What's a break without a project?

Nate has the week off while he studies for his upcoming Creogs Exam. But, he can only study for so long until some project around the house starts making him itch.

This time around it was the fireplace tiles that was driving him nuts.

This is not at all the most flattering picture of me, (wearing the AWESOME footie pajamas that nate gave me on Christmas Eve), but it IS a good picture of the tiles in front of the fireplace.

You can see that they are chipped and, just plane ugly.


He wasted no time ripping up the old tiles.



Even Alyssa got into the spirit.



It didn't take him too long, and before we knew it had beautiful new fireplace tile.



Wish I had a better picture to show to colors better, but this gives you a good idea.


So, Nate has had this

Eleven Years

Eleven years ago this morning I was nervous, and excited. My hair was curled, my makeup perfect. My eyebrows… desperately needed to be plucked.

As I slipped on my newly bought, overly sequined white dress, I marveled that this moment had come.

As I looked into my handsome boyfriends eyes and promised him my love and loyalty for all eternity, and saw a single tear fall down his cheek, I felt my love for him deepen.

As he promised me his love, and he looked at me with those piercing blue eyes, full of commitment, full of awe, full of love, I felt the realization that what we were doing was permanent. Our love was going to last forever.

I didn’t know then that our journey was not going to go as we had planned. I didn’t know that in only 2 months we would conceive our first son. And although it was very hard being a mother at 19, the love in my heart deepened for Nate as he helped me through postpartum depression.

Eleven years ago I didn’t know that my mechanic husband was going to choose to go back to school, fall in love with anatomy and decide to go to medical school. Eleven years ago, I didn’t know we would be committed to schooling for the next 14 years. It’s been long, hard, stressful, and financially devastating journey… but my love for Nate has deepened even more as I see his devotion to family, his commitment to his program, his hard work ethic as he continually pulls 80 hour work weeks. I’m in awe of him.

Eleven years ago I didn’t know that I could ever love my husband anymore than I did at that moment when we were married. Today looking back I realize how wrong I was. My love for Nate has become so much more.





I love his hands that hold me all night long. Hands that can not only perform complicated surgeries, but hands that can fix the plumbing, lay tile, fix a car, rock a baby, play a videogame with his boys, and hands that hold my hands.

I love his eyes. They are beautiful. They see not only the things that I’ve done that day, but all the things that I’ve tried to do. He sees how hard I work, and he compliments me and is grateful for my efforts. He sees the good in me that I don’t always see in myself. He sees God in every baby he delivers. He sees someone in need and he is there to uplift them.

I love my husband for all he is, and all he tries to be. I love him for loving me, even when I’m down, or feisty, or grumpy. I love my husband for always being patient and understanding, and being such a good example to our children.

He is the man that I want my boys to grow to be, and the man that my daughter marries someday.

What higher compliment can I give?

My love has grown so much deeper over the course of eleven years. And I know that it will continue to deepen as our children grow, as our hair turns gray, as wrinkles form around our eyes from laughing over the years. He will still hold my hands, and look into my eyes, and we will still see and feel the love that we felt eleven years ago today… but much deeper.

Getting ready for winter

It's been a while sense I've done an update on what we are up to, so I thought I would back track a little, and share some of my favorite pictures.

We were able to get both our chimney's cleaned this fall so we could burn this year, so in November Nate cleaned out a space in the garage to put a pile of wood and the boys joined him out in the yard to gather some wood.


I was surprised when I looked out the window and saw Andrew driving the lawn mover hauling the pile of wood in from the back of the yard.

My boys are getting too big, too fast.

Andrew even went out and helped Nate split some wood! They love having a Dad that let's them do a "man's" job.

And I love having a husband who is teaching them so well.

Random Pictures and Ice-skating

I had to get a shot of this. After listening to Austin cry about how much he hated his curls, Nate finally decided to buzz them all off. But he had to give him a mullet first. Alyssa and Xavier love to climb up on her toy chest. So I thought I would snap a picture of them. They also love to throw toys down the laundry shoot. Nate had a few days off for Christmas, and we all enjoyed every moment we had with him. Alyssa is becoming more and more 'Daddy's little girl'. On the 23rd of December we decided to take the kids to Lock 3 in Akron and go ice-skating. The kids LOVED it. Austin and I had fun going around the rink holding hands. It took him a while to find his balance, but he did find it and really enjoyed it. It was so funny watching him "run" on the ice. Andrew was a natural. He just took off. Dad loved taking Alyssa around. I think it took them about 20 minutes to make it around once... and Dad's back was hurting from bending down, but they had a lot of fun. Alyssa took her skates off after that, and just walked around the ice in her boots. We all had so much fun. What a great way to kick off the Christmas Holiday.

