Whirlwind Summer 2022!

 My Dearest Evan,

Oh man, Evan, I don't even know where to start. This summer has been a crazy blast of tons of things to do and tons of fun! After you got back from the cabin in Ruidoso, we were home for a couple of weeks and then off we went to the vacation of a lifetime in Hawaii! We went all over Oahu, including Waikiki, then up to Turtle Bay and then back down to Ko Olina for the Disney Resort there! It was an amazing trip but having been gone for 9 days, we were all ready to go home. You also caught COVID while there :( but really only had a headache and fever for one night.

We got home from Hawaii and dad went off to do stuff for the alumni board so we had a mommy/kid weekend and you did a week at Leman camp to see what it's like being there 5 days a week. Then we packed up the car and went out to Houston to do space camp which was amazing! I'm so glad they took 4-year-olds because you had so much fun! 

When we got back from space camp, it was basically time to start school! You're going 5 half days a week and your best friend there is Ethan, who is also a December birthday and his cubby is right next to yours! You two really love playing with each other and your teacher says you're one of the best kids in the class! Way to go Evan! You've gotten so much better at writing your name in just one month of school so I'd say we're off to a good start!

You've been quite attached to me when I'm not working, which I love - we play together all the time. Lately we've played catch, Monopoly Junior, Candyland, Lego Superheros and Transformers. You're less into dinosaurs but you still liked going by the Jurassic Park site when we were in Hawaii. You're about to start T-ball and you just can't believe that Dad will be your coach! You still suck your thumb, which we're trying to get you to stop doing. You've been a real trooper at Avery's events because her soccer and horseback riding have all started for the season but your T-ball doesn't start until later this week. But you're good at finding things to do or play with to keep you busy while tagging along and you know you'll get your time too!

Your morning routine hasn't changed much - still asking for strawberry milk and Muppet Babies every morning (and you wake up early)....and then you get a small treat before going to nap each afternoon, with a small gatorade to drink while on the way to pick Avery up from school. Your favorite character right now is Batman, you hide your socks under your pillows in bed, and you like to say your favorite part of the day was painting even when you didn't get to paint that day. You recently also asked me for a little brother (Pascal is your little brother). 

You still naturally reach for a parent's hand when you approach a street to cross when walking and you like cuddly hugs in the morning. You enjoy playing with Avery and you've called her your best friend several times over the summer! You are more decisive than her and more likely to follow our directions but you're also more emotional than she is. I think this is just a part of your personality.

Here is your life in pictures right now......

I still insist one of your first words was "cheers"

in Hawaii at a macadamia nut farm

D-Backs game!

Hands in for our trip to Hawaii!

Scottsdale fountain at a shopping center as we were getting some last minute things for Hawaii

Top Golf with dad!

Hot day in Arizona! Science center and then baseball game

Father's Day at the Ritz in Marana!

Mommy/kid photo as I was teaching you how to petition for your rights and what you believe in!

We still do weekly walks as a family! You've been riding your bike lately!

One of your final swim lessons! We stopped in June for now.

Pizza Hut pan pizza for reading (for Avery) - you got one too!

Landed in Hawaii!

Windy on the USS Missouri

Watching the USS Oklahoma come in to Pearl Harbor

Waikiki

Breakfast at the Moana Surfrider

On the bus to the USS Missouri

In the lobby of the hotel we stayed at in Waikiki

Tons of beach time for us!

You loved your snorkel!

Lunch at the ranch where they filmed Jurrasic Park!

Oh my heart, Evan!

This is Turtle Bay - not as crowded on the North Shore!

View from our room in Turtle Bay!

Turtle Bay horses!

Learning to snorkel!

My 40th Birthday dinner - yum!

Snorkeling with Dad!

Waimea Falls - swimming at a waterfall!

We got professional photos - dropping all of the ones with you in here so there's a lot this time!

Beautiful resort in Turtle Bay!

Paradise Cove Luau!

Disney Aulani Resort!

Dole Whips at the Dole Pineapple Plantation!

Disney knows how to do breakfast, don't they!

Getting our seats early at the Disney resort!

Disney Resort is on a lagoon - we got some beach time there as well!

Driving to space camp!

Still wanting the water!

Learning how to use a power drill on some dinosaurs you built!

Mouse Ears!

First day of space camp check!

Dad's birthday dinner at a boardwalk in Houston!

Playing on the slip n slide in the back!

Had to get in an Astros game while in Houston!

Johnson Space Center!

Still got to stop and see the turtles at Home Depot!

First Day of Pre-K pics!

Emergency responders event in the neighborhood!

Home Depot Saturday morning project!

Occupying your time at Avery's soccer practice!

Rain! We love playing in the rain!

Went to see Sing 2 at the Oro Valley Community Center (on the golf course)!

Practicing for the t-ball season!

You still like getting pictures in front of school every day!

Writing your name on the board for attendance keeping (so good)!

Basketball with mom!

Occupying your time at Avery's horseback riding lessons! I promise, you'll get your turn!

Swim with mom!

Science center!

Pretending to be on a ride!

T-ball practice!

Oh you look so cute in your gear!

Evan, you're a really cool little kid. You listen well and fiercely love your family. You also overreact when things go wrong but we'll work on that (you get that from me). Coming up you have t-ball and cousins coming to join us later in the fall for Thanksgiving and visiting Santa at the portal to the North Pole! I'm so excited to see you grow and excel. We're also working on your first birthday party with friends!

All my love,

Mom