Merry Christmas!

Last night we had friends over for Christmas Eve. We had a delicious turkey dinner with fresh pumpkin pie. The kids did a very short nativity scene, sang happy birthday to Jesus and blew out candles, and ran around doing what toddlers do. Ethan and his little buddy Tyler are quite a pair when they get together, jumping off things and running around like wild things. Our good friends are moving this week, Ethan's sure going to miss Ellie & Sophia who he's played almost every week since we moved here.

Christmas morning we started the day with gingerbread pancakes and Stephen's hot chocolate. Then the wild one woke up and was happy we finally said he could open presents. Ethan would open one present and just want to play with it and not open any other gifts. I don't think we had them all open until after noon. It was nice though to just relax all day and enjoy playing with the boys. Ethan got two "choo choo's" and carried one in each hand all day long. Joshua kept crawling towards the train and would try to grab it every time it came around the track. The boys really got spoiled with so many books and toys from their grandparents and cousins. We got several good books, games, and kitchen goodies (we'll see how long my fingers last with my new chef's knife!). My big gift this year (thanks to my Grandpa and a few birth announcement orders) were a pair of lights for my in-home studio so I can take pics even when it's overcast. I also got a remote so I don't have to run and trip over things whenever we want to take a family picture. Of course, Christmas is never quite the same without our family, but it's nice to have good friends. Wish we were there, hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! If you don't have a copy of Joy to the World, go to http://www.mormon.org/ click Free Media and request a copy. It's an awesome movie to watch this time of year to remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior.

My son is a cross-(shoe)-dresser...

So I think I've posted before about Ethan's love for shoes. He loves to try on shoes (anyone's but his own that is). He loves heels and the clomp clomp sound they make and is always getting into my closet and trying on shoe after shoe. As I was getting ready for church yesterday I heard him clomping around and caught him wearing these. He is such a silly boy...

choo-choo's

Ethan has developed a serious obsession for trains lately. The first thing he says when he wakes in the morning now is "choo-choo train". He's practically potty trained himself because I bought him Thomas the Train underwear. He loves to wear his "choo choo's". He still wets his pants sometimes when he can't get them off fast enough, and I won't put him to bed or take him in the car without pull-ups on, but during the day when we're home he gets on and goes all by himself. It's so nice not to have to change his dirty diapers anymore! So he's getting all train paraphernalia for Christmas this year. The other night Anthony had late meetings but Ethan wanted to wait up for him, he sat on the couch kicking his feet and looking out the window. I was tired so I climbed into bed and went to sleep. Anthony woke me when he got home and I asked if Ethan was still up. He said he hadn't seen him, we went in the living room and found Ethan asleep bent over the couch, his feet not even touching the floor. It was so cute.

Joshua finally has a tooth and is crawling all over the place. He's still as happy and laid back as ever. He and Ethan have so much fun together laughing at one another. Here's a few pics...

*Twilight*

I've been waiting for pic's before posting this- and someone finally updated their blog so I was able to 'steal' them. Last Saturday I crashed the other ward's Twilight party (thanks Annmarie!). They had a pre-movie party but it was my ward's Thanskgiving dinner, so I missed most of the party. The hostess made these adorable (and yummy) chocolate covered cake balls with quotes from the book. A few of the husbands camped out overnight to buy tickets and someone else stood in line at the theatre so we were the very first group in line. By the time they let us in, the place was packed. There was an extra ticket- so I called my friend Shelli to invite her to come along- but she called Anthony and told him to go with me and she'd watch the boys. I felt really bad, it was nice to see it together!

Anyway we really enjoyed the movie. Of course movies are never as good as the books- and I think you had to have read this book to "get" the movie. I don't think you'd understand Bella's attraction for Edward unless you'd read the book. I thought Bella's stuttered a little too much and was a bit too choppy, but it was actually much better than I expected given the cheesy previews and other reviews I'd read- I was prepared for dissapointment. All in all it was good- as good as a movie based on a book can be, and I'll definitely see it again.

I spoke too soon...

