Jessica turns 6 today!

**Beginning the day with Grandma, Aunt Kim, Dad and Mom**.
We enjoyed a yummy and fresh breakfast at Mia Mia's Cafe. Exchanging presents was Jessie's favorite part!

Working with Coach Mack in her gymnastics class was a must even though it was her birthday.

Jessie shared some Hostess cupcakes with her "gal pals."

Then it was off to kindergarten with Mrs. Walker!

I got to read Jessie's favorite book--Morris Goes to School--to the class!

At 8 PM, Jessica FINALLY got to open her presents after waiting ALL day! She pulled out all the shots to try to open them earlier, but we wanted to wait for her brothers to get home. Carson participated in a solo-trumpet festival and had to perform in the evening and Hunter and Dad took an emergency trip to the optometrist for an inflamed and painful eye. Hopefully, antibiotic drops will heal the virus.

Needless to say, the day wasn't ALL about Jessica!

Birthday party for 6-year-old Jessica

 Although Jessie turned six on March 3, she continued to ask,

"When is my REAL birthday?"

She meant the one where she gets MORE presents from her friends! We finally had it and here is a look at what we did for fun!

Birthday Party PHOTO PICS HERE

"Majestic Mountain" & "The Race Car"

Mrs. Julie Silverburg and her Junior Festival piano students perform at a retirement facility. They are all preparing to play in front of a judge to receive a rating.

After this piano performance, Carson participated in a Boy Scout fund raiser to raise money for summer camps for his trroop. The evening was very enjoyable and many people helped support Carson's Troop!

Star of the Week--Jessica

Jessica will celebrate her 6th birthday this week and if you have ever had a kindergarten, this also means

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! STAR OF THE WEEK! ! ! ! ! ! !

This event was so dreaded when my oldest turned 6 because I had to sort through a billion pictures, buy some fancy paper, get out the glue, scissors, tape, markers, ribbon and various other craft supplies (all while nursing a newborn I am sure)! 

HUGE SIGH when that project was over.

With the digital age of photo storage and retrieval, I simply sat down to my computer and used the tools within the program and whipped up a photo visual in less than an hour! Granted it will cost me to print it, but to me and JESSICA, it is sooooooo worth the time and energy I save.

Here is Jessica as the Star of the Week:

....With this album complete and off to the printer, I can go back to watching the rest of the Oscars, (I fell asleep well before 10:30 PM) which is on DVR--another one of my favorite inventions!!!!!!!

Carson turns 12

All-you-can Eat pizza and a movie at home!

Peter Bagley  •  Jacob Forred  •  Jacob Hughes  •  Carson  •  Dylan Bailey

This recipe was recently introduced to me by some "young, hip" friends. With a little altering, it made for a delightful birthday "cake" for each of Carson's party participants!

CAKE BALLS

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting
• 1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate flavored confectioners coating

Directions

1. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.
2. Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
3. Use a melon baller or small scoop to form balls of the chocolate cake mixture. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.

Jessie celebrates Valentine's Day

Jessie was so excited to have her hair french braided for the party.

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)