have put everything into a serving bowl - I'm still working on my domestic skills.  Ha.

After supper and clean up we took cookie plates to our friends Kathy and Merle and Gale and Cor.  It was so nice to see their faces after so many months!  We got home into for a nice storm to blow in.

Wednesday, July 15th

Good morning, Trouble!

The kids wrote some letters to friends on Wednesday!

I had Xavier bring up the shopping cart for Evie.  She has no knowledge of shopping carts because she's not seen one that she ever remembers, but she caught on to the pushing aspect pretty quickly.

Thursday, July 16th

Happy 60th birthday, Papa!

After we made our signs for Papa, the kids spent a good deal of time outside.

Evie got herself some popsicle when the big kids had a treat.  She loves popsicle.

We had a little quiet time during Evie's afternoon nap.  Mia listened to Charlotte's Web on audio, Zayden listened to and watched Vooks on the iPad, and the big kids read.  Mom read, too, and it was blissfully quiet.

After supper, we FaceTimed Papa to tell him Happy Birthday!

Then we roasted some s'mores just for fun!
Waiting for the fire....oops!

Bath and bed for baby while everyone else played outside.

Friday, July 17th

I made many dozens of brownies for Colby's graduation party, but had to pause to make some supper for my crew.  Our favorite sheet pan pancakes and sausage/egg breakfast sandwiches.

Natalee completed her Psalm 91 recitation challenge.

Saturday, July 18th

We set aside most of our day on Saturday to celebrate our nephew's high school graduation.  We're so proud of Colby and so excited to see what the future holds for him!

It was a beautiful afternoon and evening with family. 

As the crowd grew, Mike took all of our kids and Theo back to Grandma and Papa's to clean up, play, and rest.  This freed Lauren and I up to be actual helps to Andrea and keep the food and stuff fresh so she could visit and enjoy her evening.

Our Saturday ended late but happy, and we slept over at Papa and Grandma's so we didn't have to drive back.  We had family in from North Dakota and wanted to visit with them again the next day!