Peek-A-Boo

Tonight while we were having a little family Just Dance party, Caden got high centered on the train. After realizing he could see us through his legs he started giggling and we did too!

My Singing E.E.

Little Ethan loves to sing! I love to hear him sing, its normal to hear him singing in his bed when he wakes up, while he plays, while he eats, pretty much all the time.

This first video is him singing, "If You're Happy and You Know It," apparently it is too hard to sing the words, "then your face will surely show it." It cracks me up!

This video is him singing another of his favorites, "Jingle Bells." He was watching the video camera screen of himself while it was recording...that is why he looks so serious.

And this is pretty typical, singing while he runs around and around and around. The song "Oh How We Love To Stand," was turned into a mix of a rap/Jingle Bells.

Birthday Countdown Calendar

When I was a kid my mom made me a countdown calendar for my birthday. Since my birthday is around Halloween I got to put up a piece of a spooky haunted house scene for the 28 days leading up to my birthday. My brother Weston had a turkey countdown, and James had the letters to hang across the fireplace that said, "Happy Birthday James." It was always something I looked forward to each year, and it built excitement for the big birthday.
Since Ethan pretty much asks me every morning, "is it my dirthbay yet?," I decided it was time for a countdown calendar. I wanted to make one that I could use with all of my kids, so I went with a birthday party theme.
When I do projects they usually end up a little bigger than I anticipate...this one definitely turned out big, it's wider than the door I had planned to hang it on, and taller than Ethan! It took many after bedtime hours, but I'm really excited about the end result.

It is all made from felt, ribbon and velcro.

Ethan got to put up "day 5" today. He is loving it!

80's Night

When my friend Carolyn invited us to her flashback to the 80's themed 30th birthday party, my hair was thrilled. I feel like my hair was made for the 80's. It takes hard work and daily dedication to tame my voluminous mane into an acceptable style for our current decade. And I think I look better with big bangs, it must bring out my eyes or something...

Isn't it time for the big hair to be back in style?

This is what Ethan and Clark thought of my hair do:

Our 80's Family Picture. Even Caden was in on the action wearing a delightful terrycloth onesie that my mom recently found with the tags still on in her "gift closet" - actually purchased in the 80's.

Ethan looked pretty cute bowling in my Kindergarten graduation T-shirt.

In case you can't read it, Clark's headband says "FOXY," hubba hubba.

The radio purse on the table was my best find for the party, $3 at Goodwill.

We discovered that you get strange looks when you walk through the mall to the bowling alley dressed like this, especially when you have kids with you. We are fortunate no one called CPS.

Carolyn made her awesome 80's cake! It was amazing!

And, girls they wanna have fun...

oh, girls just wanna have fun!

9 Months

I can't believe my sweet baby boy is already 9 months old.

9 Month Stats:

Height: 29 1/2 inches (87%)

Weight: 21 lbs. (60%)

Head: 18 3/4 inches (96%)

He's a healthy boy and he is on the move! He loves to pull himself up to stand on everything. Every once in awhile he stands without holding anything. He crawls and walks along holding furniture. A few days ago he pushed a kitchen chair across the floor while walking.

He now has 4 teeth, his 2 front teeth on the top came in (I'm afraid he got my genes, he already has a pretty pronounced gap between them)!

He loves his brother. They have been able to play together more and more and Ethan refers to him now as "my little buddy." Caden and Ethan nap at the same time in the afternoon and Caden always wakes up first. As soon as he hears Ethan awake he crawls as fast as he can and starts climbing the stairs. When he gets to the top, he pushes open Ethan's door and pulls himself up on his crib and just grins and jumps, he's so excited to be with his brother.

He loves when his Dada comes home in the evenings, and just grins.

He is a momma's boy! Whenever he needs comforted his mom is the only one he needs. He still loves to snuggle.

He is one HAPPY little guy, except when it comes to sleeping...

We sure love our 9 month old!

The Grandma Boogie

When Ethan woke up this morning he asked for 3 things:

1. Chocolate milk

2. Pancakes and bacon

3. The Dance Game


He drank his chocolate milk. He ate 3 pancakes and a slice of bacon. We started playing the Dance Game. Then something unexpected happened...Grandma Karen made an appearance...

Who knew Grandma Karen had such stellar moves?

GALA 2011

The best part of the Gala for me this year was being able to wear a brand new outfit that only cost $6.15 (my nylons actually cost more than my dress and shoes combined)!

I liked my date a lot too!

Us on the balcony.

Our view from the balcony.

The chocolate fountain did not disappoint.

I had some new dance moves to try out thanks to my Zumba class.

This year it was held at a funky/slightly creepy/Phantom of the Opera style old building down town. It was a wild and crazy party, a true adventure to say the least.