The One with My First .GIF

I was sitting on the couch with Jane and my laptop and Fox came over and started pounding the keys... #boys #toddlers #2yearolds... So I did the only thing I could think of to distract him - I opened up Photobooth and started snapping away! Funny thing is, Fox was totally into it! He was posing and hamming it up, giving Joey x's and o's, showing off his Buzz Lightyear, and sucking on Jane's pacifier... I took 36 pictures in a row, but that's a little too many pictures to show in one post. So I made my very first .GIF! Lo and behold - Fox's shenanigans: 

That was fun. 

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The One with Fox's First Whole Apple

Pretty sure Fox is the world's pickiest eater. Don't know how, when, or why that happened, alls I know is we put a million things under the sun on his plate and he doesn't touch a thing. So when he started biting into this whole apple, we were thrilled!

I think he mostly takes a bite, sucks the juice out, and spits out the skin. Oh well, at least he getting some nutrients!

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The One with PW's Top 10 Girl Names

I've always had a love/hate relationship with my name. 

On one hand, I've only known like 5 other Paige's in my life, and there were never any other Paige's in any of my classes so I never had to be Paige #1 or Paige #2. Unlike my husband whose two best friends growing up were both named Chris. Kid you not. So when they went to Stake dances and girlies came up to them they'd be like, "I'm Chris." "I'm Chris." "I'm Chris." Chris cubed! 

On the other hand, growing up mean kids made fun of my name all. the. time. 

"Turn the page Paige!"

"Do you have a pager Paige?" (Remember pagers? Good thing those are outta the picture!)

"Page me Paige!"

I'm sure there were plenty more but I've chosen to block them from memory.

Okay, so none of those are really that bad, but as a little 8 or 9-year-old girl, my feelings were hurt man!

Today on The Pioneer Woman's blog she had a list of her top 10 favorite girl names. Imagine my surprise when I saw that her #3 favorite name is Paige! Neato! She even has a daughter named Paige! Here's what she had to say about the name:

I think the scales have been tipped a bit in favor of my name today :) Thanks P-Dub!

And because no post is complete without a picture, here ya go:

This was taken this past Sunday - our first time going to church in South Pas. As you can see, Jane was thrilled :)

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The One with the Evans Family 2006 & 2012

The very first annual Evans Family Reunion was in August of 2006 at Grand Lake, CO. Chris had literally just got home from his mission and Andy and Cami had just had their first baby Drew a few days before. I was Chris's crazy girlfriend and still I got an Evans family shirt. Good thing everything worked out, eh?

Now, six years later, the family has gotten much bigger! People-wise and pounds-wise (no offense to anyone :) Andy and Cami have four kids, Bethany and Peter have one and a half kids, Chris and I have two kids, Nick is on his mission, Belle has passed on to doggie heaven, so on and so forth. 

I love comparing photos over the years :)

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The One with the Annual Evans Family Reunion Day 7

We woke up at 4am and were on the road by 4:45am. Unlike on the way up when there was smoke and fog everywhere and we couldn't see two feet in front of us, this time we got amazing views of Mount Shasta!

The drive was a repeat of the drive up. Lots and lots of movie watching! 

While Fox took a nap, I admired his ultra long and luscious eyelashes. I hope Jane gets them too!

We made it home by 7pm and were unpacked and settled by 8pm. It's good to be home!

Thank you so much to Bethany for planning the reunion! It was so fun to see everyone! Can't wait 'til next year - where's it gonna be Jay??

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The One with the Annual Evans Family Reunion Day 6

More bike rides this morning followed by a trip to the pool. This time I came along because Chris kept saying that Fox had the time of his life the last time they were at the pool and I wanted to see said enjoyment!

Fox learning how to swim. 

We didn't stay for very long, but Fox definitely had a fun time! Perhaps I'll sign him up for real swim lessons. 

Fox having fun with Uncle Jay. These two are so cute together. 

Chillin'

Chris took Fox to the town of Sisters while I stayed behind. 

Fox squeezing a fox. 

We got the neighbors to come over and take a picture of our entire family. 

Miss you Peter and Nick!

Nana and Papa with their 7 grandkids. At least 1 more will be there next year thanks to Bethany and Peter :)

My kidlets. 

That's the end of the official reunion together - tomorrow we drive back to LA!

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The One with Alive and Well

We've been in Oregon the past five days living it up at the annual Evans Family Reunion. Unlike previous years when I was able to blog each day's events as they happened, I now have the excuse of being the mother of two kids under two AND I just gave birth two weeks ago so I'm taking it easy :) I'll play catch up when we get home!

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The One with the Annual Evans Family Reunion Day 5

This morning we drove to Wizard Falls on the Metolius River. So pretty and scenic! The water is so blue!

It was Fox's mission to throw every single rock he saw into the river. 

