2022 Fall and Holiday Season!

 My Dearest Evan,

Oh bud, it's been a crazy few months! In September, you started t-ball with dad as your coach and we navigated that along with Avery's soccer and horseback riding - you were a trooper during her events (you really want to try riding too but we have to wait until you're 6)! In October, we had Grandma Dotty and Pop in town to visit and we did all the things Halloween related. You got to go fishing with dad in November and then we went up to Flagstaff for Thanksgiving, meeting your Braune cousins up there to do the Polar Express and the North Pole Experience. Of course, then came your birthday month and your other grandparents, Grandma Gail and Grandpa John came to visit for your Webby dance and our holiday party. We finished out the year snowboarding in celebration of your birthday and you told me between snowboarding and visiting Dave & Busters on your actual birthday, it was your best birthday ever!

You're still saying some cute toddler-like things, like "panpakes" and "yunch" and "mommy". You like to sing "police mommy da" to "feliz navidad" and I don't ever want you to learn the real lyrics! We've been working on and off on nighttime potty training - you have good stints and bad stints, and you're learning to pee standing up (you still need a better aim). You also need to wipe your bottom better so we're working on all things toilet-related. We're also working on your emotion management - you're better at school than you are at home. You are also still sucking your thumb - something that is proving the hardest to do away with. You have started to say "a.k.a." a lot, even when it doesn't apply and you're sometimes mean to me specfically. You like to try to kiss us on the lips although we won't let you and when we ask for a hug, you just lean against us (no arms around us). 

You like Captain Marvel, Batman and Legos. You also like transformers and you like playing on the keyboard I just put back up in the play room. When you transitioned from t-ball to soccer for the winter sport session, you showed much more dominance in soccer than last year. You're no longer just chasing the group of kids chasing the ball - you're actually in there, kicking the ball and you're often scoring the most goals. Maybe all that time watching your sister is helping you. Even during her practices, you're often playing on the side with your own ball and anyone else who will play with you (me, dad, another teammate sibling or another teammate parent).

Here's your life in pictures right now....

Still taking almost daily pictures outside of preschool (even though we only intended for it to be on the first day of school - haha)

Dad as your coach - you did really well listening and growing as a t-ball player

Lots of time entertaining yourself while Avery went to riding lessons. Then running straight to t-ball!

You are quite the artist

Moooooom, stop!

You would tilt your head up when we cheered for you as you went to bat - you were quite the confident player!

Ready to run from a soccer game to a t-ball game - it was madness!

Eegee's before Avery's tournament!

We still do our family walks!

Color run at your preschool! You came home so dirty but had so much fun!

You're still in preschool for half days

Halloween! Practicing the mustache!

My cute little human - the entire team looked this cute in their uniforms!

Aunt Ash comes to many of your games and Avery's games - she loves you so much!

You made paper wrist bands like Captain Marvel so I got you some sweat bands to help with your super powers!

Grandma and Pop visiting!

Tombstone!

Marana Pumpkim Patch with Grandma and Pop!

Big slide with Pop!

Corn maze!

You tell Avery she's your best friend :)

Me too, bud!

This is what dressing warm looks like in Tucson

Monster treats!

Seeing Disney on Ice!

Halloween party at your school!

Birthday party!

Halloween parade!

We spend a lot of time at Naranja Park during the week nights!

Going fishing with Dad for Veteran's Day (you get it off school)

Your team!

Sweat bands ready!

Thanksgiving with your preschool

A cute little restaurant in Mesa (for Avery's tournament)

Natural History Museum in Mesa

You're part of the entertainment between Avery's soccer games!

Quick trip to the Grand Canyon before the Polar Express - Uncle Will had never been!

Polar Express with hot cocoa and cookies (and the magical jingle bell)

Testing out your snowboarding gear!

North Pole Experience!

We took you jumping at Elevate for a parent/Evan afternoon! Also got some comics at the second hand bookstore!

Painting mailboxes to put your letter to Santa in!

Rainy soccer game for Avery - they did well in the rain!

Santa visited your school! Thank goodness because he was too sick to come to our party this year!

Coming in for your Webby Dance!

Dreidel!

Playing Batman and Spiderman with me!

Lots of baking in December - this is banana bread!

Thumb sucking!

Letter from Santa!

The cutest gift! This was a string that was cut to be as tall as you are! You gave it as a gift to Dad!

Your favorite gift - Batman robot!

You wanted strawberry cupcakes with vanilla frosting for your birthday and they were actually really good!

Happy Birthday!

Trying out your new skates!

Heading to snowbowl!

Snowboarding school!

You couldn't eat lunch outside with your gloves (mittens) on so I had to feed you which you thought was hilarious!

Every game one of your team members picked a different animal to call the team :)

You were SO excited!

Extra practice with the coach!

Legos!

Science museum!

Evan, my love, you are a ton of fun right now. You ask Dad and me to play with you a lot still and you are so creative. I know I've said it before but you have the absolute BEST laugh. I can't wait to see what your FIFTH year has in store for you. 

All my love,

Mom