The day after my last post Joshua started to crawl! Here are some pic's of the little slow poke. I also had to share the pics of Ethan. He's growing up so fast. The other morning I was in the shower and heard the toilet flush, I looked out and Ethan was going to the bathroom. Then when I got out I peeked in again and saw him brushing his teeth. Our baby is growing up!

Leaves are falling all around...

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! I love all the yellows and reds, going for walks in the crisp cool air, making apple crisp and pumpkin bars, it's the best. I really miss New England this time of year, and although the colors aren't as intense here, the colors have finally peaked and we managed to find some great foliage nearby.

Ethan had so much fun playing in the leaves, he would run through the leaves and laugh hysterically at the crunching sound. He's starting to add "baby" to the end of his words, it's so funny, for water he says "wababy", help "helpbaby" open "opbaby", you get the idea. Joshua is still rocking on all fours and he'll launch off but lazy boy still doesn't want to crawl. You'd think he'd want to move as fast as possible to avoid his big brother. Ethan injured him twice this week. We have a flashlight with a big rechargable battery pack on the bottom that Ethan likes to get out and play with, he dropped that on Joshua's face. Poor baby had a huge bruise on his cheek. Then later threw a toy car at him and now he's got a nice bump on his eyebrow. It won't be long before baby will be big enough get his revenge ;) Anyway, happy fall!

Halloween!

For Halloween Ethan was a lion, Joshua was a kangaroo, Anthony was Zorro and I was a witch. We went to the trunk-or-treat at the church and Ethan had fun running around. It's been so warm, in the upper 70's the boys were sweating in their costumes.

I normally would be ecstatic about having to turn on the a/c in November, but we are being invaded by ladybugs everytime it gets above 60. We have woods across the street so they fly from the trees over to our white house by the thousands. You can't even walk on the front porch without being attacked. They've found a small gap in our front door and every time we come home we have to vacuum up a hundred or so that end up dead in the windowsills. It's driving me crazy.

Saturday we went for a drive across the Ohio river into Indiana. We drove through a little one horse town and walked along the banks of the river and watched the barges. Ethan about had a heart attack when they blew their whistle. It was fun though to relax and enjoy the nice weather.

How many have you done?

My friend had this tag on her blog. Yipee, I’ve done 73 of the 99 things (maybe I’m not so boring after all)! Just copy and paste this to your blog and highlight or Bold the ones that you HAVE done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (orchestra count?)
4. Visited Hawaii (no have but been to many tropical islands in the Caribbean)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain (more than one!)
9. Held a praying mantis (and many other creepy crawlies)
10. Sang a solo (ya for FHE, ha ha)
11. Bungee jumped (NO and I hope I never do)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (Puerto Rico)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (they didn’t let you go to the top when I was there, but I’ve seen it in person a bunch of times)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (in China- not very comfortable)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (who me?)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb and fed the cute little thing with a bottle
26. Gone skinny dipping (I was like 8, and I did have underwear on)
27. Run a Marathon (maybe someday…)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (I was so close, several times but too tired to stop)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (just the other day no kidding- there was an amish couple riding their horse and buggy on the side of the main road in E-town! I’ve seen them at walmart and wondered how they got there, I can’t believe they really drive those things in town!)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (before I was married and had kids!)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (unfortunate for all who were present)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (missionaries in NYC)
44. Visited Africa -not yet but I will someday!
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (climbed all 668 steps)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (before I became anemic)
65. Gone sky diving -no, and have no desire to
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (thank goodness for overdraft protection!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (no thanks, and never will)
72. Pieced a quilt (have I mentioned I HATE quilting?)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (NO- laid off though)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (right arm- yes that’s why it’s crooked)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (not speeding, just a motorcycle)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem (tried to, the army didn’t approve our leave)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (saved many a child from choking)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (twice)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (ARE YOU KIDDING ME, that’s sick!)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (at least 5 different times)

Ethan's 2nd birthday & television debut

Ethan turned two on October 14th! I can't believe how the last two years have flown by. He recognizes all the letters of the alphabet now (see video) so we got him fridge phonics so he can practice the sounds they make.

Remember that funny video of him running into the wall on his first birthday? They're going to be airing it on America's Funniest Home Videos this Sunday the 26th on ABC. Check your local listings for the time.