In case you care...

That little ticker at the top of the blog is a week behind!!

January 6, 2012 will be

BABY DAY!!

Who else is excited besides me?

Remember this?

2 years ago Ethan got blue hair after his hair cut!

2 days ago Ethan opted for red hair!

"Private"

Ethan has been drawing and writting a lot lately. He has even started sounding out words instead of asking me to spell them for him.

He decided that we needed a sign on the bathroom door so he drew and wrote this...

I think that picture is a guy sitting on the toilet!

What a funny kid!

It's a love-hate relationship

Play-doh

I love it because it's fun and entertaining for at least an hour every time, and the smell is kind of cool!

I hate it because it doesn't take a lot for the stuff to dry out.

Anyone who needs a Christmas idea for these two...

PLAY-DOH!

Pepto girl!

Independant Emma chose her outfit the other day!

When she was dressed she was pink from head to toe looking like a bottle of pepto bismol!

Oh, oops, her toes were purple not pink!

This is halloween!

Ah, another halloween come and gone!

(not really my favorite holiday, but I try to make it fun for the kids and Mike.)

We had Ethan's second annual halloween party and I was actually excited for it.

It was fun to plan and fun to host, I just hope all the kids had as much fun as I did planning it!

We had a pinata, made our own pizzas, played a few games and ate goblin feet and bones!

The goblin feet (nutter butters dipped in green melting chocolate and topped with cashew halves) and the bones (stick pretzles with mini marshmallows on each end dipped in white melting chocolate)

Those bones were yummy! I didn't try the goblin feet but I heard they were yummy too!

The pinata
I couldn't find a halloweeny pinata for less than $36 (shipping included) so I bought what looks like a left over from Cinco de Mayo and wrapped him in white streamers. Instant mummy!
He worked well with our mummy game.
The kids got to wrap eachother in toilet paper
Ethan made a great mummy!
Halloween day, Ethan got to dress up in costume for his kindergarten class party.
Emma wanted to dress up too but I didn't want her to do anything to ruin her costume, Cinderella, until that night, so she found my sister's Snow White costume and wore that on our way to take Ethan to school.

I think they look oh so cute!

On our way to my parents' neighborhood to trick or treat!

Trick or treating down the road!

Tired after a long while, at least for a 2 year old, trick or treating

I think my kids, and Mike, had a good time. It was fun to see how excited they got trick or treating!

**I don't have more pictures of Ethan because he went trick or treating with his cousin, my sister, and friend. It's not because I love one child more than the other!!

This is how we read

Eating popcorn

carefully so we don't ruin the library books!

and who could ask for more?

It's a good life!

Today's been a GREAT day, despite the things that could have made me mad, they just made me laugh. For example, I was talking to my mom on the phone while the kids ate their lunch, or so I thought, when I hung up and turned to the table, Emma was MIA. I looked in the living room for her and she had her diaper off and he wipes container open and was wiping her poopy bum! She hadn't left it all in the diaper, but had some smeared on her leg and some even got on my new carpet. Then she looks at me and smiles her sweet, innocent smile. Oh boy, was my reaction and oh Emma! Usually I would have yelled, but I didn't, go me!! I guess it's time to be REALLY serious about potty training now!

I've been feeling all kinds of gratful for things and people in my life, and I wanted to journal it. Here goes...

This guy has been moving a lot lately and I love it

I personally think it's the best part about being pregnant, feeling the baby move. I really like it when he kicks me back after I push on him!

Emma and Ethan love to build "ships" using couch cushions. They look like forts but they are ships that take them places.

The other day, Emma wanted to build a ship but Ethan didn't want to play in one. Instead of telling her no, he built her her very own ship!

What a nice brother.

