Herrington Happenings

Update-ish

2012-01-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

The last 2 1/2 weeks have been a blur and I've just tried to live day to day and not go too crazy! Just kidding.

I knew Ethan would warm up to Jackson right away, but I wasn't too sure about Emma.

She has surprised me and LOVES the baby!

Here is a shot of my 3 kids!!

Emma is in a stage where she puckers up at the camera when I take her picture. I think she thinks she's a model.

Ethan likes to pull funny faces in every picture I take him.

Jackson doesn't care much right now. He just sleeps.

The other day, Jackson was crying but I had some Mommy thing to do but when I peeked at him and Emma, Emma was reading to him.

What a sweet big sister!

Mike's sister made Jackson a blanket with monkies on it and I love it. When I opened it I knew that I should do his side of the room in monkies. When I saw this I knew I had to get it for Jackson.
2 little monkies swinging in the swing....

Our new baby!

2012-01-06T21:50:00.000-08:00

Jackson L Herrington

born January 6, 2012

8:08 am

7 lbs 5 oz 19 1/2 inches long

We love him and can't get enough of him!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

After watching a little "Star Wars"-the original and best, watching the ball drop in New York, having a balloon drop of our own and some bubbly apple juice,

this kid was ready for 2012!

Happy 2012 everyone!

(okay we aren't that nice of parents to let him stay up until midnight, he watched the ball drop at 10 pm Utah time!)

New year's goals for our family are still to come, first off we plan to

*Have a baby!!

In case you care...

2011-12-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-12-01T15:35:00.000-08:00

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

2 days ago Ethan opted for red hair!

"Private"

2011-11-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-10T10:20:00.001-08:00

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!

2011-11-01T19:31:00.001-07:00

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!

2011-11-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-24T09:24:00.001-07:00

Eating popcorn

carefully so we don't ruin the library books!

and who could ask for more?

It's a good life!

2011-09-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ethan looked like this...

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

Kindergarten

2011-08-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-30T12:05:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-06-30T16:11:00.000-07:00

Summer, summer , summertime!!

2011-06-23T15:30:00.001-07:00

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!!

...and they're back

2011-06-16T17:56:00.001-07:00

that's right, jammie parties with just me, Ethan, and Emma are back. No, I 'm not complaining just commenting that I get them back...I really like them.

Mike was called into the bishopric last Sunday and will now have meetings a couple of nights a week and so the kids and I get to jammie party it up while he's gone!

Reading

2011-06-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago while Mike was preparing for his home teaching lesson and doing this...

Emma was doing this...

Mini-sot-ahh

2011-05-26T16:06:00.001-07:00

Last week we ventured off to the land of 10,000 lakes for Mike's sister's wedding!

There was so much to see and lots and lots of time planned with family.

The day after we arrived, we headed to the Mall of America to see Legoland and Nickelodeon Universe, formerly Camp Snoopy.

All those legoes were pretty cool.

We had to get lunch and the food court is about 3 or 4 times as big as the ones at the malls here-REALLY!

Emma and Ethan got McDonalds and Mike and I got Panda Express....mmmmmmm!

Emma really liked her juice

We ate right in front of one of the lego dudes at Legoland-a big Transformer. Anyone who knows Ethan knows what a huge Transformer fan he is so I just had to get a picture of him in front of it.
After lunch we went to ride some rides at Nickelodeon Universe. It's an amusement park in the mall-so cool.
Here's Ethan on his favorite ride, Swiper's Sweeper

He also liked the bumper cars

he had to ride with Mike because he's not tall enought-yet, maybe next year!

He really liked the Wonder Pet's Flyboat too.

I went on it with him the first time, but the second time, we only had one ticket left so he got to go with other kids.

(it's similar to the Big Shot in Las Vegas, only not as high and not on top of a building)

That night we went on a double date with Mike's sister and her hubby, we'd never met him before then and wanted to get to know him.

We found mustaches in the car, there is a story but I won't get into that here, so Mike tried the Mario one on.

Fitting don't you think? Matches his eyebrows!

I love how much Mike makes me laugh!

The wedding and the reception

2011-05-26T15:57:00.001-07:00

The wedding was Friday afternoon. It rained but I don't think the bride and groom minded.

The man I married

The happy couple
Another happy couple

Saturday afternoon was the reception. The wedding colors were black and white with an accent of orange.

My cute kids in their wedding clothes.

At the wedding dinner Friday night, Mike put a whoopie cushion under the bride's chair (his sister). It was a joke we played right back on him. We evenentually gave them the whoopie cushion but not until after Emma had a lot of fun with it.

She really enjoyed pushing on it and sitting on it, though she got a better result from it by pushing on it like she is in this picture. She even took a jump to land on it, completely missing it, but laughing about it. I don't know what was funnier, the sound the whoopie cusion made or how much she laughed at it and enjoyed it!

Ethan LOVED the chocolate fountain.

(The reception was going to be at a park but it was rained out. But since it was planned at the park, the kids all got orange shirts with Team Herrington and Team Cottle (the groom's family) on them so the kids could run and play and not mess up thier good clothes, hence the t-shirts and jeans my kids are wearing!)