Devotion

Nate works some pretty crazy hours. He works on average 80 hour work weeks, and comes home totally exhasted most days. If that's not enough he also has to be "on call" 2 or 3 week ends a month, which means that he goes to the hospital at 5:30am on a Saturday morning, and doesn't come home until 9 or 10am on Sunday morning. Most of these shifts he is lucky just to sit down and eat a granola bar at some point... there has been shifts that he literally didn't get a chance to sit down once in 30 hours! You can imagine how tired he would be after a shift like this.

After one such shift I went into the bedroom expecting to find him totally passed out in bed. Instead I found him holding his little girl and reading her a story.



My children and I are so lucky to have a husband and father so devoted and loving. I love you Nate.

Dr. Jokes

Nate has been working in the clinic lately which means he does a lot of check up's on pregnant girls before they deliver. He likes to joke around and make people relax and feel a little more comfortable.

Yesterday he came home and told me a couple of stories that had me laughing so hard.

The other day he was in a delivery room with a couple of nurses. He patient was getting ready to deliver. He checks her and tells her that the baby is crowning and it's time to push. He then yells at the nurses, "The baby is coming, quick, you boil some water, and you get some towels!"


Yesterday there was a lady that came into the hospital because she thought her water had broken, being pre-term this could be a problem. Nate goes in and checks her out and tells the lady, "Good news, your water didn't break."

The lady then says, "Oh, Thank you Jesus!"

Nate says, "Oh... I'm not Jesus, I'm just one of the residents who works here."


Finally a lady who Nate had worked with in the clinic came with with her friend to deliver, and she told the nurses, "I want Dr. Jokes to deliver my baby." They all knew she was talking about Nate.

I LOVE my husband! He cracks me up, and I'm also glad that he can crack others up too.

My first kiss with Nate

My friend wrote a post about that first kiss feeling, and asked people to share stories about their first kiss with their spouse. I couldn't resist. I typed up a response... but it was too long to post as a comment on her blog. Unwilling and unable to edit that much out of my story I decided to post it here on my blog instead. So... here is the story of my first kiss with Nate. Enjoy.



I was technically engaged, but even though my heart skipped a beat every time Ben smiled at me, something else inside me kept tormenting me that it wasn't right. But I wanted so bad for it to be. I prayed, "Please make him the one for me" because the thought of breaking his heart, was breaking mine.

I had to choose. I had a ring on my finger and fear in my heart. That can't be right. After thinking, and praying I finally came to the conclusion that love shouldn't be so confusing. I called Ben up, and through my tears, forced myself to end it.

I was devastated. I cried so much I started hyperventilating. My sister, who was also my roommate became so concerned she ran to our neighbors house and asked if someone could come over and give me a blessing. Nate came.

A few weeks later a bunch of my college friends were heading to the state fair for the weekend. They needed a place to stay, and my family didn't live too far from Phoenix so we decided to stay there. We all squished into Rebecca's (my other roommate) Buick and made the trip to the fair.

I'm not much of a roller coaster kind of person, but I wasn't going to be the only person not riding so I hoped on, and Nate jumped in next to me. The coaster took off. I screamed. He laughed.

Every ride we went on from then on he jumped in next to me... even cutting off Rebecca a couple times, which she didn't appreciate.

By the time the sun fell it started to dawn on me that he was flirting. We boarded the huge ferris wheel, and once more he jumped in with me. I'm terrified of heights. I had a death grip on the safety bar, and a look of horror on my face... while Nate leaned back, looking very relaxed. As the ride moved skyward, my grip got tighter, and my knuckles whiter. He laughed and said, "You make me nervous."

I said, "Why, am I making you think we are going to fall to our deaths too?"

He smiled and said, "No." Then he hesitated, and suddenly more serious he said, "it's just that, I know that you are just getting out of a relationship, but I really like you... and that makes me nervous."

