Saturday, August 28, 2010
A Moment of Mommy Genius
I turned his oatmeal green (in the same bowl, while he was watching). Now, it is "candy", as Ethan signed, and he is shoveling it down with spoons and bare hands. And in the time it has taken me to write this, the whole bowl is almost gone.
So, that, plus the fact that today is the last day of my 12 week fitness challenge and 12 week half marathon training (I ran 13.5 miles this morning) makes me quite happy and proud!
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
3 Trips to LA/5 Year Anniversary
While my brother and sister were visiting, we decided to head out to LA and visit my grandpa. He had been battling with lung cancer, which had spread to his brain, and he really wanted to see all of us. As I've mentioned before, we loaded up a 12 passenger van with 6 adults, 4 kids (3 and younger) and a dog, and drove to LA.
Ethan has already learned to LOVE Uncle Jimmy.
On the way home we got stuck for several hours because a semi had tipped over across the freeway and spilled containers of pest control all over the road. My fitness challenge requires 30min of exercise/day, so I hopped out and did some running/walking along the freeway. I borrowed the shoes I had just given Lisa, but didn't have socks, not a great idea. My heels took weeks to heal and still show the scars.
My sister got some great pictures of the family while we were there. Here is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa with two of their children and families.
About a week after this visit, Grandpa passed away. Rest in peace Grandpa.
Ethan and I then drove out to LA with my Mom and Gary to attend Grandpa's memorial service.
While there we got to see Grandpa Joe and Grandma Dianne (my dad and stepmom).
The Vegas Knights, a motor cycle club came out for Grandpa's memorial. He helped raise many of them, so it was great that they came out to honor him and Grandma. Ethan is actually posing there, not just caught in a weird stance.
Here everyone is looking at the line of motorcycles in front of "the lodge" (both of my grandparents have been officers at this Moose Lodge and we grew up attending events here). The bikers were really nice to Ethan and let him sit on the bikes and feel the engines start up. Those pictures are on my mom's camera though (I'd love a copy mom). Ethan was exhausted at this point and would only go to sleep with the help of Uncle Jimmy. :)
Ethan slept with me at least part of each night in the hotel and loved it.
He also learned how to hold Katie's leash.
I love these pictures of Ethan and Grandpa when we went out last year, shortly after his diagnosis.
Pokey face!
5th Anniversary
I guess this kind of deserves its own post, but I'll lump it in with LA.
On our anniversary, Mike took me out to Buca di Beppo's. I've been wanting to try it, which was nice of him to remember. Thanks for babysitting, Mom.
We had the hardest time getting a normal looking picture of Mike, weird. Here are a few attempts I couldn't decide between.
Then, Friday morning we drove to LA again! We decided to visit Mike's sister for an anniversary trip.
I was determined to take pictures, and started out pretty well.
Here is Ethan playing with his cousin Christian and a Thomas the Train set! He woke up and fell asleep saying, "choo choo" absolutely in love with this set. (Guess what we purchased from someone on Craigslist this morning for Ethan's birthday?)
Friday afternoon we headed to the beach--Ethan's first time! On the way over, Rachelle (Mike's sister) told us it was only 68 degrees. "The water?" Mike asked. Silly Phoenicians. It was 68 degrees outside and windy, and the water was WAY colder. But we had fun anyway.
Ethan loved the life guard station.
And the water! He ran in and out over and over.
When he got sufficiently chilled, we changed him into dry clothes, and he and Christian played in the sand, for hours.
I'm wondering if Ethan was taking that from Christian, because it looks like he's sharing, which he wasn't very good at this weekend. Although, maybe he was willing to share trucks, just not the trains.
Mike and I played Frisbee for awhile, although, it was largely a game of fetch due to the wind and my rusty Frisbee skills. I ran for everyone though, even when fetching, and got my exercise in for the day!
By then we were warmed up enough to give the water a try. Oh. my. goodness. it was cold! Hard to breathe cold, but then our skin went numb and we had a great time body surfing. We actually caught some waves! And then Mike grabbed a boogie board and rode some waves on it.
Christian, Rachelle, Lexi, Emmalee, Me, Mike, Ethan
We brought wood for a bonfire, but decided we'd rather go sit in a hot tub, so we headed back to Rachelle's neighborhood pool.
