I took this video a while ago and have been meaning to post it (but being sick for three weeks sort of took away my motivation for a lot of things!). The video is a little dark, but hopefully you can still enjoy it. We were playing in the living room when I realized that Micah had disappeared and that it was quiet. When I found him, I realized that I need to let my cookies cool a little farther back on the counter. He was being so funny that I couldn't help but let him continue.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Birthday Celebrations
We had a busy week of birthday celebrations for Ethan. He had lots of fun and is already talking about how next he'll be six (sigh).
Since I had to work on Ethan's birthday, we started our celebrations on Monday night. He had a coupon for a free birthday ice cream at Coldstone Creamery, so we took him there. We let him choose his flavor and mix-ins, and the result was blue cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears and sprinkles in it.
We took the ice cream home and he ate almost all of it (he shared some with Micah). I think his stomach was a little upset when he finished. Do you wonder why?!
Ethan was able to celebrate his birthday with his class. He took a favorite book, pictures, and a birthday treat to share with the class. After much discussion, he decided that he wanted cutout cookies for his treat. I let him look through my box of cookie cutters and he settled on the number five ("because I'm five, mom") and the hand shape ("because I'm a whole hand now"). He helped me cut out the cookies and picked blue and green frosting. He had a great time taking all the treats for his class.
Once I came home from work on Tuesday, his birthday, we let him open his present before bed. He loves Legos and cars, so we got him a Lego race car. He was thrilled and had to put it together that night.
He so expressive, so he was funny to listen to as he opened his present. He thankfully exclaimed "just what I wanted!". At least we knew he was happy with his present!
Since it was already past his bedtime, we figured we might as well have his "cake", too. I asked him before his birthday what he wanted for dessert...and he told me he wanted pumpkin pie instead of cake. I tried to talk him out of it (since I don't like pumpkin pie), but he was the birthday boy, so I make pumpkin pie and we put candles in that. He loved having "Happy Birthday" sung to him.
He also spent time celebrating with grandparents, aunts, and uncles. He thought it was great that he had messages on the answering machine, and was thrilled to receive mail. Stacy, tell Caleb that Ethan has all kinds of sports stuff that they'll have to play together! We'll be busy in the backyard this summer with all of his fun new toys. We had a fun week!
Since I had to work on Ethan's birthday, we started our celebrations on Monday night. He had a coupon for a free birthday ice cream at Coldstone Creamery, so we took him there. We let him choose his flavor and mix-ins, and the result was blue cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears and sprinkles in it.
We took the ice cream home and he ate almost all of it (he shared some with Micah). I think his stomach was a little upset when he finished. Do you wonder why?!
Ethan was able to celebrate his birthday with his class. He took a favorite book, pictures, and a birthday treat to share with the class. After much discussion, he decided that he wanted cutout cookies for his treat. I let him look through my box of cookie cutters and he settled on the number five ("because I'm five, mom") and the hand shape ("because I'm a whole hand now"). He helped me cut out the cookies and picked blue and green frosting. He had a great time taking all the treats for his class.
Once I came home from work on Tuesday, his birthday, we let him open his present before bed. He loves Legos and cars, so we got him a Lego race car. He was thrilled and had to put it together that night.
He so expressive, so he was funny to listen to as he opened his present. He thankfully exclaimed "just what I wanted!". At least we knew he was happy with his present!
Since it was already past his bedtime, we figured we might as well have his "cake", too. I asked him before his birthday what he wanted for dessert...and he told me he wanted pumpkin pie instead of cake. I tried to talk him out of it (since I don't like pumpkin pie), but he was the birthday boy, so I make pumpkin pie and we put candles in that. He loved having "Happy Birthday" sung to him.
