IKEA!!

Yes...we went to Ikea.  Ethan, Abby, my Dad, my Mom and I headed up north Friday for an overnight, fun-filled trip to Ikea.  For those of you who haven't been, you don't know what you're missing and for those of you have have been, you know what you're missing (and probably aren't sad to miss it).  This place is huge and overwhelming!  You almost have to 'preshop' the catalog before you head into the store if you want to have any sort of focus and order to your trip.  We did have a great time though, albeit, exhausting.  Ethan did great with pretty much no nap Friday or Saturday.  Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Ethan in action, picking out some toys

Ethan and Abby having fun while everything is being loaded

Pop and Ethan & Ethan with 1/2 our haul!

Splashing Around!

It has been ridiculously hot and today is no exception.  Since Ethan always wants to be outside, we put together a makeshift water table/tiny pool.  It wasn't meant to be a baby pool, but Ethan decided to climb on in (which didn't surprise us).  Here are some pictures of our morning!

Splashy Splashy

"I'm going to throw these really hard!!"

Now it's a pool? (We're not really that cheap...)

...And now we've lost the diaper

Ethan and the Ranch Dressing...

This week, we introduced Ethan to ranch dressing.  He wasn't so sure what to do with it at first...but he figured it out.  It was hilarious!  Be sure to have your sound on when you watch this...he talks to the dressing for quite sometime.  Enjoy!

Our Weekend...

I have some rather random pictures from our weekend.  Friday night we had dinner at our good friends Eric and Heather's house.  Ethan and Braden had a great time, as always, playing with one another.  And us adults had a nice time eating great food and visiting.  The end of the night was creeping closer and Heather and I decided that both boys could use a bath...

Splashing around!

Matching PJ's (not too interested in pictures)

Then on Saturday, we headed to Salem to help celebrate Grandma Collier's 82nd birthday.  The party wasn't until the evening so Ethan had some Pop time before the festivities.

Pop helping Ethan 'fix' something

Grandma Collier opening her gifts

Ethan with his Great-Grandma Collier...Happy Birthday!

 
We drove back to Mt. Zion on Saturday night after the party because we are teaching the 1st grade Sunday school class.  After Ethan's nap this afternoon, he helped his daddy clean out the hosta bushes. 

...And he's a great helper!

And now...a couple pictures of Ethan before bedtime. 

Pushing around the table chair, one of his favorite things right now...Laughing at the fridge farm.

Wonderful Nannys!

This past week Ethan's babysitter was on vacation so on Tuesday and Thursday (the days I work) we had a couple of 'guest' nannys.  Jared's mom, Karen, came up on Tuesday morning and stayed with Ethan for the day.  They had a great time and Ethan was well behaved for his grandma.  She said they went for a walk and a bike ride and enjoyed some backyard time...as well as some nap time.  I can't thank her enough for coming up and taking care of Ethan for the day!  Thanks Karen!!

My wild child with his grandma!

Then on Wednesday night, Abby came up to stay with Ethan for Thursday.  She was a little nervous about diaper duty, but she did awesome (4 #two's later).  They also went for a bike ride and had a great time playing.  Abby stayed Thursday night and we went out for a little shopping on Friday morning.  Thanks so much Abby!  What a wonderful aunt you are!

Getting ready for some shopping at Target! 

Ethan and the big ball! (notice his face...he is saying ball)

Family Pics at the Beach

While in Michigan City, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful beach and take some family photos.  My sister, Abby, was a great photographer and I've had some fun editing some of the pictures.  Here are some of my favorites...

Michigan City Vacation

*Warning...Lengthy post ahead*
Last week we spent the week in Michigan City, IN.  We rented 2 beach houses and had a great week.  There was a 'Blair' house and a 'Puricelli' house.  My Grandpa Blair and his friend, Sally, stayed in a campground in town and came over to the house every afternoon for dinner and to visit.

The 'Blair House'

Back Row: Alex, Abby, David, Grandpa Bob 

Middle Row: Jared, Ethan, Becky, Terri, Shannon, Jim, Josiah, Tyler

Front Row: Paige

The 'Puricelli House'

Back Row: Beth, Steve, Libby, Josh

Middle Row: Micah, Kacey, Linda, Wayne, Tom, Sara

Front Row: Scout, Haley, Finley, Markey

We had great weather and our days were mostly spent between the houses, the pool, the beach and the outlet mall (and the golfers spent some time on the golf course).  Our houses were in a small community of beach houses that had a pool, playground, small lake and was within walking distance to the beach on Lake Michigan.  The kids loved playing in the sand and swimming in the lake.  Here are some beach photos from our trip...

Steve and Beth with Paige and Markey...Finley playing in the lake

Ethan digging...Haley enjoying the chair (while NOT touching the sand)

Josiah & Ethan...Ethan with Mommy

Tyler pulling the wagon on the boardwalk from the beach while Josiah, Paige and Finley rode happily.

Josiah and Ethan playing in the hole...Jared and I relaxing on the beach

When we weren't swimming, playing in the sand, shopping or golfing, we pretty much hung out around the house. 

Josiah wanting to go to the pool...Scout and Ethan hanging out

Paige, Hazel, Finley and Josiah coloring...Josiah and Paige being cute

4 of 5 Blair Grandkids (we're missing Lily) Paige, Josiah, Tyler and Ethan...Grandpa and Sally on their cooking night

Phillip and Amanda along with their little ones (Hazel and Callum) live in Chicago and were only an hour away so they came up for 2 of the days we were there and we wanted to get a picture while all the little ones where there...here it is!

Scout, Callum, Hazel, Finley, Paige, Haley, Josiah, Ethan and Tyler

(Squibb great-grandkids not pictured:  Markey, Lily and Caleb)

On Saturday evening after we got there, Abby and Alex disappeared right before dinner.  Little did I know, it was for a good reason.  Alex proposed and Abby said YES!  They had walked to a lighthouse down the beach a ways (a much longer 'ways' than they thought).  We are all very excited for them both and are looking forward to planning a wedding!  On Sunday we went back out to the lighthouse with Abby and Alex to take some pictures.  Thanks Steve for being such a willing and awesome photographer (also thanks to Beth, the photography assistant). 

Engagement collage made by Steve...The Ring!

News Flash!!

Just a quick post from our vacation...Ethan is walking!  He has taken steps in the past by himself, but he is really getting the hang of this walking thing.  I'll be working on a video for sometime in the future but here's an action shot for now...