Children's Musuem

We decided (this morning) to take an impromptu trip to the Bloomington Children's Museum. We have never been there and been taking about going for a while now. What better time, than a rainy Saturday?!? I forgot my camera, so my phone had to do.

They loved the water area...





Building a giant marble run.





Success!!


Tractor driving


Milking cows


Playing a little foot music.


Afterwards, we met up with a good friend from high school and his family, Matt. It was a great visit and a great day!

Photo Friday...Week 37

We had fun with this week's pictures!

Dancing with Your Children

1 More Birthday Post :)

I realized that I haven't shared the pictures from Ethan's birthday day with just the 4 of us.  Jared took the day off, and we had a wonderful day.  We started the morning off with donuts!

And if you remember from last year, we put the birthday presents under his bed and before he can get one, he gets bday swats :).  We all got a turn!

One of his presents from us was a 'construction set' (that's what he calls it, and I don't have a better name for it!)  He has enjoyed being creative with the pieces, but it has instructions for a fort and a few other things.

Here he is, in his boat :)

It's Fun to be 4!! Happy Birthday Ethan  James!

We were hoping to go to the pool all together, but the weather didn't cooperate, so we substituted with a trip to the children's museum and Culvers.

Playing with the trains

Bday Ice cream from Culvers, complete with a candle!

Tonight, we got together with our old neighborhood to celebrate Ethan and Braden.  They have been friends since they met in the hospital (born 2 days apart).  It's always a good time when we get together.  We met for dinner at a local pizza restaurant and conveniently had the whole back room to ourselves!

Silly Boys

Ed and Ruth came too.  Ruth and Nora had a great time.  They brought a present for her too!

Playing with the baby

Pool Day

We made our first trip to the pool this summer. Public pools aren't common, in our area. So, this year, we bit the bullet, and bought a membership to a pool that is nearby. It helps that several of our friends have memberships and kids that ours love to play with. Ethan and Nora had a blast. We stayed for about 2 1/2 hours, packed a lunch and had all the splashing fun you could imagine. We spent the whole time in the 2 foot, fenced baby pool, but Ethan didn't mind. I'm looking forward to our summer being filled with pool days!
This is the best I could get of them together.




Water cannon fights with the boys.




Nora loved walking around and splashing.




Ethan with his friends, Brennan and Soren.




Silly girl with the goggles.

The Rest of the Weekend...

It is always so much fun when the whole family gets together.  There are a lot of kids and chaos, but still fun! Here are some pictures from the rest of the weekend.

Catchers view.  Ethan and Daddy baseball game.
(Photo courtesy of the talented Stephen S. Puricelli)

Haley, Paige, Finley and Uncle Mike going for a ride on the golf cart!

Bike riding Haley

The boys turn!  Josiah, Ethan, Scout and Uncle Mike

Scout man playing baseball

This is a common ending to the day at Grandma and Pop's house.

"Don't Wake Daddy" with Josiah, Paige and Pop

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!!