Como Zoo

2011-05-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Our last full day in Minnesota, we went to the Como Zoo! It was fun and free and even more fun because it was free!

We saw these dudes who were 10 days old at the time.

They remind me of Master Shifu from Kung Fu Panda.

Mike and the kids posing by the giraffes
Just Emma

Just Ethan

Ethan and his cousin, Daniel

Just Emma

Provo half marathon

2011-05-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

Mike ran the Provo half marathon again this year. Last year it was so cold and snowy. This year it was GREAT weather.

The kids and I went down to watch him cross the finish line.

Emma liked cheering the runners on

My attempt at taking a picture of all 3 of us
A better attempt, but no Emma, she ran off, but not too far...

At the fininsh line

Mike wasn't feeling completely himself, but he did beat his time from last year by 5 minutes, and when you run 13.1 miles, I say that's a pretty good result!!

Congratulations Mike!!

Emma was so tired she tried to fall asleep in the car on the ride home.

I guess the sun was in her eyes!

Cleaning up

2011-05-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ethan has been helping clean up around the house more and more lately. Since he was about 2 he has been clearing his dirty dishes and taking them to the sink after eating. The last year or so I've asked him to load them in the dishwasher, unless it's got melted cheese on it, then it needs to be scrubbed off, especially if I'm not starting the dishwasher right away.

Here he is taking part in cleaning up after a yummy breakfast of donuts Saturday morning.

Emma has been pictching in too!
she got to sweep up all the crumbs from the donuts.
I guess I need to get her a shorter broom, it may make the task easier!

Easter 2011

2011-04-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to my parents' house for an Easter Egg hunt, Emma's first.

Mike had to show her the first one or two eggs then she was off to find them herself!

(She even found one of the two eggs with $5 in it!)

Ethan had a great time and found lots of eggs.
After the egg hunt, the kids dyed their eggs.
Ethan and Meg were pulling funny faces when I pulled out the camera and I thought it was pretty funny!

Emma had so much fun dying the eggs that when she was done she yelled and yelled and YELLED!

Another funny Ethan face!

Emma rode the rocking horse at my parents' and really enjoyed it!

Maybe she'll be a rodeo star someday!

Ethan got the movie "How to Train Your Dragon" in his easter basket, among LOTS of candy but was disappointed when the Easter Bunny didn't bring him any toys.

I guess the Easter Bunny was feeling un-loved because when we got back from Sunday dinner and my parents' there was a book and another egg filled with candy on Ethan's bed.

Emma loves baby dolls and the Easter Bunny knew just what to bring her!

She loves the baby and takes it everywhere!

We had a great Easter.

The ward choir sang, Mike sings in the choir, and it was awesome. I got to play the flute with them and am very grateful for that opportunity. The music always means more to me when I can participate in the musical numbers. I don't sing, at all, I can't and I don't feel bad about it etither, I'd rather play the flute with the choir.

Ethan is picking up more and more about why we really have Easter and hopefully, Emma will too as she gets older!

Nothing new...

2011-04-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a while but there just isn't much going on.

Ethan was on spring break last week and we just hung out, went to Costco, played outside, nothing too entertaining! Ethan was anxious for spring break to end so he could go back to school, he loves school!

Emma has been causing troubles from the get go but lately she is just getting into everything! For some reason she enjoys pulling her pants off and running around in her diaper.

She also loves shoes, especially my shoes.

She puts them on and runs around...pantless

She has also recently found a new love for dolls and everything dolls!

Hopefully the Easter Bunny will bring her a doll and for her birthday she can get some accessories for her doll. A doll crib would be great, she loves this one Mike took me on a date Saturday night. My parents watched our kids and when we got back to their house, it was past bedtime and Emma knew it, she was tired so she climbed into the doll crib that I used when I was a little girl and laid down to watch Wow Wow Wubbzy! Too cute to not take a picture of.

The movie star and the rock star

2011-03-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

We walked to preschool last week and we all wore our sunglasses.

Emma looks like a movie star and so great!

She even brought her purse, a new obsession and it goes everywhere with her!

Ethan said he looks like a rock star, what do you think? Here are my stars!!

Gotta love 'em!

Little mother

2011-03-21T13:54:00.001-07:00

Emma woke up this morning with a motherly instinct. She got her dolls and Ethan's bear, kissed them on the head and said, "shhh!" with her finger on her lips.

It was so dang cute and funny that I pulled out some of her receiving blankets, thanks Jan, and she used them to swaddle her dollies.

Here she is with her dolly-

Then, the best thing happened, her cousin Timmy came over for the day and she was all over him, but in a good way. Everytime he'd cry, she'd say, "Ooo, baby!" and go running to him.

I think she likes him!
And she found his nose!

Don't worry, Mary, she didn't poke him in the eye today, just found his nose!

Sleeping together

2011-03-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is how I found Ethan and Emma last night when I checked on them before I went to bed!

Thanks Dad!