At the same place is a fish hatchery. 

Holy lots of fish!

Fox would have jumped in if we didn't hold him back. 

Back at the house, Chris took Fox on a bike ride. 

He loved it!

They ended up at the park and swung around. 

"There's a deer just outside eating fruit from the orchard!"

I wasn't planning on doing many activities or going many places this reunion since I just had a baby. I mostly stayed at the house and lounged around and took care of Jane. I loved it.

Andy and Cami made yummy lasagna for dinner and we actually got a picture of the entire clan. Minus Haylie who snapped the pic and Peter and Nick who aren't here. 

And then Jay got ahold of my camera and snapped this gem:

He also got some cute ones of the cousins:

Andy feeding Luke

Avery

Drew

Baby Jane

Another fun-filled day!

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The One with Dald's 53rd Birthday

In my Father's Day 2012 post I mentioned that I am so much like my dad it's scary. I'd like to elaborate on that today, his 53rd birthday!

Dald has many hobbies including ham radio, carpentry, bicycling, reading, hiking, etc. 

I have many hobbies like scrapbooking, bookbinding, photography, blogging, etc. 

Dald falls asleep within two seconds after sitting down to watch a movie. Since he's ALWAYS on the go, the minute he sits down it's game over. 

Ditto. I must always be doing SOMETHING. And when I have nothing to do and sit down to relax, I fall asleep like *that*.

Dald doesn't really like schmoozing with people, although he's gotten much better at it over the years. 

I, too, have a hard time talking with people and just sitting around chatting - I'm a great listener, but I lack conversational skills. 

When he knows he has to wake up super early, he can't sleep. 

Neither can I. Case in point, we're in Oregon right now for the annual Evans family reunion and when I knew we wanted to wake up at 5am to get the road trip going, I never fell asleep. Granted I had a baby to feed every hour, but still. 

Dald is kinda (okay, a lot) impatient! (Sorry for ratting you out Dald :) But again, he's been working on it over the years and he's much better. 

I have such a short temper and I know where I got it from! But every day I'm trying to be a little better. 

Dald is punctual. When he says we're leaving at 8am, everyone is in the car and ready to go at 7:59am. 

Even if I try to be late, I seem to always be 5 minutes early! We're a punctual family I guess. 

Dald hates traffic and does everything in his power to avoid it, including riding his bike to and from work, rain or shine - and since he lives in Seattle, it's usually rain.

I hate traffic. So I just don't go anywhere :) It's a patience thing - I'd so much rather be doing something fun than wasting my time sitting in a car. 

Dald is a list maker and gets a lot of satisfaction crossing things off said lists as he accomplishes them. He even framed the list of things to repair/build/make/do at the old cabin they restored.

Crossing things of my lists, and I have many lists, is one of my favorite things to do!

Dald is responsible, a great example of how to live within your means, and frugal. 

By no means am I a great example of how to live within your means or frugal cuz I like to spend too much money on clothes and shoes and what not, but I do believe in being responsible with finances. 

Overall, I think my dad is a pretty awesome guy. He loves Superman and I really do think he is a super man! He is smart, interesting, funny, the best handyman I know, and my mom is such a lucky lady to have married him and I'm a lucky gal to have him as my dad. 

Love you Dald - happy birthday and wish I could be there to celebrate with you and everyone at Fat Burger!

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The One with the Annual Evans Family Reunion Day 4

This morning we packed everything up and headed to Black Butte Ranch - 2 hours from Salem. Fox and Jane slept the entire ride. 

Chris's family actually used to own the house we rented. 

Margi and Tom went through the house, inside and out, and pointed out everything that was the same. It would have been more effective to point out things that weren't the same! In the 15 years that they haven't owned the house it's amazing what's still the same: the carpets, the dishes, the placemats, all the decorations, the grill, the toaster, etc. I don't want to be a pill, but for the price people pay to stay there, you'd think they'd at least update minor things like the placemats! Anyway. It was very special for Tom and Margi to having everything be almost exactly as it was when they owned it. Happy 40th anniversary Tom and Margi!

The Evans Family Moto Banner is hung proud at every reunion!

Jay and his super sweet and nice girlfriend Haylie made sandwiches for everyone for lunch. 

While everyone went swimming, I stayed back and hung out with Jane. Doing what she does best!

Jay and Haylie made a delicious dinner of chicken cordon bleu pasta. No pictures, I'm a slacker.

Fox found a baby doll and pointed out all its features. He even started rocking it and tried to "feed" it if you know what I mean. LOL.

We had our own room with a sink and office area. Since we have a hard time sleeping in the same room as Fox (every move we make wakes him up and vice versa) we set up his (or rather, Evelynd's) pack'n'play in the laundry room next door to us. He slept like a dream every night in his deluxe suite!

Nighty night!

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