evan...

Evan has been so patient waiting for me to get my act together to do his blog...so here goes!

Evan is one of those kids you just want to take home with you because he would be the perfect kid to have around.  He's respectful, kind, well-behaved and has the biggest grin ever.

This is Evan and his sister Morgan...she's got the family grin also.  Evan isn't the biggest boy in my room but I noticed in his pictures he like to hang around big things.
1. Big tree

2. Big rock

I love "interviewing" these kids for the blog because I have time to really visit one on one and I learn the most fascinating and unexpected things.  For instance, the song 

Just Give Me a Reason 

by Pink makes him want to dance...who knew? Obviously he has an older sister.

Talk about two peas in a pod...this is Evan's cousin Ryan who is in the other first grade...and for a very good reason.  When these two are together the outside world doesn't matter much.  I have never known two cousins to be more attached at the hip than these two...they are lucky to have someone who always has the other's back.

Evan has a LOT of favorites in his life.

1. favorite chore...washing dishes although he admits to being messy.

2. favorite flavor...chocolate anything...he could be my child.

3. favorite game...wii (whee??) batman played with cousin Ryan.

Obviously a Pacer fan although I bet he likes all sports .

When asked what his secret super power would be Evan said he would like to shoot lasers out of his eyes to make people's bodies hot...whoa...that explains those hot flashes I started getting this year...I think he HAS that power!!

Such a typical boy here...can't pass up two sticks in the ground without climbing...can anyone see if there are lasers coming out of his eyes here?

Evan would like to be a policeman when he grows up and that laser thing might come in handy in that profession.  However, he told me his bedroom is a little "cluttered" and I think you have to have a neat room to be a policeman...Hint, hint Evan!

"Clutter" was our vocab word that day.

Does anyone remember when Topher was a peanut?  Now he hardly fits on a lap but he is still a gentle soul just like Evan.

As I said up above, Evan has a lot of "favorites" and when asked what was his favorite thing at school was, he said "Phonics"...really Evan?  Left me a little speechless and a little teary-eyed because it is my favorite thing too...along with chocolate!

Next up: Macy (finally...right Macy?)

woo hoo...

...I won my Christmas tree at the St. Christopher auction last night...maybe I'll just save it and donate it again next year...ha!

emma's day...

This is my sweet Emma and this is a happy dog story.

Emma has been pregnant for the past 63 days and at 7:00 this morning the pups decided to make an appearance.  Emma is a beautiful tri-color Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Daddy is a blenheim (brown and white).  Could hardly wait to see the mix her puppies would be.

...and here they are...not a tri-color in the sweet jumble of six...but what a lot of cute pink noses.

Four girls...two boys

Am dying from the cuteness of it all.

...and here are my four ladies with sweet Mama Emma on the far right...love those Cavaliers!

the many faces of Sam...

This is Samantha..or Sam..or Sammy (her preferred she tells me).  Her smile lights up a room and she definitely wears her feelings on her face but mostly it is with a smile.  Sam's family is new TO ME this year and she also has a darling and energy-filled baby brother at home so hopefully there will be more years with this very nice family!

My very favorite first grade look...toothless!

Sam's very favorite game is to play hide-and-go-seek with her friend Kairi (Sam's spelling so I trust her).  She likes to play this game both inside and outside and she confessed that Kairi is a much better hider but SHE is a much better seeker.  I do think it takes one of each to make a really good game.  

Remember what I titled this piece..."the many faces of sam"?  Here is an example: rocking the "stache".  A good look Miss Samantha!

In case you hadn't noticed, Sam's very favorite color IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD is pink.  She even has a pair of very pink cowboy boots.  The first day she wore them she said  "Aren't these kicking boots?"  Yes Sam, they are, and since she wants to be a cowboy when she grows up it's good to start perfecting your cowboy style early.  You can pick out your horse at a later date!  If she could find a unicorn to ride life would be perfect in Sam's world.

Sam had described this shirt to me several times so I wasn't at all surprised to see her wearing it on an out-of-uniform day.  It's a "kicking" shirt wild child Samantha!  

Sam's favorite chore at home is helping with the laundry...specifically pressing the buttons on the washing machine.  Things got pretty wild at her house once and she was EVEN allowed to press the dryer button...a very important event obviously.

My first thought seeing this pic was "What...no pink?" and then I spotted the hairclips...whew!

I asked her what her very favorite school lunch was and she said "mac and cheese".  We just had that last week and I have to agree Sam because it is in my top 10 also!

I love it when I get those pictures where words just fail me...the pic speaks for itself.