Saturday, Rachelle, Lexi, and Michael (one of our nephews who was at football practice instead of the beach) were nice enough to watch Ethan so we could have a free day.
We went and walked around UCLA (where my parents attended college).
Then, this is where the pictures stop, unfortunately, we went out to sushi with Rachelle and Tim-yum! I really like sushi, but had never convinced Mike to try it. He now approves! Then Tim and Rachelle treated us to massages at a spa place near them! What a fun anniversary weekend they planned for us!!! Thanks!
Sunday we all attended church, had an awesome dinner, and made the drive back to Phoenix.
That sums up our travel for the summer. It's great living within driving distance of so much family! And we really appreciate all of our wonderful hosts!
Next stop: Rochester, NY
Ethan has already learned to LOVE Uncle Jimmy.
On the way home we got stuck for several hours because a semi had tipped over across the freeway and spilled containers of pest control all over the road. My fitness challenge requires 30min of exercise/day, so I hopped out and did some running/walking along the freeway. I borrowed the shoes I had just given Lisa, but didn't have socks, not a great idea. My heels took weeks to heal and still show the scars.
My sister got some great pictures of the family while we were there. Here is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa with two of their children and families.
About a week after this visit, Grandpa passed away. Rest in peace Grandpa.
Ethan and I then drove out to LA with my Mom and Gary to attend Grandpa's memorial service.
While there we got to see Grandpa Joe and Grandma Dianne (my dad and stepmom).
The Vegas Knights, a motor cycle club came out for Grandpa's memorial. He helped raise many of them, so it was great that they came out to honor him and Grandma. Ethan is actually posing there, not just caught in a weird stance.
Here everyone is looking at the line of motorcycles in front of "the lodge" (both of my grandparents have been officers at this Moose Lodge and we grew up attending events here). The bikers were really nice to Ethan and let him sit on the bikes and feel the engines start up. Those pictures are on my mom's camera though (I'd love a copy mom). Ethan was exhausted at this point and would only go to sleep with the help of Uncle Jimmy. :)
Ethan slept with me at least part of each night in the hotel and loved it.
He also learned how to hold Katie's leash.
I love these pictures of Ethan and Grandpa when we went out last year, shortly after his diagnosis.
Pokey face!
5th Anniversary
I guess this kind of deserves its own post, but I'll lump it in with LA.
On our anniversary, Mike took me out to Buca di Beppo's. I've been wanting to try it, which was nice of him to remember. Thanks for babysitting, Mom.
We had the hardest time getting a normal looking picture of Mike, weird. Here are a few attempts I couldn't decide between.
Then, Friday morning we drove to LA again! We decided to visit Mike's sister for an anniversary trip.
I was determined to take pictures, and started out pretty well.
Here is Ethan playing with his cousin Christian and a Thomas the Train set! He woke up and fell asleep saying, "choo choo" absolutely in love with this set. (Guess what we purchased from someone on Craigslist this morning for Ethan's birthday?)
Friday afternoon we headed to the beach--Ethan's first time! On the way over, Rachelle (Mike's sister) told us it was only 68 degrees. "The water?" Mike asked. Silly Phoenicians. It was 68 degrees outside and windy, and the water was WAY colder. But we had fun anyway.
Ethan loved the life guard station.
And the water! He ran in and out over and over.
When he got sufficiently chilled, we changed him into dry clothes, and he and Christian played in the sand, for hours.
I'm wondering if Ethan was taking that from Christian, because it looks like he's sharing, which he wasn't very good at this weekend. Although, maybe he was willing to share trucks, just not the trains.
Mike and I played Frisbee for awhile, although, it was largely a game of fetch due to the wind and my rusty Frisbee skills. I ran for everyone though, even when fetching, and got my exercise in for the day!
By then we were warmed up enough to give the water a try. Oh. my. goodness. it was cold! Hard to breathe cold, but then our skin went numb and we had a great time body surfing. We actually caught some waves! And then Mike grabbed a boogie board and rode some waves on it.
Christian, Rachelle, Lexi, Emmalee, Me, Mike, Ethan
We brought wood for a bonfire, but decided we'd rather go sit in a hot tub, so we headed back to Rachelle's neighborhood pool.
