A little bit of lovin'

Several missionary Moms and I got together and put together Valentine packages for missionaries we know that are serving. What a great way to give our sons a variety of "goodies" and feel connected to our son's friends.

"Me"•  Darci Evans • Chris Manning • Mary Ellen Naylor •  Heidi Fackrell •

 (not pictured Diane Fackrell  •  Leanne Hansen  •  Sister Hinds)

Jessica made cards for each of the missionaries as well as her kindergarten classmates!

 While concentrating, sticking our tongues out is a trait that Brandon, Grandpa Evans and I share!  

......and now Jessica joins the elite....!

 Jessica completes her Valentine box.

It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!

A friend of mine is having her fourth child
--and her FiRST BOY!...

Tara Laudie and I threw a baby shower for her and Tara's creativity and eye for detail put together this adorable food table.

Jessie had a blast with Katelyn and Madeline!

Wrestling requires strength and stamina

"Blizzard" of OZ

The first part of this blizzard, that affected 30 states, began with freezing rain during the nighttime hours and left a layer of ice 1 inch thick. A fluffy, powdery snow began to fall early in the morning and by 11 AM, the ground was covered.

By 2 PM, about an inch had fallen.

Steadily falling snow for 2 hours made for hazardous road conditions and by 4 PM, the "blizzard" like conditions began and looked like this:

 By 5 PM, winds and snow were blowing wildly causing the local transportation departments to close I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis. I do not have a memory of that EVER happening.

 The family began snow shoveling at 4:30 PM and created some monstrous piles. 

All bundled up and ready to help! 

An hour and a half later, there were a NEW 2 inches of snow on driveway, roads and sidewalks.

.....SNOW DAY FOR TWO DAYS! (and maybe more).....

JESSICA's Valley Park Elementary school projects 2011-12

Mother's Day card from a elementary-aged Jessica

1st grade ART PROJECT

MOTHER's DAY CARD FROM JESSICA--a kindergartener student 

Thank you card from Mrs. James 1st grade class ( Mrs. Zehnder)

Jessica's Ten Commandments

Talking with 5-year-old Jessica about Moses today shed light into her understanding of the 10 commandments. According to Jessie, they are:


1. Don't shoot other people with guns

2. Don't be mean

3. Don't be rude

4. Go to sleep

5. Listen

6. Hugs

7. Share your toys

8. Listen to God (and Heavenly Father)

9. Listen to your Parents (pronounced Pawents)

10. Be happy with people with different skin

A NEW tool in her bag of tricks

5-year-old Jessica has discovered how to use the TV remote! This is her FIRST choice of stations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


HGTV:  SELLING NEW YORK!

We visited the BIG APPLE in 2007!

......She is such a CHICK!......

3 SNOW DAYS--school is OUT

During the holidays, a white Christmas did not occur in our town. Certainly, we had the winter temperatures, however, no snow fun was possible on the dry, hard ground.

The first of January, school was in session for 1 day followed by 2 SNOW days. Thursday and Friday, the kids attended school, only to enjoy a 4 day weekend because of Martin Luther King Day and a school preparation day.

Wednesday was business as usual until a WINTER WEATHER WARNING shut the schools down for Thursday!  Today is Friday and the kids are FINALLY in school!

Oh wait--tomorrow is the weekend!!!!!

....that did not last long!!!!!!!!!!!

Hunter wrestles a girl and WINS!

Hunter has enjoyed keeping in shape through his daily workouts with the wrestling team. The team is quite large this year and many of the athletes are competing in the sport for the first time which makes for some interesting competitions for the school team! Hunter has only been scheduled for a few tournaments, therefore, his experience competing in a "match" has been limited.

Thus when I witnessed Hunter's opponent for the above match, my "mothering" instincts kicked in and my anxiety arose! A PIN and a WIN is what I wished for and a QUICK one at that. Although watching the match made my hands sweat and my arms shake, I am pleased that Hunter survived and prospered!