Bath time

Fishing

Ethan got a fishing pole for Christmas that he loves. The other day I found him in his room fishing for a metal tin lid! He paid no attention to me and just continued to reel it on in!

My Favorite Outfit - EVER!

Ethan's 3rd Birthday

I think Andy and I were more excited for Ethan's birthday than he was. He ended up having a fun day, and we're thankful for both grandparents, and uncle Gary and kids for coming!

Ethan got a spiderman helmet and battery operated four wheeler from us, some cute shoes and a spiderman lunchbox from grandma and grandpa T, and spiderman sheets, and toys from Grandma and grandpa A, and a bruno and buddy dinosaur from uncle gary.

Somehow I didn't get a picture of the four wheeler, only a video. So, I'll try to post some pics of that later!

Ethan's Birthday Cake

Last night I finished Ethan's birthday cake! This was my fist attempt at fondant, and may actually be my last. Normally cakes take me a couple of hours to bake and decorate, but this cake took 3 days. Good heavens. I bought white fondant, since I've never made it before, and so on Sunday I colored it, and wrapped it back up to use later. It took A TON of coloring to get the dark colors that I needed for his cake. Then on Monday I baked the 4 cakes for the tiers, which took 3 cake mixes. I don't know what we're going to do with all that cake! Luckily I bought sugar free cake mixes, so it's not as bad for us. Then last night it took me several hours to decorate. So, all in all, it was kind of a pain, but it turned out okay for a first attempt. I think I might go back to the molded pans, and frosting star cakes that I'm used to though, as they are much easier to decorate!

Will the Dog Survive?

If you've read earlier posts, you know that we got a new Yorkie right before Christmas. Ethan LOVES that little dog and carts it around. The other day I looked and he was holding it up by its hind leg. YIKES! Needless to say, the dog does A LOT of hiding!

Now, don't think I'm a horrific mother, but these events happened the other day. (It's really hard to supervise a rambunxious 3 year old, and a newborn at the same time).

First, I heard water running, and Ethan had poor Duke in the bathtub with freezing cold water running on him. I dried him off, and informed Ethan that he couldn't just throw the poor dog in the bathtub. Then, I was in changing Addy and Ethan came in and told me he got Duke all clean. So, of course, I was thinking he was referring to the mornings event of Duke in the tub. Turns out I found Duke and the kitchen floor, covered in dish soap. I washed poor Duke, dried him off, and commenced clean up of the kitchen floor. I yelled for Ethan and asked what he was doing, and he told me he was drying the dog. So, at this point, I RAN to the laundry room, where I found poor Duke in the dryer. Luckily Ethan isn't tall enough to reach the buttons to turn on the dryer, but poor Duke was scared out of his mind.

Needless to say, I really hope this dog survives our house!

They could be twins!

These are pictures of the kids on their blessing days. Both are just about 3 months old in these pictures, and I can't believe how much they look alike. They really could have been twins.

Addy's 4 Month Appointment

Addy is doing great, and growing like a weed. She's 15 lbs. exactly, and is 77% for weight an 79% for height. Pretty much almost exactly the same as Ethan at this time. She looks just like him too! Here is a picture of Ethan jus to prove it.


Some of my favorite things about her . . . she laughs at just about anything, and her giggle is adorable. When she's ready to eat you can barely get the bottle in her mouth, because she's got her hands, burp rag, and anything else right up to her mouth in anticipation of the bottle, she is very even tempered, she rubs her eyes when she is tired, she loves to play with her toys and reaches out and grabs them, she even likes to pet the new puppy (well more like grab his fur).

She is just so much fun, and we love her to pieces. We are blessed to have her in our lives.

My Birthday!

For my birthday this year, I asked for a sewing machine. My mom always told me that I needed to learn how, because one day I'd want to sew some things. I told her she could just do it for me, and I never learned. Well, as always, mom was right. So, I'm learning how to use it, and here is my first project . . . I made the 2 throw pillows on Ethan's bed. Not too shabby, but also not to difficult to simply sew a few straight lines. Anyway, I can't wait to get on to bigger and better projects.

Christmas 2010

Addy and Ethan were able to see Santa at Andy's family Christmas party. We had dinner, visited with Santa, and played the white elephant game. We took a "leg lamp" from the movie Christmas Story as our white elephant, and everyone fought over it. We had a great time. Here are a couple of pictures of the kids with Santa.




On Christmas Eve, we have my family Christmas party. We have dinner, read from Luke 2 and have the little ones act out the nativity scene, and open presents from the drawing. Addy got a really cute toy and pair of socks from Sloane, and Ethan got a darling cowboy outfit from Aunt Janet. He LOVED it, and he looks pretty stinkin' cute in it!



