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/

Eight Years

So Dirk and I have been married for 8 years today!  It doesn't seem possible.  It has been a great 8 years filled with lots of blessings including 2 beautiful boys!  I look forward to many more.  Happy Anniversary, Dirk!

From the mouth of a 3 year old...

Ethan says the cutest, funniest things that I think are worth writing down!  Here are a few of the most recent.

Me:  Sorry, we are out of milk.
Ethan: Ok, I will have chocolate water.

He jumps off the couch (at Nana's) onto pillows and says, "WOW. Did you see that? That was Ahh-mazing!"

Passing the donut shop. "I love donuts and donuts LOVE me!"

This happened a while ago but it's a good one.
Ethan: "Shut-up!" (Just to the air.)
Me:  "We don't say shut-up. It's not nice."
Ethan: "How about hush?  Can I say hush then?"

He squats down close to the ground close to a bug: "Hey there little buddy."

To Presley: "You are such a good boy, P!"

Hitting the iPad: "Come on iPad, work!  Ugghhh!"

Last night, I was singing "Jesus Loves me" to him at bedtime and then said, "Ethan, Jesus does love you and so does Mommy and Daddy."  Without hesitation he says, "I know.  So does Nana, Papa, Uncle 'J', and Sammy (Uncle J's dog).  They love me too!"

I love our conversations!