2011-03-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, my dad made my kids a rocking horse. It is so fun and the kids love it! Especially Emma. She will climb up on it all by herself and rock and rock and rock...HARD! Sometimes I'm worried that she will rock so far forward that she'll flip right over the horse and land on her head. So far, we've been lucky...knock on wood!

Here is just how much she loves this horse

See what I mean about her loving it?

Thanks for all your hard work Dad.

Emma got a new shirt!

2011-03-04T10:08:00.001-08:00

Need I say more?

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

2011-02-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

We've had quite a few changes in our family the last week and a half or so and here they are, in no particular order, just the order I put pictures in!

Ethan and Emma welcomed a new cousin, Timothy, into the family on Sunday.

I made new pillowcases for the kids
We got a new range!!

We took the side of Emma's crib off so she can be a big girl and get out of bed when she wakes up in the morning.

last night was the first night and she did get out a time or two, but I'm sure it was because she was pretty wound up when she went to bed and so was Ethan. They were being silly.
We got a new light fixture in our bathroom

Ahhh, much better! The old was was ghetto and now, I feel like I'm at a fancy hotel not my own bathroom.

We also go a new cupboard to put medicine and whatever else we want in.

Again, the old one was ghetto and warped and just plain yuck.

This one is much nicer and a whole lot bigger!

We finally got new curtains in our bedroom

I've been a little disoriented in the morning when my kids wake up because the curtains are so dark I think it's still the middle of the night.

We have a new addition to our flower beds, a garden gnome!

He'll look more at home after I plant flowers in May.

Today was a big day for me! This kid...

was registered for kindergarten!!

I can't believe it!

Time is flying by me and my kids are getting old and I'm LOVING it!

Blue Bear must have been tired

2011-02-11T18:41:00.000-08:00

Emma has the BEST personality!

Yesterday she was playing with Ethan's favorite toy, Blue Bear, and she must have thought he looked tired because she put him in a makeshift bed and covered him with a makeshift blanket (a wet wipe).

It was too funny not to take a picture!

Do we have a lefty here?

2011-02-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

I've noticed lately that Emma favors her left hand. Drawing, coloring, and eating! We tested her last week and gave her a pencil in her right hand and she traded it to her left hand before she drew.

Will she be a lefty?

What do you think?

I really don't care because 2 of my very favorite people are lefties themselves!

And if Emma is going to be like either one of these gals, I will be lucky to be her mommy.

It's batman, it's a pirate, it's...

2011-02-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

...I'm not sure, but I wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley!

Tired!

2011-01-22T10:01:00.001-08:00

And when she is, she will curl up on the floor with her blanket. That's when we know it's time to put her to bed, sometimes that's earlier than her 8 o'clock bed time!

Last night after she was in her jammies she tucked herself into bed, Ethan's bed, but it was so dang cute anyway.

And just in case you were wondering, she sleeps with her hands behind her head like this all the time, so does Ethan.

Expressions!

2011-01-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

I was just trying to get a cute picture of Emma and she expressed herself to me.

Mad

Happy
Confused

Content

Thinking

Laughing

I sure do love this girl!!

Christmas 2010!!

2010-12-26T16:22:00.000-08:00

We had a fun Christmas this year. Not very many pictures but lots of fun!

We started off Christmas Eve making sugar cookies to take to Grandma and Grandpa's to decorate. After watching "A Christmas Story" and making and eating our yummy individual pizzas.

The kids were very happy to help cut out the cookies

Emma is a very smart girl and can figure almost anything out on her own. (she put a bakugon togeter all by herself at church today!)

Here she is looking through the star cookie cutter!
I was very excited for Christmas this year. More so than other years. I think it's because my kids are getting older, at least Ethan is, and he understands more about Santa and presents.
It was fun to see thier faces Christmas morning when they opened their gifts.
Here's our tree post-Santa!
(can you say spoiled?!?)
Ethan left Santa some of the cookies we made and a note.

(who knows why this picture is sideways? sorry)

For Patty

2010-12-26T16:16:00.000-08:00

Mike's mom sent Emma an apron to wear while she helps me cook...or bake which I do more of :)

Here she is the first time I put it on her when we made our Christmas cookies.

Not so sure she liked it

She did warm up to it though!
Ethan and Emma also got really cute outfits for church and here they are...

My favorite shot of them!

Goofing off

Being SUPER silly

Emma

Ethan

As a side note--Emma gets to go to NURSERY next week!

Hooray!

For Sarah

2010-12-26T16:13:00.001-08:00

Mike's sister, Sarah, had our family in the Herrington family rotations for gifts this year. She got some way cool stuff for Ethan and Emma.

Ethan loves the color changing cars that he got!

He can't wait to use them with his color changing track! (again)
Emma got the Fisher Price Zoo and can't get enough of it. It was the last present she opened and she hasn't stopped playing with it since!

Thanks Sarah!!

Look what I got!

