Go Cards!!

Thanks to our wonderful Edward Jones agent, we had amazing seats at Sunday's Cardinal vs. Cubs game.  Although the score didn't turn out the way we had hoped, it was a great day.  We went with my dad, Abby and Alex while my mom graciously gave up her seat to babysit Ethan. 

The view from our seats

Jared and I

Alex and Abby

Illinois State Fair Fun!

This morning we decided to brave the heat and head west to Springfield to go to the fair.  We have never been to the State Fair and we are only 45 minutes from the fairgrounds.  We enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the livestock area.  What's that saying?? "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day"...yeah, I did, wearing flip flops (gross!)  Ethan had a wonderful time in the petting zoo with the goats.  And we all enjoyed some classic fair food, including a deep fried snickers (yum!).  Here are a few pictures from our morning.

Main Street at the State Fair!

Waking with the goats

Ethan watching the donkeys

Ethan and Jared have their drivers licenses!

Ethan with the piglets that were born last night!

Tired boy on our way home

Celebrate Good Times!!

This past weekend was the Decatur Celebration (check it out here).  This is 'the largest free street festival in Illinois.'  It's basically a fair that covers the whole downtown part of Decatur with stages on every corner.  This year the main band was The Charlie Daniels Band and on the Christian stage we saw Francesca Battistelli (she's awesome)!  It was hot but Ethan did great.  Some pictures...

Ethan and Daddy matching!

A crowd watching 90's rapper, Young MC (Busta Move)...Yes, we heard the song!

Jared and Ethan in front of a Decatur landmark, the Transfer House

Our view of Francesca...she's 7 mo pregnant and performing in 90+ degree heat, Brave!

Fire Station, Swimming and Salem...

This past week Ethan and I headed south to Salem for a few days.  My cousin Steve and his lovely wife Beth are getting ready to go even further south, back to Haiti for the school year.  They are starting their 2nd year teaching at a Christian school (you can catch their blog here).  Anyway, they were in Salem for a few days seeing everyone before they leave.  Some of my other cousins and kids were there and we packed the week full of activities for them!
First, we went to the Fire Station with Uncle Mike for a tour.  He showed us all the trucks and the kids even got to sit inside a couple. 

Mike showing Finely and Ethan around & Finely and Haley driving the big truck!

Haley, Ethan and Finley sitting on the Fire Truck

Ethan driving the 1/2 Engine!

Yes...Mike is trying to pose him for a 'peeing on the hydrant' picture.

The Salem Aquatic Center is always a great time.  Thursday after naptime we took the kids to swim, slide and play in the pool.  Ethan is walking better and better so he didn't think me holding his hand in the water was necessary.  He is definitely not afraid of the water.  He kept trying to get my hand off him and then would fall, face first, into the water.  Enjoy a few pictures from our afternoon.

 

Ethan being a big boy at the pool

Ethan and Haley having some fun!

Finley after a trip down the slide

After the swimming pool trip we had a family dinner at the Puricelli house and settled the kids down for bedtime.  What a great week!

Dinner!

Finley and Ethan watching some Elmo before bed

Here Fishy Fishy...

Last night we had a somewhat neighborhood fishing party.  After a wonderful dinner at our friends, Eric and Heather's, house we all decided to go out to my coworker's (Judy) pond for some fishing.  Braden and Ethan had a great time and Judy helped them splash their feet in the water.  A thanks to Judy for letting us come out to the pond and for entertaining the boys!

Judy with Ethan and Heather with Braden & Ethan splashing in the water

Watching Daddy Fish & Jared's Big Catch

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)