I was completely blindsided. The ride was ending so I told him we would have to talk about it later that night. I didn't want all my friends and roommates to over hear what I knew would end up being a private conversation.

That night I snuck downstairs and pulled Nate into an empty bedroom. I told him how much I didn't want to get into another relationship right now... all I want to do is focus on my schooling, and maybe date around... nothing serious.

He said he would be totally fine with me dating other people... but he wanted me to know that I was the only person he was interested in dating. My heart skipped a beat... and I was annoyed at how easily it did that.

We agreed to take it slow and just see where it went. I turned around to leave, when from behind me he slipped his arms around my waist and held me for a moment. I got weak kneed and chills, and once again got mad at myself. Suddenly aware at how utterly alone we were I quickly opened the door and slipped away from him.

The next morning Ben came over and I gave him back his ring. As hard as it was I was surprised at how much lighter my shoulders felt when he drove away.

That evening we all squished back into Becca's much too small for six people car and headed back to college. I was in the middle of the backseat, between "Big wave Dave" and Nate. I was tired. It had been a long and emotional day. I started to doze off and found my head leaning on Nathaniel's shoulder. I looked up at him, and saw that he was looking at me too. We just stared into each others eyes for a moment, and then he leaned down and kissed me.

I was taken by surprise. Chills exploded down to my toes, and my heart pounded. I kissed him back. I kept waiting for him to end it, I was totally unwilling too. Everything around us disappeared. I didn't notice Dave looking out the window pretending he didn't notice, or my three roommates, including my sister in the front seat staring at us shocked through the rear view mirror. All there was was us. Finally realizing that he was not going to end it, I pulled away and nuzzled my head into neck. And I stayed there, feeling his warmth, trying to catch my breath, and trying to figure out exactly what had just happened.

We were engaged 6 weeks later, and married 7 weeks after that. I've never regretted it... and though we've been married for more than 10 years now, he still gives me chills.

If you need help just call "Dr. Phil"

Last night we are reading scriptures with the kids, and we always go in a circle, everyone reading 1 verse to keep the boys paying attention. Austin is becoming a very good reader, but as a 1st grader he is still limited in his vocabulary.

So it came for Austin to read and he says, "And it came to pass that in the last days "DR. PHIL"!"

I looked at him and said, "What?"

He said, "If I come up to a word I don't know, then I'm just going to say "Dr. Phil".

Nate and I laughed so hard. Where does he come up with this stuff???

So I told him that "Dr. Phil" isn't exactly church related.

So he said, "Then when I can't read a word I'll just say, "Lord have mercy!"

I laughed until my cheeks hurt.

Blessings found on the side of the road

This morning started out so chaotically. The boys were unusually hyper... even more so than usual. They were having a difficult time listening to me and obeying. I was getting frustrated, but kept my cool. I kept wondering what on earth had gotten into them. Anyway, time finally came to get them off to school. They headed out to the car and I went to grab my keys and jogging bag.

But my keys were not were I usually put them.

So I checked a couple other places that they sometimes hide, but no luck.

I resorted to crawling on my hands and knees looking under the bed. Nothing.

Okay I thought... instead of running today, it looks like I'm going to have to take a walk with the kids.

I called the kids back in and told them that we were walking to school today. I think they thought I was joking.

So, we loaded up Alyssa in the stroller, which desperately needed more air in it's tires, but the pump was locked in the van with the bike still from the triathlon. Oh well... I thought, even though it's a little harder to push, at least I don't have to carry her the 2 or 3 miles to the school... and 2 or 3 miles back.

After assuring Austin one more time that I wasn't joking, we headed off on our walk to school.

As we walked on Copley road the shoulder was just big enough for Alyssa's stroller to fit on and Austin and Andrew walked single file behind me. As cars zoomed by us Austin made a comment about how lucky everyone else was because they had a car, so we talked about how this experience should make all of us very grateful that we do have a car too, and we thought of other things that we should be more grateful for.

About the time that I started getting tired, and Austin was complaining about how much his little legs were hurting and we still weren't even half way there yet, a stranger pulled up in a suburban and asked if we needed a ride. "Sure" I said... who am I to deny someone an opportunity to serve. :) Turned out that Andrew actually knew her son Mathew.