2010-12-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

This week we celebrated our 7 year anniversary! As an early Christmas present, Mike gave me a day at the spa! I got a facial, pediucure, ate lunch while getting my pedicure, and a manicure! After being pampered for over 3 hours, Mike took me to dinner at Los Hermanos, my favorite, and to see the new Narnia movie (very good by the way)! All while our kids were playing with Grandma and Grandpa and their cousins!

Here are my toes!

I love the sparklieness of my them!

I told Mike I will need to get a pedicure every other month, at least, from now on.

This is what he got me for my anniversary present.

I love it!

And this is where it hangs in our home!

Cheap entertainment

2010-12-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

I'm done with my Christmas shopping and wrapping, but after last night and this morning, I'm not sure what I got the kids will be as cool as these...

They played last night and this morning in these boxes pretending they were cars! All those toys maybe a waste.

Here they are honking at eachother.

Our FHE this week!

2010-12-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

After Mike made yummy empanadas and a short fhe, we headed to the Riverwoods to go on a FREE wagon ride through the shops.

The kids were excited to go and Emma even wanted to put her mittens on, she pulled them off the last time we put them on her.

Aren't they cute?

I think so!

We saw where Santa would be but Ruldoph wasn't feeling well so Santa was taking care of him.

Mike and the kids posed in front of the tree.

I wanted my turn too.
We ran into Zoltar and he gave Mike a fabulous fortune.

(I'm pretty sure it will come true this next year!)

We just had to stop by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for our FHE treat.

This is what Ethan got

3 marshmallows stacked and dipped in chocolate.

This is what Emma thought of it

Ethan was kind enough to share with her.

He's a GREAT big brother.

Growing too fast

2010-12-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

Last year we had Ethan's picture taken and I love it!

Don't you?

So cute, sweet, and just a titch shy.

Last month Ethan went on a field trip to the photographer's studio and had his picture taken. I was sad to replace the above picture but when I held this one up next to it, I just had to replace his picture because he's grown so much in just a year.

He's older and bigger (lost all that baby look about him) and is toothless and you can tell from his expressions that he has come out of his shell, I credit that all to preschool!

I now love this picture as much as last year's and can't wait to see what next year's will look like!

Day 30

2010-11-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the kids and I decorated for Christmas

tada.....

the stockings

Ethan and Emma got in on the action of decorating the tree
...wow...they both look goofy! :)
(don't anyone take this the wrong way)
I'm very grateful that I get to spend this Christmas with these guys
just the 4 of us in our home on Christmas day...
I can't wait!
Merry Christmas season!!

Day 29

2010-11-29T15:50:00.000-08:00

The Friend

we use it every Monday for FHE!

Day 28

2010-11-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

Books

Books
And more books

I love children's books and I have them everywhere in my house.

I love getting more and when I am stumpped about what to get my kids for their birthday or Christmas, I get them a book!

Day 27

2010-11-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

I went Christmas shopping today to

and I used this
(not really my card)
but in doing so, I got all my shopping done, all but a few things that I need to get next week and order online on my next credit card cycle, and because I used my credit card, I got 8 points for every dollar I spent in rewards!
I also had a few coupons to save me some moola and I will get 10% back in rewards to Toys R Us after Christmas!
It was a great shopping day!

Day 26

2010-11-26T16:01:00.001-08:00

Emma's new footie jammies*

And that the footies don't bother her as much as I thought they would. (She hates socks and pulls them off as soon as she can-that's why she's barefoot most of the time!)

*She picked the pattern our herself. I picked one that was brown and pink with flowers and she insisted on the monkeys. They fit her personality better than the flowers, we think.

Day 25

2010-11-25T07:59:00.000-08:00

(No picture here)

But I have a lot of memoires of my childhood Thanksgivings that have come back to me this week. I've been trying to share them with Ethan and tell him what I did when I was his age. I'm very grateful for the fun memories that I have from those years and here are a few:

*driving in the suburban to Howe, ID

*staying at my grandparents' house

*the smell of the farm

*the cold air in Howe

*seeing Julie

*playing "Stacey and Kristen"

*the homemade candy-carmels (I still make them every year for my own benefit), pinoch ("poo candy"), divinity, Grandma's suckers

*super Jell-o

*playing trick-or-treat up and down the stairs at Grandma's

*riding the calves after Thanksgiving dinner

*dipping the homemade carmels, and the other fillings that I didn't eat and when the carmels were gone but there was still more chocolate, we'd dump in nuts and marshmallows from the kitchen

*reading Archies and watching TV after dinner in the living room

*puttin gon all the clothes I packed, almost, piling in the truck beds with the hay and Grandma's blankets, and heading up the mountain for our Christmas tree hunt

*eating vanilla wafers and drinking hot chocolate around the fire on the hunt

*piling back in the truck to head home!

*telling ghost stories with Zane

*playing "I've never" with David

*having a lot of fun with my cousins

*one time, I actually cried leaving Howe!

*having so much fun and getting to make all these memories!!

Day 24

2010-11-25T07:52:00.001-08:00

Ethan took part in the reading program at the Orem library this summer and one of his "prizes" was half off admission to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. Mike took this week off so we went.

