Happy Birthday, Samantha!

Today we had our first ever MacDonalds birthday party! Here is sweet little Sam - looking like she is not really enjoying her party dress. She is more of the tom-boy type.

Ah! That's more like it! Let's get this party started! She is so like her mom...
Here is Savannah miming - no wait...she really IS stuck in a glass box (plexiglass, whatever).
Chloe, Ethan and Cason playing, playing and playing.
Cat and little Jack watching some of the action...
Time to eat!
Beckett sneaking a peek at the presents...
Time for cake! The best part of any party. It was a Dora cake which was pretty thrilling for Ethan.
We had a great time...how could we not have? Hope you had a great time too, Samantha. Thanks for having us!

Beckett, Twenty Nine Weeks Old!

This week you have been doing a lot of V-sits and sit ups. You consistently like to be on your belly instead of sitting, so I guess you are teaching yourself to get to the ground without bonking your head.

Cousin Will or "Hatchet" as Natalie Says

Today we went to visit Auntie Natalie and Uncle Ax (get it? Hatchet is a little axe...). They made us delicious burgers for dinner and the cousins got to have a fun visit!

Other kids' toys are always so much better than your own. Beckett was diggin' Will's play mat...
...and Will, of course......they seemed to have a good time... I'm sure it will probably be the least destructive of our visits.
Ethan played piano, stacked blocks, read books, and showed any potential babyproofing areas that need to be attended to before Will gets on the move. We contained him for a small amount of time in the baby swing.
Thanks for the visit!

Birthday and Chocolate Cake

So, ever since we baked the cake yesterday it is all Ethan could talk about. We had to wait until everyone came over before we could have some - so whenever people showed up at our house Ethan brought them over to the table and said "See the cake?! You wanna hab some?"

Dad let him pick one of the raspberries off the top. Ethan thought they looked like little volcanoes. We had my family over for dinner and cake today, because as well as it being Troy's (35th) birthday, it is also Papa Chris'.
My sister, Tracy and brother, Grant playing with Ethan and his shake and go race cars...wait - Ethan isn't playing....
Papa Chris bouncing with Beckett.
Mormor and Grant watching some present opening.
Auntie Alicia enjoying some lasagna and Uncle Grant enjoying some Beckett.
Happy Birthday!

Busy in the Kitchen Again...

Guess what we made today?!? If you said something chocolatey you are right!

What gave it away?
There is a birthday tomorrow so we built a chocolate cake. And then licked the bowl and spoons.

Meadow Park - Take II

Today when we went to the park, Auntie Alicia and Uncle Grant met us there to play.
There was also a group of kids with some bubbles so it was a super morning all around.
Grant and Alicia came back to our house to visit and helped get the kids ready for "quiet time". Getting in some practice before they go to pick up Sofia....
I think they'll be just great!

Beckett, Twenty Eight Weeks Old!

Last night was the first time you slept all the way through the night. You come close most of the time - but you slept right until 6 this morning. Hopefully there is more of this to come!

You have also mastered feeding yourself crackers or cookies in the last couple of weeks. Only problem is that they get so slimy and gooey that you have a hard time keeping your grip. Nom, NOM!

Just Funny

Beckett in the bath...

...and brushing his teeth.

Mama and Ethan playing on the floor in his room during Beckett's bathtime.

Meadow Park

When we don't go to Kindergym or playgroup with our hour-ish window of free awake time in the morning - we like to go to Meadow Park around the corner from where we live to get some fresh air.

There are often other short people to play with, which has become increasingly important to Ethan. When we get to the park and it is empty he whines that, "Ohhh, dares NO kids at de PARK!". I guess feeding my brother a stick will have to do...
Actually, Ethan usually gets over it pretty quick and plays in the sand or finds ways to entertain himself. Today there was a bunch of heavy equipment digging a new water filter system so he was pretty captivated by the diggers and dump truck and "werking mans!" (men wearing hard hats).
Beckett loves the trips outside too because there is so much to see. But, in all honestly, he keenly watches Ethan most of the time. Even when eating.
Ethan still loves to play with the dog. He will throw the sticks that Cooper finds. And tease him.
Come and get me! Come and get me!

I'm gonna hide it so Cooper can't get it.

Oh no! It fell and Cooper got it! I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna get you! Cooper STOP! WAIT!

Beckett, Twenty Seven Weeks Old!

Last week, because you turned 6 months old, you got shots. At the "needle store" as Ethan would say... The nurse commented on what a team you and your Daddy are (because I run out of the room to play with Ethan the instant the shots are being prepared). Your Dad apparently had you laughing all of the way through the shots and you barely noticed that anything happened to you. Typical of you Beckett...

Anyways, you were weighing in at 20lbs, 11oz with your diaper on - so you are about 20 and a half pounds...we have about one pound to gain before you get kicked out of your infant car seat. You are also 28 inches tall or 2'4". Almost tall enough for some basketball...

While Mom was at her Soccer Game...

Not to be outdone by his baby brother - Ethan wanted a second shot at demonstrating that he had jumping skills beyond that of a stale gingerbread man.

I can't believe nothing was broken. Sometimes I cringe when I think about what activities are happening/going to happen in the future when Mom isn't around to play safety monitor.

Park Pre-occupation

We went to meet Alex, Molly, Courtney and her MIL Robbie at Beacon Hill Park. You can see them in the background. Alex wasn't in the mood to play and wanted to sit in his stroller for the first little while - I think he was determined to take the trip to Beacon Drive for some ice cream...clever guy!
We really are going to get Ethan's hair cut soon - I keep trying to go - but naps, or sunny weather or social obligations keep getting in the way. Why waste a perfectly sunny spring day at the barber?
Ethan enjoys the sticks - of course - but he also noticed the pretty little yellow daffodils poking up all around the park - "Jus like at arr hause!". We are loving the spring.
Wheee!!!!