Catching Up...

August - where did you go? It's the last week of August and we have been SWAMPED! Besides the regular play dates, park outings, swimming adventures, duck feeding, lunch with friends, dinners with family, one ear infection and one tummy bug ---(PHEW!!) --- our biggest news update to report is that we found a house!!!!!!!!
We are finally under contract to build a house. We have spent A TON of hours researching and looking for the right house for us and being prayerful and patient has finally paid off. It's going to be perfect and we are so excited!

18 MONTHS TODAY!!!

Evelyn is turning into a little girl! She's not my little baby anymore--she has turned TODDLER! What a new world for me to have a toddler! I love it even though I am so lost sometimes. She loves exploring her world and she gets so excited to find new things to check out and touch. She had her 18 month check up and she weighed in at a whopping 21 lbs and she is 30" long/tall. She thought it was the coolest thing to get to actually STAND on the scale instead of sitting in the little one for 'babies'. She was so funny with the Dr...she went through all of her animal sounds and she pointed to or said most of her body parts - head, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, hands, fingers, belly button, knees, feet, toes...etc. She sang a song "la la la la" and she even did a little dance. Then we had to get on with the appointment and her cuteness went out the window! She broke down in tears when the Dr tried to listen to her heart beat and then she gave her an "I BEG YOUR PARDON" look when the Dr. took off her diaper to check the female parts out. She gritted her teeth and wouldn't let us open her mouth and when the Dr. tried to check in her ears, Evelyn shouted "NO!" and swatted the Dr's hand away. I don't know where she gets this behavior!?! We were finally able to leave, but just to make sure everyone knew she was upset about this violation - she dumped the sticker bucket spilling stickers everywhere. Everyone laughed of course as I am turning red in the face as we scurry out the door. Good thing the next appointment isn't for another 6 months! Evelyn is quite the character and gets funnier every day!

Here's some pictures of her exploring outside recently.

Vampire Girls!

Last night a bunch of us "VAMPIRE GIRLS" went out to the Barnes & Noble release party for BREAKING DAWN! It's finally here! We felt so young in our little fantasy world with all of teh teenagers there at the event. There's nothing like a bunch of middle-aged women screaming and hollaring for vampires!! There were so many people that dressed up like vampires or in prom dresses. We even saw a guy there that had bright RED contacts - he was a thirsty vampire! There were people there that were pulling for JACOB and then there were the rest of us - TEAM EDWARD!!!! We played trivia and won buttons that said "I was bitten by Breaking Dawn". We had a blast - unfortunately I forgot my camera and so I'll have to post some from my friends' cameras later. Once we got home though, my friend Carly and I took a picture of our new books! We both stayed up in the weeeee hours of the morning to read! I am already sucked into the story. And is it bad that I want Edward to bite me?!!!!

Pool Time!

We love going to the pool! Here's us and our friend's - Chad and Carly - hangin' out at the pool! It was so HOT so the pool felt great! Evelyn had fun swimming and eating her snack.

Molly Mormon

Upon moving in with my in-laws I was put to the test immediatly! The 'MOLLY MORMON' test that is...

I canned tomatoes for three days straight! For three hours - every afternoon during nap time for Evelyn - for three days I learned how to can! It was actually pretty fun. A lot of work, but fun ... and MESSY! By the end of the three days, I think my fingers were turning reddish orange! We completed about 80-90 or so jars of tomatoes and that's just the first batch. Dad Lindsay is planning to aquire MORE tomatoes soon and I will have to say GOOD BYE to watching Oprah and HELLO to swollen feet again! I am up for the challenge though! I think for my first time - I passed the test - I guess I am a MOLLY MORMON after all!!!

The funny thing is - I don't even like tomatoes!!!!!!!!!!!

Scalding the tomatoes

Pouring tomatoes in cold water
to cool before peeling skins

Discarding skins in compost
bucket - yummm!

Husband Tag

I was tagged to do this on my husband. Since the blog is a 'family' blog and not just a blog about Evelyn - though sometimes it seems that way - I thought it would be fun to give him his moment of fame!!

Husband tag...

1. What is his name?
Gordon, Flash, Babe, G-Honey, Sticky Lips...you get the idea!

2. Who eats more?
Oh my goodness can this boy EAT! Next time you see him or talk to him, ask him about his 5 lb. burger!!!!!!!! Although, I can out-eat him in the sweets department any day!

3. Who said I love you first?
Well, that would have been me. It was a roller-coaster ride dating him --one minute we're together and having fun and the next minute he had a change of heart, but still wanted to cuddle...go figure! So eventually I put love on the line and it's been bliss ever since!