As I helped Andrew and Austin into her car I thanked her for stopping, and she said, "Anytime, I hope I can be a blessing."

I told her that she absolutely was. I waved good bye to the boys, and as they continued on their way to school, I turned around with Alyssa and started walking home. But as I walked I kept thinking about her words. "I hope I can be a blessing." What a great attitude. I wondered what I can do to be a blessing to those around me today. To my husband, to my kids, to my Savior.

I'm grateful that I couldn't find my keys today. I'm grateful for lessons learned on the side of the road.

Triathlon

I know it's been a long time sense I've updated my blog. A lot has happened. The kids and I went to AZ for 4 weeks and had so much fun. I'll try to post some of that later... there is just so much that it's a little over whelming trying to figure out where to start. So... I'm going to start with what we did just this last Saturday.

My friend Jesse Ford told me about a girls only sprint triathlon that she was going to do and invited me to join her. I had been thinking about it for a while, but a little scared about trying it. Although I ran cross-country and track in high school, I've never really swam or biked much before. Jesse reassured me telling me that they swim close enough to shore that if you get tired you can touch bottom and walk if you need to. I thought about it, and thought, what the heck, you only live once. I signed up. As I was signing up I noticed that right after the women's tri, they were having a kids triathlon too. I told Andrew about it and he begged me to sign him up so... I did.


Miraculously Nate actually had that Saturday off! Thank you Lord for tender mercies! So he, Austin and Alyssa came along to cheer for me and Andrew. We were both really nervous!

I love Andrew's look of fear.


I was really nervous too... just trying to hide it.

This was my first time ever wearing a swim cap! Thank you to the Shockey girls (who were also doing the kids triathlon... they helped me put it, and the goggles on right.)

Finally it came time to "suit up" and head over to the lake.

It was a gorgeous morning! Here are all the ladies getting ready to start the race. It was a 250 yard swim, then we ran up to the "transition" area, where we quickly through on our running shoes and helmet and took off on a 7 mile bike ride. After that we parked the bike again at our "transition" area and then took off on a 2 mile run. I was glad that the race wasn't any longer than that... but even as it was... it was a good workout.


Here I am with Jesse and her Sis-in-law Stacy right after I crossed the finish line... yes, they both beat me... but I did finish, and I didn't get last place! I was really proud of myself.

Below is Stacy, Me, Kayla Shockey, Jesse, and Carol Shocky, who is also in my ward and so much fun. She's Kayla's Mom, and has a little baby less than 6 months old at home!

Next it was Andrew's turn!

Andrew did such a great job! I have lots of video of Andrew doing his race, but blogger wont let me upload them! Grrrr. He did so good, especially for his first time ever racing.

Yeah for the finish line!!! What a great day, such great memories... can't wait until next year!

Memorial Day Fun

For once I left my camera at home and thought that I wouldn't really need it... boy was I wrong.

This memorial day was so much fun. Nate had worked the night before so while he slept I took the kids over to my friend Krystal's house so her hubby Aaron could take them swimming while Krystal and I got ready for a BBQ later that day at Allie's house. As soon as I got to her house the clouds got really ominous looking and sure enough right as they were walking out to go swim it started lightening and raining.

They were bumbed, but we still had fun watching the storm from Krystal's balcony window. We put on Disney's "The Haunted Mansion" for them to watch while Krystal and I made fruit salad and macaroni salad.

The timing was perfect. As soon as the movie was over and we were done cooking the storm stoped and the clouds blew away. We all headed to the pool to swim for a couple of hours.

We were the first ones at the pool so for a good 30 minutes or so we had the pool to ourselves! Aaron taught Andrew how to do a front flip off the side of the pool, and I was trying to do a backflip... which always ended up being more of a back dive. Krystal was being shy about getting in... so I pushed her in... which started a big thing with the kids... whenever one of us got out of the pool for pretty much any reason they would sneak up behind us and push us in.

Austin is getting so much more brave in the pool. He started jumping off the edge into the 3 foot area without me catching him! He could be swimming by the end of summer!

Alyssa is a little water baby. She loves being in the water. Krystal and I had fun passing her back and forth so the other could play around a little.

