Wonderful Visit

Yesterday morning, one of my oldest and best friends came up for a visit.  I have known Sara since preschool and we have been close for a long time!  We had a great time catching up and playing with the kids.  What else is there to do but hit up the zoo!  So, Thursday afternoon we had a quick picnic lunch and headed into the zoo.

Sara and Ethan enjoying the train ride

Nora and I enjoyed it as well!

Petting zoo fun...

It was so great having her here and watching her spoil and play with our kids!  Thank-you Sara!

Ethan loved being read to by Sara.

Sara and the kids before she had to leave

Nora was more interested in the flowers than the camera.

Our attempt at a shot of the 3 of us...Nora is in the background.  Ethan didn't want to take our picture, he was too busy playing.

Nora's New 'Face'

Nora has been making the funniest face lately and I've been trying to capture it on camera, and finally did.  She does it and then breathes in and out of her nose really fast.  It's hilarious!  I'm not sure why she does it, she's not mad or upset, and when we do it back to her, she just laughs.  Oh, sweet Nora, how we love you!

The Carrot Pout

The Ordinary Pout 

The Leaning-To-Reach-Toys Pout

The ADORABLE Pout

Small Group

We have been involved in a small group at our church since about April, and have really enjoyed it.  We have met some great people from our church and made some great friends.  Every couple in our group has little ones (or 2 or 3), so there are a lot of kids running around and Ethan loves it.  This week, we wrapped up our group until next fall with a cookout.  I didn't take very many pictures, but I have a few.  We're hoping to get everyone together for another cookout in July too!

Play time!

Lots of kids!

Ethan was hungry...

We are looking forward to the fall when our next session will start up!

Fun Times

Just some photos of the past few days around here :).

Ethan and Daddy playing some marbles.




This was all Ethan's idea. I just helped place the blankets...





He had a great time playing in his 'tent'.

We had more outside water fun this afternoon. We don't get a lot of sun in our backyard, which is one reason I really love it. But...for the pool/water, sun would be nice. Ethan still had fun, but he was shivering and had blue lips.
















Nora and I enjoyed watching.

Cousin Fun & Golf

Last week, my cousins, Libby and Kacey and my sister, Abby, were in Salem so the kids and I headed down for a few days.  I didn't take too many pictures but we had a great time and the kids had fun playing, as always.

Dinner time at Grandma Terri's 

Ethan and Scout...these 2 are trouble together!

Finley Lou, such a cute girl!

Yesterday was the annual golf scramble fundraiser for our youth program at our church.  Jared's dad, brother and cousin have made the trip up 3 years in a row for it.  They always have a great time.  Last year they won and this year they took 2nd (with the same score as last year).  Dustin and Logan came up late Saturday night, so on Sunday the boys (including Ethan) went to the driving range.  While the boys golfed (the scramble), Karen, the kids and I headed to Tuscola to the outlets.  We had a good time too!  Here are a few pictures of the boys at the driving range.

Nice form :)

Dustin, Ethan and Logan getting warmed up!

Three?!?

How in the world do we have a 3 year old?!?  Today is Ethan's 3rd birthday.  He is such an amazing kid.  He makes us smile and laugh everyday with something new.  We are blessed beyond words!

Here's the birthday boy's day in photos...

Birthday Doughnut

Growing up, my parents would put our birthday presents under our beds during the night while we were sleeping so they would be there when we woke up.  It was our birthday tradition to get 'birthday spankings' for every year old we were from a member of the family while crawling under the bed to get a present.  I'm not sure where this came from, but it was a fun tradition that I have (mostly) fond memories of.  I thought we would try it out with Ethan.  I didn't figure he would notice the presents under there, so we could take our time in the morning and get to the presents after breakfast and when we were ready.  He noticed...he came in our room and said "There are presents under my bed!"  We were able to distract him for a bit with his birthday doughnut, but then it was on to opening.

Getting his first glimpse of his new golf clubs! 

He was pretty excited (As was his Daddy)

Nora got a turn!

For the past 2 weeks, Ethan has been saying that when he turns 3 he can go to the golf course.  So he and Jared loaded up their golf clubs and headed to the putting green and driving range.  I sent the camera!  The course they went to even had a few short holes (50-75 yards).  Adorable!  They had a great time, and I can see this becoming a regular thing (and I don't think I'll hear complaining out of Jared).

After nap, we got out the water toy from Uncle Dustin and hooked it up to the hose for a little water fun.  Ethan and Jared seemed to have a great time!  Nora and I enjoyed watching :). 

Today is also our wedding anniversary.  Yes, I know, I gave Jared an awesome anniversary present 3 years ago ;).  Jared and I have been married for 7 years!  I've heard of the '7 Year Itch', whatever that is...all I'm 'itching' for is more with my handsome hubby!  I love you!

Here we are...7 years and 2 kids later!  I love where we are :)!

Par-Tee!

We had Ethan's Birthday Party in our backyard yesterday afternoon.  We had a great group of people there to celebrate with and, I think, everyone had a great time. I could never settle on a theme, so I decided the 'theme' would just be birthday...until last Monday.  I was cruising Pinterest (very dangerous) and came across these adorable cupcakes.  I was planning on making cupcakes anyway, and this didn't add too much work/decorating to my original plan. So, golf, became our new theme.  My parents got Ethan a golf game that he opened early and we borrowed a putting green from our church, so we had party themed games!  It was a great day (despite some warm temperatures), all the kids played so well together and Jared and I were wiped out last night...so we must have had a successful 3rd birthday party :)!  Enjoy some pictures from the 'par-tee'.

Waiting patiently for his cupcake!

"Happy Birthday to Ethan!"

This is how our 3 year old eats his cupcakes...icing first!

Enjoying his party games

Most of the family party-goers

Josiah in the treehouse!  Jim and family made it all the way from Kentucky!

Josiah, Ethan and Sydney

Ethan opening some presents with some helpful onlookers...Brennan and Camden

Snack time with Austin and Robert

View of the party from the treehouse

Searching for a missing ball.  Uncle Dustin found it!

Nora and Aunt Doss.  Nora was well taken care of by all the family.  Thanks!

And 1 HAPPY 3 year old!  

Thanks to everyone who came and helped us celebrate.  We are so lucky to have such great friends and family!