Merry Christmas

I haven't posted much so I thought I'd catch up a little...

Our biggest achievement of the year is the addition of Ms Lillianna Joy Evans now 7 months and growing like crazy. She is a sweetheart and has inherited her brothers love of food. She started solids and now wants to et EVERYTHING but especially plastic. The other day I was nursing her and had been for about 15 min when I noticed something green in her mouth and it was a piece of a Christmas Light! I pray we can keep our floors vacuumed and stay out of the ER.

Here are the kids by our not so fashionable Christmas tree. When Adam and I first got married, we had a beautiful color coordinated tree with ribbon and a star. Now our tree is officially a hodge podge. One of my favorite traditions is to receive an ornament each year usually in memory of a vacation or something that we remember that year. My parents have been doing this since I was born so I have 30 plus ornaments just myself, plus Adams and each of the kids and a few extra special handmade paper ornaments that may not make it to next year. This years tree is especially hodge podge because last year I thought Id be smart and buy a clearance tree- well it doesn't fit in our living room so we had to leave the top section off leaving the top of our tree flat. I fashioned a GIANT bow out of decomesh to camoflauge the top which I think works pretty well.

We are still in Virginia and enjoying it very much. We love this picture because it shows the calendaresque sights we see all fall here. Adam keeps working hard as First Counselor in the Branch Presidency and has one year left of school before he will gradate in Electrical Engineering Technology. I think I am on my tenth calling but for now I teach the 10 and 11-year old girls in primary, teach Actitivity Days and organize all musical activities (aka choir, Christmas program, Christmas party entertainment) It's fun and we definately stay busy. We are so grateful for our friends, our family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ which all give joy and meaning to our lives. With Love,

Adam, Becky, Jack, Charlie and Lilly

Back to Virginia and Jelleystone

Since coming home from Utah, a lot has happened. Becky started back to work and then the boys all started school, Jack had his first day of kindergarten, Charlie started preschool, Adam started College and Lilly started to be tended by Sister Hodnett for a few hours each morning while Adam is in class.

On Aug 12^th we celebrated 8 years of happily ever afters. I can’t believe it has been that long, but at the same time, I feel like we have been together forever. To celebrate, we took the whole family to Jelleystone. We met Yogi the bear and had dance parties with him and Boo Boo and Ranger Rick. We had a blast going down the water slides and jumping on the big jump pillows.

We went on Safari at Safari park and rode in the back of a wagon and fed Emu, Buffalo, Elk, Llamas, Zebra and goats out of our buckets of food. The llamas were naughty- they tried to steal our buckets!! The boys had a blast and we took videos of ourselves dumping food into the buffalo’s mouths. We also fed a giraffe and carried both Charlie and Lilly once they got tired.

We have settled back into a routine and after a rough start for Jack, school routine is getting easier. For Labor Day, we got to go down to Fayetteville and visit Matt and Mandy and their adorable family. We went out on their boat and just visited and played- it was so nice. Adam keeps telling me that I seem so much happier now that I’ve got my friendship batteries recharged by one of my best friends. I can’t wait for them to come visit us at our house. I’m so glad that we are finally living close enough to visit.

Weborrowed an RV from Bro and Sis Sechrist which was so fun because we had air-conditioning!
While on Safari, we weren't supposed to feed animals with horns but we could set it under our seats and the animals would come up and lick it off the wagon.
Jack feeding an Emu
Me feeding a camel and holding on very tightly so that my bucket didn't get swiped. As Dora says, "Swiper, no swiping!"
Jack and Boo Boo the bear. After we got home, we had to rent Yogi the Bear movies.
The boys got drenched on their wagon ride and Jack saved his last squirt to get me wet.
First and Only fish
I'm thinkin, I'm thinkin'...
Going down the slide at the water park
Evil turtle at the Safari Adventure
First Day of School!!
Lilly's Blessing Day in Aug.

Jack rockin the kneeboard
We had to buy a new tube to replace the tippy tube and we love it! Its green and very fast.
Matt and Mandy's boat on their private lake in their awesome neighborhood.
Eli
Wendy

Utah cont. Lots of pictures...

We had so much fun I could probably go on and on and on but a picture is worth a thousand words and I'm a little bit lazy...Four generations- three of us are the oldest girls :)
Family photo- Lilly is 2 weeks.
Lilly slept through the Evans Family reunion party. She did win the prize for the best costume and for youngest baby there.
Charlie liked the Leis
Grandpa Mike Evans surveys the fun
The 4th of July parade at Grandpa Evans' ward. We did a bike parade and pancake breakfast- yummy!
Batting cages with Grandpa
Floating in the Great Salt Lake
Mini Golf at Cherry Hill
Charlie the batting pro
Bradbury Farm t-shirts.
Our very own cabbage patch doll
Grandma Mushy had baby whispering powers.
Jack's job was to pick strawberries
The 3 baby girls! Shanna and Sophie, Jessica and Bailey Joy and Me and Lilly Joy
Sophie, Bailey, Lilly
Grandma B made all the girls cute little crochetted blessing dressed. they were so cute and it was so fun to have them all together.
three boys in order and three new baby sisters.
Uncle Phil's special rock garden.

I helped my good friends Rachel and Linsey at the Annual Princess ball for kids with cancer- so rewarding and enjoyable.
Grandma Julie was so excited to hold Lilly Bean
My cousins at Grandma's 90th birthday party
Doin pretty darn well for her age...
Grandma Evans and Lilly t a wedding reception.

Utah Trip

With Madi and Brennan at Uncle Phil's remembrance party
Charlie the gardener

Samy and Charlie- Best Buddies
Blowing bubbles with our friends the HALES
Becky and Punkie- Best buddies
Daddy's girl