After swimming I had to run home and pick up Nate and head over to the Lee's house for a BBQ. When we got their the coals were just ready and we through our hamburgers and hotdogs on. The food was so great! The kids all had fun playing baseball, and halfway through the game the storm returned and started down pouring again. Not much is funner than playing baseball in the rain. Except maybe slip and sliding in the rain.

The kids pulled out the "Banana slide" and started taking turns sliding down it. Us adults were watching from Allie's awesome enclosed patio and we were joking with each other about going out and joining them. It didn't take long until we all thought, "why not?". So Krystal and I ran down with Allie to her room and borrowed a couple of swimming suits and joined the kids on the slip and slide.



I think that this is Aaron taking his turn. Nate decided that he would take pictures with his blackberry rather than take a turn down the freezing slip and slide. Way to take one for the team loves.



Okay... the plan was for me to piggy back Krystal and then jump and slide down together... however once I got to the end I chickened out and just ran down the slide with her on my back.



We had fun trying different things. I did a few a couple cartwheels followed by a somersault... Jon and Aaron "surfed" down a couple of times. Allie and Krystal were hilarious!

I've decided that there is no better way to feel young again, and bond with your kids, than by acting like one yourself. I know that I haven't had so much fun in a long time, and I know the kids got a kick out of watching their parents act like they were 10 again.

My challenge to all of you today... go play with your kids today. They will love it... and you will too!

Holding onto Dandelions

It wasn't very long ago, not in my eyes at least,
you used to bring me dandelions and blow them in the breeze.

Your smile would come alive as you gave handfuls to me,
and whisper "Mom, I love you!” it was my favorite sight to see.

It’s been a while sense you done that, but today you gave a surprise,
a precious yellow flower, a youthful gleam behind your eyes.

As the clock hands change positions, somehow the movement changed you too.
Now you bring me Lego creations and drawings made by you.

Someday you will be dating girls, and playing sports for fun,
Maybe you will be like me and find your feet and run.

The day will come when you will leave, your mission to discover,
And as you go I will know I’ve done my job as ‘Mother’.

Just as dandelions peddles start out yellow firm, secure,
the time slowly changes them to white and fluffy fur.

And as the wind starts blowing, they feel the urge to go,
and explore the world around them away from the stem of home.

So you are slowly changing, and one day I'll set you free.
But for now I'm holding tightly to the dandelions you bring me.

- Becky Evans 2010

Little Leopard and Big Accomplishments

Andrew is in third grade now and received an assignment to do his first research paper on any animal that he wanted. He chose the Leopard.

He and I went to the local library and picked out 4 great big books on "Carnivores", and "Big Cats" and enjoyed reading through the chapters on Leopards and taking notes. He was graded on his notes, and his report, and then he needed to make a "habitat" for his animal and showcase it at his school's "Zoo" where all the parents got to walk through the class rooms and ask the kids questions about their animal.

I was so impressed with how much all the kids knew about their respective animals, and all their habitats were so different, and all were very well done. It was so neat to see how much time and effort these kids put into this project.


I really enjoyed working with Andrew on this project.









What could be better than finishing a 3 page report and a habitat to go with it?



Getting a perfect grade on it!

What a great accomplishment!

After a long winter I've never looked forward to spring time like I have this year. As soon as the weather was warm enough Krystal and I thought it was time for a "field trip" with our cute little preschoolers. We took them just down my road to the community park where they have great scenic walking trails, and a couple fun playgrounds for them to enjoy.

Trying to keep 6 preschoolers together can be a little tricky... that's when it's handy to know your girl scout knots. :). After securing our charges together we embarked on our nature hunt.





Hoping to find some beautiful bird, or squirrel first we were a little surprised to find a millipede nest as our first discovery.

Ewe.



Not long after we did find the birds, and butterflies. The kids loved looking over a bridge at the water trickling underneath them.



But we just couldn't see any fish down there.



So we continued our journey.



The scenery was stunning.



And so were the kids.



We got to watch the ducks swimming and ducking their heads under the water looking for lunch.



And turtles jumping off logs into the cold water.



When one of the girls got tired, her friends were there to help her along.



And friendships were made stronger.

I love the peace that only being in nature can bring.



When it was over we had our snack at the picnic tables and the kids got to enjoy the jungle gym.



And Krystal and I had fun being kids again.



"Go Twinkle Tots!"