Winter fun

Merry almost Christmas! Evan doesn't get that Santa is someone he should get to know yet. I keep telling him he is the kind of guy you want on your side.

Evan loves his "hata-hata" (hat) and gloves. He likes to wear them around for fun.

Nick and Evan by our tree 

Grandma Lois made me a TRUCK blanket!  

I know how to use the camcorder on my own! please. 

I love grape jelly toast! 

Truck ornament doesn't stand a chance.  

Who needs a chair?

What? Grandpa Dave said I could.

I am ready to go play outside.  

Evan kept dusting the snow off his pants, but then he realized it was fun. 

First snow fall and 30+ degrees made for a perfect day outside.

Our neighbors, the Hinke's, brought over toys BEFORE Christmas and made Evan's year!

He couldn't even get ready for school he was so excited.  

We are off to Cedar Rapids for Christmas with the Varcoes/Keatings and then to San Diego to meet up with the Wielands and Odoms! After Evan's love for the fish and animals at Bass Pro Shop I think the San Diego Zoo will suit him just fine. :) Pray we make it through the flight without an emergency landing for a uncontrollable toddler.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!

Love,
Nick, Amy and Evan

Santa - I don't think so.

Our happy baby boy gets to meet Santa for the second time...at least he is consistent.

Last year...

This year...

 No Santa involved = an angel.

 Great Grandma and Grandpa at Thanksgiving with second cousin Clayton.

 Opening early Christmas presents with Grandma Lois from Great Grandpa and Grandma.

 Brushing my teeth with my santa hat on and jammies with the flap in the back. What, everyone does this, come on.

Been good all year (that is what the shirt says anyway)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,

Nick, Amy and Evan

Boys Night Out

Last night, Evan and I went to our first high school basketball game together. My alma mater Linn-Mar was playing at Waukee so Evan and I decided to drive the two blocks in the frigid cold for a fun night out while Mom was stuck working late. Amy, Evan and I ventured to a Waukee football game this fall and we lasted the equivalent of one Ricky Stanzi-led 3 and out before he was ready for they playground next door!
Before the game, Evan and I dined at the very classy Pizza Ranch before heading over to the game and it didn't take long to realize why Mom's are so great to have around. Dad forgot to pack a sippy cup, eating utensils, wet wipes and spare diapers! That coupled w/ our refusal to sit in the high chair, made for a meal setting pack of hungry wolves would have loved. After a healthy dinner of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, banana pudding, blueberry streusel dessert and ice cream, it was off to the gym.

Needless to say, Evan was very excited to be at his first game. We arrived at halftime of the sophomore game and Evan didn't move a muscle for the first five minutes of game action except to point at the basketball and join in the cheering and clapping. Evan started to get a little restless towards the end of the sophomore game but lucky for us the Waukee pep band arrived and serenaded w/ such joyful tunes as YMCA & Summertime Blues.

Mom was able to escape soon after and join us for a while. Evan then dragged her back into the gym to show her the ball and the band. As it was approaching 8.15, Mom and Evan then left for the night and Mom said Evan was out like a light by 8.30! All that action on the court and in the band clearly outweighed all the sugar Dad allowed Evan to eat at dinner!

Nick and Evan

Big boy hair cut

I finally gave up. I caved and got Evan a real big boy haircut. Evan did great, notice he did get two suckers, but he was a pro! I will admit, I am not a hairstylist, nor will I ever be. Leave it to the experts.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Wisconsin. We got to see all of our family, even Uncle Eric...through Skype. It was the first time we had seen him since July and we were all so happy! Evan was a little tired, but he did get to show off a little for Eric.

It was hunting season in Wisconsin and this was one of many deer we saw in the back of trucks. Ew. We told Evan the deer were sleeping to avoid any long conversations:)

Evan is ready for Christmas

We are home the rest of December until Christmas and then we are off to San Diego. Any advice for flying with a toddler who never stops is welcome!


