Ethan's birthday celebrations

Once again this year we had the opportunity to spread Ethan's birthday celebrations out over a couple of days. It's nice because it's not as crazy that way...and it's a good excuse to eat sweet treats over and over again. :)

On his birthday we had grandparents come over for cake and presents. He was thrilled with his gifts and was excited to start playing!


He was excited about his new scooter (and the knee and elbow pads he received later) and because of some "warmer" weather and a spell with no snow he was able to try it out on the driveway the next morning.


He was also excited about his new Luge sled. It's perfect for him because it's lightweight enough for him to carry around--and it's fast! He was also able to use this gift the very next day. He and Micah spent a few hours sledding in the backyard.


He also received a new ball glove. Thankfully he's grown to a size so we didn't need to special order a left-handed glove online again! He ran around with his new elbow and knee pads on pretending he was playing baseball in the house. This will get a lot of use when Spring comes!


After gifts we sang "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed the cake. It was yummy. I ate enough so the baby could enjoy it, too!


Blowing out the candles...he told me I spaced them out too much!

On Saturday we used Ethan's birthday ice cream coupon and we all enjoyed Coldstone treats.


He stayed true to his previous tastes and once again ordered cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears in it. Micah also thought that looked good to him, so nasty...I mean yummy ice cream for them both!



Jason and I also ordered our own treats, I just didn't take pictures of those.

We had a great time celebrating Ethan and his special day!

Ethan's birthday cake

This year Ethan requested a football birthday cake. A friend of mine gave me a bunch of cake pans and I was happy to discover a football shaped pan. I was excited to give it a try so I mixed up the cake the day before. Unfortunately, because of the shape of the pan (no user error of course!), the edges of the football burned and the center of the cake did not bake through all the way. So, I thought I'd try it again and try and bake it differently in the oven. Second time around: also a flop. So, I scrapped the whole plan and went with a new one. I baked a 9x13 cake and frosted it:


I drew lines all over it so I had an idea of how to space out a football field on it (I didn't even try to do 100 yards!). Then I started with the green grass:


I took a break to take a picture because I had a hand cramp. :) Once I regained the use of my hand I finished the grass and added green "grass" along the sides.


Next I mixed up a little purple (I was excited to finally have a reason to use purple frosting on a cake!) and made the end fields up in the team colors of Ethan's favorite team (at least it's his favorite team this year!).


Then it was time for the football. I played around a little bit with a tip and had fun making it. I looked at pictures of footballs to make sure I added the lines on it correctly!



After that it needed the yard lines to look like a real football field. Like I said earlier, I didn't even attempt to make it 100 yards.


To finish it off I added the words--Vikings and Happy Birthday to my boy. In hindsight I wish I had switched colors for the happy birthday part, but I was happy with how it turned out.


When Ethan came home from school and saw the cake he announced "that's just what I wanted!". Just what I needed to hear!

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!