I'm grateful that my kids enjoy reading as much as they do so we could have fun together as a family doing all these things!

Climbing through the tunnel

posing with Utahraptor
exploring all by herself

dressing up like dinosaurs

sitting on a dino

being fed to the shark

digging for dinosaur bones

more digging

still more digging and discovering what is used to dig

posing with the BYU dino

GO COUGARS!!

Day 23

2010-11-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

Ethan's preschool teacher He comes home with fun, cute stuff like this!

Doesn't he look awesome?

Day 22

2010-11-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

It removes EVERYTHING!

Even chocolate just by spraying and rubbing!

Day 21

2010-11-21T15:42:00.001-08:00

All my recipes!

And my ability to cook!

In the last month or so I've come to really appreciate that I know how to take just a few ingredients and put them together to make dinner for my family. It astounds me that there are women, and men, out there who don't know what to do with a pound of ground beef! Oh the endless possibilities that I can think of to do with that pound of ground beef!

Thank you Mom for teaching me to cook and making me cook when I was living at home.

Thank you to all of you who have shared your recipes with me so that I can make more yummy foods and have more endless ideas of what to do with a pound of ground beef or chicken or pork chops or whatever else you have made for me.

Day 20

2010-11-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

My house

It's not big, fancy, my "dream home," or what you might want, but it kept me warm last night while the wind was raging outside my window.

In the last 3 years, it's grown on me and I'm going to be sad to move, when that day comes.

Day 19

2010-11-19T10:50:00.001-08:00

My very own washer and dryer!

Inside my house!!

It wasn't all that bad to not have a washer and a dryer in my house, but now that I've had them, I never want to go back to being without them.

Day 18

2010-11-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

And lots of em!!

They are Emma's favorite treat and they keep her happy which in turn keeps me happy :)

Day 17

2010-11-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

My pediatrician, and his office!

Last night Emma was up all night long and thank goodness we have a great doctor, and even though we didn't see him, we saw one of the great PA's at the office.

She has a double ear infection, again!

Here's hoping that tonight she gets some sleep so I can too.

Amoxicillin may be what I'm grateful for tomorrow :)!!

Day 16

2010-11-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

Music and what it makes my baby do!

This was her favorite song the other day, she even sang "oh, oh, oh"!

Make sure to pause the music to the right and enjoy the sideways action of Emma!

(Sorry it's sideways!)

Day 15

2010-11-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

My dishwasher

This is a great blessing and I'm glad that after 2 1/2 years in our house, we bought a new one with our tax refund last February!!

Day 14

2010-11-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

Brings me heat in the fall and winter and cold air in the summer!

Day 13

2010-11-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for LIFE!! And my health because despite the cold that is making it's way through the family, I wouldn't want to miss any of this!

Day 12

2010-11-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I already posted about Ethan and Emma, but this post is about the pile of blankets that they are on.

I'm grateful for blankets, especially the last few days that have been so cold!

Day 11

2010-11-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

My new purple glasses!!

And my new soft contacts!

They are the best-I can't even feel them and in a wind storm...I don't have to go running to take them out!

Ahh comfort!

Day 10

2010-11-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

All day marathon (last night and) today and a NEW episode tonight!!

I can't wait!

Day 9

2010-11-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

Our deep freeze

Helps me have even more food storage so I only have to buy bread, meat, and all things freezable once a month!!

Day 8

2010-11-08T08:17:00.001-08:00

My food storage

(I realize these next 2 pictures are really food, but they are things I use and need all the time)

It may be small, but it's growing...

Day 7

2010-11-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Bed time!!

Day 6

2010-11-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

The view from my back deck

Day 5

2010-11-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

My and Mike's bed

I am grateful for my bed, Ethan's bed, and Emma's bed because we all have our own bed that we don't have to share...and I only share with Mike. There will be no getting a bigger bed at my house just so kids can get in bed with us. I love lazy Saturday mornings when the kids come climb on us and we all snuggle for a few minutes, but that's all I can take, a few minutes.

Day 4

2010-11-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

Ethan's bed

Emma's bed

Day 3

2010-11-03T09:21:00.001-07:00

My new couch

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have my grandpa, but this couch is so comfy I just can't get enough of it.

Day 2

2010-11-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

Ethan and Emma

My two beater lickers!

Day 1

2010-11-03T09:17:00.001-07:00

I love Thanksgiving! And because it's that time of the year again, I'm going to blog about all that I'm thankful for. I have to catch up for the last few days because our internet was on the fritz.

If you kept up with me last year, a few of these will be the same, but what can I say, I'm very thankful for a lot in my life not just at Thanksgiving, but always!!

Mike

Goofiness and all!

That's what makes me laugh.

Not a fan...

2010-11-03T09:03:00.001-07:00

I don't really like Halloween, I know you all think less of me now, but I do LOVE these two

and their dad.

So everything I do from the decorating to the trick-or-treating I do for them.

The Thursday before Halloween we had a mummy for dinner

(it's kind of hard to see so if you can't see it I'm not offended)

It's a meatloaf covered in cheese. It was pretty good.

