20 questions with Ethan 2014

I asked Ethan these same 20 questions last year. Find last year's answers here.  Some things stayed the same and some changed.  He was much more grown up and excited about the interview this year.  I do think we need to do it without any distractions.  He rarely eats oranges but saw one sitting in the fruit basket and that's his favorite fruit.  Same thing with swings!  But that's ok, it's all part of the fun.

1.  What is your favorite fruit?   Oranges
2.  What is your favorite toy?   Boot men and Chuck
3.  What is your favorite movie? Curious George
4.  What is your favorite color?  Red and brown
5.  What do you like to take to bed with you? My dragon: Teddy Bears
6.  What is your favorite thing to wear?  Jammies
7.  What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
8.  Who is your best friend? Lex from church and Ryan from school
9.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  Fireman and after I put out the fires, I will go home and change and be a policeman and take bad guys to jail
10. What is your favorite TV show? Batman
11. What is your favorite animal? Zebras and lions and tigers and bears but not cheetahs or giraffes
12. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Swing
13. What is your favorite Breakfast? Breakfast burritos
14. What is your favorite book?  George on the Go
15. What is your favorite drink? Juice, Apple juice
16. What is your favorite game? Freeze tag
17. What is your favorite snack? Gummies
18. What is your favorite Lunch? Sandwich
19. What is your favorite Dinner? Chicken Sandwich and Shrimp
20. What is your favorite song? Jingle Bells

Happy 4th Birthday Ethan

Ethan turned 4 years old on March 9th.  As Dirk and I were preparing for his party, closely watching the clock to make sure everything was set and ready to go, we realized it was a very similar timeline to his birth!  As we cut up vegetables, Dirk said, "I think you were calling me to hurry back to the delivery room right about now!"  That was an amazing day.  I can't believe my little baby is already 4.  He is such an incredible little dude.  He has developed his own funny, cute, charming personality.  I love throwing special parties for my boys.  I think birthdays are so fun and I want them to know how much we love and cherish each and everyday with them.

This year we had an Olympic theme party.  We thought the timing was just right since we just finished the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi. We had so much fun and for the 1st time in 4 years the weather was perfect.  Here are a few (a lot actually) pics of the special day!

Olympic ring cupcakes, popcorn torches and party favors

Party favors!

Refuel Station

One of several Olympic events

Me and my ladies!  I love them so much!

DJ and Allison and baby Noah

Em and Izzy

Daniel and Dirk

Finally the birthday boy!  He was hard to photo!

Ms. Ava

Jonathan

There he is!

Jack loves his sweets!

Ethan's best bud~Lex

What did you get?  Do you think we look alike?

Lex and Ethan

Coley and Nathan

Caleb

Even though there are a ton of pictures, I missed a lot!  We had a ton of family come, several kiddos that I missed getting pics of and a party family pic.  I think I will go back to hiring a photog for all parties so I don't miss anything!  This time flies and I want to celebrate and remember every moment!  Thank you to everyone who came, each of you are so special to us and Thank you mostly for loving our little man!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Rockin in my school shoes!

Ethan started preschool this past week.  I am so proud of him.  He has been rockin school like Pete the Cat (his books are awesome!).  On Tuesday, he walked in and then started to back up but a gentle push to find his cubby hole and bag hook was all he needed.  He hung his bag up and then walked straight to the train set without saying good bye!  I wanted to run and squeeze him but I refrained.  I didn't want to mess him up.  Then on Thursday, Nana took him, she parked her car and Ethan began to protest, "I want to be dropped off."  So she backed up and pulled into the carpool lane. He hopped out and ran in!  It is so good that he wants to do that; however, it tugs at my heart because he is growing into such a little man!  We are so incredibly blessed! Here are some pics from our first day!  By the way, I did very well and did not cry.

Jack had to join in!  Ethan is so good to him!

He was so excited!!!

Summer time!

This Summer has flown by! It is already September and Ethan started preschool last week. Another post on that soon. I just wanted to update with a few pictures from the summer. We have been busy but it has been oh so fun!

Visit to the Perot museum!

Brotherly love

Posing with the dinos!

Zoo with friends!

Wendi, Jessica and Ava

The Kiddos {impossible to get them all looking at the camera!}

We did so many fun things this summer including lots of boat and lake time, cooking out with friends and family, birthday parties, and swimming!  I only have pictures of this stuff. :(  I think I should check my phone.  I am sad to see summer go but looking forward to all fall brings-cooler weather, pumpkin everything, MOPS, and the Holidays!

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Jack!

Wow. I cannot believe my little red head is 18 months old today!  Happy 1/2 birthday, Jack David!  You are such a blessing to our entire family.  You are the sweetest, happiest, and most loving 18 month old.  You wake up happy, with a smile on your face.  You LOVE to eat but you definitely know how you LIKE your food.  Just last week, you got mad at me because I cut your biscuit in half.  I don't do that anymore!  You love your brother so much, so much you like to take his toys and run.  Some days he is more patient than others.  You are trying so hard to talk to us.  You have lots of babbles but you definitely have some words you can say!  A few of your favorites are Mama, Daddy, Nana, light, back pack, Jack, bye-bye, and down.  On Mother's day, you fell down and Uncle J said, "Jack down!"  and without hesitation, you said Jack down and fell to the ground!  Now, you say it when you are done eating and want to get out of your high chair. 

My sweet boy, I look forward to watching you grow.  I love you so much.

Jack at Great Wolf Lodge, pointing to the water park!

Maybe I do want a strong willed child?!

We are still in the toddler/preschool days so I am not sure I have a strong willed child, yet.  Ethan was a very rambunctious toddler who was very busy, but I think he has a great deal of curiosity.  Jack has shown over the last few weeks that he has a temper.  He threw a major fit over the weekend, Dirk and I were kind of in shock.  We had not seen this side of him before.  He was literally throwing himself on the floor and kicking his feet.  We just let him scream in a safe environment and then he was over it as quickly as it started!  I found this article and I wanted to post it here in case we need it for reference.  It is a great article with excellent advice (in my humble opinion).  I love this: Morality is doing what's right, no matter what you're told.  Obedience is doing what you are told, no matter what's right.  So here is the article: Aha! Parenting I found it at a new blog I follow. http://www.thejoysofboys.com/