Party in Salem

We spent this past weekend in Salem, hanging out with family and celebrating 3 birthdays!  We decided to have a joint birthday party for Ethan (4) and his cousins, Haley (5) and Paige (7).  It was a great time and I'll just let the pictures do the talking :).

Some of the party-goers and lunch

The Birthday kids with their pile of presents!

Ethan (with Grandpa, Daddy, and Nora in the background)

Haley

Paige

Each Birthday Kid had helpers when opening!

It was cute with all the boys around Ethan!

Finley and Haley

Paige seems so gown up!

A lot of the kids tackling Alex

Tyler and Nora- he's such a good big cousin!

Sweet Nora (not sure what's going on with her shorts)

We had mini chocolate cupcakes and ice cream cake!  YUM!

Cupcake and candle time.  It's tough being 4 and 5...check out the pouts going on.  Paige is happy though!!

On a different note...one of my best friends is having a baby and her shower was this weekend.  My mom and I went, it was so great to see her!  Can't wait to meet Baby Boy Doyle!

Jennifer and I at her shower

4 Years

Today is Ethan's 4th Birthday.
He is a fun, full of energy, sweet boy.
He loves golf, baseball (or sports of any kind), playing outside, Legos, chocolate ice cream, 7am (he's not allowed to watch TV before), spaghetti, his sister (lots of aggressive hugs) and countless other things!
He has grown 2 1/8 inches since his 3rd Birthday, excelled during his first year of preschool, and blessed our family beyond our imagination!

Newborn Ethan :)

We love you Ethan James and can't wait to see what God has in store for your future!

More pictures to come of birthday festivities!


Today, is also our 8th Wedding Anniversary.  Jared and I are ready for the next 80!

Here we are as babies- 8 years ago.  Love you!!

Photo Friday...Week 36

These pictures are a few months old, and I know, I'm not in them.  But this is a usual occurrence when the dishwasher opens.  We have helpful children :).

Washing Dishes Together

 I'll try to have Jared grab the camera next time, so I can be in the photo too!

Babies...

The infant seat has been in Jared's truck for way too long.  We just brought it in, and you would think it was a best-selling toy!  They thought it was great.

Big babies :)!

Last Day...

Today was Ethan's last day of school and to celebrate, we had a field trip to the zoo.  It was perfect weather (except for a few sprinkles) and we were the only ones there for most of our visit.  As we were leaving, 4 or 5 buses were arriving.  Glad we went early!  Nora tagged along and we all had fun.  Ethan has been looking forward to going to the zoo with his friends from school for a while now, so I'm glad it wasn't rained out!
If you remember Ethan's 1st day of school, we used the same chalkboard for his last day.  I asked him again, what he wanted to be when he grew up, and it was a different answer.  And, he wanted to write it down on the chalkboard this time.

1st Day of Pre-K and Last Day!  He has grown and changed so much.  And now he wants to be  a Police Man :)

Always wanting to make funny faces!

Ready to head to the zoo!

Ethan, not wanting to stand with the rest of his class.

Flamingo boy, Ethan.

Jaxson and Ethan checking out the prairie dogs.

Nora and Ethan watching (and listening) to the roosters

Still loves the goats.  She called them puppies the whole time :)

Jaxson and Ethan riding the carousel

After we finished at the zoo, we all went to play for a bit on the playground.  Such a fun morning!

She was always too busy to look at me...

Swinging girl!

Ethan and his friend Braylon swinging

It has been a great school year and we are looking forward to next year.  Most of his classmates will be back and so will Mrs. McDevitt (who had her baby girl this weekend)!

Photo Friday...Week 35

I guess, it's actually a Photo Saturday.  Better late than never, right?!?

You and Your Child, Nose to Nose

And, now, she's pointing at my nose

 Not sure what is going on with our faces here.  Oh well, she's cute :).

Instagram...

I've been instagram-ing a lot lately.  Don't forget to click the icon to the right to see what we've been up to.  Instagram is faster than blogging :).

Preschool Cuteness!

Ethan's spring program for school was last night.  His class sang 2 songs and then joined the 4's class for a joint Happy Mother's Day song.  It was so good, and Ethan did great!  He wasn't the yeller or the dancer, but he knew the words and actions, and did them all.  It was adorable!  My pictures aren't great, but they will give you the idea.

Ethan's Whole Class (check out that tutu!)

Cute, smiley boy!

Action shot

Nora was busy in the pew...but she did well too  :)

Here's a snippet of one of the songs they sang.  In the very beginning, they are pretending to be bacon sizzling in the pan.


We are so happy with Ethan's teacher this year.  Last week, was Mrs. McDevitt's last week for this year, as she is taking maternity leave.  But she will be back next year.  Ethan loves her and finally let me take a picture with her.

Ethan and Mrs. McDevitt

Mother's Day 2013

It's been a nice day around here today.  I feel so blessed and happy to call myself a mother to our kids.  There are good days, there are not so good days. There are days with lots of laughing and then there are the tear-filled days.  Everyday, I learn a little more about myself.  And sometimes, what I learn, doesn't excite me.  But I am striving to be more patient and grace giving to my children.  We have been given so much grace, and I try to remind myself of that daily when there are tantrums and disobedience.  I love my kids to pieces and look forward to watching them and helping them grow.  (Just not too quickly!)

I am learning that my mother must have the patience of a saint!  And I am so thankful for her and the example she has given me.  I can only hope that I am doing this mothering thing half as well as her!  Thank you, Mom, for your example, for your guidance, for your love and for encouraging me over the last 30 years.  Especially during this last 4 years or so of my life!

And to Jared's mom, Karen.  Thank you for welcoming me into your lives and family, so many years ago!  Thank you for the mother that you are to Jared and the example you have been for him.  He is lucky to call you Mom!

You are both wonderful grandmas and our kids are the luckiest around!  THANK YOU!

Now on to what you all want...pictures :).

Me and my babies (this was the best of the bunch!)

Ethan being his sweet self

His Mother's Day flower for me, from his school program

 Karen and Dustin came up for the afternoon and to go to Ethan's school program.  Couldn't let them leave without a Mother's Day picture for her :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Picture taking today, wasn't all smiles...this is one of the 'better' out takes :)

Happy Mother's Day!