He also spent time celebrating with grandparents, aunts, and uncles. He thought it was great that he had messages on the answering machine, and was thrilled to receive mail. Stacy, tell Caleb that Ethan has all kinds of sports stuff that they'll have to play together! We'll be busy in the backyard this summer with all of his fun new toys. We had a fun week!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
My son
Dear Ethan,
Today you turn 5. Five. One whole hand. I can hardly believe it. You seem to be growing as I blink. I can't help but think back to the day you were born (as I tend to do every year). I smile when I think about how I turned down going out for lunch with your grandma because I was going to the hospital to be induced. Since your grandma is smart, she suspected where we were going (especially since when I was pregnant I never turned down an opportunity to have lunch). I replay all the stages of labor and delivery at the hospital, and I usually tear up when I think about how when you were born the doctor immediately placed you on my stomach and I was able to pick you up and declare "It's a boy!". What a joy it was to introduce you to everyone! You're not a baby anymore, but you always will be in my heart.
This past year you went off to school. You love it, and your dad and I love to sit and listen to you tell about your day, and your friends, and all that you learned. You remember the facts you learn in school with incredible accuracy (which sometimes leads your mom and dad to look up your facts...just because they are things we don't always know ourselves). You're already talking about going to Kindergarten.
You've developed a love of all things NASCAR. We have no idea where this love came from since your dad and I don't watch NASCAR, nor do any of our family members. The first time you saw a race, you were hooked, and now you tell us all about the drivers you know and you love to drive your NASCAR matchbox cars in pretend races. This past weekend you watched the Daytona 500. You were so excited about it that you were literally bouncing.
Some days, your dad and I feel like all we do is "nag". You've learned to push limits and will try hard to get dad and I to change our mind when we decide something you don't like. We're having a hard time deciding what type of discipline works best for your stage in life...so for now you've spent a lot of time sitting in a chair waiting for the timer to run out. One of these days we hope to find something that works better. You also don't like that your dad and I have made you eat more foods, even just trying one bite. We've been known to beg, plead, threaten, joke, tease, and send you to your room. However, you're like me, so you will only take that one bite when you decide to...if ever. You were happier the other day when I told you that you could take corn from the dish yourself (until I told you that you had to take a least five kernels...a gigantic spoonful to you). I was shocked that you took out six kernels and promptly ate them. I'm hoping it was progress, but I also remember that you did it at grandpa and grandma's house, so it could have been a show.
For a while, I've questioned if we taught you any manners. The constant burping noises are enough to drive me crazy, which is probably why you do it so often. I say "don't spit" on a regular basis because you seem to think that spitting noises are all the rage. All boy you are. Then, when I figured I'd work on manners in a year or five, you suddenly are chivalrous. Yesterday, we pulled in the driveway, and you noticed that the path to the van had filled in with snow. "Wait here in the van, mom" you said. "I'll shovel you a path and you can stay where it's warm". You then shoveled a path all the way around the van...and gave me a "thumbs-up" when you went by my window to let me know it was clear. I don't know whether to laugh because you're silly, or cry happy tears about how sweet you are.
You love your brother like crazy. I know you think it's fun to provoke him, and it's not always happy noises exchanged between the two of you, but you're starting to enjoy him as a playmate. You're great at cheering Micah up when he's fussing, and you both like to race around the house after each other.
My dear boy, I pray that your sweetness and caring about others stays with you all your life. I pray that you continue to ask questions about God, and that you keep appreciating the beauty of the world He created. You are a wonderful child, and an awesome gift to your dad and I.
Happy 5th birthday little man.
Love,
Mom
Today you turn 5. Five. One whole hand. I can hardly believe it. You seem to be growing as I blink. I can't help but think back to the day you were born (as I tend to do every year). I smile when I think about how I turned down going out for lunch with your grandma because I was going to the hospital to be induced. Since your grandma is smart, she suspected where we were going (especially since when I was pregnant I never turned down an opportunity to have lunch). I replay all the stages of labor and delivery at the hospital, and I usually tear up when I think about how when you were born the doctor immediately placed you on my stomach and I was able to pick you up and declare "It's a boy!". What a joy it was to introduce you to everyone! You're not a baby anymore, but you always will be in my heart.
This past year you went off to school. You love it, and your dad and I love to sit and listen to you tell about your day, and your friends, and all that you learned. You remember the facts you learn in school with incredible accuracy (which sometimes leads your mom and dad to look up your facts...just because they are things we don't always know ourselves). You're already talking about going to Kindergarten.
