Ethan's Birthday

Ethan turned 5 on Wednesday.  5!!  We have a 5 year old!!  Okay, moving on now :).  He woke up ready to celebrate his birthday (but was a bit disappointed when I told him we had to wait until Daddy got home for presents).  We got past that and he enjoyed his annual birthday doughnut!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!

We did let him open one present before Daddy got home :).

Book, bubbles and a Ninja turtle sandwich keeper

After Daddy got home, we went straight in to open presents.  He had been waiting ALL day, after all!

Finally getting to the presents

Jared made a silly birthday hat out of an empty wrapping paper roll!  So, he's half birthday boy and half Ninja Turtle, Michelangelo.

He got a new scooter

It's MUCH faster than his old one ;)

We let him pick where we had dinner and he chose Culver's (not surprising, at all!).  They take care of him there for his birthday and he got a sundae with 2 toppings!!

Happy boy with chocolate ice cream, M&M's and Oreos!!

Can't leave her out!  Chocolate ice cream with sprinkles!

We are so proud of Ethan and how much he has grown up.  He is an active, sensitive, sports-loving, sweet boy!  We love you so much, Ethan!  Look how far you've come ;)!

Happy 5th Birthday!!

We are heading to Chicago this afternoon to take the kids to LegoLand!  He is so excited!  And I think his daddy is too ;)!  So, stay tuned for Chicago pictures after the weekend!

More Salem Fun

Since we were in Salem with a bunch of family, we decided to have a little birthday lunch on Sunday for Ethan with the family.  It was a fun afternoon!

Cousins enjoying some lunch.  Haley, Grant, Ethan, Caleb

Ethan's Lego birthday cake made by Grandma Karen

Ethan and his cake!

Getting ready to blow the candles out!

Opening presents

Haley, reading her very sweet card to Ethan!

Jared, Caleb and Ethan- trying out his new soccer ball

Katie and Nora- finally getting old enough to play together!

Ethan and Daddy putting together some Ninja Turtle Legos!

We are blessed by great family who we love spending time with!  Thanks everyone!

Weekend Wedding

Last weekend, we went to Salem for the wedding of one of Jared's cousins.  I've been around the Collier family long enough to basically see Darcy grow up.  I think she was 9 or 10 when I first met her.  Anyway, she is all grown up and got married (and moved to Alabama) on Saturday.  It was a beautiful ceremony for a beautiful couple!  Ethan and Nora joined us for the reception and seemed to have a great time!!

Cody and Darcy!

Father/Daughter dance :)

The kids snacked, danced and blew bubbles while we waited for the wedding party and dinner.  They may have been a little hyper...

Happy Kids!

Sweet Nora

Silly Ethan

Dancing!

Bubble blowing

Goofy face making

This is the best one of the 4 of us... I told you they were hyper :)!

Jared and I, remembering our wedding 9 Memorial Day weekends before ;)

There was a photo booth and Ethan really got into it!  He kept trying to find different people to go get his picture taken with! (Forgive the poor quality...I just took a pictures of the prints)

Family in the Photo Booth

Grandma Karen and Ethan

Grandma Karen, Grandpa, Ethan and Nora

It was such a fun afternoon and evening celebrating a wonderful couple!  Congrats Darcy and Cody!

First Swim Day of the Season!

Yesterday was our first trip to the Surf Club of the season!  We had such a great summer last year spending lots and lots of days at the pool!  We couldn't wait for this season to start!

On our way in!

I'm not sure what the deal with this face is...he was happy and just being goofy.  Must have just caught a funny expression!

She's a fish!  Not at all afraid of the water, or of a belly flop!

Ethan's Last Day of Preschool

Last Friday was Ethan's last day of preschool...forever!  To be honest, it was a little hard for me to take!  But he's so excited about summer and kindergarten!  For his last day, they had a field trip to visit the kindergarten.  His school is right next door to the elementary school, so we just walked right over.  I tagged along and brought the camera.

Last day of pre-k

Here's his first day...for some comparison!

He's grown and learned a lot!

Meeting one of the kindergarten teachers and her class.

Working on a project with the kindergartners

Taking a tour of his new school

After the trip to the kindergarten, we walked back to Ethan's school.  Here is his whole class on their last day!

We brought cupcakes to celebrate Ethan's birthday (a little early).  Minion cupcakes with blue icing...I'm sure all the parents were excited about that :).

Blue mouths!

After snack (and clean up) they all headed out to the playground for one last time!  Such a great group of kids!

Jaxson and Ethan- best buds at school!

Mrs. McDevitt and Ethan.  We will miss her so much!  She was wonderful.  Hopefully she plans to stick around, so Nora can have her too :)!

Nora's First (real) Haircut

This was Nora's first time in a real salon to get her hair cut. My friend has trimmed it a few times, but it needed a little more. She did so well and sat so still!








Such a big girl now!! I have to straighten it to look like that...so it's usually a little curly and wavy!

Preschool Graduation

My little baby boy graduated from preschool last Sunday!  He has learned so much there and had such a great experience!  It will be hard to not be a part of that school next year.  But, Ethan is super excited about going to kindergarten.  He gets to visit a classroom and take a tour on Friday, so that will be nice.  Anyway, on to the pictures!  His class sang 2 songs and then joined the 3 year old class for 1 song.  It was a very nice program.

All Smiles!

That hat!  It kept creeping back on his head :)!

Working the choreography 

After the songs, there was a little graduation ceremony.

Getting his diploma

My Big Boy!

If you're interested...here are a couple videos of his stellar performance ;).
First up: I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy (and some lovely commentary from Nora right as I turned the camera on)

Next, I am a Promise