Got Sleep?

What a sweet baby! I love his chubby lips!

Elena sat up on the stool to pout because I wouldn't give her candy...next thing I know she was sound asleep!
This was Sunday about an hour before bedtime!

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY AUNDREA!!

Aundrea Melanie Evans was born April 17th, 1997! She weighed 8 lbs even & 21-1/2" long. She had big brown eyes & looked just like my baby pictures- she was beautiful! This was her 1st Christmas

Aundrea wanted a Hawaiian birthday Party so we went all out! I made a beach cake- notice the girl surfing on jello...well waiting for her wave, unless the shark eats her! :)We had Hawaiian Haystacks- I couldn't believe how much those girls ate!Girls from school, church & cousins struggled doing the Limbo on full stomachs After it got dark they came in & played Rock Band! The 18 girls partied for 4 hours! Elena stayed up with them all! It was really fun but I'm glad we only do big parties every couple of years!

Happy Birthday Aundrea! We love you!

Happy Easter!

Zander, Brian, Elena, Gabe, & Aundrea were still smiling after church!
The night before the kids enjoyed dying their hands as well as the eggs!

Patiently waiting for the ward Easter Egg Hunt!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY ZANDER!!

Zander Lee turned 1, April 9th!Weighing in at 8lbs 2oz, 21-1/2" long Katie, Zander, Natalie (2mo older), & Elena

Now weighing 21 lbs 6 oz, 29" long



Z loved his 1st big truck from Grandma & Grandpa Hill
We had a fun "Bear" party! Z loves to growl!

The cousins ate Bear Paw cupcakes which had peppermint patties & chocolate chips!

After being mesmerized by the flame on the candle, then burning his finger... The cake was history!

Notice the piece of cake flying in the air by the garbage can!

Our Spring Break!

Well, we had an eventful Spring Break but not a very relaxing one! I took Brian to the hospital Monday morning & he stayed there till Wednesday night. He's been sick for the past 3 months off & on with pnuemonia- supposedly. Everytime he went on antibiotics he felt better but scan after scan he showed he had either a partially collapsed lung, enlarged spleen, scar tissue, or a leak of some kind. Anyway, we took him in again Monday & the Dr's realized he had a puss pocket under his diaphram & above his abdomen. They're still not really sure how it got there but think it might have been there since his surgery 6 years ago when he had all the complications. They said most likely it's not a leak though since it's one bacteria. So they sedated Brian & put a long tube into the pocket & attatched a drain to it that he gets to carry around for two weeks. He's on strong antibiotics & except for the drain pulling, he feels pretty good. That's the short version!

Luckily, it happened during Spring Break so the kids didn't have anything. Thanks to all the family & friends who helped us out with childcare, meals, support, blessings & prayer! We were very blessed & watched over! Six years ago almost everything went wrong & it was a very scary & long recovery. This time everything went very smooth & the problem was corrected. The doctors were very concerned & cautious but got things moving very quickly. I'm so grateful for the Spirit & priesthood blessings- they gave me the strength & comfort I & our family needed!

Gabe, Aundrea, Zander, & Elena made beautiful & creative posters to welcome their Daddy home!

Spring Break with Cousins!

My Sister Maureen drove up from St George to visit for their Spring Break! We had so much fun & the weather was perfect! With Hill's, Hansen's, Whetten's & us, there was a total of 18 children- 16 were under the age of 11!Riley, Aundrea, Patrice, Dallas, Ryan, & Gabe loved playing dodgeball on the tramp, playing tag, roasting marshmallows & hotdogs, & basically anything else that involved laughing & getting as dirty as possible!Rachael (2-1/2) tried to keep up with the big girls-She did a pretty good job!

They ran up & down the hill forever! Can you tell what their favorite color is?

Tatum 6, Katie 4-1/2, Elena 3-1/2, Taylie 3-1/2Tara, who was Elena's age when Brian & I met fyi, helped the girls turn running down the hill into a game!Zander hung out with Natalie!

Grandpa Hill helped them go down the slide!

Sorry Natalie- Z is always attacking you! He just loves you so much!!

Finally Z decided sliding is for girls- STICKS are for BOYS!
He was so proud of himself! Why spend money on toys?

He played with that stick for 30 minutes!
Sticks bring much more joy...

...big wheels too- wish you could hear his growls! Of course we had cake to celebrate Maureen & Rich's birthdays

Getting Ready for Spring!

Spring is almost here- hopefully & it's time to organize AGAIN!

We're now on the garage and of course the kids want to help or at least try!

Elena realized it was hard work helping Daddy put up shelves in the garage but found a nice place to take a nap! She can sleep anywhere & through anthing! :)

Zander thinks climbing into the boxes will help!

Most of the time he pulls everything out of the boxes first which really helps gets the organization done fast!

We took one weekend off so Me, Aundrea, Elena, & Zander spent a Friday night & Saturday with Grandma Hill while Grandpa was away!

