Ethan's 3rd Birthday Family Party

Ethan's family birthday party was held on June 28, 2008. This day my sisters also scheduled a tea time at the Grand America hotel for all the girls in the family, so Matt was left preparing for the party. Did I ever mention I have the greatest husband in the world, because if I have failed to mention it that would be a gross oversight. I don't know many men who would spend the whole day buying party supplies and working off of a huge list their wives make for them while their wife is out at a tea time, a few hours before a big event she should be helping with. But my sweetheart never complained and bought all the goodies, including like 20 ballons that Ethan wanted and Matt couldn't bare to say no to. One of the balloons was a 3 foot wide Lightening McQueen ballon (of which is Ethan's favorite thing in the whole world). Not to mention he still had to come home and make a cake from scratch that would look like Mickey Mouse. Well I think he did a fantastic job and here he is decorating it and making the perfect cake for our Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme.

Pretty good job, don't you think! The kids all thought it was the coolest cake ever and I have to agree that Matt did a great job. Thanks honey!

Here is the table setup.

We had a swim party, as if you couldn't tell, with 3 pools and then played 3 games with the help of toodles. On toodles we had markers, bubbles, and balls and we needed to figure out, how we could use these items to play our games. We did an art contest, each child drawing a picture of Mickey, a ball throwing contest, and a bubble game. It was a lot of fun and the kids were all wonderful.

Here is Ethan with some of his girl cousins, Macy, Megan, and Hallie.

Ethan getting ready to blow out his candles, fully equiped with Mickey Mouse ears for all.

Ethan's cousin Kyle lifting him up so he can blow out his candles. Make a good wish!

Something Matt and I aren't very good at is letting Ethan feed himself. If it's messy you can bet that we are trying to help him out. Well because of our failure to teach our child to eat well he does not like messy hands or a messy face. As you can see in this picture he is really checking out the frosting all over his hands and shortly after the evaluation of the situation we were right by his side cleaning him up at his request.

All the kids at the party-In order Abby, Macy, Ethan, Megan, Carter, Bryson, Trevor, Parker, Kyle, and Britton. Kevin, Tyler, Jake, and Ellie were there too, but just not in the picture.

What kind of a kids party would it be unless the other children were helping open up the presents as well.

Here is Ethan opening one of his favorite gifts that night, which was a bubble blowing lawn mower...I don't know why but he thinks this is the greatest thing in the whole world. I think he just wanted something like daddy has, but he loves it!

Here is Ethan giving thank you hugs, starting with Grandma McCormack for the gifts that night. Everyone was so generous and thoughtful and we really appreciate everything that Ethan received that night and for all the support you give to him. Happy 3rd Birthday, sweetheart!

I love to swim!

Well if Ethan had his way we would swim all day every day. The temperature doesn't matter and never has. When he was about 6 months old we put him in the water and thought he wouldn't like it because it was too cold, but that made no difference to him. Here he is loving the freezing water (of which Matt tried to warm up by heating 4 pans of water on the stove and pouring them in the pool...it didn't really help, but that's how cute of a dad he is)

Here is Ethan singing at the top of his lungs (song was made up) and holding all of his toys, not wanting any of them to feel left out of the play time...

Okay this has to be one of my favorite new things that Ethan does, he sits and pretends he is riding a horse and it starts out with, (in a very quiet voice) ride a horse like a lady, (a little bit of a louder voice with trotting accompanying it) ride a horse like a gentleman, (then at the top of his lungs with his right arm swinging in the air) ride a horse like a cowboy, woowho!

This is Ethan right before he took a fall in the pool...

I love summer and spending time outside and enjoying watching Ethan learn, grow, and discover. Every sound is exciting to him. Every truck, airplane, or train sound is new and intriguing. He loves to help me in whatever I am doing whether it is weeding, getting the mail, or sitting next to me telling me about his day. I really think this time of his life is the most fun and I wish time would slow down and keep him young forever. I love being his mom.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day honey! If there is anything I am sure of in my life, it was my decision to marry my husband, Matt. There is not a better dad or husband in all the world. He loves his family and it shows. After coming home from a long day at work, he walks through the door and gives me a big kiss and then within minutes is laying on the floor playing cars with Ethan. He puts Ethan to bed every night and reads books and sings from the hymn book to him. He never gets tired of the role of daddy. I have put a couple of pictures to demonstrate what a cute dad he actually is. You know your a good dad when you mow the lawn with your 3 year old on your shoulders in the dead heat...
When you jump in a kids pool fully clothed just because your little boy wants someone in the pool with him...

When you can hardly wait for the snow to come just so you can go sledding and play in the snow with your family...

Well I just wanted to wish my sweetheart a very happy Father's Day and let him know that he makes our family wonderful. He makes every moment memorable and I couldn't imagine my life without him. I love you, Matthew!