Saturday, Rachelle, Lexi, and Michael (one of our nephews who was at football practice instead of the beach) were nice enough to watch Ethan so we could have a free day.
We went and walked around UCLA (where my parents attended college).
Then, this is where the pictures stop, unfortunately, we went out to sushi with Rachelle and Tim-yum! I really like sushi, but had never convinced Mike to try it. He now approves! Then Tim and Rachelle treated us to massages at a spa place near them! What a fun anniversary weekend they planned for us!!! Thanks!
Sunday we all attended church, had an awesome dinner, and made the drive back to Phoenix.
That sums up our travel for the summer. It's great living within driving distance of so much family! And we really appreciate all of our wonderful hosts!
Next stop: Rochester, NY
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Starting Early
I was planning on waiting until the first game of the year to break out Ethan's jersey for this season, but couldn't help myself. He's bound to be a BYU fan, at least early in life.
2008 season
2009 season:
2010 pre-season:
Go Cougs!
Disclaimer: I have already started planning ways to counteract my school spirit and make sure Ethan learns about lots of colleges and feels free to go anywhere he chooses. :)
2008 season
2009 season:
2010 pre-season:
Go Cougs!
Disclaimer: I have already started planning ways to counteract my school spirit and make sure Ethan learns about lots of colleges and feels free to go anywhere he chooses. :)
Utah
We took two trips to Utah this summer. I'm sure some of these were posted at the time, but here's a quick summary.
Over Memorial Day we went to St. George to look at houses with Mike's mom. We love driving by the Hoover Dam and marveling at the existing structure and the one under construction.
Ethan signing "balloon" at a St. George shopping center.
Thank goodness for a DVD player in the car with all this driving!
Then at the end of July we went to Orem for a week and a half to help move Jil down to St. George and attend our nephew's mission farewell.
Ethan has awesome cousins that keep him entertained and include him in all the fun.
Ethan played in the dirt the whole time we were loading the moving truck.
Ethan saw Grandma cleaning the floor and decided to help. Soon after taking this I realized where this was headed, ran to Ethan, and got to him right after he sprayed himself in the face with Windex. I rushed him to the sink and rinsed his face over and over and over while he screamed. Jil said he sprayed himself on the nose, so I put him down to see how he felt. He said, "choo choo" and went back to get his train. Apparently the reason he was screaming was because I took him from his train, not the chemicals in his face.
All week Ethan hung out in the family room playing with the train sets we found and/or watching train cartoons. It was great that he was so independent so we could pack.
Every time the neighbor's sprinklers came on the water would collect here and Ethan took advantage of it!
Trains!
Another fun cousin-Valerie was so cute playing with Ethan. They finished eating before the rest of the family and decided to go play in a booth by themselves. They watched the cars and played with Ethan's trains.
Over Memorial Day we went to St. George to look at houses with Mike's mom. We love driving by the Hoover Dam and marveling at the existing structure and the one under construction.
Ethan signing "balloon" at a St. George shopping center.
Thank goodness for a DVD player in the car with all this driving!
Then at the end of July we went to Orem for a week and a half to help move Jil down to St. George and attend our nephew's mission farewell.
Ethan has awesome cousins that keep him entertained and include him in all the fun.
Ethan played in the dirt the whole time we were loading the moving truck.
Ethan saw Grandma cleaning the floor and decided to help. Soon after taking this I realized where this was headed, ran to Ethan, and got to him right after he sprayed himself in the face with Windex. I rushed him to the sink and rinsed his face over and over and over while he screamed. Jil said he sprayed himself on the nose, so I put him down to see how he felt. He said, "choo choo" and went back to get his train. Apparently the reason he was screaming was because I took him from his train, not the chemicals in his face.
All week Ethan hung out in the family room playing with the train sets we found and/or watching train cartoons. It was great that he was so independent so we could pack.
Every time the neighbor's sprinklers came on the water would collect here and Ethan took advantage of it!
Trains!
Another fun cousin-Valerie was so cute playing with Ethan. They finished eating before the rest of the family and decided to go play in a booth by themselves. They watched the cars and played with Ethan's trains.
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