Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Dear Ethan,

Today you turn seven. I know I say this as each year goes by, but that number seems so old! You've gotten much, much taller and I no longer attempt to pick you up. You've gotten too heavy! You still fit on my lap, but generally are more content to tuck yourself next to me.

This fall you entered first grade, your first time being in school all day. Your brother and I miss you during the day; it's very quiet without you! It took us a little while to get used to you being gone all day, so we enjoy having you home on your days off. Oh, and days off from school? You despise them! You had to stay home sick two days in a row, and you made sure your dad and I knew you were not happy about it. You are one of the few kids I know that never hopes for a snow day. Not even the idea of a day spent playing in the snow is enticing enough for you to want to miss school. You informed us that you thought school should go all year round. Even Christmas! We are so thankful that you love school so much, but teachers need a break!


We are amazed at all that you have learned this school year. You have become adept at reading, math, telling time, and spelling. You have reached the point where you can read a book to yourself instead of having someone read it to you. Your favorites right now are Cam Jansen books. You love the mystery of them! Dad and I have to remember how well you can read or spell--one day you started reading an email over my shoulder (I remember it was about the new baby...and you didn't know about the new baby yet!). You love a challenge as you learn. You'd rather add with high numbers than low and even try to add and subtract negative numbers. We finally convinced you to wait until your teacher gave you those kinds of problems to solve. All that you've learned has carried over into the games you like to play. One of your favorites is Triominoes. You regularly beat your grandma and I soundly in that game!


You have been asking your dad and I for years when you would have another sibling, and this year it was fun to tell you that you would. From the minute you found out about the baby, you have declared that you want another brother. For some reason, you don't think a sister would be a great idea--something about how girls are around simply so you can chase them. We don't know whether the new baby will be a boy or a girl, but I know you will love and treasure either (and I think you would be first in line to protect a sister!). You pay attention to this pregnancy and ask if my belly will go all the way to the wall (I hope not!). The other day you watched my stomach move as the baby moved and you declared "Oh, that's so unusual!".


This year you found that Micah is a pretty cool playmate. He can keep up with you better this year, so you don't mind him tagging along as you play. You both have spent countless hours in the backyard--in the sandbox and playing every kind of ball. This winter you built a snow fort and played many hours in it together. When you're playing inside, you spend time with Lego's, Playmobil, trains, and chasing each other around until your dad or I tell you to stop running. We are so thankful that your brother has turned into your friend!


This past summer our family went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. You soaked up so many details there, it was amazing to see you observe everything and ask all of your questions. You and I wandered around the U-Boat display for a long time--I spent a lot of time explaining war and how there are people in the world that hate each other. Even with all of your questions, you didn't quite catch that WWII went on for longer than a day. You thought it was one day of fighting, during which the US captured the German U-Boat. I didn't have the heart to tell you that it went on for years. It was hard enough to describe war to you. What did amaze me was that as we walked and talked, you were incredibly conscious of of the people that were involved and how they were affected. That's you--conscious of people.


You've become an avid sports fan--you still like to watch NASCAR, but you also love to watch football and baseball with your dad. I love to listen to you when you watch a game--you have teams that you like and you cheer wholeheartedly for them. This year you chose to root for the Minnesota Vikings. We don't know why you chose this team, but you keep trying to convince us to go to Minnesota so you can go to a football game. I think what I find to be the most fun in all of your sport team loyalties is that you tend to choose teams that oppose your dad's favorites. It makes game day entertaining!


My little man, you have grown so many ways over the past year. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You regularly pray for all the prayer requests from your class. You love to listen to Bible stories and can remember all kinds of little details from them. You love your classes at church and are upset if we have to miss them for any reason. Your dad and I are so thankful for your willingness to learn and the open and questioning heart you have about Jesus. You are such a blessing.

Happy Birthday, Ethan Zachary. I love you tons and tons.

Love,

Mom

Thanksgiving celebration

The first grade at Ethan's school has a tradition where they celebrate Thanksgiving like the first Thanksgiving. One class dresses as Pilgrims, one class dresses as Indians, and then they get together for a feast! Ethan's class was the Indians, so they spent a lot of time working on their vests and their headdresses.


I loved how his teacher had them make the headdresses--the kids made/received a feather when they were doing something well. So, his teacher had them make feathers when they lined up well, when they didn't run in the hall, and when she noticed them listening well. The kids were very excited when one of the parents sent in real turkey feathers for all of them.


The parents were able to come and take pictures of the class and then follow along and observe as they prayed, sang, and recited Psalm 100. Then, the kids literally feasted! They had turkey, potatoes, corn, rolls, popcorn, and pumpkin or apple pie.

It was fun to watch all of them learn in such an active way!

Halloween 2009

I realized that I didn't go crazy taking pictures during the month of October. I remember wanting to go back to bed for most of the month (but not being able to say why until we told our family our news later in the month!). I think I was just so exhausted that doing things like take pictures of my darling children fell to the bottom of my priority list. Some days (or in this case, weeks) are like that!

Anyway, I pretty much took only a few pictures of the boys dressed up in their Halloween costumes. This year Ethan decided he wanted to be a ghost...and when Micah heard that idea, he was totally on board with the costume! I wasn't going to argue with that simple of a costume, so we borrowed white sheets from my mom and went to work.


I'd say the final result is not exactly what I was hoping for, but they were thrilled and they could walk and see (well, Micah had a little trouble seeing sometimes). So, I consider this homemade Halloween costume a success. They were also very successful in their haul from trick-or-treating, so I kindly assisted them in eating the candy from their buckets. I figured I'd share with the baby. :)

September 2009

I need to catch up on some updates! Here's a few highlights of what happened with our family over the month of September:

Ethan was delighted to go back to school. Unfortunately I didn't check my camera battery the night before, so I was greeted with a dead battery when I went to take his first day of school picture. I snapped a few with my cell phone, but can't seem to get them loaded to my computer from my cell. So, I have a few from the open house that we went to later that day.


