Evelynd's First Evans Family Reunion

Every year around my parents' anniversary, we have a family reunion.  We rotate who gets to pick the location and plan the activities.  This year was Grandpa and Nana Evans' year so we all went to Colorado (except Dassow Daddy, who stayed home for some work things).  That means I got to take Evelynd on her first plane ride -- ugh!  Scary!

When we arrived at the airport, I couldn't believe how much extra stuff we needed.  Peter and I were used to traveling with our carry-ons only.  This time I had two suitcases to check, a stroller, a boppy, a car seat, a car seat base, a diaper bag, a purse, and my baby.  Somehow I managed to move it all by myself, but it meant that I wasn't able to get any pictures.

Evelynd and I were seated next to a nice older woman who (thankfully) loved babies and talked to Ev a lot.  I tried to wait to nurse her until takeoff to help the pressure in her ears, but she was too hungry, so I fed her as soon as our row was belted in.  She did well going up and once the seat belt sign was turned off, I walked her up and down the aisle until she fell asleep.  She napped for about an hour, then cooed, and sucked on her pacifier (a rarity) as we hit turbulence over the Rockies.  No fussing even as we descended.  Yay!  We  both survived and as we waited for our stroller, the exiting passengers (one had been at the Willamette BBQ with us) said how cute and well behaved Evie was.

Uncle Jay picked us up and we drove to Nana's house, where she immediately put Evelynd on a toy horse:

Dassow Mommy was pretty happy that Evelynd did not seem to enjoy this first horse ride (my ideal: no drums, no soccer, no horses).

We got to visit with Uncles Jay and Nick (and Jay's friend Hayley) and then Uncle Andy, Aunt Cami, and Cousins Drew, Avery, and Luke showed up late that night.

Monday morning, Uncle Chris, Aunt Paige, and Cousin Fox arrived.  (Note: for another account of the reunion, visit Paige's blog: http://www.chrisandpaige.blogspot.com/.)  We then packed up the cars and headed to the Aurora Reservoir.  The sand was extremely hot and the water was cold, but it was a nice place.  Except for the biting flies (now I know why horses are so annoyed by those things).

The Class of 2029: Evelynd and Fox

When we returned to Grandpa and Nana's house, Nana read Ev and Avery some stories and then we had a dutch oven cooking demonstration.

This dinner was delicious.  We had lasagna, bread, and a mango-peach cobbler made in dutch ovens.  Yummy.

You could often find Avery playing with Evelynd.  Later that night, Avery's mom announced that she's pregnant -- here's hoping Avery gets a little sister.

Uncle Chris took Fox in to meet the horses and this was the result.  Uh-oh, Nana.  Will anyone be a horse person? (Side note: after this picture Fox was eating cheerios and offered them to Evelynd -- what a sweet guy!)

That evening most people slept in tents in the horse arena.  Evelynd and I stayed in the house.  Dassow Mommy is not much of a camper.  Especially when beds are just a few feet away.

Tuesday morning was relaxed as we hung out at the house before heading to the cabin we had rented in Frisco.

Avery showing off the new shirt Evelynd gave her.

Evelynd was watching her older cousins and starting to almost crawl -- she scooted forward a couple times.

The Frisco cabin.

The next day (Wednesday) was spent biking Vail Pass.  We had to go in two shifts (I was in the second one) in order to have enough bikes, drivers, and babysitters.  I started on my own bike, but switched to the back of the tandem (terrifying to give up control) so Nick and Jay could jump off the bridge into the freshly-melted mountain streams.

Thursday was spent hiking to an abandoned mining town (no pictures because Ev and I were taking a nap) and then at the Silverthorne aquatic center (no pictures because I dropped the ball).

Fox was wearing an "Oregon Uglies" shirt and was covered in oatmeal.

 Nick and Grandpa drove back to Denver to pick up Nick's mission call -- he will be going to Mexico Leon on December 28.  Exciting.

Friday was the last day of the reunion.  We took family pictures, Uncle Andy, Aunt Cami, and kids headed home and the rest of us returned to Denver to celebrate Grandpa and Nana's anniversary at Texas Roadhouse.

The grandparents and grandkids.  Luke was not into picture time.

The cousins.