4. Who is taller?
Gordon is taller

5. Who is smarter?
Depends on the question! But when it comes to being book smart - he is.

6. Who is more sensitive?
That would be ME all the way. Step on my toes the wrong way and watch out for Miss Sensitive!
7. Who does the laundry?
Typically I start the load and he folds it all and puts it away. NICE HUH!!!!

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
I do. That way he has to crawl over me to get out of bed - mmmmmm.

9. Who pays the bills?
He makes the money, I spend it. Isn't that the way it works???

10. Who cooks more?
That would be me, but he does love a good hamburger and he is the grill master!

11. Who is more stubborn?
Wow, that would be me. He is so easy going and I am as stubborn as a nail!

12. Who is the first to admit they are wrong?
I'll be the first to say he's always wrong.

13. Who has more siblings?
Gordon is the 7th of eight children. I am the 2nd of four.

14. Who wears the pants in the family?
That depends, but mostly me.

15. What do you like to do together?
We love watching movies and eating popcorn!! We love to play games. We love to take Evelyn to the park and play with her. We love hanging out with good friends and having a good meal.

16. Who eats more sweets?
ME!!! I am a junk food junky. His motto is "drink more water"!

17. Guilty Pleasures?
XBOX 360. He is a gamer. He's probably online every night playing Halo or COD4 or something else!!

18. How did you meet?
We met in Provo, Utah working at a bank as tellers...you know, we both reached for the same dollar bill in the cash drawer and then our eyes met and it was love at first sight.

19. Who purposed?
He did. And he did it quite romantically!!

20. What is his best feature?
I would have to say his blue eyes. I melt every time I look in them.

21. What is his best quality?
This is a hard one - there are so many! I think it would be his outgoing personality. He is very comfortable in a crowd and he's a good time to have around at a party. He has a way of turning a potentially bad situation into a good one and he thinks rationally and logically and he never lets things bother him and he never holds a grudge. He is my perfect man! I LOVE YOU GORDON!

Awww, that was fun and sappy -- now I tag Carly, Mollie, Brittany and Angela!!!

THE MOVE!

FINALLY!!

Our internet access is finally back up and running. We have been without it since last Friday due to the move and I didn't realize how much we depended on the internet! Having a computer is one thing, but when all you have is a desk top to stare at - well, it's quite boring and I use the internet SO much on a daily basis to check things online, check email, blog...etc. I am thrilled to be back in the world of technology!!

Now, I have some updates......

WE MOVED!!!!! We sold our house so we are no longer homeowners! We are in a transitional phase right now trying to figure things out with our housing, but in the mean time we have bunked up with the Lindsays - Gordon's parents. We have successfully consolidated our 1300 square feet of previous living space into about 250 square feet between the two rooms that we have now. :) WOW! We have made our current space comfy and cozy and it feels like home already. Evelyn is adjusting very well to her new "train room" and is now chanting "CHOO-CHOO" at every diaper change on the changing table. It's adorable. The first two days were hard getting her to nap in a new place, but today she is back to her routine of napping for about 3 hours in the afternoon - mom is happy!!!!!!! So for the next 6 months, we are saving money like crazy and we hope to be in a new home by the beginning of 2009 if not earlier. We found one that we would LOVE to build...we'll keep you posted on that soon. :)))

Our first Sunday in our new ward - Evelyn was adorable and I just had to post these cute pictures of her in her baby blue dress - or "BLLLLLLEEEEWWWWWW" as she says it.

Memory Lane

So this should be interesting and I hope you all play...

MEMORY LANE:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

THANKS FOR PLAYING!!!

Addicted...

I never considered myself a big reader...until NOW! I am in love with this series of books by Stephenie Meyer. I have become a true TWILIGHT fan! I am counting down for the release of book 4 on August 2nd and a bunch of us Twilight Fans are going to the MIDNIGHT RELEASE PARTY FOR BREAKING DAWN ON AUGUST FIRST AT BARNES & NOBLE!!! I can't wait! I never thought a book could bring me so much excitement, but until you read it yourself you won't understand...So go get the books and start reading and join the fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer Fun

We've had such a fun summer so far. Just like her mommy, Evelyn loves to be in the water and playing with friends. Here's some snap shots of her having fun this summer.

