Ethan is 8. Now What?

So Ethan is 8. Along with this big number comes many fun activities!

How about have a Transformers 2 party and invite all your immediate family and still end up with 35 guests!!

Ethan LOVED having all of his local grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (and his cousins from Arizona TOO! Woo hoo!) over for cake and ice cream and pinata fun.

I found out something new about pinatas. You know those cute ribbons hanging down from the bottom? Well, I guess hitting a pinata is too violent, so the ribbons are designed for kids to pull on and then one lucky person pulls the ribbon that sends all the goodies flying.

We chose the violent option. Come on people!!!!

Everyone took their turn whacking the Tank shaped pinata and then Ethan finished it off! We are so violent! But what fun!!!

A special thanks to everyone who came to celebrate Ethan's birthday. We love you!!

After turning 8, another great thing happens. You get to go to Cub Scouts! Ethan has been talking about going to scouts for a while now. He was so excited to go to his first den meeting. At his first pack meeting, they sang Happy Birthday (Cub Scout style, which is just yelling and screaming) and he got to be in his first skit. He LOVED every minute of it. He is looking forward to going to Cub Country with Spencer in July. I am looking forward to earning yet another Bobcat and Wolf this year, along with my Webelos and Religious Knot. Did I say me? Oh, I mean Spencer and Ethan.

And now the greatest part about turning 8; being able to be baptized. Ethan was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on June 27th. It was an AWESOME day.

I asked Ethan immediately following the baptism how it felt and he said, "Mom, it felt really, really good." He was beaming the entire day. We're so proud of Ethan! And a HUGE thanks to all the family and friends who came to support Ethan. Ethan chose the entire program and selected his two Grandma's to give talks; his Aunt Larena to sing a solo; his cousins to sing I am a Child of God; and Uncle Joe and Aunt Brittany to give prayers. Everyone brought TONS of great food for our huge lunch after, so a big thanks! Ethan's Aunt Jaclyn and cousin Abby even made a special trip from Wyoming just to attend. What awesome family and friends we have...thanks!!!

Speaking of Abby...she, Avery and Sadie were so cute at the lunch. Here they are in all their cuteness.

Sadie thought it would be fun to give the little girls wagon rides. SOOOO cute.

After a HUGE lunch, we cleaned up, had a 20 minute power nap, and then it was off to the next big event...that only happens when you turn 8. It's tradition at our house that the day of your baptism you get to dress up and go with Mom and Dad to the Garden Restaurant on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Even if you just order fries and a hot dog, it's still really fun.

The view of the temple is unbeatable. Ethan LOVED every minute of the experience.
After eating, we headed downstairs to tour more of the JSMB. We got to go in the "President's Room". This is where oil paintings of every prophet are hanging on the walls. Ethan loved going around the room and reciting all the prophets.

We also got to see an original picture of what the ballroom looked like before they made it into a chapel.

Ethan liked sitting in the super huge chair and making his mom happy by posing for a few pictures. I can always count on Ethan to pose for the camera!

Matt also realized that 165 years earlier on this exact day, marked the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. Another neat reason to be visiting the Joseph Smith Memorial Building today!

After touring the building, we headed outside for some photos on Temple Square.

And then it started to get late, so we headed home. The sunset was amazing. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Happy "Fodders" Day

Today Sadie came up to me and with urgency in her voice said, "Mom! I need to make a card for Daddy! It's for Fodder's Day!" I got her a paper and crayons and she made Matt a cute little card. The second she finished, she rushed up to him and showed him her card. Then she insisted on taking a picture of him holding up his card. I gave her the camera. She then told Matt, "Ok, Daddy, stand right there...no, no, no..like this. That's good. Now hold the paper up. Ok, that's good. Ok now say Fodder's Day! Smile Daddy and say Happy Fodder's Day!" Not bad for a 3 year old, eh?

Wanted to wish all the fathers out there a very Happy Father's Day. Found this cool video. The church just keeps coming up with these awesome videos! Enjoy and Happy Fodders Day!!

