Goodbye Mulle

So a few weeks ago I went on a jog with Ethan in the stroller. Halfway through we stopped at the park for Ethan to play. I was not looking my best (I was working out). On our way home I remembered we needed milk, cereal and eggs so I ran into the grocery store to get a few things. Ethan's face was covered in dirt and dried snot from from playing at the park. I was red cheeked and sweaty from the jog. We went to check out at the store and the guy just stood there looking at me, he wouldn't ring up my stuff. Finally, I asked him if there was a problem. He said, "I need to scan your WIC card before I can ring you up ma'am." My reply was, "I don't have a WIC card." He apologized and scanned my groceries. It did make me think, "man, I have let myself go" - and then looking at Ethan was his scraggly curls and dirty face I realized we did look like quite the pair.
This and a few other conversations have made me realize it is time for Ethan to have an official haircut (no more Mommy Mulle specials). I just love his ringlets in the back and knew that when I cut his hair they would be gone.
When Clark got home this evening we took him to Great Clips.

These are the BEFORE shots:

When we first got there the lady asked me how short I wanted it. I said to shorten it in the front but I didn't want her to cut off all the curls in the back. She said, "you are asking me to give him a mullet...I just can't do that to him." "Oh no, we wouldn't want a mullet...ha-ha," was my uncomfortable response. Didn't they teach her at hair school that curls in the back make a mullet a mulle?!

As soon as she put the cover on him he started to scream! He didn't like it one bit. Luckily a Dum-Dum sucker was a quick remedy. He was so distracted by his sucker he held really still for his haircut. I was amazed.

ALL Done! He survived. And I'm happy to report that so did his curls, she gave us a little baggie of his curls to bring home, and the back is still curly.

He looks older and more like his Dada!

Nursery Boy

BEFORE church

So Ethan is now officially 18 months old - and legally he can attend the nursery at church! Yahoo! He has been going the last couple of weeks usually with Clark there for at least part of it to get used to it.

An Ethan smile on his way to church!

Today as soon as the closing prayer was said after Sacrament Meeting, Ethan grabbed my hand and started running to the nursery. He was so excited to get in there. He didn't even notice when I left. Today was good, he didn't even get in trouble for pushing down another kid (like he did last week). He LOVES nursery! Being during his nap time it definitely wears him out. I laugh when we leave church because he looks hammered.

AFTER Church.

Asleep before we even get on the freeway, poor kid didn't even finish his cookie.

Our little Bubby is growing up!

This video makes me laugh. I bought Ethan a cool Fisher Price farm set at a consignment shop last week and it makes animal noises. So now Ethan makes all of the animal noises. My favorite is the sheep, so this video is Ethan baaaaing.

A Tappa, Tappa, Tappa

A few weeks ago I signed up for a community ed class titled, "Tap Dance for Exercise Intermediate (for Adults). Tap shoes are recommended, and necessary if you plan on performing in the recital."

Tonight was the first big tap class. I have missed making noise with my feet. I clogged for years and then took a few tap classes at BYU. The last one I took was about 6 years ago, so tonight I literally had to dust off my shoes before class.

I was giddy leaving the house, I really have happy feet that love to move! The experience was MORE than I expected. There were about 30 of us in the class. Only 3 of us were new comers. I think I brought the average age down 30 years. Most in the class probably qualify for the senior citizen discount! It was awesome! I stood next to a lady that looked like my grandma wearing cute Hawaiian capri pants...she was good too! Next to her was a man with white hair who was huge - he seemed to be a foot taller than me. He was wearing a pink t-shirt and Converse All-Star shoes. He is awesome too! Everyone was very friendly and welcomed the newbie to their group! I couldn't stop giggling all night! I have a feeling this will be the highlight of my week for the next 2 months!

A Reason You Should Visit Me in Iowa This Fall...

Reason: A Swimming Pool of Corn

Need I say more? Swimming in a pool of corn was a unique and fun experience and everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime. It is also a unique experience to find corn seeds in your pants for the rest of the day...a little like sand in the swimsuit.

What is this stuff?

I'm stuck!

I thought this shot with my toes was very artistic and a little creepy!

We went today to Center Grove Apple Orchard. Along with picking 1/2 a peck of apples and enjoying a yummy apple cider doughnut there were farm games galore!

Ethan took off running to see the sheep and the goats. A lamb came right up to his face and gave a loud BAAAAAA! Ethan freaked. He burst into tears and came running back to me. It took him 30 mins. before he would let me put him down again.

Goats right above our head.

Visiting the village of the 3 little pigs.

Taking a little rest.

A Bathroom Break.

Taking care of business.

This was by far Ethan's favorite part. The giant pillow of air. He would get galloping so fast, fly through the air, and crash. He face planted so many times, and a few times fell completely off of the pillow but loved every second of it!

Today is the official first day of FALL. The apple orchard was the perfect kick off!

ding, ding, ding: Round THREE

Today was a big day for me. A day I have been mentally training for. A day that required me to hum, "Eye of the Tiger" several times to myself just to be ready. A day that required nerves of steel, all of my courage, and a few silent prayers. Today I faced one of my toughest opponents. Today I went back to the DMV!!!

The last 2 times I have gone in to try and get the Sebring registered have been scary as you can see here (the time I almost got tased): http://stephisinthehouse.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-tase-me-bro.html

and here (the time I faced Ms. Shirley): http://stephisinthehouse.blogspot.com/2009/07/newest-addition-to-our-family.html

Armed with a sleeping Ethan in the stroller and all of my carefully filled out documents tucked in Ethan's coloring book I confidently walked up the steps into the courthouse. There would be no confusing the 8 for a fradulent 7 this time! The 8 consisted of 2 very round circles one on top of the other.

