Engagement

Elizabeth and Matthew's engagement picture

I've failed to post about the most exciting thing that's happening in our family - my sister's upcoming wedding! She was surprised with a ring in February and the wedding date is set for June 12th. Nate never talks about his Ziza (Aunt Liza) anymore without including Maffew (Matthew). (It's actually "Ziza Maffew airplane?") We rode the Ziza Maffew airplane this past weekend, and went to Kentucky for some wedding dress shopping and an engagement party. We're excited and thankful to have Matthew joining the family!

Sweet Evie Girl

Stephen took these pictures of Evie the other day. They capture just a glimpse of our sweet baby girl. We're still trying to figure out who she looks like. We think she mostly favors Stephen and the Blans, but there must be some Iles in her too. When we were in Kentucky with my family last summer, when she was only six weeks old, my brother immediately thought she looked like my grandma Iles, my dad's mom. Another cousin said the same thing. Yesterday we had our friends Matt and Natalie over (Matt from Kentucky who I've grown up with), and he saw my dad in her. I really liked hearing that she might have pieces of my dad in her. My actual memories of him are few - most are in pictures - so I love that I can look at Evie and maybe, possibly, slightly see even the tiniest bit of him.

Bored

Just the three of them: Nate, Evie, and Dora (the Explorer)

Some of our days are labeled TV days - the days my children watch way too much TV because I run out of puzzles, books, toys, and the energy to be more creative. I think the warm weather is finally here to stay, so hopefully we'll be having fewer of these days!

9 Months

Reading one of our favorite books: "Pajama Time!"

Evie is actually 9 1/2 months old now. She's not nearly as serious about life as she used to be. We get lots of giggles and silliness now, and we can't get enough of it! She's still a big girl - 21 lbs and 29 inches tall (75th and 90th percentiles). She loves cheerios just as much as Nate does, so now they steal them from each other. Nate gets more laughs out of her than anyone. He still loves to hold her and hug her (a little too much sometimes), and unfortunately he really likes to take her toys and say "No no, Evie!" I can't believe how quickly we're approaching the big 1st birthday!

Granddad

Nate munching on popcorn, with Granddad and Evie

hanging out on the couch.

I'm a little late with this one. Stephen's dad came to visit the weekend of Stephen's marathon. Nate had a great time with him. He has always associated Granddad with his hat - taking it to him when he's not wearing it as if something is missing. Now he likes to wear it himself. We were SO glad he was able to come for the weekend!

Cowtown Marathon

Mile 8: Stephen stopped for a Gatorade and a picture.

Still smiling!

Mile 16: Nate is running to catch up in the background.

Waiting for Daddy to pass by. Nate has the Gatorade ready.

Clapping for runners as they go by.

Watching Stephen run off to the finish.

Stephen ran in the Cowtown Marathon for his first marathon last Saturday. He's been training for months, so it's quite a relief that it's over. His dad came into town for the weekend, and he waited downtown at the finish line while I toted the kids around to a couple different points along the way to cheer him on. It turned out to be a beautiful day, with a high in the 50's and sunny, so it was easy (easier, I should say) to map out our route and catch up with Stephen along the way. We couldn't make it to the finish line because both kids were melting down by the end of mile 16, but it was a lot of fun to see as much as we did.

Stephen did great! He finished, which was his main goal, and his time was 4 hours, 44 minutes. He claims he'll never do it again, but I'm sure he'll change his mind before long.