Ethan

I was downloading some pictures to our computer/our blog when I came across these cute pictures of my big boy Ethan. I love them so I thought I would share.

So Handsome!

Ride'em Cowboy!!


This one is of Ethan playing Guitar Hero. He loves it, especially the drums but we didn't have the whole set yet just the guitar.

Here is his score, not bad for a 4 year old!

HIDE AND SEEK

So today I was playing hide and seek with the boys. Ethan seems to get the idea but Joshua just likes to jump out and yell "boo" whenever you get close to him. He is too cute and always makes me laugh! At one point in the game it was Ethan's turn to count while Joshua and I hid. Mind you he counts really fast so that does not give much time to hide. I grab Joshua and ran to our half bathroom on the main floor. Which is just around the corner from the living room where he was counting. So there I am standing in the corner of the dark bathroom holding Joshua when Ethan see's me in the reflection of the mirror and say's to me almost sarcastically, "Mom, that isn't a very good place to hide. I can see your reflection." So my mouth dropped and I was in stunned silence for a moment. I just can't believe how grown up and smart he is. So I finally pulled myself together and told him how smart he is.

Missing Oregon

I really really really miss OREGON!!! I have to say I never thought moving back to Utah would be such a hard transition. I was very happy with my friends and with every part of life in Oregon. I miss the waterfalls, the ocean, and quite frankly the green. I am so sick of the cold white snow.

I have been meaning for quite some time to post these pictures of just a few people that I love and miss from Oregon. It was such an amazing ward there are many women that are not in these pictures that I truly miss as well.

The wild bunch from left: Gwen, Joshua, Chloe, Ethan and last but not least Liza.

From left: Me, Martha, Amy.

The Chiro Guys from left: Jared, Jesse, Will, John, and Dan.

The Girls: Lindsey, Amy, Me, Holly, Beckie, and Daya.

And last but not least Me and Lindsey.

What a wonderful experience and part of our lives. We were so blessed to have been able to have these women/families be apart of our lives. We made bonds that will last us a lifetime.

Ethan's birthday... take 4!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 was Ethan's 4th birthday. I cannot believe he's so old. His primary presidency dropped off a delicious oversized red velvet cupcake for him. You can see the want on Joshy's face.

Boy, that's a big cupcake.
Joshy and me. Not sure exactly how or why this one got in here.

So, we had a party for Ethan on Saturday. He had some friends from Oregon (Gwen and Chloe Marshall) come. Plus, Amelia Johnson, Brooklin and Ryan Giddings, and Peyton and Bryton Harrison. It was a wild crowd, but they were good for the most part. The party theme was based on the Backyardigans. A cartoon featured on Nickelodeon. We don't have Nickelodeon, but the Marshall's did. In a sick and twisted act of guised friendship they gave us a copy of some of the episodes. 18 annoying mind-clinging songs later Ethan was hooked. The party was specifically based on Pablo, the propeller beanie, bow-tie sporting, duly recognized quasi-leader of the group, blue penguin.

Here we have Joshy donned with a phantom of the opera style blindfold affixing Pablo's bow-tie to his ample belly. Peyton, in a truly selfless act, was ensuring Joshy's sticker fixing.

Group Shot! From the left: Josh, Bryton, Gwen, and Brooklin.


Ah, presents. His grandparents spoiled him beyond belief. He ate up every minute of it, too!

I'll admit it. Sometimes, I'm jealous of my kids' toys. The Marshall's gave Ethan this nerf popper gun. I lovingly dubbed it, "The Enforcer" a not-so-tongue-in-cheek reference to my threat to popping the kids if they act up. Didn't take, though.

You faithful blog followers will know of Challene's ill-founded passion for creating special birthday cakes for our children. Ill-founded, I believe, is an apt description in my opinion because of the hassle it takes on her... and indirectly, me. However, the cakes are such a hit it usually makes up for it in the end. Here we have the Pablo cake. I thought she did a wonderful job. She wasn't so happy with it. The kids loved it, though. Bravo Challene!

Singing Happy Birthday. John Marshall and I sang the high part at the end, a la Michael Scott from The Office.

What better way to end a birthday than by a decapitation? Poor Pablo, didn't even see it coming. Word was that his torso kept twitching for an hour after the head was removed. Those fad-fangled Nickelodeon animated penguins just don't know when to quit!

Happy birthday, Ethan!