He loves first grade and really enjoys going to school all day. I'm getting used to packing lunches every day, but have to admit that I'm thankful for hot lunch days! He had the typical "I'm exhausted from being in school all day" mood swings, but we expected that! We love his teacher and Ethan seems to respond to her really well. He is reading more and more each day and he loves to read anything in sight--and to anyone! I caught him kindly reading to Micah and Colin one day. I love it!


Micah and I are getting used to being home with just each other for a majority of the day. I think he likes it a lot--and I love rest time when I can steal a few moments of "me" time! We play a lot of games, trains, cars, and run errands. The day goes by quickly!

At the end of the month, we welcomed a new nephew/cousin into the family. Alexander Joseph was born on the 29th to Jason's sister Merridith and her husband, James. The boys love to look at him and talk to him! He's a precious little guy and I've made sure I had my share of cuddle time!



I had a big milestone in September, too. I turned 30! I've decided that's not really very old at all. Though sometimes I do feel old. :) We celebrated my big day quietly at home. My favorite present was one I couldn't talk about with anyone except Jason...the week of my birthday we found out that we were expecting another little one in May! We are incredibly blessed and are excited to meet our new little one!

Cottage 2009

One of our favorite summer activities is heading to the lake. Each year my parents rent a cottage and invite all of the kids and grandkids to come out to stay and play. We stayed...and we played!

Here's a few stats from the 3 weeks that they were out there, just 'cause it's fun:

• Number of siblings I shared a bedroom with: 2 (and 2 siblings-in-law), but not all at the same time
  
• Most people that slept in one bedroom: 6
• Max people that could be found at the cottage at one time: too many to count, 15 maybe?
• Number of tube rides that I went on: 1
• Years since I've been on a tube ride: 15+
• Times I fell off said tube: 2 (I think my brother was being nice)
• Times Ethan went tubing: 3 or more? More than his mother!
• Kayak rides: sadly, only 1
• Fish caught: One for each of the kids! Enough to keep them fishing!
  
• Times I was thrown in the lake: only once, and this year it wasn't in my clothes!
• Number of ice cream bars I ate: not telling
• Cans of pop I drank: not telling
• Pounds I gained: again, not telling
• Hours/days of fun with family: too many to count!

Now, on to the fun part, the pictures! Enjoy!

Ethan's first tube ride...

We hung out in the hammock...

Read lots of books...

Zoned out in front of the television...(don't they look exhausted!)

Took naps...

Micah was proud of the fish he caught...

Took endless jumps off the dock...

Spent some more time fishing...

Took lots of boat rides (Micah loved to drive)...

Celebrated birthdays...

Played on the water trampoline...

Wrestled...and yes, it appears Charlie is winning!

And finally, we played in the water...then played in the water some more! This video shows how brave Micah finally was in the water (and yes, he has a shirt on. He liked it). The boys were tossing balls back and forth and he kept going out deeper. Make sure you're paying attention to Micah at the end of the video. :)



Overall, we had an awesome time with family and I can't wait to go again next year!

4th of July

I still have pictures from July that I wanted to post, so let's step back in time!

We've developed a family tradition where we invite all of our family over to breakfast on the 4th of July. It works out great to have breakfast and visit while we wait for the parade to come. Since it comes right by our house we don't have the hassle of searching for a spot--we can just walk out the front door (also convenient for bathroom breaks and children who are scared of loud noises!). This year my grandma, our parents, our siblings, nieces, nephews, and a few friends came over. A total of 28 people, and we managed to feed them all (it helps that it's potluck style).

Once we're full, we head outside to wait for my favorite part of the day. I love watching the parade with the kids (and of course eating the candy), but the best part of the day for me is the flyover. I love watching the planes fly overhead...and I love how noisy they are. I managed to catch a picture this year. Well, a picture of the power lines with two planes in the lower part of the picture. :)


Since we're at the end of the parade route we occupy our time by posing children for pictures and playing with the empty candy collection bags. This was Ethan, Micah, and Colin's turn:


During the parade we managed to gather this crew of cousins (and a few adults thrown in for supervision). Rachel, Charlie, Evan, Kathleen, Micah, and Ethan. They are obviously distracted by the parade rather than the mother/aunt shooting pictures. Also, we've had such a cool summer that my sister felt the need to wrap up in a blanket during the parade. Crazy!


Later in the day Grandma pulled out sparklers for the boys. Ethan was familiar with them and had fun making designs and writing his name. On a side note, do you notice my potted plant in the background? Isn't it lovely? It looks like it could be filled with nice herbs. It's not though. If you don't fill a pot with flowers the weeds grow. And if you let them be, they fill in just like flowers! The weeds were tall enough to disguise a pop can that someone left in there after the festivities. Small tangent.


Micah was a little unsure of the sparklers...once he warmed up to them he enjoyed them! We just had to keep reminding him of where to hold it so he wouldn't get burned.

Jason, Ethan, and a few other family members finished the day at the fireworks. I stayed home since Micah was in bed and I needed to pack for the cottage. Pictures of the cottage are coming soon!

Way to go!

I have more catch-up blogging I want to do (also known as all the pictures from July), but I had to take a break from that to show everyone what Ethan learned how to do over the last week or so:


He's perfectly content to ride around in the parking lot for now, but he's getting braver! His legs are getting stronger and the parking lot has a little hill so that's helping him practice pedaling harder and faster.


I took a little video because he loves to watch videos of himself. It's also perfect for a blog posting! Way to go, Ethan!