evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

Hey guys, isn't this cool? Evan made it! Read about it here.

He's doing a lot, seeing a lot, and having a great time. I'm so happy for him. (yes, I admit it though - I'd rather be there with him than here in Rexburg) It's been a great opportunity for him.

And we get to see him on Saturday!!!

A recap of the past couple of weeks: Evan got the chance to attend free art workshops at the Academy of Art University of SF. Check out his blogjournal. We all drove together two Thursdays ago, driving from sunset to sunrise and spent four glorious days with the Niemans and Jessica's family in Clayton. We've been wanting to take a trip to SF anyways so this last minute decision was an exciting one. We had such a good time! Evan has the pictures that we took. Hopefully he'll have time to post them sometime soon.

We ran around Berkeley, the city and the piers, saw bridges and seals, a fireworks show accompanied by an all american school band, got to see Penelope Nieman receive her baby blessing, had ethiopian food, had ramen in a ramen shop for the first time ever, and just enjoyed blissfully nice california weather. I would have loved to see the MOMA and other museums but Nina and I had to brave the back to rexburg. We got back Tuesday morning, showered, and met Bethany Smith at the Hart building, we got to see devotional with her and Jonathan and then hang out! It doesn't feel like it's been a year since I saw her last. Sad we only had a few hours to hang out but I was so grateful! The next day, Nina and I left again for Boise to spend the next 4 crazy days with my 3 nephews while Cassy & Don went on a trip. It was quite a whirlwind. Evan is now staying with Devon Perona's gracious family and he's been really enjoying his workshops.

Now we are back at home in Rexburg, as of Sunday night. It's just me and Nina until we go to Seattle on the 23rd where Evan will meet up with us. After being alone with 4 kids, being with just one is more manageable than I thought it'd be on my own. Still, we need Evan. We miss him a lot.

These are for Evan from Nina (or anyone else interested):


This was Nina on Sunday night when we got back from Boise. I still can't believe how well she traveled the whole last week and a half!


Nina's wondering where Daddy is


Apparently it was something I said? haha





These last ones were all across the street at porter park. That's a carousel in the background, next to the spray park. Nina loves to sit and watch the carousel when it's open and running.

we are connecting on the inter-web.

Unfortunately Nina is already asleep after today's long drive from Boise to Rexburg, her fourth long drive in the last week and a half. So Evan will have to wait till tomorrow to see her too. She did a superb job every and every time - Rexburg to SF, SF to Rexburg, Rexburg to Boise, Boise to Rexburg. Even when the Shilo Inn tried to sabotage my overnight stay and I only slept two hours there!!!! Sheeesh!!

Now Evan and I are using AIM through ichat and having a good time making faces with one another. It is a lot of fun. Now I am laughing a lot. Well it's good. It's hard to be apart and it's really nice to see each other again.

This weekend I became a single mom of at first one, then four children. Luckily single mom-dom was temporary. My appreciation for single moms is off the roof.

HOW DO THEY DO IT.

HOW DO THEY DO IT!?

I didn't have a single break (even after they went to bed) until the third day when I got a raging migraine in the middle of the day and was rescued by a very very kind woman from my sister's ward. She herded the four munchkins over to her house while I took a nap. I don't think single moms ever have breaks. So props to a friend & old roomate of mine Cassie's mom was a single mom with 13 kids. (unbeleivable. HEROIC.)

I'd been planning this adventure for months and so when Evan got busy and went to San Francisco I decided to keep my plans. I figured, "four days by myself with these kids isn't that big a deal, but the break for my sister is" so I'm really glad I got to do it. They kicked my butt but I love my three nephews.

I just ask myself: WHY didn't I think to do this type of thing for Cassy before Nina was born? I guess I didn't see the opportunity because I hadn't experienced the challenges of parenting myself. I wish I had thought of doing this sooner, I'm sure it would have been a huge help to Cassy & Don in the past, and I could have spent time with the boys. Hindsight is 20/20 right?

This experience was timely for me. 7 months on the parenting train myself, 3 weeks into a job mentoring young children, I can't think of better experience than this to put into practice the flood of parenting information I've been discovering lately. And it's so importnat, because it will ultimately be the most important thing I will do in my lifetime, shaping the future of another person's life. Two weeks ago I started reading books like "1-2-3 Magic" and the Baby Whisperer's Toddler book, and here I am with my own case study to put what I've been learning in practice. Heavenly Father couldn't be cleverer. I didn't even see this life curriculum coming, even after I had been praying to be prepared to be a good mom for Nina. Needless to say, I've got a LOOONG way to go to really learn these things, but I feel like it's POSSIBLE.

I leave you with a question to ponder from five year old Spencer:

"What time do bees have dinner?"