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!

Summertime In The Backyard!

Abby and Alex came up to hang out work/help us prepare for Ethan's birthday party.  They were awesome help and I don't think we could have gotten everything done without them!  Thanks SOOOO much guys!  We did find some time to play too though.  At the end of the summer last year, I got a octopus thingy to put on a hose for some sprinkler fun.  We got it out on Saturday night to give it a try...it failed!  It sprayed barely 2 feet in the air, but that didn't stop us.  We decided to get out the blow-up pool and have some fun.

"It's Cold!"

Ethan and Alex

Water Slide!!

Splash!

This is in no way photoshopped or posed!  it's just a great action shot of Alex and the water slide :).

Aunt Abby and Nora just swinging

7 Months

Nora D was 7 months old yesterday.  She is growing like crazy and so much fun.  She really is a great baby and such a joy to be with everyday!

She has 2 teeth on the bottom.
She sits great, but not moving yet.  She would like to, and leans over to reach things.
She's pretty much ticklish everywhere.
She LOVES to watch her brother.  He can make her smile and laugh almost every time he looks at her.
She nurses 4 times a day, has cereal and smashed bananas for breakfast and a vegetable for dinner.  Her favorite snack are mum mums.  She gets really excited about those things!
She weighs 17.5 lbs.

Fun Day With Abby

Abby came up on Thursday to hang out and to let us meet her adorable puppy, Moose.  We had a fun day that included a MickeyD's picnic lunch, a trip to the zoo, golf in the backyard and we topped it off with a tropical snow snack!

Abby and Nora ready for a train ride

Ethan was ready too!

The train didn't work :(...so we opted for a carousel ride instead!

Ethan and the baby goat

Checking out the goats

Moose and Max playing in the backyard!

Fun and Games

We got out the dominoes the other day and Ethan has fun making trains and matching the colors/numbers.  But this time he decided to build something.  I looked over at him, and this was what he was doing...all by himself.  I have to say, I was pretty impressed.  I think we may have an engineer on our hands.  

Here are a few of my favorite people, just hanging out in the front yard!

Practicing with the BIG club

Golfing with Daddy

I LOVE this one!

Grads & Moms

Happy Graduation to my lovely sister, Abby!  She graduated yesterday from SIU-C with her bachelors degree in dental hygiene.  I know from experience that this is not an easy program and I'm so proud of her!  We went to Salem this morning to celebrate with a graduation cook-out.  Good food, good company and a good time!

Officially a college graduate!

Some party-goers

Jared & Dustin playing some Bocce Ball and a happy Abby

2 SIU DH Grads!  (7 years apart)

Along with the graduation party, it was nice to be with our moms on Mother's Day.  Happy Mother's Day!  We are, both, so lucky to have these women in our lives.  Thanks for all you do, we love you!

My Mama with 50% of her children

Jared and his brother, Dustin with their Mom

Me and my babies on Mother's Day!  I'm so blessed!!