Ethan had a birthday shout Horray!

Hmmm, not may pictures to document this birthday, I guess I was too busy enjoying the fun!

Here's Emma, Jackson, and Ethan in birthday shirts!

 And Ethan with his cake!

I'm pretty sure Ethan had a great birthday number 7! He had a lot of fun birthday week presents...Emma helped me pick out a few...Batman coloring book and activity book, Fanta orange soda (his favorite), sweedish fish (another favorite), angry birds pencil toppers, a paper airplane fold and fly book, and lots of other fun stuff.

I know he got a bunch of stuff he loves for his birthday from Mom and Dad, Grandmas and Grandpas, cousins, and friends. Legos, cool cars that can flip, legos, an angry birds game, legos, a bakugon, legos, legos, and more legos! And money from the great-grandparents he wants to use to buy more legos! The only thing he loves as much as legos is Star Wars, followed closely by angry birds.

Ethan had a fun all boy party. There was pizza making, a light saber fight with Mike acting as Darth Vader, (He didn't like being beat up by 6 boys! Who could blame him?) pizza eating, a silly string fight (note to self...buy more silly string next time!), pinata breaking and running for candy and prizes, cupcake eating, and of course presents! It was a fun evening but I'm glad it's over.

Ethan had 11 days of presents! 7 for the birthday week, presents from Mom and Dad, presents at his party, Grandma took him shopping for his presents from Grandma and Grandpa, and presents with cousins! Phew! You'd think he'd be all presented out, I don't think he is!

I'm very happy that 7 years ago this handsome little guy joined me and Mike. He's a great big brother and he is a super big help to me. He is smart and loves learning in 1st grade. i'm excited for the many many many more birthdays to come with him!

Love you Ethan!!!

Somebody likes goldfish!

Yesterday after the kids had a snack, I practiced the piano and left the goldfish out so Jackson could reach them if he wanted more. Well, he wanted more...

 He dumped them out and ate til I dried my eyes from laughing so hard, took a lot of pictures, and cleaned them up.

Ethan joined in the eating too.

First grade

Ethan went to 1st grade today! He's still not home, but will be soon.

Here he is in the classic in front of the door picture

 (the sun was blaring in his eyes, he's not being goofy)

Emma really wanted her picture taken with him too

 Waving good-bye at the school

 I think he's ready for a new school year

 Here are my two babies that get to stay at home with me while my big boy is getting too big!

Funny story-last night after Mike gave Ethan his beginning of the school year blessing, Emma sat down in the chair, told Mike to stand behind her, and do it to her too! She starts preschool in a few weeks so Mike promised to give her a blessing then. She may have moments of crazyness, but I know that when the spirit touches her, she expresses it in the way she knows how. I've seen it and I love it!

The Bat Cave and NOPE! Those aren't tights!

Ethan got a Batman Bat Cave for his birthday a few years ago and he still loves it!

 He likes to share and play with Emma and Jackson too.

And as you can see from his expression...

 ...Jackson likes it too!

Mike went on a hike the other day and then mowed the lawn. When he took his shoes and socks off, it looked like he was wearing tights.

Nope just dirt. I sent him to the shower after laughing and then taking this picture and then laughing some more.

Emma set the table for dinner

Enough said!

Oh Jackson!

This little man loves his bath. He loves the duck Emma picked out for him too.

 I'm not so sure he loved me taking his picture while he was in his birthday suit!

 So HAPPY!

 He's starting to cause mischief too. He's figured out how to dump the basket of toys!

 and he loves it!

Won't be too much longer and he'll be crawling! I guess it's almost time to get the baby gate out of storage...where is it though...?

Ethan and Emma LOVE to paint!

We pulled out the finger paints yesterday! It was super fun, and not just for the two painting. It's fun for me to watch my kids take time to create stuff and it's also fun for me because they are entertaining themselves and not fighting!

Ethan is a cleaner painter than Emma.

His plate of paint

 Her plate of paint

 Again, messy

 Even her face...but she loves it so it's well worth it!

 Ethan's into Star Wars and painted a bunch of Star Wars characters

 From the top left...General Grievous, Darth Vader, the Emperor and the Emperial Guard

And notice, no paint on his cute face :)