Feeling Grateful

Today I am feeling very grateful for good friends and a fabulous husband. I have a cold that has completely wiped me out, and on top of that, I've been trying to potty train Tyler, who has not been appreciating my efforts AT ALL. Yesterday I had about had it, when one of my good friends dropped off her little boy to play with Tyler (this was a good thing - he needed something to do!), brought me back a pizza for dinner when she picked him up and then took Tyler to her house to play for the afternoon. I spent the afternoon in bed with Ryan and then managed to get up just in time to go pick up Tyler. When I got home, James was working in the yard after being at the hospital since 6 am. He kept Tyler outside with him while I made dinner (if you can call throwing a pizza in the oven making dinner) and fed Ryan. After dinner, James did all the dishes - including all the dishes that had piled up since the night before - made brownies (and cleaned up everything after), swept and mopped the kitchen floor, vacuumed the family room and did a couple of loads of laundry. So thank you to both of you. I am so grateful for all the help and support - not only when I'm not feeling the best, but all the time.

This time out in Ohio has really taught me what it means to be a true friend. We are so lucky to be blessed with so many friends who have really become our family out here in Ohio. I am always so impressed with these women who I am blessed to call my friends. We are all, for the most part, very far from any family, have husbands that are very busy with school and/or work, and are raising at least a couple of small kids. It would be so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives, but instead, each of these amazing women look out for one another and find ways - sometimes small and sometimes big, but always appreciated - to help each other out. It's been amazing to me to watch and to learn from. I am truly going to miss these girls and the support system that we have when we move next year. I only hope that I can take what I have learned from each of them, and use it to bless the lives of the other women I come in contact with wherever we live next.

Come Again Grandma and Grandpa Evans

It was so fabulous having my parents in town for the weekend. We loved every second of it. We were all so grateful they were able to squeeze in some time to come visit and check out our lives in Ohio. James picked them up from the airport on Friday night and brought them home. Tyler looked out in the garage when they pulled up (like he does just about every night when he hears the garage door open to say hi to Dad) and he literally fell over with complete glee when he saw his Grandpa who he just adores and always has. If I was 3 and was able to express my feelings like Tyler does, I think I would have done the same thing. We loved having you here and can't wait to come see you in July in Salt Lake.

Ryan's Baby Blessing

The Sunday that my parents were in town also happened to be Fast Sunday, so we decided to have Ryan blessed that week at church. James gave Ryan a very nice blessing and it was extra special because my Dad was able to participate in it. We only wish that the rest of our families were able to be there, but it's hard to get everyone together when we live so far away. Thanks to Kathy (James' mom) for the darling outfit. Ryan looked so cute for his special day.

Tyler's Birthday

Tyler turned 3 on March 27th. We can hardly believe he is that old! My mom and dad flew in from Tokyo the next day, so we waited to celebrate with them. I don't know how he knew it was his birthday (I hadn't really said anything) but on Thursday morning, he woke up singing Happy Birthday and asking for cake. I told him we were going to do all that the next day with Grandma and Grandpa, and he seemed fine with that. However, after his nap, he was so sad when I told him that we weren't having birthday cake until the next day. Luckily, Dad came to the rescue and brought him home a cake after work.

On Friday, my parents plane was late, but Tyler was so patient. We spent the afternoon cleaning up the house and then blew up a bunch of balloons (according to Tyler, we had to have balloons to have a birthday party). During his nap, I made his birthday cake. I bought a bunch of the Toy Story characters from the Disney store and put them on top of his cake. He loved it! In fact he loved it so much, that he ended up being the only one who dared to eat his cake. He would pick up each little guy to play with, and then push it back into the cake to make them stand up again. By the time he was ready to eat it, the cake was pretty much mutilated.

He had a great birthday and we were so happy that Grandma and Grandpa were able to be there for it.

Tyler's Birthday

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Our Trip to Florida

Last month (I know, I'm a terrible blogger) James had a continuing ed. course in Tampa Bay, so we decided to make a little trip of it. We flew down early Wednesday morning and headed straight to SeaWorld. There we learned a very valuable lesson -- never ever take a very tired, somewhat hungry 3-year old, who is also a little timid and who, you think, may have an ear infection, to the Shamu show the second you walk into Seaworld. I promise it will be a disaster! Tyler cried through the entire 45 minute show and made me hold my hands over his ears. Thus, we have none of the typical pictures from SeaWorld. However, he loved seeing all the fish, turtles, baby dolphins, etc. up close. He was even brave enough to pet the huge Clydesdale horses. But we were not able to talk him into going to see any of the other shows that make SeaWorld so much fun. This has nothing to do with our trip, except for the fact that I took this picture in the hotel. We took a three-month hiatus from getting haircuts, as evidenced by this picture. Tyler loves getting his "crazy hair" in the tub.While James was at his seminar for the next few days, we went to the Tampa Bay zoo and the children's museum. Both places were a blast, and Tyler even got his very first ice cream cone. I know - how do you get to be almost 3 before having an ice cream cone? It's really quite ridiculous! Needless to say, the top scoop dropped off in about 3 seconds, but Tyler survived. Ryan spent most of the trip fast asleep in the stroller. He was so great during the whole trip - he really is such an easy and happy baby.
On Saturday we went to St. Petersburg to go to the beach. When we finally got there, the wind was blowing so hard that there was a small sandstorm going on. Tyler wasn't quite sure what to think of it, but made a valiant effort to play in the ocean with James. That is until a combination of a wave and the huge gust of wind nearly toppled him over. After that, he was pretty much done. If I ever figure out how to download the video from my camera, I'll post that video because it was really pretty funny.
Between SeaWorld and the not-so-ideal day at the beach, it may sound like a disastrous trip, but we really did have a great time. It was so nice to get out of the cold weather, and so great to be together for a few days.