Tyler James Evenson

TYLER GOT ACCEPTED

TO BYU!!!!!!!!

WE'RE SO PROUD OF

YOU TY!!!!!!!!!!!

Chase's Cell Phone To Do List

This is what has been present to Chase so far. I can't think of 100 things for him to do.

Chase’s cell phone “to do list”

1. Learn Guitar and play for 1 year
2. No losing temper for 1 month
3. Make bed every day for 1 year
4. Play baseball on dad’s baseball team this spring and sign up for another sport in the fall
5. Read at least one chapter book each month
6. do baptisms for the dead at least once a month. You have to plan it and plan on the ride.
7. Get B’s and above all year in your grades
8. Stay caught up at school. Turn things in on time
9. Keep your room clean
10. Read your scriptures alone for at least 4 days a week
11. Train for a 5k to run in the summer (Draper Days?) (Mandy, see, I thought it was a good idea)
12. Give your mom a hug every day in the morning and night.
13. Be nicer to brother and sisters.
14. Keep room clean and organized at least 4 days a week.
15. Dishes for 1 week a month every month
16. Dump garbage for 1 week a month every month
17. Morning and night prayers every day
18. Attend Young Men’s activities

The following were Chase's additions to my list of 18
19. no t.v for week every two months.
20 no computer for week every two months.
21 be in one play (try out for a play).
22 make at least 5 or more new friends
23 go running 3 times a month with dad
24 play with Gage, Jayden etc
25 study about an animal and tell mom 5 cool facts about it
26 make one dinner with out mom or anybodys help
27
28
29
30

To Cell Phone or Not To Cell Phone

I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous but Chase has been begging for a cell phone for about two years now.  I have been consistently resisting the nagging however, now it's kind of starting to make sense to me.  But he doesn't just get one handed over to him.  He came up with an idea yesterday that may make sense and be a lot of fun.  He said if I were to come up with a list of 100 things that he needs to do by the end of the year, and he does all of them, then I have to get him a phone.  If he doesn't do all of them by the end of the year, then he won't bug me again until he's 15.  Hmm.  I'm liking this idea.  So, help me come up with some ideas.  I think number one on the list is he has to learn the guitar.   

Cruisin' with the Evensons - part 1

Evenson family vacation 2009! Finally, after much prodding from Rick I'm posting pics from our trip.

Waiting to board the Norweigian Spirit!

Once on board, we all just acquainted ourselves to our new home for the next 7 days. Each of the kids kicked back while some of us just were amazed at the view. (and others of us did head stands on the bed)

And others had ice cream. lots of it

First Stop: Costa Maya, Mexico - We rented two-man speed boats and went zippin' out to a reef to snorkle. At least this time the snorkles were clean and new and not pulled out of the bottom of an old fisherman's boat (like in Cancun). We also did a little bit of shopping after and the kids got to hold a cute monkey. Chase hasn't stopped bugging me to buy him one. Reminds me of Veruca Salt on Willy Wonka who wants a squirrel now.

The boys - way too cool for us

This man was amazing with a thin blad saw. He made rings for Ty, Brooke and I. He would saw into the ring whatever we wanted. Ty did TEVO and Brooke did her name and i did R heart L. Awww.

Formal night on the ship - about as formal as our family can get.

Second day - Guatemala (This was all of our favorite day-- if that made any sense). Rick served his mission here 22 years ago and really wanted to go to one of the areas where he had baptized several people. Only problem, we didn't know how to get where we needed to go, how long it would take, how we would find the people he baptized one we got there and if they would remember him. But that didn't stop us.

By the way, if you haven't noticed, Brooke can't take a serious picture. There's always some sort of goofy face.

Upon arriving in Guatemala, which is absolutely gorgeous with the green rainforest everywhere you look, we figured the first thing we needed to do was find a tax driver that wouldn't mind going on an adventure with us.

You can see Rick in the background negotiating taxi fare. Finally he agreed on a price and we got Julio for the day (below). Our own Guatemalan tour guide. We grew to love Julio in the 9 hours that we were with him . He drove us around Teculutan and was so patient while Rick tried to find the "River" where all of his families lived. The people in Guatemala are so incredibly kind and loving and happy. I never really appreciated or understood what Rick was talking about when he would talk about his love for the people. he would also talk about the children in Guatemala and how beautiful their faces are and in spirit. Now I understand. He was right.


Teculutan was a 2 1/2 hour drive. They drive like crazies but are so incredibly nice to each other as they are cutting each other off.



As we were driving around aimlessly lost, we saw this woman on the side of the road making tortillas just like Rick used to show us. Julio stopped and Rick asked her (in Spanish) if we could please buy some. We paid a premium because Rick can't help it and he was instantly in Heaven eating the tortillas that he always talks about.

Once in Teculutan, nothing looked familiar to Rick since it had been such a long time since he had been there. After driving around for a little while and everything looking different, we stopped on the side of the road and went into a small hair styling place and Rick asked this woman (below) if she knew any of the families that he was looking for. She said she could help him and spent the next 2 1/2 hours driving around with us helping Rick find the families that he had baptized. It turned out the she happened to be LDS and knew how to find the people that Rick was looking for. Tender mercies.

This little boy was at the first house we stopped at. He visited with us for awhile and then as we were in the van getting ready to go to the next place, he came running outside with this pink chick. I tried packing him and the chick in my suitcase.



This little boy had a baby sister that was only 16 days old. I love her. I want her to be mine. You can see a picture of President Monson in this home if you look hard.



I guess I can't get my computer to load any more pictures during this session so I will try again tonight.

This is easy - I can do this post fast

wanna know a lil bit? well heres a lot.
Rules are: Anything you have done has to be in bold. How much have you done?!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Charlotte harlots..rock band counts right? )
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (does a 1/2 count)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (did we ali?)
41. Sung karaoke (thanks to ali:( )
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (by my dad)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (never weighed enough now too scared)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (but in athens!!!)
77. Broken a bone (arms - 5 times)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (with my dad driving it)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had the Chicken Pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury (almost)
91. Met someone famous (Donny Osmond!!!)
92. Joined a book club (joined is the key word)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (4)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (never, weird?)
100. Visited Italy

60%!!