Evan's new words/tricks:

• Fire Truck - sounds pretty close too
• Frog - sticks out his tongue like a frog
• does show me your muscles and the Fightin' Irish little guy
• Says Dora and Oh Toodles from cartoons
• Thank you and please very well in sign language and kind of grunts the words out - has been doing it for a while now, but really knows the meaning now
• counts 1,2, 3- 2 is his favorite to say, 3 not so much
• he has reverted back by calling Nick mama - we say dada he says mama, stinker totally knows what he is doing
• points at people in pictures- find grandma, mama, dada, etc.
• waves bye bye to everything, the TV, the cats, everyone at school, the garbage truck and bus on the road - I started it so he wouldn't freak out when we left in the morning or when buses would zoom by and he couldn't see them anymore. I would just say bus went bye bye or tell Mickey Mouse bye bye and now he knows it is ok those things go bye bye, less freak outs:)

Love,
Nick, Amy and Evan

Nicknames for Evan this week

This past week we have had some mishaps involving Evan's face and head.

First nickname: Van Gogh
I have always cut his hair, except for his first birthday. I usually cut it in the bath because he is occupied by toys. This time I was trimming around his ear and yep it happened, I trimmed his ear! He bled like a stuck pig. I was crying, Nick remained calm and Evan even gave me a hug because I was crying so hard. I felt terrible!

Second nickname: Fork Face
Evan is obsessed with getting his silverware out of the drawer, not ours, his. We have upgraded to metal silverware, he bypasses the plastic, too elementary for him I guess. He carries them around when he is playing or getting ready for dinner, doesn't matter. He was going down the stairs, a skill he has mastered on his belly, carrying a fork and his stood up one step from the bottom and fell, his cheek took the brunt of the fall on the fork. Again we were bleeding, luckily mom wasn't involved in this one. I am usually the one in charge when bleeding occurs.

Evan is also obsessed with balls, always has been, but now it is to a new level. He wants to take them to school with him and take a nap at home with them. In most pictures Evan is carrying a ball or searching for one. It is like Where's Waldo, but with balls.

Here is a picture with a real baseball after waking up from his nap.

Here is a family picture at the monster walk.

Nick put up the Christmas lights early this year because it was 70 degrees. All of our neighbors will be jealous when it is 20 degrees outside after Thanksgiving. Evan of course had to help.

More pictures I forgot to upload:

Evan likes to drink his milk from his cereal.

Another one of his sleeping during lunch moments.  

BFF cousin Jack in ND gear

ND gang - Jack, Evan, Uncle Bill and Uncle Mike

Standing on a big digger

 Love,

Nick, Amy and Evan

Halloween Fun

Evan and Nick had a blast dressing up for Halloween this year. Evan was a gorilla and Nick was a banana. We had fun with the neighborhood kiddos. I think Evan really just liked the door bell ringing non-stop for 2 hours. He was so excited when kids would come to the door.

Nick and Evan watching ball.  It has been a little rough with Notre Dame lately, so we have been cheering on the Packers and Hawkeyes:)

 Evan had a few days when lunch was just too much and he fell asleep, spoon in hand.

 Trying out his costume, notice in a few pictures he always has a ball.

 Evan and girlfriend Harper on the Monster Walk at school. They get to go around the hospital and get candy from different departments. Nick and I got to go and see them, but then he just wanted mom and dad to walk with him.

 Helping mom make Halloween treats. Even got to lick the beaters!

Neighborhood kiddos getting ready to trick or treat. Notice a ball again in Evan's hand.The big banana is my proud husband, holding a Tootsie Roll, aka Aiden. Owen is the cheeseburger and his sister Aubrey is the strawberry. Baya is the ISU cheerleader in front. In back is Gavin as batman, Charlotte as a cheerleader witch and Drake as Spiderman. Whew...

My boys the gorilla and banana

 Answering the door and giving out candy.

Mom are more people coming? 

Evan and me along with Harper and her mom Erin at the hospital Monster Walk. Evan looks a little sleepy in this picture, but he was having fun.

 Evan, Harper, Austin and friends on the Monster Walk. Evan's laid back with his leg hanging out.

18 month pictures

I attempted my own photo shoot with our busy 18 month old. Our photographer told us at one year 18 month and 2 year photos were the hardest. So I thought why waste the money and sweat =, we'll see what we can get. I think Evan did great!

Dad was a great assistant, even threw leaves on the count of 3.

Happy Fall!

love,
Nick, Amy and Evan