For the first time in Ethan's life we carved pumpkins. Messy and not as much fun as I thought it would be for Ethan. But he was excited about the final product.

He designed his own, a cyclops, and I carved boring triangle eyes and boring mouths. I'm not that good so don't blow those pictures up too big.
So proud and excited for Halloween.
Mike's pumpkin was cool, he cheated and used a pattern.

Our ward had a carnival and trunk-or-treat Saturday afternoon, and I was glad it was then and not at 5 in the evening, it was pouring rain!!

Emma had a great time and ate a whole donut all by herself! I dunno where all those calories go she's still so so skinny. Lucky duck!

Ethan was a ninja and very proud of the moves he could do unside-down on the couch.

Pretty cool, huh?

Ethan wanted to go trick-or-treating with Meg, his cousin, so we headed to my parents' and met Meg there and they went and had lots of fun (the rain had stopped by then).

When I tried to get this picture, Emma squeezed right in between Meg and Ethan. I guess she wanted to be in the picture too.

Emma is still too young to go trick-or-treating, I have strong feelings about that I won't vent here, so she stayed with me and my parents. When trick-or-treaters came to the house Emma was very excited to see them. She was almost as excited to see them as she was to see the big bowl of candy the was pulled out every time the door bell rang. She got mad and yelled when the kids were gone and she didn't get a piece of candy. Silly girl!

We had a fun day and I hope you all did too!

Brushing teeth

2010-10-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

These two love it and it's so funny to watch them do it.
Ethan does a pretty good job brushing but Emma mostly sucks and bites the toothbrush.

Hopefully we'll have cavity free check ups for a while!

Ethan (hearts) Halloween

2010-10-25T15:03:00.001-07:00

The biggest fan of Halloween in our family is Ethan!

I just had to have a party for him this year and he helped in the preparations.

We made Halloweeny decorations out of milk jugs (I got the idea from Family Fun).

Here is Ethan painting the ghost.

He did a great job, even if he got paint all over the table and him. It all came out pretty easy and it was fun.

Here are the finished products!
Mike got into the decorating thing too and put up a spider web with a spider he made.

It was a lot of fun!! We started out by making bats out of balloons then worked together in teams to put a skeleton together (more Family Fun ideas).

Then we had the kids feel all kinds of monster guts and body parts. This is where they had to enter!!!

And then through the tubes, just to make it even spookier

All the kids waiting to feel all those body parts

guts=oily spaghetti

eyeballs=peeled grapes

ears=dried apples

brains=cooked oatmeal

fingers=hotdogs

Thank you Gavin for giving all the other kids the courage to touch all those nasty body parts!

For treats, the kids decorated cookies and looked at more than drank putrid punch (another Family Fun idea). Yeah it looked gross but it's pretty yummy!

One half of the table decorating cookies and having fun!

The other half of the table.

I just may have to make this a yearly thing for my kids...Emma jumped right up in there and wanted to participate with all the kids too!

Field Trip

2010-10-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Ethan had his first field trip this week to Vineyard Pumpkin Patch! I was lucky enough to go but because I don't have a bigger car, we only got to take one of Ethan's classmates with us. It worked out great because we got to take his best buddy at school, Max!

They were excited to go

and so was she
Funny picture of my boy climbing over stuff and having lots of fun with his class.

Making goofy faces in the castle of mirrors

Had to get one of him with his head poking out of the pumpkin

Most of his class, I zoomed in to just get him

We had a great time! It was fun to see Ethan interacting with all his friends from school and see Emma wanting so much to be a part of the class too.

I just wanted to brag

2010-10-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

I was at our un-official Super Saturday for our ward Saturday and had 2 people 10 minutes apart tell me how pretty my ring is. I had to agree!

(the best shot of I have of it)

My budding little artists

2010-10-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

When Ethan wanted to color, Emma grabbed a pencil and started coloring on his paper. I quickly got her her own.
She even climbed on the table, I didn't care, I should have, but I didn't.

When she saw the camera she shot me her cheeser!

I can't believe how much she is turning into a little girl and no longer my baby.
And Ethan, I can't believe how big he's getting either. Preschool, field trips, and parties every week!

Out with the old and in with the new...

2010-10-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

...and I'm still not sure how I feel about it!

When we got married we got my grandparents' Lott old couch. I had wanted that counch since high school. It wasn't quite my style but it was big (8 feet long!) and comfy and free! It served us very well until just a few months ago. Nothing wrong with it, just when Mike and I would lounge to watch the dvr at night we both couldn't be as comfy as I would have liked. So when my grandpa Callister died and my parents were gracious to share their inheritance we decided to buy a bigger couch. It came today and it was a chore to get it. To get the old one in we took a window out (cracking it in the process) and then took the window out again (crack free!) to get the couch out last night. The movers and Mike figured out how to get the new couch in but I'm sure they cursed us when they left.

The old couch

The new couch
(it wouldn't all fit in the picture but you get the idea!)
I can't wait to watch some American Pickers while lounging tonight!!