You've developed a love of all things NASCAR. We have no idea where this love came from since your dad and I don't watch NASCAR, nor do any of our family members. The first time you saw a race, you were hooked, and now you tell us all about the drivers you know and you love to drive your NASCAR matchbox cars in pretend races. This past weekend you watched the Daytona 500. You were so excited about it that you were literally bouncing.
Some days, your dad and I feel like all we do is "nag". You've learned to push limits and will try hard to get dad and I to change our mind when we decide something you don't like. We're having a hard time deciding what type of discipline works best for your stage in life...so for now you've spent a lot of time sitting in a chair waiting for the timer to run out. One of these days we hope to find something that works better. You also don't like that your dad and I have made you eat more foods, even just trying one bite. We've been known to beg, plead, threaten, joke, tease, and send you to your room. However, you're like me, so you will only take that one bite when you decide to...if ever. You were happier the other day when I told you that you could take corn from the dish yourself (until I told you that you had to take a least five kernels...a gigantic spoonful to you). I was shocked that you took out six kernels and promptly ate them. I'm hoping it was progress, but I also remember that you did it at grandpa and grandma's house, so it could have been a show.
For a while, I've questioned if we taught you any manners. The constant burping noises are enough to drive me crazy, which is probably why you do it so often. I say "don't spit" on a regular basis because you seem to think that spitting noises are all the rage. All boy you are. Then, when I figured I'd work on manners in a year or five, you suddenly are chivalrous. Yesterday, we pulled in the driveway, and you noticed that the path to the van had filled in with snow. "Wait here in the van, mom" you said. "I'll shovel you a path and you can stay where it's warm". You then shoveled a path all the way around the van...and gave me a "thumbs-up" when you went by my window to let me know it was clear. I don't know whether to laugh because you're silly, or cry happy tears about how sweet you are.
You love your brother like crazy. I know you think it's fun to provoke him, and it's not always happy noises exchanged between the two of you, but you're starting to enjoy him as a playmate. You're great at cheering Micah up when he's fussing, and you both like to race around the house after each other.
My dear boy, I pray that your sweetness and caring about others stays with you all your life. I pray that you continue to ask questions about God, and that you keep appreciating the beauty of the world He created. You are a wonderful child, and an awesome gift to your dad and I.
Happy 5th birthday little man.
Love,
Mom
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day
It's been a while since I've posted again (I have a nasty "cold" that I just can't seem to kick...it's made me lazy!). I'll probably do a catch-up post soon!
We spent part of this Valentine's day morning decorating cookies. The boys and their friend, Ava, had a great time putting the frosting mostly on the cookies. There was a lot of knife and finger licking...as well as a liberal use of sprinkles. I doubt we'll be sharing many of the cookies since I think they were licked as well. They really enjoyed decorating a cookie for their snack and it was a great way to pass the morning! I think we may have to work off a sugar buzz outside later in the day!
If you look closely at this picture of Micah, you can see that each of the cookies has bite marks. He was eating the cookies with and without frosting.
This last picture is of our Valentine for Jason. It has become our tradition to use up the last of the frosting in the bowl on a cookie for Jason. He enjoys seeing how high the frosting is (and his sweet tooth loves a whole bunch of frosting with a little bit of cookie!). The cookie is supposed to be two hearts next to each other, it's just hard to see with all the frosting!
Come on...admit it. Looking at the picture of that cookie makes you a little sick to the stomach and a lot jealous of the fact that Jason gets to eat that cookie!
We spent part of this Valentine's day morning decorating cookies. The boys and their friend, Ava, had a great time putting the frosting mostly on the cookies. There was a lot of knife and finger licking...as well as a liberal use of sprinkles. I doubt we'll be sharing many of the cookies since I think they were licked as well. They really enjoyed decorating a cookie for their snack and it was a great way to pass the morning! I think we may have to work off a sugar buzz outside later in the day!
If you look closely at this picture of Micah, you can see that each of the cookies has bite marks. He was eating the cookies with and without frosting.
This last picture is of our Valentine for Jason. It has become our tradition to use up the last of the frosting in the bowl on a cookie for Jason. He enjoys seeing how high the frosting is (and his sweet tooth loves a whole bunch of frosting with a little bit of cookie!). The cookie is supposed to be two hearts next to each other, it's just hard to see with all the frosting!