Mike and Jake painted Emma's room Saturday and Emma wanted to help!
(luckily there was no paint out so there isn't any pain on that roller)
I love the room and can't wait to buy more girly things to put in there!
Thanks you two, and Dad, for all your hard work!
What can I say about this one?
WOW! He's just all kinds of funny and loving kindergarten.
He's been super helpful with Emma lately. When she wants something from him, he usually gives it to her with not much of a fight.
Then there's him...
I just gotta love him.
He really didn't want to paint Emma's room, but my doctor advised me that if there was someone else that could paint, to let them.
He got speakers for out TV and now we have surround sound and it's pretty cool. He had to order a different cable for the subwoofer but got that yesterday and hooked it up. Even the dumb shows I watch during the day sound better! Who knew?
More stuff-
*Emma's been reading to herself for a while now, not real words, but jabber and it's so funny to listen to her read. When I put her down for a nap, I can hear through the monitor her reading to herself, before and after her nap.
*It's fall which means that the air is cooler, I get to leave my windows open and make my power bill go down, the leaves are changing colors on the mountain and I can see that right out my front window, and I love all the smells that come with fall!
*Ethan LOVES kindergarten and as far as I know is doing well. He talks about his friends in his class and is learning a lot!
*For the last few months, on those nights that Mike is gone, Ethan and I have been playing a game or two after Emma goes to bed. It's been so much fun to have that one-on-one time with him again. The best was when he told me that he really likes playing games with me, just me and him.
*Emma isn't one to express affection to me all on her own, but the other day when I put her down for a nap, she looked at me and said, "I love you!" in her sweet little voice.
I have a lot to be grateful for and know that the Lord has blessed me with more than I deserve.

Birthday FUN!

We've been celebrating Ethan's birthday for a week. My brother told me about a tradition they have they got from a friend that during their kids' birthday week the birthday kid gets a special something every day for a week until their birthday. I go a little crazy...I used to get everything from the dollar spot at Target but since Ethan's not as into dinosaurs as he was when he was 3 and 4, I get small lego sets, pokemon cards, and stuff that 6 year olds like. I even had Mike get donuts one morning for breakfast.

Since Monday was Labor Day and Mike had the day off, he suggested we go to Jump on It! We picked up a few extra fun girls on the way.

Here's Ethan going down the slide with one of those fun girls I mentioned!

Mike and Emma were jumping together and I thought it was so fun and sweet that I tried to take a picture but this kid ran right in front of the camera as the picture was taken...dumb slow shutter!
(I guess he thought it was his birthday or something!)
After Jump on It! we had family come over for cake and ice cream.
I attemped a cake, again (I think I should just give up and get Cold Stone cakes)
The cake part was easy it was the decorating that got to me. I asked Mike to help me but he took over and did a much better job than I would have.
(no that's not black frosting, it's black licorish-thanks Mom for the suggestion! So much easier than frosting!)
I got relighting candles because I thought Ethan would think they were fun. He did!

Dad had to step in to help get them really out!

Ethan went to school on his birthday and LOVED it! I saw him coming down the street with a crown on and had to grab my camera to take a picutre

so cute!

Ethan chose to go to JCW's for dinner, mmmmmm!

Emma got "red juice" (aka fruit punch) and her tongue turned red

Ethan had sprite and his tongue was shiny

After dinner he opened presents from me and Mike.

Among lots of legos, he got this new blanket

I think he looks awesome!

When I asked him if he had a good birthday, I got this response...

(I think he did!)

6 years ago

Ethan looked like this...

Happy Birthday to my favorite boy in the whole wide world!

Kindergarten

Who's excited for Kindergarten?

This kid!

And this one too!
Ethan was very excited for his first day of kindergarten today. He was ready to go yesterday and last night. He got a blessing from his dad, it may have been more for me than for him. His shower was very long and when I asked him if he needed help with his hair, he told me no, he was just washing everything twice so he'd be nice and clean for kindergarten. He went to bed excited and woke up earlier than he usually does, and he didn't have school until this afternoon!
To celebrate the first day of school, he choose what to have for breakfast and then we went to pick up some McDonald's for lunch. He chose dinner too, chili on chips.
After dropping him off, Emma and I came home so she could take a nap and I don't know what I'm going to do for more than 2 more hours until it's time to go get him! I need to iron, I just don't want to! I think Emma was a little concerned when we got him because she said, sadly, that "Ethan's gone!"j
I know he's going to love school and meet new friends, I do think it's not fair that there are 3 kids in our ward that are in the same class and that Ethan's friend from our last ward is in that class too! But hopefully they will play and have fun with each other at recess.