Sam told me that the thing that makes her the very happiest is playing with her friends at school...especially when Olivia teaches her about gymnastics.  (Attention Olivia's parents: you might want to get Sam's parents to sign a release of liability statement...just saying!)

I absolutely L.O.V.E. this pic of Sam and Topher...the look on both of their faces is so priceless and full of tenderness.
...and look at how our Topher has grown...more than doubled his size since school started.

Miss Samantha is my "dreamer" this year.  She has these wonderful scenarios going on in her head at all times that she sometimes gets lost in.  She is a brilliant student but as I often say to her and her parents..."Thank God her head is attached or we would spend all of our time looking for it"...dream on Samantha...just don't forget your homework folder!!!!

Up next: Evan

our future...omg

The St. Christopher auction is next Saturday...yes... November 23 at the beautiful Columbia Club in beautiful downtown Indy...yes...right on the beautiful circle!!

Each class has to come up with a project featuring their own kiddos.  We decided to do a photo shoot (since I have a daughter who is a professional photog it only seemed logical to rope her into this) and we decided to go with a hope and aspiration theme.  Of course, some of the kids have already changed their minds several times (right Keegan?) but on this day and date this is what they said they want to be when they grow up. 

Here is Macy getting her chance in front of the camera and let me tell you...it's what she lives for!

My Class....

The finished project will be in a 16x20 horizontal frame.

...and Mrs. Evans' class.

These one of a kind posters will go to the two highest bidders at the auction BUT...never fear...we will also be selling individual children's pictures in either a 5x7 or 8x10 unframed professionally printed format for $10.00 and $20.00 just like the one below.
Great Christmas present for the Grandparents!!

Kate...who has promised to cook for me in my old age.

The link to the on-line bidding is at 
Qtego.net/auc/stchris

Come see what we have to offer.

The individual prints will be available soon under Instant buys.

P.S. Thanks Brad Ellenwood...graphic designer...until next year!

sneak peek...

St. Christopher's auction is November 23 at the Columbia Club in beautiful downtown Indy.  Each class does a "class project" and this year 1st grade is celebrating the class of 2025 and their dreams and aspirations!

The finished project will be a framed 16x24 (I think) poster.  One for each first grade...we will also be offering individual 5x7 or 8x10 unframed pictures of each student for $10.00.

P.S. These kids are a hoot!

keegan...

This is Keegan.  You know there are families that you just seem to have known forever...well this is one of them...and I have known them forever.  Keegan is the youngest of seven (yes...I said seven) and the sixth one I have had in first grade!  Adam went to first grade in Japan which I've always said explained a lot about Adam...just kidding Adam.  Keegan adores his family and told me he is happiest when he is with them.  I told him chocolate makes me my happiest! 

Keegan is such a free spirit...always smiling and laughing and ALWAYS has a story to tell.  Well now I get to tell a story about him.

A month ago Keegan told me he wanted to be a sheriff when he grew up but now he has decided that all sheriffs do are ride around on horses so he's decided he would really like to be a fireman and rescue people...bet it changes again in a month.  I think Keegan can be whatever he wants to be as his Dad has introduced him to lots of cool experiences around the old homestead. 

Assistant gazebo builder...

Assistant "farm hand"...

First grade is doing a picto-documentry for the St. Chris auction about what we want to be when we grow up...I want to be Keegan.  Not only is he surrounded by a large and loving family but this kid has animals out the wazoo.

Tucker the Dog

Gary the Duck

Cowboy the Horse (plus two more)

As I said before, Keegan loves to tell me stories and I have heard about this fish since the beginning of school so had to request a picture just to make sure it wasn't a fisherman's tall tale...wow!

A very proud boy!

By the way...they also have bunnies...so Topher is not a REAL big deal but Keegan loves him anyway and is my chief sweeper of bunny stuff around the cages...thanks kiddo!

When I had my first of the seven, there were just three precious little girls in the family and they were the best dressed, most put together three little girls I had ever seen...

...and then there came the seventh.  Keegan definitely has his own style and wears it proudly.  Here he is ready for gym.

Love the St. Chris cheerleading shirt.  (He is NOT a St. Chris cheerleader by the way).


Keegan's family spent five years in Kobe Japan and he was actually born there.  I asked him if that made him Japanese and he said he didn't think so because he only speaks English.

...and yes, that is Keegan standing in his barn with two llamas behind him because what little boy doesn't have horses, bunnies, dogs, ducks AND llamas at his house.  As I said, I want to be Keegan when I grow up.

Keegan told me that his favorite part of the day is actually nighttime so he can sleep...well yeah, his daytime has got to be exhausting with all the excitement of being Keegan.

Next up: Sammy