We're gonna need a few more computers in the house!

Evan has decided that it's HIS turn at the computer! Evie already has it 50% of the time playing on Noggin.com, YoVille, and Pirates Online... (with me taking the other 50% during the day to facebook (YoVille), blog, and play Pirates Online).

Joe gets a little time in the evenings after he gets off of work, provided I'm not being a computer hog... and Evan, not so much.

Today, he started hitting the keys, like he usually does.. pulling up browser windows and other windows that I didn't know existed. So I figured, "why not?" I pulled up a preschool, "hit the keys and watch what happens" website, and he had a great time.. and appreciated being treated like a big kid.

Little Rocker

Evan likes to dance. What 18 month old child doesn't? But I could never figure out just what music he seemed to favor. Well, I found it. I was cleaning the house one day and was listening to some music and the only song that seemed to move him was AC-DC's "Back in Black". You gotta love a kid who appreciates good music!

Finishing off Christmas with Family

We just got home from a lovely weekend trip to Cincinnati with family.
The entire clan was there!

Here are some pics and videos from the weekend!

Evie and cousin Joel playing video games together:



Evie and cousin Zadee posing beautifully



Evie, Zadee and Joel




Me with brother in law, Stephen



Evie and Daddy



Angelique, Joel, Zadee, David and Lauren


Theresa and Timm


Grandpa and Evan reading



Here's a video of Evan playing ball with Joel and Josh



And lastly, a video of the group!

Cheetah Patch!

Evie's new rank as of tonight, Cheetah Patch! It's her mid term rank to her Yellow belt.. and in 8 weeks, she'll be a camo belt! Amazing. This girl rocks!

Here I am tying on her promotion headband and she's holding the patch that I am to sew onto her belt.





And here she is yet again with the Number One Instructor, Miss Melanie Newberry



Congratulations, Evie!

Our Super Star!

So I get an email from my friend, Kacee telling me that she saw Evie in the Central Illinois Families Magazine that was in Saturday's News Gazette. She was telling me that it was a big picture and a couple of small ones. I called the News Gazette and picked up a few copies yesterday and was so suprised to see that Evie was in so many pics and that the "big" picture was in fact an entire page photo!!!

Check this out!
And if you click on the pictures you can blow it up to read the article... it's actually quite good!

Table of Contents page.. first pic is Evie!


Top WHOLE page for the sports section:




First page of article.. she's in line waiting to do kicks...



And then the 2nd page of article, she's blocking Miss Melanie's punches..




I scanned the magazine pages and the magazine is pretty large so it was kind of tricky for me to get the whole page so I apologize for some missing edges on the article but you can still make out what it says. (If you blow up the pictures anyway)

Just wanted to share it with you! I'll be sharing graduation pics with you later tonight or tomorrow as Evie has mid term belt graduation tonight.. she'll have a "Cheetah" patch and headband to accompany her yellow belt.. in 8 weeks, she'll be a camo belt! WOW!

Just Because...

...they looked so sweet..




Evie is holding Evan and giving him some warm milk after a nap. He was still groggy and she got him out of the crib for me and plopped him on her lap and "fed" him. (Mind you, he does this himslef nowadays) but after a nap he likes to lay on my lap to have his milk.. like a little baby ;) Today, he was Evie's baby. So sweet. She even changed a diaper for me last week! She is going to be a great babysitter!

"Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful"

It is -11 degrees outside right now.. "feels like -31" according to weather.com.

This picture was taken an hour ago from my van when I was silly enough to go out to McDonald's to get breakfast for the family. Joe stayed in with the kids...

School has been cancelled, of course, and Evie doesn't have school tomorrow or Monday so it's a 5 day weekend for her. Oh fun.
So there's NO going out today.. we are thinking of fun things to do inside. So far we've built a tent from kitchen chairs and a blanket, played video games and now the kids are coloring on the coffee table. (I taped white paper to it).
Anyone know where I can get long rolls of white paper that just tears off? I know Hope had some at one time that the kids painted on. For now I just used printer paper and taped it together. Problem is, Evan wants to tear it apart. I need something industrial strenth! LOL

Not sure what else is on our agenda for the day.. I think Evie and I will paint our nails.... while Evan destroys the house.. Oh brother.