Chris, Paige, and Fox flew home and Jay drove back to SLC Saturday.

Next post = Week 2 of Dassow Mommy and Baby in Colorado.

P.S. Red Sox were 4 and 2 during the reunion.

Happy Five Month Birthday, Baby Girl!

Evelynd and I have been on vacation and the internet has either not been available or slow and spotty, but I had to do a post for her five month birthday.

She spent the morning at a park where a three-year-old named Ellie immediately wanted to play with her and pushed her in the baby swing.  In the evening, she got to go to a pool party (she loves the water).  And at night, Dassow Daddy got to see her for the first time in about ten days!

 Evelynd was neutral on her first time down a slide.

So what's new with Evie?  Many people have decided to call her Lindy.  Okay.  That's a cute nickname. She has discovered a lot more sounds her voice can make.  Her cousin Fox even taught her she could scream and she's been trying that a LOT lately.  She looks like she may be an early crawler -- she was watching her cousins move and has been able to get her legs under her and kind of scoot forward.  Rolling both ways is easy now and she even double rolls sometimes.  She's able to sit with her hands in front of her and be on her stomach, sitting up on her elbows. She is tolerating the piano more now.  She still loves outside and the dogs. Although she's still wearing six month clothes, a few of them are getting too small and I think we'll be pulling out the next set soon.  She is starting to be interested in more toys (my hair, glasses, and necklaces are some of her favorites).

P.S. Since my last post, the Red Sox have won six of ten (including two out of three against the Yankees) and hold the lead in the AL East.  Ellsbury has been amazing and Lowrie has even been back a little.
P.P.S. When I am back at my own computer, I'll post on the 2011 Evans Family Reunion.

Dog Tricks v. Baby Tricks

I once read that the smartest dogs are the equivalent of a two-year-old child in intelligence, so I thought I'd see how our dogs stack up against our four-month-old baby.


Roll Over:                        BABY

Speak:                             DOGS/BABY

Sit:                                  DOGS/BABY (half credit)

Potty Trained:                 DOGS

Walk/Run:                       DOGS

Shake Hands/High 5:       DOGS

Know Their Name:                   DOGS/BABY (I think)

Sleep Through the Night:          DOGS/BABY (half credit)

Turn on Lights :              BABY (see video)

                   TOTAL:          DOGS = 7/BABY = 5

It looks like the dogs are winning, but they've been around years longer than Evelynd, so I think she'll catch up pretty soon.

Party and Reparty

It was another lovely day with our lovely baby.  She woke up around 7:30 this morning and went down for her morning nap at 9:00 a.m.  She woke up at 1 p.m.!  What?!  I kept checking on her, checking my watch, and yes, she took a four-hour nap.  She was basically awake until 8:00 p.m. tonight.  So, here's what we did.

First, we went to a picnic at Tokyo International University with the Jipping girls.  We had some good food and there were a lot of activities for kids (although not so many for babies, but Evelynd was very happy in the grass and playing with Sylvia).

Pretty sleepy, but never quite asleep.

A lot of families and young children were there.

Sylvia Jipping

Thalia Jipping before the face painting...

...and after the face painting.

The university has an outdoor swimming pool that we were able to use (but we didn't).

After the picnic, Evelynd and I went to a bridal shower for Hannah Hayes.

The Bride-to-Be

Dianne Lathen returned this picture to me at the shower.  About ten years ago, the clerks and gofer at Swanson, Lathen, Alexander & McCann made this beautiful portrait (and superimposed associate Travis Prestwich) to add to the collection of family pictures in Neil Lathen's office.  I guess he didn't want to keep it in his new office for some reason.

The shower was nice and Evelynd fell asleep at 8:00.  I put her upstairs in a cradle, checked on her a couple of times, and loaded the car before going to get her again.  When I went to get her to go home, she was awake and screaming.  Poor baby!  She woke up somewhere she'd never been and was terrified.  It took me a while to calm her down, but she went to sleep at home with a smile on her face.

P.S. A very happy birthday to Evelynd's Uncle Chris (all this partying was in his honor).

P.P.S. Ellsbury had a walk-off homerun tonight to win it for the Sox (two walk-offs in a row for that awesome Oregonian baller).