Life with Evan

Evan is a very busy guy. From the moment he wakes up he is on the go. He has so many things he wants to do and places he wants to explore. If there is a door or gate left open, he goes through it. When we bring him downstairs to the main floor in the morning we have to shut the baby gate for upstairs, the baby gate for downstairs, the door to the mudroom, the door to bathroom, and the door to library. If we neglect any of these gates or doors, he will get into trouble. As it is he still manages to cause quite a bit of trouble in the main living area.

Recently we moved one of the family room couches because we were concerned he was going to go off the back of it and crash head first onto the wood floor behind it. Its new location isn't much better because it backs against a window and we now have to keep him from climbing over the top of the couch and sitting on the window ledge. 

Kara has moved the desk chair from the school room into the mudroom because we were tired of taking Evan off the desk where he likes to play with the school room light switches. We battle with him all day long over the computer in the kitchen area. We often remove that chair, too, but he just drags another one from the kitchen table over to the desk. 

We feel bad that we spend so much of our day telling him "No!", "Don't touch that!", "Stop!", "Quit!", "What are you doing?!" Despite all the negative messages dumped on the little guy, he is happy and smiling 90% of the time. 

Here are some recent shots of our awesome Evan:

He loves great-grandma's reclined elliptical exercise machine.

We keep the door to this room locked, so when  he does gain entrance he is very excited.

He wants his sister to know he's just as flexible as she is.

He loves, loves, loves great-grandma's iPhone.

She recently discovered the iMusic app on her phone.

I think that it was with Evan's help. (Seriously!)

When Kara was putting the new balance beam together she left the room to get some tools. While she was gone Evan deconstructed the work she had done. He has very nimble little fingers.

Evan is helping Lincoln play the Let's Go Fishing! game.

Lincoln was being somewhat tolerant of his uninvited game partner.

When I was putting up a new wall quilt Evan insisted on sharing my step ladder.

Our newest artist!

Such an adorable, chubby, little hand!

Score! 

More Snow Fun

Last Wednesday we had yet another snow dump. It was very wet snow. I decided to go and collect my mom's newspaper from the end of the driveway rather than ask the twins to retrieve it. Before I could get out the front door I was waylaid by Evan and Lincoln. They insisted on joining me. I threw Evan in Lincoln's snowsuit and then helped Lincoln with his coat, snow boots, and mittens (mismatched). My trip down the driveway was already taking a lot more effort and time than I had planned on!

When the boys and I got to the end of the driveway this is what we saw:

Exactly where was the newspaper in its bright orange bag? I could see no suspicious lumps under the snow. I spent a minute or two shuffling around at the end of the driveway trying to find it. Lincoln meanwhile had walked off into the cul-de-sac, so I had to go and grab him. As I tracked after him I spotted the missing newspaper--he'd stepped on it! Eureka!

I handed the paper to Lincoln and set Evan down for a minute:

Here's Lincoln trudging back up the driveway carrying great-grandma's treasure:

Later that afternoon the twins and Lincoln went outside to play in the snow. The twins built a sled run up by our terraced perennial bed. I'm not sure it's safe to sled over a brick wall, even a short one, but I didn't make them stop. I did ask them to add some snow to try and cover the wall up a little more. They did, but then they started sledding in another spot that wasn't covered. 

A Visit to the Police Station

Last month the Cub Scouts went on a tour of the local police station.  Bentley wasn't officially a member, but he and Jake tagged along.  Too fun to pass up, right?!

Hopping in the backseat of the police car.  

(Their father says it better be the only time he sees this happen!)

A briefing in the conference room.

Definitely the happiest hand cuffed little guy there.  Huge smiles!

Jake gave it a shot too.  :)

On the way out!

We had fun and learned some interesting things about the different types of work you can do for the police department.  I found the call center and photography area particularly interesting and enjoyed learning about what all it takes to train a police dog (not cheap!).  The boys refused to get their mug shots taken.  Their sense of humor didn't kick in until we hit the hand cuffs at the end.  :)

Bentley's Grand Adventure

Bentley and his Dad are off to Las Vegas, to enjoy some time together and see Uncle Ty for his birthday!

It was a long day to get there, but now that they are they're busy soaking up the sun and keeping busy.  All on the first day there was...

Soccer:

Scooter and bike play:

Golfing practice time:

More play outside:

And a magic show!

Sounds like an exhausting day.  The kid doesn't look too tired though, does he?  Ah.... to have the energy of the YOUNG!

Karate - Video!

I just realized that I never posted the video we tracked down from Bentley and Jake's first demo team performance.  So here it is!  They also did a demo at the end of March at UAA as part of Asian Cultural Awareness week.  It was fun, and they're enjoying the team!

(This post was back dated to the day of the performance.)

First Karate Performance!

