A Busy Weekend

This weekend we kept Evelyn very busy!! On Friday we visited the zoo again with our friends Janna and Aaron. This is the second time that we have been together and Janna and I think that we finally have the best way figured out! The kids had a great time together. I really don't know who enjoys it more, the kids or the moms :) We were able to visit the newly remodeled petting zoo where Evelyn tested her Dr. Doolittle skills and then moved along to Featherfest where she fed several birds and giggled nonstop.
Then, Saturday, we had a make-up class at Lil' Gym so Kevin was able to go with us. It was backwards day so we practiced walking, running, and flipping backwards. She loved it and is now insisting on flipping forward and backwards at home :) It really has been a great experience for her. Her skills are developing and she is having a great time. Of course, her favorite time is bubble time at the end of class!
We have another busy week ahead of us and are going to try to fight off another baby cold that was picked up somewhere in all the excitement this weekend.
If you're in the area this weekend, stop by and keep us company at yet another garage sale :)

Trying This Again

So, as I have realized that there are still people checking this despite our total lack of commitment, I am vowing to give it another go. After all, there has been a lot going on and will be so much more to come very soon. Thanks to all of you that didn't give up on us :)

The summer flew by and somehow we found ourselves busier than ever. The backyard is finally in good condition after several invasions by the city and a days worth of professional tree trimming. Kevin has finished the garage and it looks amazing and has now moved on to painting the house and doing large chores in the backyard. All of this before we can tackle the jobs that need to be finished in the house. We are working towards selling the house. It's not on the market yet and we are going to try to stay here until next spring, but we'll see what the future had in store.

Evelyn had a big summer! She started a new gymnastics class (which she loves), went to the library once a week for story time, and found plenty of time to spend hanging out at the pool with Aaron. To wrap it all up, she got to take her first plane ride to Myrtle Beach! We spent a week there in a lovely condo, right on the beach, and had an opportunity to catch up with old friends and family. It was Kevin's first time there and even though he had to leave early, I think that he had a good time. Evie also survived Tropical Storm Hanna, sleeping right through it and not even realizing what was going on. We really did have a blast and hope to go back very soon!

Baby Number Two is doing great, growing daily, and moving like crazy! We decided to let this one be a surprise also, so the name discussion and debate carries on. The due date changes frequently, so Kevin and I are saying some time at the beginning of January. Anyway, the kids will be almost exactly 2 years apart and we will have our hands full! Four more months to get as much done as possible :)

The pics below are from the trip, I will post more asap and try very hard to keep this going :) Hope you all are doing well!!!

eating watermelon with a shovel..yummmm
this is evie's elevator pose
checking out the fish at the aquarium
the day after the storm
saying good bye to SC

Some Various Picture Updates

Enjoy some pics of our favorite model. We will write more later on.

I'm too sexy for my shirt...

Evelyn and Sophie

"You want those with or without nuts?"

Our backyard after the storm! We are still cleaning up.

Washing the dogs! Always helping us out.

Planting a Seed

Kevin had a handy little helper this weekend while he was working in the yard. Evelyn is learning early when and how to plant grass seed. Really, the whole scene was just adorable watching him teach her how to reach in and grab the seed and then throw it into the yard. She is a pro at the grabbing, but the throwing still needs a little work! I'm sure that she will be more than happy to help daddy with yard work from now on!

On a different note, Kevin and I have been working with Evie on sign language for several months now and she is beginning to pick up on them right and left. She has been using several signs for a long time now, but she is now picking up 1-2 new ones a day. The coolest thing is that she is just beginning to sign new things with no prompting. She has also added quite a few new words to her spoken vocabulary and continues to amaze us every day! Next time you see her wink or ask for a high five and she will be more than happy to oblige!

Hope you all are doing well :)

What a Life!!

She's only 15 months old and is ready to tackle the world! Here's a day in the life of Evelyn:working, posing, getting ready to go out, and finally...raising her arms in exhaustion!!

Oh, what happened to the time?!

PS...please direct all your calls and emails to her from now on :)

Allergies and Eggs

So Easter was a bit different for us this year. Evelyn woke up with what apparently was a huge case of allergies, thanks to the blooming trees in Tulsa, and was not much in the mood for outdoor play and bunny hopping. So, we improvised and played with her basket and plastic eggs in the house. The front room became the place to collect and sort eggs, in addition to the catch that was being played between mommy and daddy. She seemed to have a good time, if only the Easter Buny could have hopped along with a cure for the runny nose! :)

Barefoot in the Park

Last Friday Janna and I took the kids to Lafortune Park for a little fun in the sun. We brought along the wagon so that Evelyn and Aaron could experience riding together. Each of them have a wagon, but riding together was so much more fun!! It was Evie's first time to the park so she got to ride the swings and play a bit on one of the big toys. She was very apprehensive of the swing at first, but once she saw the old pro, Aaron, giggling and having fun, she began to laugh and really enjoy herself. We could not enjoy the slides because of the standing water from the night before, but walking up and down the ramp seemed to make up for it. We are planning to head back tomorrow, if the weather is nice, so maybe then we can try out the slide! Hope you enjoy the pics!

Who Knew....

That exploring the front yard could be so much fun?!! Sunday was another beautiful day in Tulsa, so we decided to try and spend as much time outside as was possible. After a walk around the fairgrounds, we came home and decided to let Evie explore the front yard. She had a great time looking at and touching everything. She saw a helicopter, put sticks into holes, climbed up the stairs, raced around the driveway, and explored the cars. She just toddles around like a champion now and likes to scoot away from mommy and daddy as quickly as possible:) It's just amazing to watch her do things that I take for granted and enjoy them so much. My favorite part of the exploration was watching her put sticks under the fence for Pete and Sophie and laugh when the were pulled under and disappeared! I hope that you all had a great weekend too and that you enjoy the pics!

Funnies

Just thought that these were too cute to not post! Apparently we are not feeding Evie enough and she is just exhausted from all this walking!

What a Zoo-tiful Day!

Finally!! Tulsa had some beautiful weather on Saturday and we just had to take advantage of it! We packed up and headed to the Tulsa Zoo for Evelyn's first encounter with wildlife. We spent about 2 hours there and covered quite a bit of ground in that short time. Many of the animals were napping as we visited, but Evie did get a chance to watch a polar bear, a giraffe, the chimpanzees, and even enjoyed seeing a hog (of some sort :) ) Most of all though, she loved watching all of the people and being outside in the fresh air. We will be going back as soon as the weather permits, but for now, we are back in the house, avoiding the freezing temps! Hope all is well!

Been Awhile

It has been awhile and for those of you that we have not talked to, here is a very short version of what has been going on in Evie's life.

She survived the Ice Storm of 2007 thanks to friends and family, experienced her first Christmas with an overwhelming amount of gifts, slept through New Years 2008, celebrated her first year surrounded by family and friends, spent a month very ill, in and out of the doctor's office, recovered nicely, started feeding herself, and as of Wednesday, started walking!

So, lots has happened in her world and an equal amount of craziness has been going on in her parents' lives, but overall, 2008 is looking up and promises to be a year full of new experiences and growth for all of the Paul family members.

We hope that you all are doing well and that the year is bringing you all you hoped for!

Please enjoy just some of the pics that have been taken lately...