Evin's baptism

Today was a wonderful day, Evin's baptism day. We got to the stake center actually on time, so Evin and Derek could get ready for the 9:00 time. Evin was one of three boys to get baptized, and we were last, so we waited and sang songs in the chapel. Grandma Terry and Papa Rodger were there, and Uncle Gavin and Aunt Nicole, Uncle Rob, Zack, Abi, and Sabrina. Grandma Gayle and Papa Randy came, and Aunt Heidi and Uncle Keith, Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Whosit, Don, Shiara, and Ehlana, Aunt Emily and Uncle Matt, Josh, and Melia.




Evin was just a little nervous about getting baptized. He hates getting water in his ears and eyes. So he resisted a little when daddy tried to dunk him, and ended up not getting the top of his head under. So daddy tried again, and again, didn't quite get that top of this head wet. Derek told him he wasn't getting his head under, and the third time was the charm! Our little boy, who's not so little anymore, got baptized.




We crammed into a classroom for the confirmation. We almost didn't fit! Derek confirmed Evin, and gave him a wonderful blessing, reminding him of being an example to his brothers, friends, and other people he may not even know.

After the baptism and confirmation, the Fulwider family clan had other obligations and things to do. The Becraft side headed back to our house (and others) to change out of Sunday clothes. We played for a while and talked, and then headed to Chuck-a-rama for lunch. The boys ate more ice cream than any sane boy should, of course, but that's okay. The rest of the afternoon we played with the kids, sang together (Mari and Keith and Emi and I and Mom), did puzzles, played games, and the kids created a disaster zone in the boys' bedroom. They were so good and well behaved, I think we only had problems a very few times, and 2 of them were when Isaac and Ehlana each fell off a chair!



Evin got to go to a birthday party too today, so he got home about 8 and was VERY TIRED!!! He opened Grandma Terry's present for him, and loved the idea of a journal. We looked through some of my old journals, laughing at some of the silly stuff I wrote when I was seven. He tried to write some, but was so tired he got too upset when he made a mistake. He's a perfectionist, and wants everything to be just right. Then he stubbed his toe hard and ripped his toenail and made his toe bleed. He decided to just go to sleep.

We had such a good day, it was a wonderful day to remember. Thank you to all our family that came for Evin.

Evin's first pack night

Wednesday was a crazy day for me. Mornings are ALWAYS crazy until the three go to school. Then I helped Grandma Pratt go to the doctor, ran home, lunched the three little boys. Then off to Kaleb and Isaac's lessons, home around 5:30, and at pack night by 6. There was dinner in there too, by the way. Yikes.

But Evin was so cute and big sitting up there with the other big boys all in their scout uniforms. It was fun to see him take part in the flag ceremony and figure what a cub scout does. I can see a long line of pack nights stretching in front of me . . .

Arizona trip

It's been a while since we actually got home from Arizona, but it has been so crazy around here I haven't had a chance to post anything. So here we have a bunch of charming pictures from Grandma's house, Lynnette's, and hopefully Mari will give me (pretty please) the pictures she took or that I took with her camera. Ian was so cute with Lynnette's animals, but my camera ran out of batteries!

So we have:




The charming children playing marbles on the floor at Grandma's house. Shiara insisted on having all the pink marbles, so then Ian insisted on having all the yellow marbles, and then everybody wanted a color, which started out bad, but then turned out nicely, everybody with their own color and no arguing once we got the colors straightened out.


Of course we have the necessary popsicle row of children. That is an essential part of any Arizona experience.


This is one of my favorite pictures. I was so grateful Mari decided to come with me. I don't think I could have driven all 14 (ARRRRRGHHHH) hours by myself. So we took my four boys and Don and Shiara and left the yelling banshee at home with her Daddy. We didn't have enough seatbelts for her anyway, and somebody had to stay at home, and Mari and I didn't want to listen to yelling! So we have the six kids singing to a tape of songs we brought. So much fun! Isaac and Kaleb helped Shiara, Evin was in charge of movies, and Ian and Don had to sit together or they would have been mad. We had fun. Mari and I had an ipod with headphones!


Uncle Don and Aunt Kathy had those kids entranced from the minute they walked through the door. This was the tarantula picture. Everybody wanted to see the tarantula. Silly kids.


