Shopping and Escaping

Evie likes to go shopping a little bit more than her Dad, but for some reason she always tries to get out of every cart she is ever in! Even when she has her fun cart safari from her Aunt Jenni and Great-Grandma Ostler (thanks guys!), she still tries to escape! All toys can only entertain kids for so long.

It can't be safe when she is standing up in the cart where she's supposed to sit. So I finally give in to the inevitable, and put her down in the cart where she can't get out. At least the chair makes a nice holder for mommy's purse. It's amazing how two little sample cups can entertain kids for hours!

Maybe next time I'll try to use the straps for the cart....I just have a feeling that they will be just as effective for Evie as the straps are for her chair at home. She always finds a way to get out of anything! I guess I can say that it is never boring with Evie!

Hiking the Y

I love hiking the Y. I'm sure I've hiked it well over 75 times in my lifetime. I think I was 5 the first time I remember going. As a family (just the kids) we used to hike straight up, thinking that the trail took way too long. I was lucky to have 6 older siblings that could help me along the way. When I got older I would often hike with my brother David. We always tried to beat our best time hiking it, so it was nice to have some sort of challenge. Instead of using Evie's new hiking backpack, I thought we could try to use her jogging stroller. I still don't know if that was a good idea or not. When we hike it next we'll use the backpack and I'll give a little report on which is easier. It was a good time nonetheless and of course, David came with us. Thanks for helping us push Dave!

This picture sums up how Wes was feeling :)

Evie and I totally conquered. She told me that she wants to hike it everyday. 

I told her that once she can push me in a stroller, I'll consider it.

Doing the Dishes

Our dishwasher has just not been working properly lately and it is so frustrating! All of the food is always gone, but then it seems like there is some sort of residue that remains on the dishes afterward. I kept bothering Wes about how he needs to fix it, so last night he took the whole dishwasher apart! I was really grateful- although I felt bad because he didn't find too much in there. He did get a little gunk out though, so maybe that will help. I am just determined to get to the bottom of this! We haven't even had our dishwasher for two years! 

Wes was doing the dishes a couple of weeks ago and Evie just climbed right on the lid. I think she really wanted to help. And when she's older I am going to remind her how much she loves doing the dishes. Don't worry Evie, you'll get your chance. We wouldn't want to rob you of one of life's greatest experiences. Keep doing the dishes, and keep loving it.

Finally!

I was finally able to upload more pictures to our computer. Really there isn't just much to say without pictures. At least not on a blog. I know that I have a hard time reading long posts when there are no pictures associated with them, so I thought I would do everyone else a favor and always have pictures!  Since I last wrote, Evie got really sick. It was almost sort of cute because she lost her voice and her cries were adorable! It's the same effect as when your husband looses his voice. You feel bad because they are sick, but wish that they could have that raspy voice for just a little longer. Thank goodness she is all better and back to normal.

This is what a sick Evie looks like

I need reminders!

This is just a friendly reminder to those who ever look at this blog- please remind me to write at least once a week (hint to Weston)! I need to keep my goal- it's currently been a week and a half....but I guess as long as I don't go over two weeks, I'm okay. But a goal is a goal and I don't want to fail :). Thank you!

A Track Meet

A few weeks ago, we went up to Ogden with Wes' dad to watch Race (Wes' brother) run in a track meet. Since Evie is going to be a major track star :), we thought that it would be good to document her first track meet ever.

 Evie loves her Grandpa Ostler, and Grandpa adores her as well! 

Go Race, GO! 

Wow, there they go! 

 

Race runs for UVU and did a great job running the 1500 meter. Hopefully we'll get to see him run again during cross-country season!

We LOVE Apple

Congratulations to Weston who was just accepted to Apple's Cocoa Camp in August! Now most people would not know what that means, so let me explain.

Cocoa is the programming platform that Apple computers are run on. Do you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or an iPad? All of the apps on these devices are written with Objective C, or Cocoa. But what is the Cocoa Camp? 

Wes being accepted to the Cocoa Camp means that Apple is going to fly him down to the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, pay for his hotel and food for a week, while Apple engineers teach him how to program using Objective C.

He was just so elated upon hearing the good news. I'm so proud of him, it will be a great learning experience and I'm sure he will have a ton of fun! Hopefully this will also help him get accepted into BYU's ISYS program. Way to go Wes!

A Day With Evie

Evie is in the business of eating our faces these days. I don't know why she attacks us with her mouth, but I'd like to think that she is trying to give us kisses. What a sweetheart. She loves mommy and daddy!

I love how the hooded bath towels make babies look Muslim.
But how pretty of a Muslim she is.

Uncle Danny gave Evie an Otter Pop the other day.
She really enjoyed it (of course, who doesn't?!), but was
really proud to show Grandpa what she had. I caught this
awesome moment on camera of the second she saw Grandpa S.

I love being at home with Eveline.

From the time she was about 10 weeks, till she was 6 months, I brought her to work with me. As most know, I am now officially retired from the workforce. I worked for the Boy Scouts of America as a District Executive in the Alpine District for about two and half years. I loved working with the awesome volunteers of Highland and Alpine, and I truly miss them. They sacrificed so much to serve the youth. Those I worked with were humble and full of love. When I found out that I could no longer take Evie to work, I felt a deep loss, because to me that meant that I was no longer working. I didn't want to miss out on any part of Evie's life- or to have her raised by anyone else. 

Don't get me wrong, the decision was not hard. All I have ever wanted was to be a stay at home mom and raise righteous children. I double majored at BYU and my Primary major was Home and Family Living. My other major was Recreation Management and Youth Leadership. When I graduated from BYU, without being married, I quickly realized that I needed to continue on with my life and trust in the Lord that my dreams of becoming a wife and mother would come to pass in His timing.  Of course, I have been blessed greater than I  ever could have imagined. 

I do not know why it was hard for me to quit working. I thought it would be the greatest relief of my life! Maybe it was that I liked the awards, that I felt needed, or that I would miss those I worked with. Even though I loved being with Evie, I sometimes still felt alone and stressed. YES, it was very hard, at first. But thankfully, things quickly changed.

I have now been at home full time with her for over 4 months, and I love nearly:) every minute of it. I get to wake up to a happy baby who is excited to see her mom. I get to play with her and watch her develop. I get to look into those beautiful eyes and see a little of Heaven. I would not trade being a mom for anything in the world. I feel so blessed to have a wonderful husband who treats me like a queen and to have a darling baby. Life really couldn't be better.