Meet X

2010-10-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is Ethan's newest prize! X the lizard!
Ethan invited a shy boy at preschool to come play with him so he got a special prize for being such a great friend!
Just another one of the great things I love about my boy!
Pat on the back for me and Mike-we're doing something right!

Time for an upgrade?

2010-09-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

When Ethan was about 2, he moved out of the high chair and sat on the big chair at the table (no booster seat at all)

I guess Emma is ahead of the game and it's time to get a booster for the table chairs
Or we could use the phone books until she starts throwing them on the floor

Top of Utah Marathon

2010-09-18T17:03:00.001-07:00

Well he did it!! Mike ran his first marathon today!

Here he is at mile 18!! Just 8 more to go...

And at the finish line!
(no those flowers aren't for him from me but a good idea for next year)
Oh so tired and sore and hungry and thirsty, maybe just a little mad at me for sticking a camera in his face at this point of the day!

And the cool medal he got

(a little blurry and sideways, sorry!)

Party party party

2010-09-15T08:32:00.001-07:00

We of course had to have a birthday party for Ethan and we did.

Here are his cupcakes (which he still has never tasted!)

(they are little green men from Toy Story if you were confused)

Etahn's cousin had a pinata at her party so we had one too.

We didn't look too hard or even far so it didn't match the cupcakes, but it was still fun and Ethan picked it out and that's what matters, right?

All the party goers
The birthday boy hitting the pinata

The kids broke arms and legs off but it took a SMACK from me to break it.

And Emma got into the action too.

Showing Dad the peanutbutter cup she got! Mmmmm

Ethan was so excited to get lots of fun presents that he didn't want cup cakes and ice cream with his friends. They all ate, but he played with his toys go figure!

The power went out

2010-09-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

So I had to use these

(that I haven't used since I was in high school)

just so my hair looked somewhat decent all day.

I know, I look hot huh?

What a GREAT day!

2010-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

Ethan had a GREAT birthday!

He got spoiled all day. He got up early (for him-7:15) and I couldn't get him to go back to bed. I'd been up every half hour to hour with Emma cause she's not feeling very well, darn molar, so I didn't want to get up! Ethan was pretty good about heading to the family room to play computer games though. Mike got up with him too, thanks to Labor Day! I got to sleep, off and on, until 9 when Emma really woke up for the day. Thanks Mike!!

Ethan wanted pizza for lunch so we got a $5 pizza and then it had a "take a survey and get a free pizza" tag on it!

We wanted to take Ethan to the movie or to the park to play. Guess what he pickled? The park. We went to Discovery Park and it was nuts. TONS of kids! We had fun while we were there though.

Then we made the frosting for his cake

He wanted a snake cake that was blue. Mike researched and found that there really is a blue snake and this is kind of what it looks like. Orage head and tail and a light blue under side and dark blue (darker than this snake) top.

For dinner, Ethan picked corndogs and macaroni and cheese! Mmmmm. I haven't had a corndog in a while and mine was yummy. I'm glad he asked me to make my mac and cheese from scratch (I can't stand the boxed powdered cheese stuff!)

Then we had family over for presents, cake, and ice cream.

Again, Ethan was spoiled!

He got a really cool gun and cowboy hat from Jake and Mary.

This was his reaction...
when he got this
(thanks Grandma and Grandpa Herrington)
He ate an after dinner snack of Lucky Charms at my parents' house Sunday night so they thought it appropriate to get this for him

(he only eats the marshmallows)

He loved the legos we got him

And the cool Toy Story legos from Grandma and Grandpa Lott

He's been really into Scooby-Doo lately and when I saw movies for $5 at Target, I just had to get one, but I'm not sure how excited he is about it...

Emma LOVES the gun from Jake and Mary too

Somehow I dind't get a picture of the really awesome Nerf gun and darts from Kristen and her girls. But he loves it too. He's been playing with it this morning.

I also didn't think to get a picture of him and my brother who came over to say hello and happy birthday too. Thanks for coming, Bryan!!

Then it was time for cake. Ethan was so excited to blow out his candle that we were int he middle of singing when he blew it out.

What a fun day!

Thanks to everyone who helped make Ethan's birthday GREAT!!

Happy birthday!!!!!

2010-09-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

I taught him this one...

(pretty cute huh?)

Ethan is a GREAT bowler. Even when he's not playing on the Wii.

He beat us both when we bowled this game!! It was his first time bowling for real.

Ethan got 3 teeth pulled this year and was a super great sport about it.
My favorite first day of preschool picture.

We headed to the Hee Haw's Farmer's Market last week to pet the animals on the farm.

Ethan got to all the animals and I just had to take this picture.

Happy birthday to my big 5 year old!!

Manly dress up!

2010-09-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ethan likes to dress up only in the manly way, no dresses, no heels, no frills.

He loves to be a pirate! AARRRRGGG!

But he also likes to take a break and do some yoga once in a while.
Then there are times where he feels just a little nerdy.