 The boys had the chance to perform on West High's stage this past weekend in the Asian Cultural Event Expo part of Fur Rondy.  They have been members of the demo team for a few months and have been working hard practicing with their group for this event.  They were very excited to participate!!  Jake is the small one 3rd in on the left, and Bentley is on the right in the opposite position of Jake:

It went well and they did great.  I'm glad they have the opportunity to perform like this, I'm sure it is just the first of many great performances I'll get to watch from them!  I'm hoping to get a copy of the video from their performance. I will post it when I do!

Reading

If you look closely at the photo above of Matt reading to the children you can see Jake is under Bentley who is on Matt. Matt reads to the children most nights when he is home.

Jake is so cute when he reads...and so quiet!

I know this is yet another photo of Viva reading while doing a head stand, but I find it so odd that I keep taking photos when I see her doing it. She also likes to read while doing the splits.

Creative Viva

Photos are wonderful for capturing the many things that Viva makes! 

This beautiful butterfly mosaic was given away to a guest at our home just minutes after Viva completed it. I snapped a quick photo before it disappeared out the front door. 

Viva is the prime user in the house of pattern blocks. Her designs grow ever more creative. I purchased a second set of pattern blocks so that when someone else joins her in play there are enough blocks for everyone to complete their design.

Snow Time

Last Monday Viva decided to go outside and play with Lincoln. Jake and Bentley decided to join them. They all put on their snowsuits (I put on Lincoln's) and they headed out the front door.

Just an hour earlier Lincoln had spotted a moose outside, so Kara told the children to look around and make sure he was gone. For Bentley this meant he was going to stay on the porch. I told him the moose had surely left by now and it certainly would once he heard the children, but they should take a look around before they started to play.

Viva immediately headed for the storage area under the front porch. She snagged a sled and tried out the hill next to the house. This area is off limits for sledding, but obviously that had not been emphasized enough this winter. It's steep and ends at the start of an even steeper incline that has trees on it. Not a sledding hill. EVER.

Viva's sled sailed down the first incline and into a bush...that a moose was eating for lunch. He took off down the hill spooked by her sudden appearance. Bentley came running into the house and told us that Viva almost ran into a moose. I inquired what do you mean by almost? He indicated with his hands that she was three feet away. I asked Viva if this was true. She says she didn't see the moose. I requestioned Bentley. How close was she?! Bentley again affirmed that she slid into a bush that a moose was on the other side of. Needless to say, that moose did not come return to our yard. 

After an hour of play Jake came inside and proclaimed: "I had the funnest time I've ever had in my whole life!" Jake is a child of extremes. 

Iditarod 2014

Bentley and Jake were having fun at karate, but Viva/Lincoln/Evan/Matt and I still headed out to check out a few sled dogs.  It's a tradition, and kids like traditions! :)

It was a nice warm day, so it wasn't too much of a hardship to be hanging outside in the sun!

My 8 Year Old

 My 8 year old.  Wow, that sounds weird!  It is hard to believe that we already have an 8 year old child.  Bentley is awesome Obviously, right?  He is a great oldest and inspired us to have 4 more!

What's he like at eight?  He loves math, reading, typing, ukulele, Legos, karate, Boy Scouts, and tormenting his brother Jake (and sister Viva) on occasion.  He loves to inflict (or try to) his version of "fair" onto his lucky younger siblings, which makes them feel not so lucky.  That same inclination that demands "fairness" also makes him very detail oriented and good with his school work though!

Bentley is logical.  He is helpful!  He is a book worm.  He is very sweet to Lincoln and Evan.  He is sincere.  He has a great giggle.  He loves board games and card games.  Coming up with math puzzles is his idea of a good time.  He is a bit shy but coming out of his shell quicker than I expected!  He still isn't a great lover of variety in his food, but he is starting to show hints that he may one day develop a teenage size appetite.  :)

He's a delight, and I'm glad he is ours!

Everyday Life

Goofy Bentley!

The Rose Covered Cottage

It was so abused by Lincoln and Evan (who prefer to turn it on its side and jump on the support rails) that I had to put it in time out. *sigh*

One of Evan's favorite toys is the shape sorter. He is really good at it even though he's only sixteen months old. 

The boys have car races on the nice wood floors. 

Lincoln helps to sort the cards after a game of Seven Wonders.

Seven Wonders is currently Bentley's favorite game and he plays it with someone almost every day.

The trio relax with iPad time. 

The current policy is 15 minutes of educational apps before any play apps. 

Can you see the timer next to Viva?

One of the many Geopuzzles that the children put together regularly.

My bedroom floor after a visit from train builder Jake who was working for Lincoln.

Viva likes lime juice and she coaxed Lincoln into trying it.

Drummer Boy

On B's birthday he asked to go ice skating. We hadn't been for months. 

The boys had outgrown their skates. I had some new (used!) ones for them to try out. Jake's pair was great, but Bentley's pair had such lousy ankle support that he kept falling. After the first hour (when I finally figured out why B was falling), I asked Jake to trade with Bentley and let him have a turn with the good pair. Jake was not happy with my request.

Watching Lego videos on the computer. 

There is no end to the fun we have in our home!