Christmas this year was so much fun. Ethan LOVED everything . . . except Santa. In fact, he got up Christmas morning and we said let's go and see what Santa brought you and he told us no, he didn't want to see Santa. We assured him Santa was not in our house, and only left presents, and then he was fine. Santa brought him a spiderman bean bag chair, a spiderman watch, and coloring books, a toy story game for the TV, remote control cars, and a fishing pole. Santa brought Addison a cabbage patch doll, a few toys, and a little minnie mouse blanket.







Both Grandparents spoiled the kids to death! Ethan got a ton of spiderman stuff from Grandpa and Grandma A, and a cool spiderman shooting game from Grandma and Grandpa T, pajamas, and a buzz light year sleeping bag. Addison got outfits and princess stuff from Grandma and Grandpa A, and a really neat night light/music player, toy, and clothes from Grandma and Grandpa T. Here is Ethan in his beanbag chair, having a little rest with his puppy, who he drug around the house in his buzz light year sleeping bag, before letting him take a nap on it with him! Thanks Grandpa's and Grandpa's. We certainly love you guys.

Our New Puppy

Gary and Rachel's dogs had cute yorkie puppies, and we decided we'd better get one since they are probably their last litter. So, we announce the latest addition to our family . . . Duke!

The Cuz Buzz

Colby, Suzanne, and Julia spent the week last week in Utah for Christmas, since Colby's work doesn't allow them to be gone at Christmas. The kids had a ball playing together in the snow, visiting the dinosaur museum, making cookies with Grandma and Grandpa, and opening Christmas presents!

Addy's Blessing

We had a great day today with family and friends at Addy's blessing and luncheon. Andy gave her a beautiful blessing.

Halloween

Touching Moment

While Andy is out of town, I've been pretty good about cooking dinner and taking care of the house, but tonight I didn't want to cook, so off to Papa Murphey's we went to pick up some great pizza. I walked in the door, and I saw one of my former 7th grade students, who is now a senior in high school. He asked all about my little family and how we were all doing, and then he proceeded to tell me that he's going to the JTEC center 1/2 day to become a surgical assistant and that he wants to join the military and go to school to become a doctor. I told him I was proud of him, and also a little excited that he'd chosen a career in the science profession. He just said . . . "why do you think I like science so much, it's because of you." I was so touched I wanted to cry. I really do like the job I have now as an Evidence-based learning specialist. It has been a learning and growing opportunity, but I have to say that I really miss my kids, and miss being able to be a part of their lives, and hopefully be able to touch them in some small way. Tyson reminded me tonight of why I went into education in the first place, and maybe I need to get back to the classroom!

Story Time

Ethan certainly has my number when it comes to bed time. He loves me to read to him, and asks for book after book after book. I know he is just delaying bedtime, but I can't help but want to read to my little guy for academic, and emotional reasons. Some of his favorites . . .








He has most of them memorized and if I start the sentence, he can finish them. I especially love Good Night Moon. He says "and good night to the old lady whispering hush" so cute! The other part that is adorable is in where's my mother? He says "SNORT" so funny you just have to laugh! I love reading stories to my little guy. Even if it does delay bedtime occasionally. :)

Our Happy Girl

Andy's Birthday

Happy 32 to my sweetheart! I am so grateful to have you in my life. Your smile is contagious, your silly giggle makes me laugh, your strength always impresses me, your soft touch makes me feel safe and loved, your gentle kisses on the heads of our children melt my heart. Thank you for sharing your life with me, and happy birthday!

Happy Halloween

Halloween, or Halloweeney, as Ethan calls it, was so much fun this year. Ethan had a ball helping to put up all the spooky decorations, carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and even answering the door on Halloween night.

Andy had the house all decked out with every spooky thing you could possibly imagine. He even had a dummy on the porch. We found all sorts of things on it the next morning. It looked as though people threw rocks, etc at it to determine whether there was a real person in it waiting to scare them. He also had the music video of thriller projected on the house. The parents of the trick-or-treaters seemed to enjoy this the most, and many sat out on the lawn and watched the video and did a little dancing. It was quite a site, and Andy loved every minute of it.

Ethan, of course, was spiderman. He LOVES superhero costumes, and always wants to be dressed up as Superman, Spiderman, Batman, or Buzz LIghtyear. He looked super cute, and has almost wore the costume right out, because he has worn it so many times. There aren't too many 2 month old Halloween costumes, but Addy wore a cute little ladybug outfit. She looked darling in it. I was a witch, but shame on me, I didn't get pictures of all of us together. My mom did though, so I'll have to get a pic from her to post later on.