Antics of Evelynn

For anyone who knows my oldest daughter Evelynn, you'll know she is a busy, busy, busy girl. I always sort of knew this in the back of my mind, and I surely knew in the front of my mind how hard it was/is to keep her contained in certain situations. But as time has gone on and more and more people have commented to me that she is "so curious" and "into everything" and "just a very busy girl," I've started to wonder. Is that their tactful way of saying, "You're daughter is a walking tornado"? Our nickname for her in the house in Turbo Tax. However many ways you want to read into that will probably be correct. So I got to thinking the other day that maybe all children are not like my daughter. Maybe Eloise will be more mild, calm, and disposed to sitting still. Of course, right after I thought these things I saw Eloise spinning circles on her play mat. It's probably more likely that I have just spawned extremely exuberant children. It doesn't help matters much that I also seem to spawn very large and tall children which gives them the ability to get into more things at an earlier age.

Other funny facts about my daughter are that she loves people, but she is definitely scared of the males in her extended family. For example, Uncle Jesse (my brother) who lives in my basement and has for almost her entire life scares the living daylights out of her. She will be walking down the steps and see Jesse come out of his room and run screaming and crying back up the steps to me in absolute terror! I cannot figure this out. Jesse is a very nice uncle who gives her candies and swings her around until she is dizzy (which she loves) and never disciplines her. Another family figure she is terrified of is Uncle Dale (Doug's uncle). She actually loves to talk about "Unca Dale" and even sings him happy birthday when she is in our house and asks to go see him and Dallin all week long. I mean, he rivals nursery sometimes! But as soon as we reach their house, she hides behind my legs, won't even look at him, and cries if he gets too close. I just don't understand. But it is great to discipline when Uncle Dale is around. All I have to do is say "Do I have to give you to Uncle Dale?" and I get instant obedience (which is how I found out that she isn't really hard of hearing, she just doesn't listen to me). It's also great because I put her in timeout and she is as meek as a mouse while Uncle Dale is in the room. I wish we had a life size cutout of him at home. It would make my life easier.