Evelyn's baby blessing

In very late August, we blessed Evelyn and hosted a party at our little 650 sq. ft. apartment. This is my parents and my Grandpa and Grandma Hill. 

 Aunt Heather loved holding Evelyn. 

 Grandpa showing Kaden his cousin. 

Grandma Gibbons made a beautiful quilt that hung on the kid's wall for several years. 

 Ben's best friend from growing up, Peter, and his wife Melinda with their kids. Grandma Cluff pretty much organized the lunch we had following the blessing, which ended up being hoagie sandwiches with a variety of salads (I'm not sure why we don't have pictures of Grandpa and Grandma Cluff and Aunt Michelle from this event). Quite a few people showed up, including many of Ben's cousins with their families, and our good friends the Lanengas and Johnstons.

 Aunt Nicole trying to keep Kaden occupied. 

Ben being silly. 

He was nominated class clown in high school after all. 

 Evelyn in her dress a few weeks later, since I didn't get any good shots of her awake and in her dress on the   blessing day. She was a pretty good sport during the business of the day, no screaming out during the blessing or anything, and not too bothered by all the company. 

One of Ben's post-mission buddies, Adam, with his wife Nicki, and their daughter who is 10 days younger than Evelyn. They stopped by to visit us on their way to dental school in Texas. 

August and a trip to ID

August brought Evelyn's first smiles. 

 Our neighbors, Keeper and Lynse, graduated and left BYU housing. Keeper was Ben's roommate in Southern California during the summer of 2002 when he sold pest control to make some cash between semesters. They were married shortly after we were, and we spent many evenings watching sports games, playing card games, and just talking. 

We spent the fourth of July with them watching fireworks off one of the now-demolished Deseret Towers dorm buildings on BYU campus. 

 One month old. 

 First visit to Great Grandma Green.

 And Grandpa Green. 

Great Grandma Cluff

We headed to Idaho later in August to attend Grandma Cluff's 50th birthday bash. It was a luau, complete with a roasted pig she and Grandpa did themselves. 

 Aunt Michelle

 Tyler and Nicole passed through on their way to school at BYU-Idaho. Kaden was one year old. 

 Everyone got dressed up for the big party, even Evelyn. 

Dad being silly with one of the hats he'd wear in high school. 

It is always funny to watch young babies try to focus their eyes! 

And then along came an Evelyn

 8 days overdue, still pretty comfortable, but tired of waiting for this little girl to make her appearance. 

 Induction process began at 7 pm, then we went home to wait for labor to kick in. Decided to head back in to the maternity ward at 4:30 am, and it took 20 minutes to wake Ben up. We get there a bit after 5 am. Only 2 cm with a lot of contractions, so I order drugs to help me sleep. Epidural at 9:30, break the water at 10 am, and Evelyn arrives at 2:33 after 30 minutes of pushing. 

 7 lbs, 9 oz., 20" long. She was the baby who cried and fussed in a lot of her first pictures, but she also scored highest on the Apgar scale. 

 Not enjoying bath time. 

 Happier when it was all over and she was wrapped up. 

 The Lanengas came to visit. 

 So did the Gurneys. 

 Dad looking at his baby and her giant binky. When we arrived home from the hospital, it was 85 degrees in our apartment, and hotter outside. It prompted a trip to Lowe's where we bought our first A/C unit. 

 Grandpa and Grandma Gibbons came to visit for a few days. 

 Evelyn at about one week. 

 Grandpa Cluff

 Grandma Cluff

 First real bath in the kitchen sink, Evelyn was much happier this time around. 

Evelyn at two weeks, sleeping in with Mom. Until at least 10 am most mornings. 

Spring

With spring showers came a baby shower for me thrown by Mom Cluff. We were completely outfitted for a baby after this was over. 

 Several people came from Idaho for this party. My old roommate Catherine and cousins Kari and Kristen showed up. 

Nicole and my mom working hard to figure out a game. Kaden was offering moral support. 

I also graduated from BYU-Idaho with my B.S.

My parents. 

 The Gurneys.

It never ceases to amaze me how windy Rexburg is. 

32 weeks with Evelyn, on a trip out to Washington for my cousin Kristen's wedding.

 We had two sets of friends at BYU we always had fun with, and should have hung out more. This was one of 4 hilarious pictures showing the burgeoning bellies of the wives, and husbands trying to be manly.

 A building on BYU campus, which has since been demolished. Benjamin Cluff Jr. was once a president of BYU.

Me at 36 weeks hiking along the Rock Canyon trail. I loved coming to see the run-off in the spring. 

2004, the last year in Idaho

Family pictures taken near Warm River in Eastern Idaho. 

Two newlywed couples playing in the snow. 

We even matched! 

A cousin coming home from a mission prompted a reunion on my mom's side of the family. 

 Sitting on my now not-so-little brother. 

 Waiting for the photo shoot to start on a brisk Idaho spring afternoon. 

 My mom and grandma making homemade fried chicken.

The results of the photo shoot. 

Another get-together late in the summer for Kaden's baby blessing. 

 A large dinner was held at my Grandma's house. Family from both sides came. These are sisters and cousins. Kaden was ready for it all to stop. 

This trip came about a month after we'd moved to BYU for school. I loved coming back and seeing everyone.