Evie's Sandpit

This is what we've (mostly Mat) been working on the last several weekends. Come on over and play!

Digging the hole




After the pit was dug, Mat added a layer of "crusher dust". I think it was decomposed granite.

A load of sand was added.

Temporary cover before the pit was filled completely to keep out the newly landscaped area from washing into the sand. (Several storms halted our progress.)

Checking out her new sandpit toys.

The final touch, rocks to border the pit. We still need to add more plants, but we are pleased with the results.




What do you think?

I asked Evie if she thanked Daddy for the sandpit. Mat replied that it was thanks enough when he saw her playing in the sand singing "Jesus Loves Me". Love it!

Two years old

Stats
Height: 34 1/4 inches
Weight: 24 1/2 lbs

Evie is 2! What a sweet, beautiful, funny, and special child of God she is! We are blessed to be her parents and love her dearly.

Evie is now asserting her independence as all toddlers do at this age. She likes to pick out her shoes for the day and tries to put them on. She enjoys playing outside and helping Mommy and Daddy in the garden. Whatever we are doing, she wants to do it too.

Some of Evie's favorites are:
DVD - Yo Gabba Gabba or The Wiggles
Music - "Jesus Music" (usually a Zoe CD) or The Wiggles
Toys - Mr. Potato Head, Buzz and Woody, baseball, soccer ball, stuffed animals
Books - Bible stories about Jesus, books about trucks, Little Critter books
Food - tortillas or pizza, but she eats pretty much everything (very good eater)
Sayings - You funny. What's that? Stinky daddy! Sit down (pointing next to her).

WE LOVE YOU!

With her cousin Austin at the Grapevine Botanical Gardens

Throwing pebbles into the water

I love Evie cuddles.

Easter egg hunt with church family



Sign on classroom door (can you see her through the window?)

She loves to slide.

Her first bike, a gift from Mommy and Daddy

She is eating a grape. I love how she is sitting with her ankles crossed.

Butterfly birthday cake - made by Gran.
Thank you for a fun birthday party. We enjoyed seeing you all in Victoria.

I can read

She still loves books.

I like to sing

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

We had a "wonderful Christmastime" this year. Evie really got into it and enjoyed all of the festivities with the family. She will still sing Jingle Bells at random and she still wants to read her Christmas books.

We drove down to Victoria on Christmas Eve morning as soon as Mat could get away from work. There was a steady rain all the way down until we hit Cuero and the heavens opened up! Uncle Jim and Papa Gigi had to rescue us from the car with umbrellas. We were late for dinner at Maw-Maw's house but they saved some food for us. After dinner we took a load of pictures with all of the families minus Shane, Whitney and Austin - we missed you! And then it was time for presents! It was fun to watch everyone open their gifts but Evie was getting all of the attention. She sure got spoiled and was loving it all! After the gifts and stockings were opened we all enjoyed Mom's Christmas Punch. Evie got to have her first taste of it and could not get enough. Before heading home we took our annual Baker family Christmas photo. One of my favorite gifts this year was the photobook from the Bakers of "25 years of Baker Christmases". I will cherish it!


Cousins!


We love Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw


Evie loves books!





Gran's punch is good!

On Christmas morning we exchanged gifts with my parents. I think Evie was overwhelmed a little - so many gifts to open again. We were blessed with many wonderful things. She loves her Little People School Bus and book and her art easel. We went to the Slough's house for lunch and enjoyed Gary's fajitas.




Mat returned home on Sunday while Evie and I stayed with my parents until Tuesday. They drove us home and stayed for a few days. We exchanged gifts with Uncle Shane, Aunt Whitney and Austin on Wednesday. Evie got a Sheriff Woody doll and loves him. On Friday, Uncle Danny and Oscar came to visit from Japan on their way to Orlando. Evie really enjoyed spending time with Oscar. And finally we hosted a New Year's Eve party with a few friends.


Visiting Grandma Lumpkins


Evie and Austin


It's Woody!

It was such a fun time surrounded by family and friends and blessed beyond measure. God is so good! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas season.

Snow Days

Our area of north Texas has been dumped on by Mother Nature. Thanks to the sleet/freezing rain/snow mixture I had 4 days off last week. It was a treat to stay home with Evie and play. Unfortnately I did not take pictures of our activities (reading books, painting on the easel, glueing and coloring a picture of "Wombat Stew", watching Wiggles and Yo Gabba Gabba, playing on Disney.com and listening to music) except for playing in the snow - which Daddy was happy to do. I watched from the window. It was just too cold! Enjoy!

All ready to go outside! "I can't put my arms down!"



We got almost 5 inches of snow on top of the ice. It was very dry, powdery snow. Beautiful!




In the front yard with neighbor



Going for a walk on the Greenbelt with Daddy