Sink Baths

Call me lazy, but giving a bath EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to Evelyn has just gotten so exhausting! First of all - I probably waste WAY too much water by filling up the tub for her to play in and second of all - who wants to bend over and be on their knees for 30 minutes...not to mention with a growing belly in the way!? I have decided that the good old fashioned sink bath is the way to go! Evelyn seems to enjoy it too! I don't have to be on my knees and kill my back by bending over and the best part is that she gets to play with the hose attached to the sink and she loves it!

The 24 Week Belly

There really is a baby in there! I feel like I am finally getting out of the "I just look fat" phase of the pregnancy!!! Claire is a half-baked little baby and she is growing fast and getting stronger. Sometimes I think she's putting on a circus in my belly with all the kicking and squirming that she does. But I love it and I am feeling great - minus the TONS of weight I have already gained - jeepers - and I know I had Fred Flinstone feet to begin with, but they are really starting to look short, fat and stubby these days!!! Evelyn is getting cuter the bigger I get...she'll come up to me and pat the belly and say "baby" in her cute little voice. Then she'll lean in and give my belly a kiss! She is already a great big sister!

I am hooked...

Who doesn't love a good bubble bath every now and then? Well yesterday, I was in desperate need of one! My good husband came home from work early and relieved me of my extremely stressful day yesterday and I called a girlfriend up and we went to Cold Stone to get some YUMMY chocolate ice cream (just what a girl needs when she is stressed and pregnant!) and then we went shopping!

We hit Bath and Body Works and spent a good hour in the store walking around and smelling all the yummy smells! She introduced me to a flavor I hadn't tried yet and I am hooked on it! It's the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent. I got it in bubble bath and the lotion. After a couple hours of 'girl time' it was time for us to get back to reality so we went home. I had to rush to get dinner on the table and then I rushed to fill 250 water balloons for my youth activity. I was out the door and on time to the activity which was a blast and the youth had a great time playing games and ending the night with a wild water balloon fight!!

Needless to say, when I got home, my voice hurt from yelling, my feet hurt from running and my back hurt - well - because I am pregnant and it just hurts! Thank goodness for what was to come - a nice bubble bath was waiting for me with my name on it! Then I got a foot rub from the hubby dearest and all with my new Japanese Cherry Blossom stuff! I love it and I was lulled to sleep by some sweet aromas!

Introducing Claire Abigail Lindsay

This was taken Friday the 20th and I was in my 21st week of the baking process!! If you look closely you can see her waving - isn't she so cute??

I'm so glad when daddy comes home!

Almost every day, Evelyn and I are either out on the porch waiting for Gordon (daddy) to get home or we are in the house, but the front door is open and Evelyn patiently waits and watches for him through the glass storm door. It's the highlight of my day to watch how excited she gets when daddy comes home! She goes nuts and starts inhaling and doing this high pitch squeaky sound - it's hilarious! He is an amazing dad and has been since day one! He plays with her, rolls on the floor with her, tickles her, gives her horsey rides on his back, feeds her, changes her, puts her to bed, reads to her, prays with her and most of all he LOVES her! I love watching him be the dad he loves to be!
We love you daddy!!!

To my dad, my hero

I don't even know where to begin - I guess that's why I am a day late - but I want to wish my dad a Happy Father's Day! I have so many amazing stories and memories about my life that would have never happened to me if it weren't for you, dad. You gave me and my sister's a life of fun and memorable experiences that I will never forget!! Thanks to you I have a LOVE of water and being out on our boat and skiing and wake boarding and knee boarding and tubing. I wish we could rewind time and go back to the days when we would spend weeks - even months - at the Colorado River. I miss the Avenger and I miss the Hallett. I love that you made it possible for us to travel the country and experience camping and hiking in the summers and snow skiing and snow mobiling in the winters. I love our road trips in the Southwind and all the places that I have been able to be. I love our "RULE" - you can tell me anything and I won't get mad and I can tell you anything and you won't get mad. You have helped through my trials and oppositions and you have always made me smile! I know with out a doubt that you love me and would do anything in the world for me and I wish I could share more memories and time with you now that I have a family. You are the best grandpa to Evelyn and I LOVE THAT!!! She knows your laugh and she loves to play with you! We can't wait to see you in a few more days and I hope you had a great Father's Day! I love you dad!

This is the BEST!! FOR ALL MOMS!!!

Pause MY TUNES to listen to this video called "Because I am the MOM!"

Precious Moments!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE going into Evelyn's room to check on her before we head off to bed ourselves. We have to hold back the laughter everytime because we always find her in the cutest and funniest sleeping positions! We love it! Here are some favorites...