Trip to see the Red Sox

Ben attended college in Boston for a semester, and while there, caught Red Sox fever. In our early college days, he had more time to follow the baseball season and the Red Sox. They were actually pretty good during these years as well, winning the World Series in 2004. The American League Championship Series  that year was the best time we've ever had watching baseball. The Red Sox came came back to beat the Yankees after a 0-3 deficit. So awesome. 

This summer, the planets aligned and Ben determined to see a game in person when they played the Mariners.

Ben's parents and some second cousins that are like his aunt and uncle decided to make the trip with us. 

We arrived extra early so Ben could watch warm-ups and batting practice. 

 David Ortiz chilling on the grass.

 I don't remember who was pitching, Ben had hoped it would be Tim Wakefield, but it wasn't. 

 Ben thoroughly enjoyed the game, and I was more distracted by watching the people in front of us get up again and again for more beer. I really hoped they weren't driving home. I think they'd had 7 beers a piece by the time the game ended. 

 Unfortunately, the Red Sox lost. But the garlic fries we had were really, really good. 

 It was my first major league baseball game, and we had a good time. 

 On the way back over the Cascades, we took the 410 highway that cuts near Mt. Rainier National Park, and got some pictures of the park. 

 Crazy mushrooms growing on the trees. I'm seven months pregnant. 

 Someone left a pretty rock sculpture near the White River in the national park. 

 Ben found the mountain impressive, and we wished we could get closer. But that trip was for another time. 

Evelyn's first birthday

 Grandma and Grandpa Chickens came for Ev's first birthday, and at first Grandma thought I had gained a bunch of weight because I was wearing a pair of Ben's shorts. We told them that yes, I had gained weight, but only because there was another baby in there, due in 4 months. Happy times!

 Grandpa helping Evelyn play with one of her birthday presents. If only older children could be so entertained with inexpensive gifts. 

 Daddy was helping her figure out this wrapping paper business. 

 Maybe a bit worn out from opening so many presents. 

 Having a giggle over another new toy that has continued to entertain. 

 Unsure of what to do about this cupcake and candle. I ended up blowing it out for her. She was nervous about everyone singing to her too. 

 We hadn't let her have much refined sugar up to this point, so she had no idea what frosting was. 

 But she figured it out. 

 And actually ate most of the cupcake. Our good friends, the Johnstons were here for this party, along with a few friends from the ward. 

 Her new phone. Evelyn had so many cute little dresses. I haven't been able to hang onto all of them. 

 Another little birthday party, this time at Grandma Green's house in Farmington. Complete with a fancy cake. 

 A generations shot. Great Grandma Green on the left, Grandma Chickens in the middle, and Great Grandma Cluff on the right. 

 Mom trying to help rid Evelyn of some excess energy. At this point, she'd had a lot of fun running around the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room. 

Me trying to keep on the matching  hat for this dress. It didn't work very well. None of my little kids have liked wearing hats. 

By one year, Evelyn had grown to about 21 lbs. She had most of her teeth, but wasn't talking much. She did a few signs, "milk", "please", "thank you", and the sound "mmmm," which meant "movie." She was just beginning to like watching Baby Einstein, which she ended up loving. 

Middle Summer

 Self-portrait with Daddy. I loved her big binkies. We went through so many with her. 

 Feeding Daddy a carrot. 

 Evelyn was still a cute baby, loving her bottles of milk. She was by far our best milk drinker. 

 She loved carrying bags or purses around. I would call her our little bag lady. The hidden pull-out drawers seen behind her were a favorite place to pass the time in our small apartment - pulling out all the silverware. 

 I got a new haircut and Evelyn enjoyed standing on the back of the couch and watching me pull faces. She would eventually just fall backwards to get down; she knew the couch would catch her. 

 A little more comfortable in the bath tub, as long as there was a trickle of water running. 

 Taking a nap with mom. This was before we discovered how a nap schedule would benefit our life. 

 Crazy Evelyn, going down head-first on the slide.

 Excited about a pair of shoes that she couldn't really walk in yet. She was just barely taking her first steps, and shoes made it more difficult. This was before all those pre-walker shoes hit the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Target. 

 Waltzing around naked. 

 Laughing at Grandma Chickens during a visit to Idaho. Evelyn was really comfortable around extended family members. 

 Trying to capture the color of her eyes, which were still undecided at this point. They were a dark green here, and kept lightening to a hazel. By now (she's age 7), they are a definite brown. 

Eating pancakes with Mommy in the morning. Grandma Cows was able to find a little nightgown for Evelyn, as I was unable to find clothes that would keep her cool enough during the hot summer nights. 

June

 We found out child #2 was a girl! I waited until I was beyond 20 weeks to tell family I was expecting. 

 We had a fun play date with Graysen and Maggie. 

 Playing in the tunnel, and Evelyn rarely fell on her face, even though she crawled head first through most of the playground. 

 Grandma sent these bunny ears for Easter and Evelyn liked to put them on. She knew she was cute stuff and that she could charm Mom and Dad this way. 

 This is how you play in the toy bucket. You sit in it. 

Being "da cool baby." 

The Cabin

 Our friend Chad had a hook-up with someone from work to get this cabin free for a weekend in Sundance. We came up for one night of fun. 

 Huge buffalo head mounted above the stairs. 

 After the girls went to bed, we played this game where the cards tell you to put, "hand to ear," and so on. You end up in a big, laughing, tangled mess. We also spent time in the hot tub outside before we headed in. The guys ended up staying up until 4 am playing various video games on the big screen TV. They finally rolled out of bed at 10 am. Ben remembers it as one of the funnest times he's had with a group of guys. 

 The baby girls playing in these decorative cans. 

 All playing together on the floor. 

 It was fun to watch them all develop their milestones at the same time. They were all crawling around and standing up on the furniture.  

Evelyn was not too excited about this bath. It was a deep whirlpool tub, and I guess she thought it was too far away from Mom and Dad. 

 We took lunch and hiked around the ski area. There were a few patches of snow left, and the trees were all still blooming behind Mt. Timpanogos. I had terrible allergies from the tree pollen all weekend, and had to pop Benadryl to survive. That was the only downside. We had a lot of fun. 

 We failed to get a group shot. So this random one will have to do. :)

We hope to duplicate this fun again sometime in the future.