How does this happen?

How does this...

So quickly turn into this?

Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday when on this day EIGHT years ago, Matt and I hopped in the car and headed for the hospital awaiting our second sons' arrival. It was my due date and I REFUSED to go past the date, so my Dr. planned the induction. Well it didn't take much. The Dr. broke my water at 9:20am (I was 1cm) and Ethan was born at 10:40am. Yes, all NINE POUNDS THREE OUNCES of Ethan came VERY quickly. Too quickly for an epidural to take effect. It was to say the least, the worst, most painful delivery EVER. The nurse put Ethan in my arms and the first thought that came to my mind was, "This isn't mine? He's so pasty white and looks like the Michelin man." Yes, Ethan was born with rolls and rolls of baby fat. Along with that fat came the happiest baby you'd ever meet. He was happy enough for a photo shoot at only 3 weeks old.

Ethan was also born on June 15th, his Grandma's 50th birthday and was her 5th grandchild!
Looking back at Ethan's pictures, I didn't see ANY where he wasn't smiling. He was the HAPPIEST baby EVER!



Mr. tubby blue eyes had won us over! What a cutie! Matt so fondly nicknamed him "gordo" the Spanish word for fat. Matt's song for Ethan was to the tune of the primary song My Family History and went something like this....Ethan Isaac, he's are chunky boy, he's Ethan Isaac.

Ethan hardly ever cried, unless of course he was hungry...and that was ALL.THE.TIME. I gave up on nursing when he was about 3 months old. This tub-o-love needed much, much more than his poor mommy could give. After introducing him to formula it was an instant love.

Ethan was the easiest baby...right up until he started to walk...around age 18 months. (yes, he was a late walker...and we were all VERY OK with that!) Then it was like the light switch was flicked ON and he was OFF!! You could not stop this kid! He ran EVERYWHERE! He was always getting into things, whining, crying, throwing fits, and demanding attention. His new nickname quickly became H.M. short for High Maintenance.

He's just so cute though! It was hard to be angry at that blonder than blond hair and big bright blue eyes!!!Once Ethan was about 3, all that baby fat disappeared. And we were left with SKINNY Ethan. So skinny you can see the ribs in his back skinny! I have yet to get a picture of Ethan's disappearing stomach act. Don't worry, I'll get it on camera one of these days! But he can suck in his stomach and he looks like a skeleton! I measured his waist the other day for a new belt. (He was wearing the same belt that he's worn since he was 3 years old and I thought it was time for a new one.) His waist is BARELY 19 inches. Yes, Ethan is our tall, skinny kid.

Don't let his thin physique fool you...he is PACKED with energy and WEIRDNESS TOO. (wonder where he gets that?) Ethan has always been my fun camera poser. He always comes up with the funny poses...here's a few of my faves...

Ethan has also been the child with the most illnesses. Starting off at 9 months old when he was hospitalized for Rotavirus. Poor kid lost 3 pounds in 2 days. Once they could find a vein for some fluids (in his head..so sad!) He recovered quickly. Then it was one ear infection after another...until it was finally time for tubes. Just before his 2nd birthday he had is second hospital visit to get tubes in his ears. This helped A LOT. Ethan still would get lots of colds and was always the first one to come down with any illness in our family. Then last year we took him to the hospital for his 3rd visit to get his tonsils and adenoids out.

Ethan is the best patient ever. The above picture was taken only a few minutes after waking up from surgery. Again, he'll always smile for the camera! Ethan never complained during all of his recovery. He loved having milkshakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since the surgery, Ethan has LOTS more energy (amazing I know) and breathes a lot better at night and while playing sports.

Speaking of sports, Ethan is a great little athlete. His just a natural at what ever he plays!



I could go on and on about Ethan, but I think you get the point. I'm just amazed at how quickly 8 years can zoom past.

Happy 8th Birthday ETHAN!!!

We LOVE YOU!