Our Big News

On Friday morning we took the kids on a scavenger hunt to tell them some exciting news. They found the first clue lying on the table which led the whole family to their bikes. Attached to their bikes they found clue number 2 which led them to the chapel at USAO. Once there they all searched frantically for clue number 3. Cortney was the victor and was all ready to read the clue when I noticed it was the WRONG clue! Since I was the one responsible for hiding the clues I only had myself to blame. Jay wrote them out, put them in envelopes and wrote on the back where I was to hide them. He couldn't have made it any easier. Anyway, we will just continue on with the story...

Since Jay had all the clues memorized, he just told them the next one. It took us to the playground at 9th and Alabama; specifically it took us to the merry-go-round. Stephen found that one and it sent us back to our home and into the van. Once inside they discovered very detailed directions of where we were supposed to drive. So, they navigated the final leg of our journey and we ended up at Braum's to have ice cream at about 10:30 in the morning. That is some mighty fine parenting, isn't it?

Everyone ordered a treat. Stephen and Cortney got cappuccino chunky chocolate and Maggie got birthday cake. They thought this was the end of the hunt. Then Jay handed Stephen the final clue to read out loud. It said: "Three Evans kids are so much fun, but how much more fun to add another one. In about nine months we will see because Mommy is going to have a baby!"

Stephen started grinning about halfway through the note. Cortney was really thinking hard and at the end she got the biggest smile and said "You mean you are pregnant?" Maggie didn't have much response at Braum's. Once we got home, though, she said "'Are we having a for real live baby?"

We couldn't be more thrilled. We can't wait to meet our newest blessing. I love wondering what the baby's gender will be, what he or she will look like, what kind of personality will he or she have. How will the family dynamics change? Pregnancy and childbirth are life changing, humbling experiences. I am looking forward to the months to come. I pray that God uses them to continue to shape each member of our family. I praise God that He is creating a little one right now inside of me and that his handiwork will soon be evident to all. What an amazing thing!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! This is the picture of one happy girl! She has been eyeing these giant suckers at Wal-Mart for weeks! Everytime we walked down that aisle she would ask for one. I kept saying, "Maybe you will get one for Valentine's Day.." Then she came home and told Jay with an air of extreme certainty, "You are getting me a big sucker for Valentine's Day!" I couldn't disappoint the poor girl over a $1 treat. Jay and I went shopping for their goodies and we were almost too late. Most of these giant lollipops were flawed beyond what could have been acceptable to Maggie. Now Stephen and Cortney would have been fine with a chipped or even broken giant lollipop. But not Maggie. She can't handle if her cheese stick breaks as she takes it out of the package, she wants doors and drawers closed completely (no cracks), she doesn't like tags in any of her clothes... The list goes on and on. After much searching, we found 3 giant heart shaped lollipops without cracks or breaks.

Maggie's Valentine dream came true! Proud...isn't she?


We have a V-day tradition. We get out the good china and have a fancy meal together. We try to make as much of the food as possible pink, red or heart shaped. It is pretty amusing. We have done heart shaped meat loaves and pink mashed potatoes. One year we did heart shaped steaks. We have colored ranch dressing and every kind of drink you can imagine. This year we had pink fettucine with alfredo sauce and heart shaped chicken on top. We have this neat set of dishes that were given to us. It is Currier & Ives blue and white. We have the whole shebang...salt and pepper shakers, serving pieces and even the ash trays! Don't know what we would use those for but they are interesting. Mom showed up just as we were about to eat so we were able to have company for our 'fancy' dinner. She was polite and didn't even turn her nose up at the pink noodles! Some folks would, you know.