Some things just never change

Evan and I volunteered to chaperon a youth stake dance at the end of January. We patrolled the building for a while to make sure everyone stayed safe. Then we watched the front and took money (yeah they charge now at stake dances, what's with that?) and checked dance cards.

Then we finally got to dance the night away. The youth still dance (or not dance) the same way as when I was a youth. The girls all stand in a circle and bop around and the boys sit on the edge of the stage NOT asking the girls to dance. Not surprisingly, even though the DJ got paid he was still as lame as the DJs when I went to dances. Although he did play songs from my home girls Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus he also played Cotton-eye Joe and "I Feel Like a Woman," by Shaina Twain. The kids dance to line dances and got all sweaty and then of course the DJ plays a slow song right after. Who wants to get close to someone right after working up a hearty sweat? Then (just like when I was young) the DJ plays another slow song. Do you keep dances with the same guy for both songs? What do you do when you can't find your girlfriends' huddle? There wasn't even a punch bowl to hide next to, even though the youth had to pay for the dance. I guess somethings never change
Evan and I had a great time, but then again we only had to impress each other.

Suckers

Evan's sister and her three kids came over a couple weeks ago for a slumber party. While I was still at work the kids wanted some suckers. No problem, right? Well Uncle Evan made them eat their suckers in the kitchen. Probably a good idea-none the less I thought it was funny when I found these pictures on my camera. It just makes me think of what kind of dad Evan will be when we have children. The kids absolutely adore him and hang on him relentlessly.

That night after dinner Evan's sister and I headed to a fun baby shower while uncle Evan and the kiddos made a fort in the front room. By the time Ghostbusters was over everyone but Wade and I were asleep, not too shabby. Evan studied the next morning while the rest of us headed to the park. It had just rained so the slides were wet and such. We did however have fun at the duck pond. I tried to teach the kids to skip rocks, but it ended up being more of just throwing them, oh well. My nephew started to chase a bird around the park, and to my great surprise he was very close to catching the poor bird. I'm not sure what I would have done if he were to have actually caught it. Then we walked home and had a "picnic" in the cabana area at the apartment and watched a little Nick in the clubhouse before the kids headed home.
I love that we have some family near by us, I'll be bummed when we have to move further away from the little family we have here.

Howl if you love the Coyotes

A patient at the physical therapy office I work at had extra tickets to a Phoenix Coyotes NHL hockey game and invited me and Evan to go with her. The game went into sudden death overtime and then a shoot out. They ended up losing to the New York Islanders, but it was definitely an exciting event and one of the only events in Phoenix where I've ever worn a coat.
Me and Sue

Evan's birthday

Special birthday dinner, "Gunpowder Chicken," eaten on the special birthday plate.
Then we watched the National Championship game for college football and had birthday brownies. I ended up making two different batches of brownies, because Evan couldn't decide which kind he wanted.

A new Swiss Army backpack from his parents.

Group picture in the new camping chairs my parents bought Evan. I got him a board game he was wanting, called "Ticket to Ride: Europe." I ordered it online, but surprisingly it showed up the next day.

Now with the self timer feature on on my camera...only took us four times, not bad.

Spa night

I got board one night and for some strange reason Evan wasn't studying (or maybe I asked him to take a break) anyways...I turned my boardom into a mini-spa night at the house. I gave Evan a mini-pedi (of course no polish was involved). Then we took turns giving each other oatmeal facials. (And yes, Evan is wear one of my headbands)

Christmas

Christmas Eve we went to Evan's aunt Susie's house for some yummy treats, games, singing, and even a little stand-up comedy.The nieces and nephews started an impromtu talent show, which was surprisingly entertaining and fun.Family tradition of singing carols around the piano.Opening up one Christmas Eve gift. Klinton was so cute he loved that hat and wore it almost all day long. He also was obsessed with a singing reindeer sitting in rocking chair Grandma had. All the kids had "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer" in a matter of hours.Waiting to be able to open presents. The kids had more patience than I did.

Klinton trying to take a ride on his new stuffed horse from his great-grandparents

Having the traditional after presents egg-nog toast

Evan and his brother, Patrick, singing the most requested song of the week, "Ode, to the Colorecal Surgeon" and grandma working in the kitchen, which is what she did for the entire week. Kallie keeping her new babydoll warm while we were at our Christmas day feast, KFC!!
We drove up to Salt Lake to see Evan's dad's dad on Christmas night.

The day after Christmas Evan's mom's family all came over to Grandma and Grandpa's house

Evan's mom with her sisters

The siblings

The Norby family with Grandma and Grandpa

SNOW

December 22 we headed out of Sunny (well it was dark but you know what I mean) Arizona to head up to Evan's maternal grandparents home in Heber, Ut for Christmas. Since it had recently snowed we had to take the long route up to Heber through Las Vegas and the Hover Damn. After stopping at a rest stop for 2 hours near Ceder City, UT in the wee hours of the morning, having two sick children throw up in the back of the van, stopping for also an hour after we witnessed a Nissan Xterra drive off the freeway and roll 5 to 6 times and rushing to the aid of the miraculously unscathed four passengers then waiting to give statements to the police officer, we finally made it to Grandmas. The kiddos immediately wanted to play in the snow...so that's what we did! Evan making some snow balls to attack his brothers.
All bundled up

Evan's younger brother on top of his domain where he was throwing snowballs.

Yes he is wearing shorts in the snow!

Uncle Patrick giving Kallie a ride on the snow boogie
I love this picture, because put Evan and his dad have their eyes closed. Having dark brown eyes I never realized that blued-eyed people had such a hard time keeping their eyes open when it is bright outside. I have tons of pictures of Evan outside that look similar to this. I think it's cute.
Evan helping Wade put the carrot on the snowman's nose.

The finished product (which I didn't help with...I was taking pictures).The Boys

The first complete Norby family photo
Take twoEvan and his siblings