Working together

Our youngest two children are 6 years apart. Typically, one would NOT expect this sibling relationship to be conducive to learning. Amazingly, (and I must say "well-deserved" by me), their relationship is one of harmony, mentoring, friendship, and love.

Quite often, Carson is the one caring for Jessica while errands are being run and other familial needs are met. His careful attention to her needs leads him to "imaginative" play not normally associated with a "tween" emerging into the hormonally challenged adolescent years. Catching him with a barbie in one hand and a hairbrush in the other is common as well as sneeking a glimpse of "I-Carly" on Nick. 

When Jessie's play-day friends need an adult to be with them outside and hold the "water-fall" for them...

Carson is their go-to guy!

When Carson makes pancakes, he patiently lets Jessie stir the batter.

When something Jessie loves gets broken, Carson is there to mend the tears and set things straight again.

When Jessie needs her pancakes cut, Carson performs the task BEFORE diving into his own breakfast.

...this is MOSTLY the case......

but not ALWAYS!!!!!

I am so proud of Carson and so enjoy watching him nurture, love and support his sister and other family members.

The day before the M.A.M.A piano festival, Carson got braces! Despite the pain of his spacers, he pulled off a perfect score in the theory bee.

Jessie lost her FIRST tooth this summer!!!!!!!!!!!

"Excessive Heat Warning"

IT's HOT THIS SUMMER........

...therefore...

our recent family reunitings occurred in environments conducive to keeping our bodies comfortable so our temperaments could be kept "cool."

(Gathering schizophrenically familial personalities together can lead to stimulus overload, which leads to "personality explosions". And with back-to-back reunions with crowds up to 28 people, with temperatures in the 100's, overloading on stimuli was unavoidable)

Our air-conditioned house served as a central gathering place for the 4-day Evans family reunion the first of July. When it was suggested to divide into teams and play charades in the family room, Uncle Paul quickly decided to have all the kids on one team and the "older and more mature" family members on the other!

(I am not sure my sister, Tanya..(pictured above in pink), qualifies as a "more mature, adult")
but I am not tellin'

This same space used for a wild night of entertainment among performing cousins has recently been transformed into.....

....ONE BIG TENT.....


Carson and Jessie intend to sleep in the 6-bedroom, luxurious, condo until school starts
and I intend to let them!


aren't I a cool Mom!?

KC Missouri Temple

Tanya and her children and Carson and Jessie and I visited the newly built Kansas City Missouri Temple the day before she left from her summer vacation.

Reuniting with my siblings, nieces and nephews

Just Dance with the WII!