A Few Early Signs of Summer

The sun and nice weather have been such a treat this last week...

Ethan and I have taken advantage of the warmth by taking a scooter ride every afternoon. He got this great scooter from Grandma and Granddad for his birthday last year and has really gotten good at riding it. He entertains all the passersby when he scoots because he pushes off hard then raises his little leg way up and to the side to glide.

We also made Popsicles to help us cool off. Ethan loves them...I think because it's a sure way to get outside...no Kool Aid drips in my house!


I was chopping up a watermelon the other day for dinner and Ethan told me he was starving for a piece, but needed a BIG ONE so he got out his trusty stool and grabbed a piece for himself. Now it was a bambino watermelon so it was a little one, but he ate the whole quarter piece complete with juice dripping down his chin!

On the weekend when daddy was home we washed and vacuumed both cars and then took a picnic lunch up the canyon. Ethan loved running in the grass, climbing the boulders, and walking by the river,



but his favorite activity was throwing rocks in the water. At first they were just small stones, but then he tossed a big rock in and found out what a splash they make. After that no small stone would satisfy this kid..nope we had to find the really big ones! What a kid!

One Long Week

It's always the pits when you're sick, but this week it was all 3 of us. One at a time last weekend the 3 of us came down with the most awful cold ever! It made for a long week. Ethan was the least sick which was good except that meant he still wanted to play outside and go visit friends so Bob and I had to get creative with our activities. What could 3 sickies do?

We went out and bought Ethan a much anticipated new "seat cart" (car seat). He loves sitting up tall and sitting on the outside. To celebrate the big purchase we drove out by the airport to watch the student pilots practice take off and land. Ethan was in 7th heaven. The airport is by the lake so he also got to see lots of birds and boats. It was a great outing for us all.
He was so taken by the fact we got to see airplanes take off and land the next day Bob showed him how to fold and fly a paper airplane. The 3rd story balcony made a great launching spot for our little bombers.

We spent lots of time at home reading books and unfortunately watching movies.
Ethan found a few ways to entertain himself...He took out his booster seat (which he refuses to use at the table) and made it into a recliner. Here he is reading the scriptures...searching for Jesus, who he claims is not in these scriptures since there are no pictures of Him in this set.
Also he decided to be Bob the Builder and "pray conc" (spray concrete)using the vacuum hoses. He'd put on Bob's work gloves and assemble the hoses then make the best sound effects and spray his concrete all over the wall.

We played a few games of baseball, Candyland and Chutes and Ladders too. All in all we survived the week and are feeling at least a little better.

Bob and Ethan really made Mother's Day special: french toast for breakfast, new knives, an angel food cake pan (guess what we had for dessert!) and lots of extra love, attention and just hanging out. I have 2 great guys! Now it's time to fully recuperate and disinfect our little dungeon...

Birthday Bash

I had a wonderful birthday this past weekend. Bob and I took Ethan to Farm Country to celebrate as a family. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my birthday than with my 2 favorite guys! We had a great time. Ethan loved all the animals. He would run from exhibit to exhibit and then back again.

We got a good show from the tom turkeys and peacock. They were all showing off for the ladies and had their tail feathers raised and were dancing, shaking,strutting, and calling.

Ethan got 2 pony rides, which he loved! He was ready for another turn almost before the first one was over.

He was brave enough to feed the sheep, turkeys, and goats corn out of his hand. We had to keep picking up each piece of corn to make sure the animals got every kernel.

After Farm Country we headed home for a surprise visit from Mindy, Matthew and Baby Felicity. It was so fun to see them and catch up. Ethan loved playing with Matthew and did a great job holding baby Felicity. Mindy brought over yummy cupcakes which we enjoyed later that night.

Finally, Bob and I dropped Ethan off at Ava's and went out to dinner. I felt almost lazy as we sat and waited to be seated...I wasn't chasing a 2 year old. We ate our fill then came home to unwrap my gift, sing Happy Birthday, then eat our delicious strawberry cupcake.

