Super E Turns 4!

We've been excited for awhile around here for Ethan's 4th birthday. He decided a few weeks ago he wanted a super hero party.

He woke up to decorations, his cousin Henry to play with, and a fun race car present to unwrap from Grammy and Grandpa.

Clark took him out to lunch, I asked if he wanted to go to Old McDonald's, he replied, "well maybe somwhere specialer like Wendy's."

That night we started off his birthday party with a treasure hunt.

Following the clues to find the treasure!

As you can see in this video he was pretty excited with his treasure at the end:

Caden was being a momma's boy and didn't want me to put him down to take pictures.

Ethan loved his cake. This year he was so particular about his cake, he never could be persuaded by my suggestions. He wanted 2 race cars being driven by super heroes, and that is what he got.

I think his favorite part was opening his birthday presents! He was pretty spoiled by everyone.

I made him a super E cape. The best part was when he put it on he started running and flying around the house as you can see in this video:

Henry is Ethan's "favorite cousin buddy." These two love to play! This hug was given after Henry read a card he wrote all by himself for Ethan.

We were so excited Harvey and Rebecca were visiting!

He had such a great day! At about 11:30 I noticed he was still awake, just getting in every last minute of his special day. I crawled into his bed with him and he couldn't stop talking about how excited he was to be four, he made me tell him about all of his presents again. He had a big grin on his face the whole time we talked, it was pretty sweet!

We love our 4 year old Super E.E.!

A "Cow" Boy

Caden is a boy who loves the cows. He spares no enthusiasm when it comes time to make a visit to the barn. He usually yells, "cows, baby, cows, moo." He would be perfectly content to just sit in the dirt, play with sticks, and watch the cows. The other day when we took a walk down to the barn he went right up to a cute black calf and started petting it and talking to it.

This video is my favorite! Caden was playing in the dirt, watching the cows and just didn't want to be bothered by his Dad's questions. His little defiant streak cracks us up at the end!

There is something pretty cute about watching Caden with his pants tucked into his big winter boots run down the road to the barn. I love my little cowboy!

Spiritual Little Boys

At the beginning of the year we made a goal to read scriptures everyday as a family. We haven't missed a day yet! We usually just read 4 verses (one for each member of the family). We help Ethan "read" his verse, we say a line and he repeats it. The other night we all cracked up when Clark said "open the gates of righteousness," Ethan repeated, "open the gates for the rhinoceroses."

Starting a few weeks back Caden has been wanting his turn. It is so cute to hear him repeat a few words and sounds that he hears. He is always so proud of himself.

We also try to pray together as a family every night before bed. I will be honest, our prayer times often look a lot like a WWF arena. Caden thinks it is great fun to body slam Ethan during prayers. Ethan thinks its a great time to say something funny. Most nights we walk away wondering if they are getting anything out of our little nightly rituals.

Well Monday night I realized Ethan gets it! Clark and I realized that night that the keys to our car were missing (we hadn't driven that car since Friday). We only have one key that will drive that car, so we turned the house upside down searching for the keys. We went outside and searched both cars, went through drawers, the boys toys, the dirty clothes...we felt like we had looked everywhere. We started to wonder if Ethan had maybe picked the keys off of the dresser where we keep them to play with them. We peeked in his room and saw that he was still awake, so we asked him if he had seen the keys. He denied every playing with them. As we were walking out of the room, he said, "I know what you can do to find them, you can pray to Heavenly Father and He will help you." Clark asked Ethan if he wanted to say a prayer. Ethan said the most simple, heart-felt little prayer full of faith asking that Daddy could find his keys.

As we left the room Clark said, "well I know we'll find them now." Within 5 minutes of Ethan's prayer Clark found his keys under a church book where he had looked before. Clark went back in to tell Ethan his prayer was answered. Ethan just smiled and said, "glad I could help Dad."

I love this sweet little boy. And I hope that he always remembers the power of prayer and uses it throughout his life.

Tonsils No More

Ethan's surgery went well today and he is recovering. So far he has had 5 popsicles, a push-up, a cup of chocolate ice cream, a smoothie, and blue Jell-o. He is milking the "cold stuff" for all its worth!

When we took him in this morning I could tell he was a little nervous. As we pulled into the parking lot he asked, "are you sure I will be fine Dad?" It was pretty sweet and a little heart breaking. We said a little prayer together before we got out of the car and reminded him of the priesthood blessing he received last night from his Dad and Grandpa, and then he said he felt a little better.

By the time we went in he was back to normal and charmed all of the nurses. Seriously, how could he not with those skinny little legs sticking out of the purple hospital gown! When the first nurse introduced herself she said her name and explained that she would be taking care of him today, he looked at her and with big eyes said so sincerely, "oh thank you," she was smitten after that. He wanted to ask questions about everything, at one point he asked the nurse how much blood he had.

When they wheeled him back to the OR he was sitting straight up on the bed (they told him it was a rocket ship) looking all around with curious eyes. That was the hardest part for me, I didn't like it one bit. But the doctor came out soon and let us know everything went well.

The hardest part is going to be keeping him down. Just hours after surgery he was running around. Tonight his voice is more strained because he is so swollen, so we are trying to keep him doing quiet activities...much easier said than done with Ethan. The doctor told him after his surgery he will have more energy and be able to run faster! Really I don't know how that is possible, but we will soon see.

Popsicles and Cold Stuff

Tonight I took Ethan to the store to spend his money his Great Grandmother Peterson sent him for popsicles and cold stuff.

Tomorrow morning he is getting his tonsils and adenoids out. We were told about the time we left Des Moines that they needed to come out, they are always huge and cause him some sleep apnea and other health issues.

With all of the moving we've done this year this has been our first chance to get it done. We took him to see the ENT last week, when he walked in he asked Ethan if he knew why he was there. Ethan then proceeded to say "awwwwwwwwwwwwww," and show him his tonsils. The doctor could see them from about 3 feet away. After telling us that he needed to have them removed he asked Ethan if he knew what that meant. Ethan replied, "yup, I get to eat popsicles and lots of cold stuff." Poor kid thinks we signed him up for a party.

I'm feeling bad for my boy and the sore throat he will have the next couple of days! But grateful we are in a place where we have family to help us out.

Little Boy Heaven

I feel like my little boys (and Clark too) have been in heaven the last 2 weeks. We have all loved the social interaction of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to play with!

Caden is happy because there is a dog, neighs (how he says horses), and cows to see all the time. The other day he ran in after Clark had taken him down to see some new baby calves and yelled, "cow, baby, moo, cow, baby, moo." He loves the animals.

A few nights ago after I tucked them in I found the barn animals all lined up for bed by the secret hide out tent.

This cow about stuck his head in the Jeep with Ethan.

Ethan is happy because there are wide open spaces to run in. He was also pretty happy he got to spend the whole day Saturday with his Dad and Grandpa as they went to the bull sale in Delta, Colorado. Clark said he got bored after looking at the bulls for awhile, but was very entertained to climb on the construction equipment and stacks of railroad ties.

Clark is pretty happy that he starts each morning helping his Dad and brothers feed the cows. Don't they say you can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy. I think he is pretty happy he gets to spend time with his boys outside, in the spring it can be a sunny day or a snow day.

And I'm super happy that Lucy introduced me to her awesome gym and that I get to work out everyday...even when it makes me too sore to walk down the stairs. I'm happy for all the chatting I get to do with family, for the shopping outing to Farmington with Lucy, for the girls movie night with Delanie, that I'm learning how to cook better from my mother-in-law, and that I get to help out with the primary singing time for the rest of our time here.

Me, just wearing the crown like usual.

Life is good.