Times Three

"I don't do Schedules!"

Cullen turned 5 months old yesterday, and I decided it was time to get on a schedule.

I strongly believe in schedules and organization... it keeps everyone orderly and happy.

Although for the past 5 months I have let Cullen sleep when he wanted, eat when he wanted, play when he wanted and sleep in his swing (that he loves)-b/c it has been easier that way and he is my last one (probably)- So I make out a schedule for him yesterday morning- this will be easy,I told myself..... HA HA HA!

Cullen was not having any part of my schedule!

I tried to give him formula in a bottle- he threw a fit!

I put him in his crib to take a nap- he threw an even bigger fit and made himself throw up!

He cried and cried all day- unless I was holding him, and when I went to put him down he would start crying, and when I picked him up he would stop but sniffle to remind me he was still upset with me-

I tried to talk to him- and he just looked at me like

"Lady, I am the BOSS of this house, I don't do schedules!"

oh me..... the next 2 weeks will be interesting....

so if anyone has any advice on

1) how to get him to drink formula from a bottle

2) take a nap in his crib

3) and get on a schedule

I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!!!

"Getting Handsome"

Every little boy wants to be big like their daddy and mine is no different. Whatever Nathan is doing Ethan is right by his side! One night Nathan was shaving and Ethan thought that was a great idea so he asked his dad to shave him! Of course Nathan used the opposite side of the razor but Ethan did not know the difference. So just about every night before shower Ethan and his Daddy get "Handsome"!

Mouse in the House

"Mouse in the House"

About 10pm Nathan and I went to bed, I drifted off to sleep but Nathan could not so he went up to his office to do some work. At 3:24am Nathan comes running into our bedroom turns on the light and says "Mary I need your Help, Hurry up, Run." I am in a dead sleep- I jump up, don't even get my glasses on b/c I am so startled- immediately thinking something is wrong with the kids. I look up and I see Nathan running with a mop, so I think ok someone is sick and throwing up, Nathan tried to clean it up and it is a mess- this must be bad-I get to the kitchen and I see all the chairs pulled out from under the table, I kinda see the couch in the Hearth room moved to the side- and Nathan standing there with the mop ready to swing it. At this point my heart is racing- I am still half asleep, every thing is blurry , I am looking for my kids to see which one is sick, and hearing Nathan saying "Stand there and block him". WHAT IS GOING ON? "It's a mouse Mary- I hate Mice, Help me corner it and kill it, I have been trying for 30 min." I go on to tell him, his first problem is he has a mop! I run back and get my glasses so I could see what I was doing. Then I go get a big broom for Nathan.

Nathan moves the couch and out and the little mouse ran- and he was fast- he went into the fireplace- so we waited and waited- Nathan was so pumped up and determined to get this mouse-he was not about to go to sleep- then the mouse came out running towards me, I either hit him with the mop or just scared him b/c he went back toward Nathan and that was the end!

So today will be the happiest day for Ava Grace Evans b/c she has been wanting a kitten for almost 2 years and today we are off to get 3!

Daddy HATES MICE!!!!!!!

Hurry, Hurry, Spring!

I can't wait for Spring to get here. This past weekend was beautiful-we played outside, camped out and had some friends over to play! It was a Great weekend!

Cade, Cannon, Landry, Cole and Ella came to play Friday
Ava just loves Cade- they hugged and hugged

Ethan was so happy to have boys here to play but he

was worried that Landry and Ella were going to eat the playdoh-
It was a fun day but we missed Dalton and Parker!
Spring hurry, hurry, hurry.....

evans first annual campin' trip

The kids have been asking Nathan and I to take them camping for about a year. Something always happens and we just can't go. So Saturday since it was so pretty Nathan had a wonderful idea! He surprised the kids with a camping trip... and it was the best kind of trip... OUR BACKYARD!!!! All day the kids helped Nathan get everything ready for their BIG night!!

When it got dark we went out and roasted our smores!!! YUMMY-

Then in for bath and putting on pjs-

Everyone had their sleeping bags and they were off--

I told Nathan I bet they would be in the house in 30min. But I was wrong. In 5 min. Ethan said "Dad let's go to sleep" and he fell asleep. He loves the dark- so it did not bother him. He slept all night-I was so surprised Ava stayed outside, b/c it got cold- she got in her daddy's sleeping bag to keep warm... About 8am I heard all of them come in and they got in bed with me and Cullen!
What a wonderful camping trip!!!

"curious minds want to know"

Every day I get asked 100 questions. "Mommy, what is bigger a whale or a dinosaur?"

"Mommy, what does this mean?" "Mommy, how do you spell this?" on and on....

About 99 % of the time I am can answer the question but now and then I send them to daddy.

I have always feared the day when I am asked a question that I am not ready to answer..but always told myself I have some time b/c they are still small.

Well that day came yesterday. We were outside playing in the yard and

Ava came to me with a serious look on her face and the conversation went like this:

Ava: "Mom I really need to ask you a very important question"

Me: "what is your question?" thinking it was something about going to kindergarten-

Ava: "Actually, I have two very important questions for you. How does the baby get into a mommies belly and how does the baby come out?"

if you have ever been caught off guard and started to feel nauseous and a little dizzy. Well that explains what I felt in that moment.

We have always been honest with our kids, except for the normal things -Santa, tooth fairy, Easter bunny-

So I was torn on what to say and I really did not have time to sit there and contemplate an answer so I said a quick prayer to God to help me...

Me: "when a mommy and daddy get married God puts a baby in her tummy."

Ava: "with his magic"

oh my..... I was hoping the conversation would stop there... but not with Ava Grace.

Me: "God does not do magic, you know magic is not real and is just for fun, God puts a baby in mommies tummy with His Love. God loves us so much and wants us to be happy, and gives us children so we can love you like He loves mommy and daddy."

Ava: "ok"

woooooooooo that was over.. hoping she had forgot about the second question..

but no!
Ava: "So how does the baby come out?"

I did proceed to tell her in the simplest way I knew how- I have always heard if you keep your answer short and truthful the child will most likely except what you say and go on to something else.

and she did....

I wish when you have a baby you get a BIG book on how to be a parent.. It is the hardest job I have ever done, but by far the most rewarding! I hope I handled this well and have not scared my child for life.

friend, n. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts. One who supports, sympathizes with and is loyal.

Moving to Clayton meant leaving some dear friends of mine which was hard for me to do. Then three of the most sweetest girls came into my life, Lisa Hardee, Michelle Oliver and Allyson Lee. They befriended me, included me in special events, introduced me to other people in Clayton, gave me advice and a listening ear. Each of them are such good role models in their own special way and I am so thankful and blessed to know these girls and to have them in my life.

Allyson: thank you for listening and giving me advice when I call overwhelmed with having 3 kids and no time- always being kind and thoughtful-and for being such a wonderful mommy role model!

Lisa: thank you for always including me when you girls do something-giving me advice-being so sweet and for your words of wisdom you give me on marriage!

Michelle: thank you for answering the phone when you see it is me calling again about chemicals in foods/drinks and allergy questions-for just talking with me about random things that are going on that day and great budget ideas!!!

I just hope I can be as good of a friend to you as you have been to me!