Thanks to so many of you for your cards, gifts, calls, emails and messages! I had a great birthday! It almost made it worth it to turn another year older!

My Little Sweetheart

Today was a long day...I was horribly sick this morning and so tired all day long. Ethan is still on vacation detox so he's a little less patient and obedient. By the time we got to bed time I was at my wit's end and so was he... We followed our bedtime routine and then Ethan wanted me to lay on the floor with him for "5 minutes" (he doesn't know how long 5 minutes really is, but he likes to ask for just 5 more minutes). So I cozied up beside him. After just a couple of minutes he rolled over and gave me the cutest kiss on the lips and peck on the cheek. My eyes were closed so I didn't see it coming...it was so sweet. He proceeded to do this same act a few times until it was time for him to get in his bed.

I went out of his room to take a phone call and when I came back he was jumping on his bed and had a dirty diaper...of course! So I changed that stinky thing. When I was done Ethan gave me a thumbs up and said, "Good job stinky dipe mom!" My heart melted. What a kid. That was the most rewarding dirty diaper I've ever changed. I sure love him!

Easter In Washington

This year we spent Easter in Washington with my family. We had a great time. My brother recently bought an old farm house so on Saturday we helped him paint...and as an added bonus had a HUGE Easter Egg Hunt with all the cousins. The lawn was covered with candy filled eggs, toys and treats. Ethan did a great job hunting and gathering and filled his basket.
On Sunday the Easter Bunny visited Gram and Papa's house and left eggs for Ethan to find. They started on the stairs and went all the way up to the front room. Ethan would gasp when he found one and then have to opened it to see what was inside before moving on the the next. Each opened egg was followed by an excited exclamation of "More Treat!" It was fun for me to see his wonder at it all.
The big finale was the T-Ball Set the Easter Bunny brought. About a month ago Ethan saw a t-ball set in the store and wanted to take it home. In passing I said, "Oh, maybe the Easter Bunny will bring that for you." This was the first mention of an Easter Bunny, but Ethan didn't forget. At least once a day he declared that the Easter Bunny would bring him his baseball stuff. The funny thing was on Sunday when I asked him who he thought brought him the set he declared, "Gram!" It was at her house.
Ethan and Daddy headed outside for a few swings of the bat before church...after that Ethan was hooked and would ask the minute he woke up for someone to go play bat with him!

A Little Pre Easter Fun

When I was a kid we often got a chick or baby duck for Easter or around Easter time. And we always visited the baby chicks at Logan's Feed Mill where my dad worked so today Ethan and I went on a little field trip to the local country store to hold the baby chicks and ducks...Ethan loved it! He loved peering over the side of the trough they used to pen the babies in and even held a duckling and a chick. The duck was a little more aggressive so that made him nervous, but the chick was cool and calm sitting on his hand...until it pooed a little on the floor. Ethan was then ready for the cute little guy to go back with his friends. It was hard to coax Ethan away from the store. I was afraid we were going to have to bring a baby bird home to our little apartment to sleep in his bed!

Aunt Amy brought over an Easter gift for Ethan last night...a Sponge Bob swimsuit. Ethan was in 7th Heaven except for the fact that he wanted a Sponge Bob shirt to go with it. I explained that it was a swimsuit and we don't wear a shirt with it, but that it was for the water... He knew it was too cold to go to the pool so he opted for the next best thing...a Sponge Bob Bath with splashing and jumping!

Crafting Like Crazy

I started feeling a little better and caught the crafting bug this last week. I made 2 nursing covers and a baby girl receiving blanket for a friend who had her little darling on Thursday (Congrats Mindy, she's adorable!). I also made a few birthday presents which I will have to post later after I give them out so as not to spoil the surprise. I bought fabric for 2 more projects, but those will have to wait until I have a little more time! It has been nice to feel a little more normal at least for some of the day...and today I actually ate a hamburger! Yes that's the first meat since oh about December! I still have my bad days, but feel a little more hopeful that I won't be sick the entire pregnancy!