Come on...admit it. Looking at the picture of that cookie makes you a little sick to the stomach and a lot jealous of the fact that Jason gets to eat that cookie!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Child logic
The conversation at my house today:
Me: Ethan, go wash your hands...they have cheese curls on them.
Ethan: I don't need to.
Me: Why not?
Ethan: Because I licked them.
Awesome. Personal hygiene at its finest.
Me: Ethan, go wash your hands...they have cheese curls on them.
Ethan: I don't need to.
Me: Why not?
Ethan: Because I licked them.
Awesome. Personal hygiene at its finest.
Monday, February 4, 2008
On the mend
We're finally perking up around here. Ethan went to school today and I'll finally be well enough to go to work tomorrow. Micah and Ethan still have a cough, Micah worst of all, but hopefully that will go away soon! Jason has managed to not get sick...though I have no idea how. Here's some highlights of how we're trying to recover...
-We've been running the dishwasher almost every day. We have so many dirty cups because I don't want anyone to reuse a cup while they're sick!
-I'm thankful we own a carpet cleaner...our living room carpet needed a good cleaning...a few times.
-We also had the opportunity to clean the couch cushions. :)
-The washing machine is working overtime. Sometimes it was running in the middle of the night. I'm thankful the boys own multiple pairs of pajamas and that we have multiple sets of bedding.
-I threw away a lot of food out of the fridge today. Shameful, but it was mostly leftovers from right before we all got sick. The kids and I were not in the mood for real food, and Jason didn't dare eat anything beyond bland rice, soup, or pasta because he knew he had the potential to be sick at any moment.
-I have a new love for Gatorade...I had Ethan to the doctor and he was just shy of needing to go to the ER to get hooked up to an IV. The doctor told us to give him as much Gatorade as we could get him to drink. Thankfully he perked up and the ER was not necessary. We all drank Gatorade after that (my sister was awesome and went and bought Gatorade on her lunch hour for us because I was too exhausted to go to the store).
-We had Micah to an after hours clinic late Saturday night. I'm glad the clinic was available so I could have a doctor tell me he was OK.
-My bathroom has not been this clean in quite some time...we cleaned it a few times last week. :)
-We now have a nasty TV watching habit that we have to break. There will be much whining.
-I think I'll actually cook dinner tonight. Jason will gasp out loud if he reads this before he comes home.
-We may be able to go visit Colin soon. Finally. Once we can stop the hacking coughs. OK, maybe we'll meet him in the Spring.
It's good to be working our way back to "normal"!
-We've been running the dishwasher almost every day. We have so many dirty cups because I don't want anyone to reuse a cup while they're sick!
-I'm thankful we own a carpet cleaner...our living room carpet needed a good cleaning...a few times.
-We also had the opportunity to clean the couch cushions. :)
-The washing machine is working overtime. Sometimes it was running in the middle of the night. I'm thankful the boys own multiple pairs of pajamas and that we have multiple sets of bedding.
-I threw away a lot of food out of the fridge today. Shameful, but it was mostly leftovers from right before we all got sick. The kids and I were not in the mood for real food, and Jason didn't dare eat anything beyond bland rice, soup, or pasta because he knew he had the potential to be sick at any moment.
-I have a new love for Gatorade...I had Ethan to the doctor and he was just shy of needing to go to the ER to get hooked up to an IV. The doctor told us to give him as much Gatorade as we could get him to drink. Thankfully he perked up and the ER was not necessary. We all drank Gatorade after that (my sister was awesome and went and bought Gatorade on her lunch hour for us because I was too exhausted to go to the store).
-We had Micah to an after hours clinic late Saturday night. I'm glad the clinic was available so I could have a doctor tell me he was OK.
-My bathroom has not been this clean in quite some time...we cleaned it a few times last week. :)
-We now have a nasty TV watching habit that we have to break. There will be much whining.
-I think I'll actually cook dinner tonight. Jason will gasp out loud if he reads this before he comes home.
-We may be able to go visit Colin soon. Finally. Once we can stop the hacking coughs. OK, maybe we'll meet him in the Spring.
It's good to be working our way back to "normal"!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)