The lines of people waiting when I walked into the DMV made me a little nauseous. Then when I glanced over at booth #16 and #13 and saw my "friends" (one of whom I called a freaking moron last time) working I was filled with sheer terror!

I took a seat inconspicuously in the very back and tried to look natural. When the old man next to me tried to strike up a conversation I kept laughing nervously. He said, "could you imagine what it would be like to work here, people can be so impolite." I was dying inside knowing I was one of those impolite people he was referring to, I just smiled sweetly and said, "oh yes, it would be a difficult job."

My heart really started racing when I knew my number was up next. The patron in booth #13 had just finished and was walking away. Panic attack! Luckily booth #7 beat her to the punch and I didn't have to face my old "friend" from last time.

I handed over my paperwork expecting the worst. I was ready for a fight, I was ready to defend myself, I was ready to cry again...I was ready. Then she asked for my credit card, and handed me my official Iowa license plates! WHAT?! It was that easy! I just kept standing there expecting her to yell, "ha, ha these plates aren't real, now hold still while I tase you!" but she didn't...finally she asked me if there was anything else she could do for me. I guess that was my hint to get out of there.

Victory is mine!

And now you may be wondering how I will celebrate this win, well I'm going to Disneyland!!! (and if Clark doesn't approve of that trip...maybe he'll at least take me to Olive Garden?)

I can't take all the victory to myself:

I must thank my brother James for making phone calls to DMVs in both Idaho and Iowa.

I must thank my mom for driving all over town for several days in Boise getting the paper work together to get us an unnecessary duplicate title.

I must thank Ethan for sleeping while we were there and not adding to the already stressful situation.

I must thank Clark for filling out the forms.

I also want to give a shout out to all of my fans everywhere in the world. Never give up on your dreams...with a little hard work and determination all of your wildest dreams can come true like mine did today! I love you all!

Dryer Mishap

A few months ago Spurs joined our family.

Ethan loved his little horse with the long flowing hair!

I decided that Spurs needed a bath, so he went into the washer. I forgot he was there and threw him into the dryer. Now Spurs long flowing hair looks more like Ethan's mulle.

It makes me laugh everytime I see him. Clark now calls him Mullet Bullet instead of Spurs.

Ethan still thinks he is kissable.

And we think Ethan is pretty kissable.

FALLING

F lag Football

Clark representin the CPMS class 2012

A cute fan.

Someone else's car keys.

I tried to get an action shot after Clark and another guy collided. I was a little late with the shot, but as you can see Ethan ran over there to see why his Dada was on the ground in a flash.

A pples

One of my top favorites - dipped in carmel, pecans and chocolate - my dessert was a success!

L eaves

When we went to bed last night our lawn was green grass, when we woke up this morning it was covered in a blanket of yellow leaves.

As you can see there are a lot more waiting to fall!

L ost in a corn maze.

So relieved there was an emergency exit!

I'm on the board for the spouse's club at school this year. 2nd Vice President to be exact. We had an outing at the corn maze complete with s'more around the fire and a hayride. It was a lot of fun. We had 22 adults and 10 kids - definitely a lively group.

Funky Parade!

On a nice evening this week we heard a drum line playing when we were outside. We assumed it was the high school marching band practicing so we walked down to the high school so Ethan could watch.
Before we got to the school we were intercepted by a small band marching down one of the streets. It was a group of boys of all ages playing drums, and a group of girls of all ages marching in a hip hop sort of way. We followed them for a little while and then they went into the parking lot and gave us a show.

Why not? Who needs a reason for a parade?

Growing Up

This summer whenever Ethan has woken up in the night crying, all I would have to do is go into his room, pick him up and hold him like this-

I loved it! Even in the middle of the night it melted my heart that he would just melt into me so sweetly! He would only need held for a minute or two and then I could lay him back down and he would go to sleep. I really did love it even though I could have been sleeping. I always had the thought he won't always be little enough to do this.

This past week he has woken up twice crying really hard in the night. When I went in to pick him up he laid on his belly and just needed me to scratch his back for a minute and then went back to sleep. Both times he didn't need me or even want me to pick him up, it made me a little sad. He's growing up so fast.

Swingin'......

On a desperate night not long after Ethan was born Clark was sent rather forcefully to the store to buy a baby swing. Our little baby would not sleep, someone suggested a swing and we went for it in a hurry! Ethan loved his swing, it soothed him. He pretty much did the majority of his sleeping in that swing for the first 5 months of his life.
He still loves to swing. However, when he is swinging he is so reverent. He doesn't squeal or scream or giggle like he does on all of the other park equipment - he just has a cute little peaceful smile and very quietly enjoys the swinging.
There is a park a couple miles from our house that we walk to a lot. First Ethan likes to swing in the baby swings, then he likes to swing by himself on the big kid swing, then he likes to swing on the big kid swing while sitting in my lap. Everytime he tucks his little head onto my shoulder and gives me the biggest hug. He can stay like this for 5 mins. (which is a long time for a kid that never sits still). I absolutely love it! The swinging motion almost puts him to sleep, I think it is hynotic to him. It makes me wonder if he will outgrow it, or if one day I will get a phone call from his elementary school telling me he broke his arm falling off the swing because he fell asleep while swinging.

The other day my friend Margaret came over with her cute baby girl. We were working on our quiet book project so I got the swing out for baby Shannon. Ethan was fascinated with it and the baby. After a while Margaret took her baby out of the swing and we were in the kitchen talking. It was pretty quiet in the living room where Ethan had been playing. I peeked in and this is what I found-

He had climbed onto the couch and from there climbed into the swing. He was pretty proud. He loved it and wouldn't get out for awhile. He looked huge in it compared to how he looked in it as a newborn. He is a swingin' little boy!

Any Resemblance?

(not in personality of course)