King of the mountain. Need I say more?


Mari and I spent a lot of time just soaking up the sun. It has felt much colder back in Utah since we got home.


The kids spent a lot of time playing robots. Kept them very happy most of the time.

I have the most pictures from the first of the trip, hopefully I'll get more from Mari. We had so much fun, it was a wonderful trip, and I was so glad to get to see Grandma Bee and spend time with Lynnette and her kids at church and their house. We loved the food at the Becraft Bed and Breakfast, and would highly recommend it!

Evin's first friends birthday party

We decided that Evin was 8 now, and it was about time he had a friends party for his birthday. I decided I don't like birthday parties all that much, and the thoughts of a bunch of little boys (more little boys, I guess) at my house, trying to entertain them, was too overwhelming. So we compromised. Evin invited three friends and we met them at Jumpin Jacks in Springville. Our little boys could come too, so they were happy, and I had coupons, so I was happy! We played there for about an hour and a half, and then brought the boys back home for pizza, presents, cake and ice cream. Perfect plan! By the time they were finishing they ice cream, parents were arriving to pick them up. Everybody had fun, no one got hurt aside from a few burns from going down slides too fast (me included) and Evin had a blast. We may not wait another 8 years to do it again!

I am not old enough for this, am I?

Today was a packed day, filled with all sorts of fun for all. School, cello lesson for Kaleb, violin lesson for Isaac, and Evin's very first Cub Scout den meeting! They found a shirt that someone had given to the ward and gave it to him. He's so proud of himself, and looks far too old! He had a lot of fun, and was just confused because he thought daddy would be there too. (Derek's the cubmaster, we had to explain den meetings vs. pack meetings). He feels so big with those other older boys. Hopefully they will be good influences!

Homework with the little boys

Every day after lunch, Isaac and Kaleb do their homework with me. They usually have a little tiny book to read, very repetitive, but cute, then a page of reading new sounds and blending sounds together, and then a new book that is on their level. I really like doing their homework with them right now. Next year will be interesting when they're in school all day, but we'll deal with that then. It is so much fun to watch them reading better and better. I can't wait until they start reading books on their own. I think they're starting, but they get overwhelmed with the words they can't figure out. Anything with short sounds, silent e's, or 2 vowels together is okay. But start sticking in weird words like continue or furious, and they start to panic.

Ian decided in October that he needed to do homework too. We have this book our district put together for parents to work with their kids, and we use it some with Isaac and Kaleb, but mostly with Ian. We work on letter names, sounds, colors, is this a letter, number, or word, stuff like that. He's so cute! He is registered for preschool next year, having had the lucky (?) birthday of September 1st. He will be the youngest in his class, for sure. But he's doing so well and wants to be a big boy so badly! I don't worry too much about him.

I haven't heard Evin read for a long time. He is most definitely a Becraft (or wherever the reading gene originally came from). He reads books like I would like to eat chocolate! Aunt Nicole just gave him Calvin and Hobbes for his birthday (if she hadn't, I would have!) and he is loving it. He's also reading the Pippi Longstocking books, Henry Higgins, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, along with the Book About Everything You Want to Know, and Peanuts. I have to check on him to make sure he's not reading after lights out!

Pictures from Christmas!

We had such a good Christmas. Finally got the pictures up!

I was very excited to send the boys to school yesterday. I am going to miss all the free time we had over the Christmas break, but I was ready for a routine again! Of course, then I had to make food for a funeral, take it, run to the school and the grocery store, and the bank. So my "extra" time kind of went away, but I still got quite a bit done.

Now we're into the new schedule for the new year. I kind of forgot that since my Evin turned eight, that means he'll actually be a cub scout now, and have to (get to) go to scouts on Wednesday. Problem being, I'm in Orem with Isaac and Kaleb for their lessons on Wednesday. So we now have a standing arrangement with Grandma Pratt for Evin to go over there on Wednesday after school and then the lovely scout leader will come and pick him up. So now I teach Monday until 6, Tuesday until 5:30, take Isaac and Kaleb to lessons on Wednesday, Evin has lessons Thursday night, and Friday will be our play day! This week it's Evin's birthday party with his friends. He's so excited.