Happy Graduation Matthew!

The big day has finally come and gone and we couldn't be happier. I just had to write a little something about Matt and the amazing job he has done with his degree. He graduated May 2, 2008 from the University of Utah in Mechanical Engineering. I can't tell you how many nights he would stay up all night long studying. Honestly his homework looked like Chinese to me and when he tried to explain things I would just smile and hope I would understand something he was describing or trying to teach me. He worked so hard and I couldn't be more proud of him and everything he has accomplished. With working, church, family, and school, all I can say is he is incredible and I don't know how I found him. Thanks honey, for sticking to it and making a great life for our family...I love you!

Baby girl on her way

Well I am 28 weeks and a few days pregnant, according to my doctor. We are having a little girl and she is looking healthy and strong. Ethan loves to kiss my belly and tell the baby he loves her. He is very interested in the baby and how she got in my belly, I can't imagine what he will wonder about when it is time to deliver.

As for this pregnancy...it is very different than my first. Basically with Ethan I didn't even feel like I was pregnant, this one however, well I guess you might say I am very aware she is here and on her way. The first 16 weeks I was very nauseated and then it just went away, I was feeling great. Then I started having some random pains when I would walk, well those pains have progressively increased in frequency as well as intensity. I went to the doctors on Wednesday and he said it is called "rounded ligament" and happens with many pregnancies, but when it starts affecting your walking then you have to start considering that bed rest is on the way. I am in denial about the whole laying in bed for the next 12 weeks, but I have to admit it is a major chore to walk and even to sit up right. She is also very very low and is currently in the breech position as was Ethan at this stage and never turned around, that is why I ended up having a c-section. I am praying, praying, praying for this child to flip so I don't have to repeat the old c-section...not my favorite experience in life, but with all that is going on I couldn't be happier about the baby and that it is a girl! Thank goodness for an amazing husband and the sweetest child anyone could hope for. It makes everything so much easier when you don't have to feel guilty about what you can't do. So if you see me walking a little slow or waddling a little more than expected, just be kind...this baby wants out and I want her to stay put a little bit longer, like 12 more weeks.

Our life of laughter...

Well the other night I was talking to Matt about starting a blog, but with the laughter and giggles of our sweet little boy made it hard to concentrate...it was then that I decided, that was the name I wanted for our blog, Laughter fills our home, could not be a better description of what happens 90% of the time in our house. I would like to think that I am the one that provokes most of the laughter, but in reality it is Ethan and Matt. It seems I am laughing at one of them most of the time. Ethan's singing to the Beetles (which is the greatest thing you have ever heard), Matt's jokes and wit, what can I say I am lucky and happy. I love the sound of Ethan screaming daddy when he sees Matt's car drive up and we run to the back door and his little feet are moving faster than what they are actually able. He takes a leap and runs and jumps into daddy's arms...and then the laughter begins. We laugh about everything and anything and I couldn't imagine a better life than this!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ethan!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ethan! I could not love a child more than I love my little boy. He is the joy of my life and is such a sweet child. When I first got pregnant I couldn't have ever imagined that I would love being a mother as much as I do. Every year of his development is more enjoyable and I always think I love his current stage of life and then he grows and learns more life experiences and I am more in love with the current stage than the last. When Matt blessed Ethan he blessed him that we would be sweet and that is the best word to describe him. He is very sensitive and extremely kind. I just feel so blessed and honored to be his mother and I hope he had a very happy 3rd birthday! Here are some of the pictures of him opening his presents and I did include one of Ethan and I (even though I am 8 months pregnant, and not looking the greatest of my life...but I figure one day I might wonder what I looked like when my children were young) Here is Ethan with his hungry hippos, remote control bus, and one of those toys that I don't even know what it is called, but Ethan wanted it so bad. You can put your hand on it and it will keep the shape, anyways Ethan thought this was the greatest thing since sliced pie.

Here is Ethan learning the art of cheating at Hungry Hippo. He didn't want to push the lever to open the mouth of the hippo, he just wanted to open the hippo's mouth and push all the marbles in. I think it might take awhile to get a hang of this one.

A child could not love cars more than Ethan. When he opened this bus he was so excited he could hardly contain himself. When he realized that it was a remote control bus, his joy was overflowing.

This is Ethan on the morning of his birthay with his cousins, Britton, Bryson, Parker, Abby, and his Aunt Lisa. We were on the way to go get Ethan birthday donuts and his cousins came running out of their house with pictures they had drawn for Ethan and we invited them to come along for the fun. It was a great day and he thought donuts were pretty great!

Well happy birthday sweetheart! We love you and you make Mommy and Daddy so proud to say we are your parents. We hope you had a very happy day!