Gabe got to fly to the moon during school at the end of Space week! He's dressed as an astronaut just in case it wasn't obvious! He has a wonderful kinderarten teacher! The day before, Gabe was vomiting & had a 103 degree temp. but somehow felt alot better to go to school the next day. He was so excited that I think he convinced his body he was fine- when he got home he slept for two hours & his temperature went from 97 that morning before school to 102 after. Just tells you what your mind can do if you want something bad enough!

PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!!!

The last 30 days have been nothing but PARTIES!! We've celebrated Birthdays (Gabe, Natalie, my Dad, & of course mine!) , Valentines Day, School out, Family Visitors, Late Nights, Beautiful Weather... Of course the normal household chores still have to be done so it's been non-stop it seems! I'm tired but it was worth it! The month isn't even over yet and next month is spring break! Wow! This year is going fast! So here is a recap of our partying over the past month! 3 days after the big family party, Gabe had another birthday party! It was crazy but they sure had fun!
Thanks for coming- Aaron,Christian, Spencer, Zane, Parker, Jakob, & Max

(it seemed like there was a lot more than that!)

After Gabe's parties, the next week we had Katie, Jake, & Dallas stay with us while Cassie went to pick up Mike from boot camp- She needed the break!

My question is- How do people do it with 7 kids?!

Actually, it wasn't too bad...when they went to sleep! :)

That same weekend we sort of celebrated Grandpa Hill's & Natalie's birthdays! I say sort of because the cakes were made but only one got eaten right away cause by the time Mike & Cassie got back it was too late for little Natalie to blow out her candles. Dad's birthday party went like this: Sang"Happy Birthday" before the candles were even lit, blew them out with help of 12 grandchildren, ate cake-icecream was forgotten, then "good-bye, WE LOVE YOU Grandpa!"

Mom & Dad have been married 48-1/2 years-

This picture says it all!

The next weekend the kids had Friday & Monday off for Presidents Day. That Friday Brian & I went to Tuscanos with our friends Dustin, Rachel, Kade, & Andrea. Tuscanos is a new Brazilian style restaurant- very yummy & a cool way to eat out! You gotta go there! Saturday, of course was Valetines Day! We started off with pink crepes & sausage for brunch! Then I took Zander to the Dr cause he'd had a fever the last 3 days- luckily there wasn't an infection, it was just a virus. Brian gave me, Aundrea, & Elena ROSES. Gabe & Zander got jipped! Brian got a card & kisses! I also got digital picture frame which is so fun seeing pictures of when the kids were little & very funny videos too!

My Birthday was Monday! Brian took a 1/2 day off & we went out & shot my revolver I got for Christmas! Yes that's right I now own a gun- Brian keeps trying to claim it but as soon as I get my concealed weapons permit, it'll be officially mine! Brian took a Utah permit class & the polieceman said it's the best handgun to own cause it's reliable & quick. I like it cause it fits my hand and a no brainer to shoot. We also shot the AR (military rifle) Brian bought himself for Christmas. Ok, that is a fun gun to shoot! I must say I was pretty good for my first time shooting it- great stress reliever! That night family came over for cake & this time icecream!

It was a great birthday! Everyone loves Aunt Cassie!
(Katie, Natalie, Cassie, Zander, & Elena)

IS IT SPRING YET?!

Who says you can't climb pine trees! Luckily they're soft! Gabe & Elena wanted to climb trees so they found the strongest ones out there- next year Gabe can put up the Christmas lights!!

We've had beautiful weather lately in the 50s! Perfect for bike riding! Gabe is finally getting good use out of his bike he got for Christmas!

This past weekend Brian & Shaun Duffy came down for the Girls State Basketball Tournament- Couerd'Alene took 1st! Even though they beat my Alma Mater, Centennial, I was happy for them! :)

Shaun was trying to get a massage but didn't realize the kids came with it! He doesn't look like he's suffering too much! Aundrea, Zander, Gabe & Elena loved having Shaun & Brian here! I loved the extra help & entertainment!

Playing Football was definately a highlight for the kids! Bridger & Sorelle Evans(more cousins) spent Saturday with us & got into the action

Elena never gave up!

I love having family come visit and being able to spend so much time with them & those who live so close to us! How grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ & Eternal Families!

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY GABE!

Gabe wanted a Ben 10 birthday so I made the Ben 10 omnitrix (watch) for his cake!

(FYI if you click on the pic it should get bigger)

Monday, January 27th 2003 at 6pm my water broke- 16 hours later Gabriel Brian Evans was born weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz & 21-1/2" long. He came out kicking & screaming , letting the whole world know he was here! If his body would've let him I'm sure he would've been running the day he was born! Gabe has a very sweet heart and kind yet curious spirit. Gabe is all boy- rarely is he walking!

He was always smiling!

Gabe seemed to always be getting into, climbing over, or throwing something!

Gabe loved his baths!

He loves his trucks!