Evan Christopher Rutledge

Evan did!  Or at least he helped mom vote on November 4 in this historic election.  Evan was very patient while I voted as he sat in his stroller eating a cereal bar and holding his light saber.  He found it to be an interesting process, but may have been more interested in the one year old having a tantrum in the booth next to us.

Evan and Kaitlyn went tick or treating in Old Town Fort Collins again this year… and so did everyone else. It was crazy! There was a lot of waiting in line to get your candy, which wasn’t nearly as much fun, but we all enjoyed getting out.

Last year, I don’t think Evan had a single peice of candy during the whole trip… probably because he really didn’t know what they were. He did this year and it was a challenge to get the candy into his bucket, rather than into his mouth.

We have more pictre in the web gallery (click here)

Okay, so I know that Dad is very upset with me for this, but I forgot the camera on our most recent trip!!!  I know, how could I?  Well, Evan, Aunt Bee, and Mom went on a road trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma to see the last two nights (which are always the best) of the Arabian US Nationals Horse Show.  And it was AWESOME!  Yes, I did sit up in the stands crying as people were winning their championships.  Evan was pretty good, he watched some of the classes and spent most of his time playing with his trucks and shining his mini flashlight on the backs of peoples heads.  Grandpa and Uncle Christopher met up with us in Tulsa to complete the trip.  I got to introduce Evan (and show him off!) to all my old horse show friends and my old trainer.  It was quite a trip down memory lane for me, and fun to show Evan the “good stuff”.   The last night was the best…we were fortunate enough to watch the retirement ceremony of the amazing and gorgeous stallion Aequus.  I was balling, and this time I wasn’t the only one.  This 20 year old stallion has won 16 national top tens and 11 national championships in his lifetime…and he is amazing to watch under saddle.  I felt privilaged to watch him perform for the last time.  Yes, I am getting choked up writing about it :)  Here is a link to the ceremony (only a portion of it), enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOpvYqgyO0A

The first class of the night was also breathtaking with a half arabian english pleasure championship that was amazing.  The crowd was on their feet hooping and hollering, and we were right there with them.  There was even (what I call) a “trot off” between the top three horses (out of a class of about 20 horses).  Really excitiing.  You might have needed to see it to believe it!  Here’s a link to video of the “trot off”… Really loud, but you can get a feeling for how exciting it was!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkkJ75hcYJs&feature=related

Evan and I went to test drive some toys, thinking ahead for Christmas… well anyway that was my excuse to go play with lightsabers in the toy department. So here are some hints for Evan-centric gifts. Still a big fan of the tools, starwars stuff, and trucks — but his real love were these light and sound toy caterpillar brand construction vehicles.

Evan also really likes this helmet (much more than than cowboy hat) too, and I think he looks darn cute in it. (much better than I)

It started out a little chilly, but Sunday actually turned out to be a really pretty day.  We decided to take advantage of the nice weather while it was still here and went to the park.  The trip lasted much longer than I expected, more than three hours of non-stop fun. It was the first time I realized that there really was nothing too big, or too treachorous for him. He could handle the big sand shovel, climb the biggest ladder… nothing even slowed him down. He had a great time.

My first computer was an Atari 2600 (or Commodore 64 depending on what your definition of computer is) and I got mine around 5. Evan got his at age two. It’s a really neat little thing that teaches numbers, and sounds, and math… but more importantly it makes noises when you push buttons… any buttons…

Don’t blame me this was Mother’s idea. No really. It really was. (I wanted to get him a Dell.)

Did you hear the news? Lindsay and i are expecting. Yep, it’s true, soon there will be two, and now for the first time we have photographic evidence.

Lindsay already has a nick name picked out. She referred to the child as my little “peanut”, which, I have to admit it does resemble a bit.

Evan just finished his second tumbling class. Mom reports that this class was much more strict than the previous class, which was hard, but good for our little guy. He had a lot of fun, and learned a lot of new tricks. This is his certificate from class.

Mom took Evan to see Thomas today. Not a little toy Thomas, not a video featureing Thomas, but the real thing. There is actually a real life thomas that tours the United States to bring love and happiness to all the children who adore him… like our little guy. Hopefully Mom will add some more information here when she gets the chance. In the meantime. Check out the picture gallery to see photos of the monumental day.

I am uploading images to the gallery now, but in the meantime here are pictures from Evan’s most recent trip

I miss my family. Luckily they should be back tomorrow night.

Evan and Lindsay are traveling at 38000 feet on there way to Grandmothers house. The picture above will update each time you reload this page to show you their progress or for more details click here.

You know, a year ago Evan could toddle, not quite walk. He can now. In fact, he can run. Very well infact. He demonstrated his considerable talent by darting through crowds of people at the monthly Fort Collins Art walk. It was a show all about horses. Mom was in love. It had lots of neat photographs. Evan preferred the ones with babies.

Evan has lots of words. He also has a billion different ways of telling you what he is thinking that aren’t quite words. It would be difficult to report each new word here, but this latest one is especially appropriate considering the time of the year. Evan’s new word is “chilly”. So how is the weather in your neck of the woods. Can you imagine how it has been here?

This is just a photo of what we got out of the garden today. It was an exceptionally good day.

4 pumpkins, 4 Roma Tomatoes, 4 Eggs, 3 Squash, 1 Zucchini, 1 Egg Plant, 1 artichoke, 1 Cantelope, and countless little cherry tomatoes and carrots… oh, and don’t forget our four chicken eggs.

Safety first, you know. Evan has always been a tool guy, but here is some more photographic evidence of it. More, of course, is in the photo gallery

Evan really enjoyed giving us all rides before bed tonight. He would get either mom, or me, or ozzy, or his doggy to sit in the chair and then he would run around it swirling us as we went. 

See more pictures in the photo gallery.

What is the best way to cool off if the pool is closed? Find another pool. Jason (an old friend of mine) invited us over to swim in the pool at his apartment complex, and since Mom needed more time to study (with her beginning her first full time semester of school in some time), we jumped at the opportunity.

The pool was heated, and nearly empty so we had the full run the place. Evan loved it, and proved to be utterly fearless. He would jump into my arms from the pool edge, or hang from the edge. He even went under water a couple of brief times without panicking. We practiced kicking, floating, and holding onto the pool edge alot, but mostly we just ran and played.

He liked it so much we went back the next day. You can see more pictures in the gallery.