When asked what Ethan wants to be when he grows up, he told me a fireman. Then a few days later he changed his mind and told me he wanted to be Batman.

Ta da!

Children's Museum

2010-09-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

While in Minnesota for Christmas, we headed downtown to the children's museum. It was so so so so much fun.

Ethan did a little painting

Drove a truck
Played in the bubbles

Saw a triceratops

(not too thrilled about it though)

Thought edmotosaurus was pretty cool though

Dug for dinosaur bones

Climbed inside a huge turtle shell

And rocked out to Smashmouth

We all had a great time, even 5 month old Emma. Ethan can't wait to go back. We'll have to save save save and go to the children's museum here with him before we can get out to MN again.

For the fun of it!

2010-09-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Ethan sat with Santa for the first time since he was a baby this year. Of course he told Santa he wanted a transformer....what else?

We all wore pink and yellow to church for Rachel and Rebecca!

Ethan wore one of Mike's old ties and it looked pretty good for being a grown up size tie!

(still think about you two, your mom, dad, big sister, and big brother every day!)
Ethan had to take up shaving this year too

And this is why!

Kind of looks like a former boss of mine!

Fans

2010-09-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Oh how thankful I am that Ethan coined the phrase "jammie party!" And that we got to have so many of them while Mike was working at nights. We ALL loved them!

(We still have a jammie party once in a while, I wish it was more often.)

Ethan is a fan of KISS-even if he's not quite sure who they are!
At one point he wanted to be Gene Simmons for halloween!

SpiderEthan

2010-09-01T08:17:00.001-07:00

2 years ago Ethan wanted to be Spiderman for Halloween so we got him a Spiderman costume. At the last minute he changed his mind and wanted to wear the dragon costume he got the year before. (Luckily it barely fit him!) So last year when he was deciding what to be for Halloween, I reminded him that we had a Spiderman costume. He was very excited and wore it!

Spiderman

SpiderEthan
Ethan went trick-or-treating with his cousins and their friends. It was the first time he's really been, he's always done the ward trunk-or-treat. He liked trick-or-treating, but he was done by the time he got to the end of the street. Fine by me!! He had a GREAT time though.

Now if he'd just decide what to be this year...it changes with the days.

Almost 5!

2010-08-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

Today starts Ethan's birthday week!! I can't believe he's almost 5-he does miss the kindergarten deadline by a week, but he loves preschool and I know this year will be a great one preparing him for kindergarten.

This last year Ethan had blue hair...

It was blue gel and he loved it. I may have to get some for him!

Thanks to the Friend, he kept busy during October conference's Sunday morning session.

Mike helped him build the temple, comple with Moroni on top.

And a huge thanks to Grandma Herrington for the bat cave for Ethan's birthday! It helped him be good and allowed me and Mike to watch Sunday afternoon conference.

(He loves it!)

More building with the blocks!

He climbed up in Emma's highchair one night after dinner while we were cleaning it out.

You're not a baby anymore, Ethan!

First day of preschool!!

2010-08-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Ethan started preschool today and has been very excited ever since the open house last week!

He could hardly wait until 1:00 to go. I think he may have had a few butterflies because he didn't eat nearly as much lunch as he usually does. I was excited because I could run errands with just Emma!

The classic first day of school picture in front of the door

He just had to show off his cool Bumblebee backpack
Just another cute picture of my preschooler

I couldn't see the pictures I was taking outside very well because it was so bright so I had to take one picture inside!

WARNING: BIG NOSTRILS!

It was fun to go to Target with just Emma, she behaved a lot better, I think it's because she didn't see Ethan walking and want to climb out of the cart to walk along side him. And I was done much much faster. We had time to run another errand, bring things home, put them away and still go visting teaching!

Ethan's home now and had a fabulous time and can't wait for Monday to come so he can go back. He even has a friend from primary in his class.

Farm Country

2010-08-24T14:49:00.001-07:00

Ethan, Emma and I headed to Thanksgiving Point and Farm Country to take advantage of $2 Tuesdays! We had a good time. Emma was very excited to see all the animals.

This cow was one of her favorites

What you are not seeing is that moments before, the cow pushed her head right through the fence and into the stroller. Emma was out of the stroller at the time but thought it was very funny.

This donkey wanted to eat the stroller but I had to tell him NO!
Emma loved the baby goats! She could have stayed there all day if I'd have let her.

I gave up trying to push Emma in the stroller cause I knew she was having too much fun out of the stroller and she yelled everytime I put her back in. I think she thought we were leaving.... However having Emma out of the stroller resulted in her climbing every fence we came to and not letting go.

Ethan wasn't behaving too well so I threw him in jail!

Just kidding he was really good and had a good time!

My mom taught Ethan to give kisses through the railing posts when he was Emma's age and apparently he still remembers

Pucker up!

We took the wagon ride but at that point Emma was done!

After the wagon ride we had some ice cream and headed home.

It was a fun day on the farm!

*With all my heart...

2010-08-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

I love this man

He was with me here
And here

When these two became ours

I will always love him no matter what!

*(just in case you were misled by my last post)