BOY!

If you haven't figured it out by my new background and ticker under Ethan and Emma's picture or you aren't my friend on facebook, we are having another BOY!

He's scheduled to arrive the beginning of January! (My due date is the 13th but my doctor told me he'd take him at 39 weeks.)

Ethan's SUPER excited to be getting a baby brother. Emma...well...I'm not sure how much she really understands. After telling her she was getting a brother she told me she wanted a sister. I think she'll warm up and be a great big sister.

I'm excited and Mike is too, not as excited as he would be if my doctor would take the baby December 30th or 31st.

This week

I had a busy, fun and exciting, but busy week. Here's what I did every night and what I learned from it:

Monday: We had FHE and I learned more how much my kids love music and I remembered that "Do As I'm Doing" is a great busy song for kids

Tuesday: Mike and I went to the temple for ward temple night then went to get food afterwards with people from our ward. I learned more about the cool people in my ward and as always, I learned that I LOVE going to the temple, especially with Mike!

Wednesday: Ethan had soccer practice. I learned that that kid needs at least 2 bottles of water at practice. Three would be better, two to drink and one to pour over his head. He turns RED in the hot summer sun.

Thursday: We went to the Bean Life Science Museum on BYU campus with Mike's brother and his family. After the museum, we went to dinner at the Brick Oven. I learned that I really need to order a full order instead of a half order of cheesy garlic bread so Ethan can eat half and I still get to have a bunch too. After dinner, we watch "Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension" and I learned that Phineas and Ferb are funny even the 3rd time around!

Friday: Not as busy but we did go tot he elementary school to see if we could find out who was in Ethan's kindergarten class. I learned that the kindergarten classes are not posted so we don't know if he has any friends in his class yet. We'll have to wait another week.

Saturday: Ethan had a soccer game in the morning, I attempted to take a nap in the afternoon, and Mike took me to dinner and to a concert, Sara Bareilles and Sugarland. It was lots of fun and I learned that beer really STINKS!!! I'm so glad I don't have to lift a glass to my lips and smell that-yuck!

Soccer

Ethan started playing soccer today!

He is super excited and you can see it in his eyes

He practiced last night with Mike

(Emma tried to practice too)

He got to play the goalie at the game and did a great job.
He even dived to save the ball from going....out of bounds, I think!

I'm excited to see how much he'll loves it!

2

My Emma turned 2 last Saturday!

She loves Minnie Mouse and got this shirt to wear on her special day!

Opening the present from Ethan!
(What a GREAT big brother!)
Mike and I got her a kitchen and I think she likes it

Emma shares her birthday with her Great-Grandma LeDuc so we celebrated their birthdays together

Both birthday girls blowing out their candles

Emma loves cake and icing too

Emma got a good haul of clothes

And a shopping cart

THIS is a new favorite of hers!

I tried my best to make a Minnie Mouse cake

At Grandma and Grandpa Lott's to celebrate the day after her birthday, she blew out the candles before we were done sining Happy Birthday!

I think this a new favorite too

Earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace with Cinderella on them. The necklace even says, "Hello, I'm Cinderella!"

Oh how she loves it!

The rabbit died!

Summer, summer , summertime!!

Yeah for summer!

We enjoyed the warm-HOT-weather and pulled out the slip and slide!

Ethan and Emma couldn't keep their excitement in...

Too much fun
Emma LOVED it

During a break (to warm up) Ethan showed off his goggles

Emma took advantage of the break to warm up in her towel

She kept shivering and shivering but kept going back to the water for more!

Happy SUMMER!!