Kids say the Darndest things!

Okay, let me rephrase that title..."Alyssa says the darndest things!" She continually manages to crack me up - pretty much on a daily basis. So, not only I am trying to remember to put them down in her journal I'm making for her, but I thought I might share some of the latest "Miss Thang Quotes."
1. On her BD I asked "do you feel older, do you feel 5?" Alyssa's response: "Hmmm...actually Mom, I feel 15!"

2. She was out cutting flowers and arranging them in a vase and while she's doing this she says: "This is so much fun, I'm going to do this for the rest of my life!" (wellll, she does have Grammy & Poppa genes in her). ???

3. After cutting a ton of flowers at Grammy's...she says "this is like we're getting ready for my wedding." I say "well, you can't get married for at least another 25 years." Alyssa: "I'm not getting married until I'm at least 100! How old will you be when I'm 100?" (I had to distract her to something else so I didn't have to explain death to her. Yikes!)

4. "I like Discovery better than LightHouse Christian." worried, I asked her why. Alyssa's response: "Discovery doesn't tell me what to wear - they're cooler."

5. She made a bracelet for Jason to take to Iraq and when she gave it to him said: "You have to wear this when you're in Iraq, because I put Jade on it and Jade means good luck and you need good luck." (awweeee, just looking out for him).

Well, I just wanted to share a couple of "Miss Thang Quotes" with y'all. I'm sure there will be more. She truly thinks/acts like she is an adult...which is such a double-edged sword. But definitely amusing - which is a welcomed thing...especially nowadays. Gotta love that girl!

Family Photos 2009

On one of our last sunny days of the summer and on one of the last few days that Jay is home - everything actually came together and we got Family Photos done! It has been our "to do" list pretty much since Ashton was born, but we can now cross it off. YES! We are so fortunate to have a talented photo-friend, Krista. She did an awesome job and Jay is taking some great pictures with him. I had to have a few with just Daddy & his "biggest girls." Love it!

strolling down the avenue...orrr, my parents nicely shaded driveway...whichever way you want to see it. ;)

OMG! All of us together, all of us looking at the camera and all of us pretty good looking - no silly faces, no odd expressions, etc! All the stars must have been alined that day. I don't really care how it worked, just that it did and we have precious memories. Now Jason can "take" all of his girls with him. Awwwww...

Thank you Thank you Thank you Krista! (aka the girls' "Mannie.")

Happy Birthday to...ME!

In honor of my BD, but really more so we had an excuse to go out without children, Jay, me, Rob & Nikki went out to a Mariners game! Nikki had a little surprise for me after the 2nd inning: Ummm...Yes, how loverly of Nikki to put my actual age on the SafeCo Field jumbo-tron. (it's just because she's older than me and is happy that for a brief time we are the same age - brief!).

Jay and I...but definitely more Jay...enjoying the garlic fries at SafeCo. He just loves those stinky things.

My BFF, who set up the whole thing...she spoils me. We are waiting in the Pyramid beer garden for a table inside to eat. Really good friends, food, and "spirits" - what more could a BD girl ask for?

First Day of Kindergarten!

September 2 was Miss Alyssa's first day of Kindergarten!!! She was SO excited to start. She carefully picked out her outfit...but Mommy picked out the ruffled bobby socks (I think they're darling!) Alyssa, on the other hand, tells me: "Mom, I look cute...but I'm not so sure about these socks." I assured her that they looked super cute and off like a big school girl she went. However, when she got off the bus at the end of the day, there was one piece of her outfit missing...yep, the socks! I ask her where they are and she tells me: "Ummm, my feet got sweaty and they're in my backpack." Ohhh well...I tried. I've kind of known that my days of dressing her were over - now I'm absolutely positive.

Even Daddy went in to work late so he could see his "biggest girl" off to her first day. Awww...

There she goes crossing the street to get on her very first bus. (socks are still on at this point). Alyssa HAS to ride the bus to school...even though it is literally a 2 block ride, but I think it's her favorite part of the day!? Pretty sure we could walk to school faster than walking to the bus stop and waiting, but she loves it...and doesn't riding the bus become very "uncool" pretty soon?? Then I'll wish she would. Ohhh, the irony.
We're proud of our Miss Independent Kindergartner!

"Mountain Man!"

Jason (and CPT Connor) and bunch of other guys from his Battalion climbed up to "Camp Muir" on Mt. Rainier! At the top they all broke out a can of Rainier beer and enjoyed...

What a view as you climb. Only 7 hours worth of hiking for this amazing site!!!

There he is - the Mountain Man himself. Put a check on the "bucket list" for this one. Wish I could say I've climbed Mt. Rainier. Awesome job E-shed.

More Yearns, Utah camping/fishing photos...

Poppa "E" and Alyssa by the campfire...our Alyssa - such a girl with her "hand on the hip" pose.

Jay & Ashton - day 1 of fishing. Ashton actually really enjoyed the outdoors.

Ashton & Mommy hiking around the lake/mountain area, while Daddy fishes on at the Lake. Gotta love those baby back-packs. (Thanks Aunt Nikki).

Camping: Crazy or Courageous? (Utah 2009)

The Evershed Entourage' enjoying the campfire after a long day of fishing and "hiking" around Yearns, Utah.

I love this photo of Alyssa & Jason. It's about 6:45am and she is SO digging the fishing thing with Daddy. Luckily, up at Yearns - you are catching a trout almost every time you put your line out there...and Alyssa just loved reeling them all in. (and then letting them go) "bye bye fishy, go back to your home."

Alyssa handing her Daddy a worm for his line. Didn't take her long before she was touching the worms and "petting" the fish.

Ashton - "the morning after." She actually slept great, but I think the altitude and outdoors made her nose run like a faucet. She was happy though. I swore we were severely insane for trying to camp/fish/hike with 2 little girls...but it actually turned out to be pretty fun. Can't wait to do it again after Jay gets back! It was SO beautiful and fun to see where Jason's family camped when he was growing up and to watch him share that with his kids now. I am very thankful for this experience! What a great memory for us all...well, maybe not Ashton...but she'll see photos! ;)