2 Is Not So Terrible!

A loud "2" is the answer you get now when you ask Ethan how old he is. He woke up Wednesday thinking it was going to be a normal day...but it didn't take long for the birthday fun to begin. First of all he got to go to Wee-Read (our story/singing/dancing time at the library) with his DADA (so I could work on the cake)! They had so much fun. Ethan has been Clark's shadow all week long since Clark has Spring Break, I don't know what we're going to do when he is back at school Monday!


After his nap he woke up to decorations in the house and a fun birthday package to open from Grammy and Grandpa!

He has finally figured out the concept of presents and had so much fun ripping open his gifts, especially his very own box of fruit snacks, a "Thomas" swimsuit, and a new "James" engine!

That evening we celebrated the big birthday with a fun Thomas the Train party with some of our good friends.

Megan, Brock, & Krew

Jessica, Seth, & Jessica

Megan & brand new baby Noah

Carolyn & Tyler

We played pin the funnel on Thomas.

Enjoyed some yummy food.

Had a Thomas the Train cake that I was thrilled actually turned out to look like Thomas. Our library rents cake pans and we lucked out to find a Thomas one. It took me 3 hours to frost the darn thing, seriously, who knew? But it was worth it when Ethan saw his cake for the first time!

He kept yelling "Ta (Thomas) cake, ta cake!"

2 of his favorite things in one. He was so cute blowing out his candles. His little puffs of air were barely strong enough to knock over a toothpick and it took several tries to get that second candle out, but when he did he clapped right along with everyone else.

We were worried our sensitive little guy would be heart broken when we cut Thomas up to serve him to everyone, but Clark was smart...he cut a big round circle around Thomas' head and served that to Ethan first. He did not hesitate at all to eat that face!

We ended the party opening presents. Our friends that came spoiled him with fun new toys! He was so excited to play with each one it was hard for him to go on and open the next gift. After each gift was unwrapped we told him who brought it and he would carry it over to the couple and try so hard to say thankyou (this is a really hard word for him and he usually just says, "welco" for "you're welcome." He was so overwhelmed by the end of the night his thankyous were coming out sounding like "elmos" but he was trying so hard everyone knew his "elmos" were sincere.

By the end of the night he was one tired boy, but still running from present to present playing with each one.

Using Clark's leg as a tunnel for his new trains!

I think it was Ethan's happiest day thus far!

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our little 2 year old! We are grateful for him everyday!!!

Sibling Rivalry Already?

When I think of Ethan and his new little brother, I can't help but think of my 2 younger brothers who were constantly wrestling with each other like 2 little bear cubs.

Yesterday the baby was kicking really hard so I had Ethan come over and feel the kicks. As soon as he put his hand down the baby kicked hard right where his hand was. For about 3 seconds he just had a look of surprise on his face, and then he punched right back in the same spot!

I guess the fun begins!

The springiness of Spring!

So March 18th the temperature was almost 60 degrees and the sun was shining. Ethan was more than excited to have a day at the park with his little friend Shannon!

So March 20th, my calendar says it is the first official day of Spring and we woke up to a good 3 inches of snow! However, this first official day of Spring also marks Clark's first official day of Spring Break! Yahoo!

I am loving Spring Break. I slept in an extra hour while Clark got up with Ethan and woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon. Ethan loves pancakes lately and ended up with syrup covered pajamas. Breakfast somehow ended in a family dance party (videos below), Ethan has been working on his kick line skills lately. Ethan has LOVED literally being Clark's shadow all day long.

Too much syrup + too much spinning = one dizzy little boy.

A Whale of a Good Time!

Yesterday I had to teach sharing time to the primary kids. The theme for the week was "All Prophets Testify of Christ," so a few prophets made an appearance here in Des Moines. One that came was Jonah. Thanks to Clark helping the kids loved watching Jonah be swallowed by the whale.

It was so much fun we decided that we should teach Ethan the story of Jonah and the whale tonight for Family Home Evening. Ethan was Jonah and loved running from the giant whale!

Then he giggled like crazy when the whale swallowed him!

Reasons Why I Think Ethan Will Be a Good Big Brother...

1. He takes such good care of his stuffed animals!

No worries here! Birthday Bear has a strong heartbeat!

I love listening to him talk to his animals in his bed in the morning when he wakes up. He always tells them all "night night," and gives them all hugs and kisses before bed. I love that he tucks his Thomas train under a blanket before he goes upstairs for his naps so Thomas can rest too. Today while I was getting ready he unrolled half a roll of toilet paper and was making sure that Hobbes blew his nose. Tonight during family prayers he held Hobbes on his lap and folded his arms for him.

On our way out the door this afternoon Ethan grabbed one of my flip flops for his dog to wear.

2. He gives good hugs and kisses!

Ethan coming in today for a kiss!

It pretty much melts my heart everytime he runs up to me to give me a hug or a kiss for no reason at all! When he gets an "owie" and I kiss it better he then starts naming all of his other body parts and waits for me to kiss them before he is "all better."

3. He loves to play!

This kid can play with his train set for hours. I wish I could understand more of what he is saying and what is going through his mind because I think his trains have pretty exciting adventures. He is always yelling, "oh no," or "go, go."

4. He is just sweet! Don't you think?

Fast asleep in his high chair, daylight savings is hard on a little guy!

Twin Haircuts and Baby Names

Yesterday we had a few errands to run, the first was to get haircuts for Ethan and Clark. Ethan was so good sitting up in the chair like a big boy while his Dad was in the chair next to him. I felt like his haircut aged him - I guess he is ready to turn 2 now!

Enjoying the post-cut sucker.

Clark had fun dressing Ethan this weekend. Last night Clark got him ready for a friend's birthday party, they were both wearing khaki's and long sleeved striped sweaters.

Today after church they both came down to dinner in gray t-shirts and camouflaged fleece pants.

I guess we don't need to ask, "who da baby daddy is?"

While running errands I took along a book a friend leant me called, "The Baby Naming Wizard." Clark and I are bad at coming up with baby names, we usually just start laughing at all the weird names we come up with and don't come up with anything normal. We made it through the A's, B's, and part of the C's and added a few to our list. Right now we are calling the baby Stetson, the book describes this name as "having a swaggering sound, but like a Stetson hat, it looks a little out of place once you get too far from rodeo country."

So as you can see, we are defnitely open for suggestions, any ideas?

A Couple of Buddies!

This morning Clark got up with Ethan so I could sleep a few extra minutes. When I came down I was greeted by a Pop-Tart that Ethan was so excited to give me, and both of my boys were wearing winter hats. Ethan insisted that Dada and Eee Eee wear the hats!

(Just watching cartoons sitting on his favorite chair)

Ethan was pretty much in heaven watching Saturday morning cartoons and wrestling with his Dad!