The Dreaded 4 Year Check Up

Right after Caleb's 3 year check up I started dreading the 4 year check up. Seriously. Ethan's 4 year check up was burned so vividly in my mind that I didn't want Caleb to have to go through it. But he did, and of course he survived. He got 4 shots (2 in each leg), a blood draw from his arm, and a TB test. He was a screaming banshee after the first poke. I had to hold him down and then Mondo had to carry him downstairs for the blood draw. So sad. :-(

He weighed a whopping 40 pounds and was on track for everything. The doctor said he was on the heavy side and talked to us about diet and limiting what he eats. I was actually stunned! Sure, he has some chunky cheeks but I don't think he looks at all overweight for his age. But...he might eat more bologna than the average kid. ;-)

Notice him holding Mondo's hand for the blood pressure. If he only knew what was still to come!

He was really cute when the nurse checked his hearing. His face lit up when he would hear the noise and he would sneak his hand up to the ear where he heard the sound. Ethan did the same thing at that age. His hearing was fine but I'm not so sure about his vision. He was being silly and not naming the right letters on the eye chart. The nurse didn't push it so I'm guessing that must happen often. I know he can see because he can see the golden arches of the McDonald's sign from a mile away!

Playdate with the Gossett's

Ahh yes. The boys always look forward to going to Colton and Carson's house. Unfortunately during the school year it doesn't happen very often. So they were very excited to go play there a few weeks ago. It was a bit chilly outside but they didn't care. They made sure to play with ALL of their outside toys and tell us which ones they needed...which were most of them.

I actually liked this one. It was easy to get in and out of. Low to the ground. Ethan drove Caleb around and around. They were in heaven.

...and then there was this. The motorcycle. Ethan has been begging for one ever since he rode it. It goes pretty fast for a kid motorcycle but he did really well on it. I would still prefer to pretend he didn't ask for one.

He did look cute on it though.

These two played really well together. I think they were being pirates on top of the swing set.

That's the closest I'll get to having a girl. Watching Mondo hold someone else's. ;-)

Playroom fun!

We made yummy fajitas, hot sauce, guacamole, etc. The kids enjoyed hot dogs. Kind of reminds me of myself as a kid.

As always the kids had a great time and we can't wait till the summer when we can hang out more!

Ethan's Birthday Party

This year we had Ethan's birthday party at Alley Cats. It was actually our first time to go. The kids had a great time bowling, playing games, and eating pizza. By the end of it Mondo and I were so overstimulated we said next year we're going to simplify birthday parties! Of course, the kids probably won't go for that idea.

Caleb bowled for the first time. He was the only one who used the little contraption to help him. He had a lot of fun and was so proud of himself. Ethan really got into the bowling. He was pretty good!

He was happy to spend some time with his buddy Colton.

They had "Happy Birthday Ethan" scrolling at the bottom of the screens while they bowled. Pretty cute.

After bowling it was time for some pizza.

Caleb chowed down!

I didn't make a birthday cake for him since he got one as part of the party package. I did make him one for another day...it's posted at the bottom.

It's funny to watch kids open presents at a party. They all start out sitting and quickly end up surrounding the birthday person and helping them open the presents.

Caleb and Hailey did this "ride". I love the look on his face. They were driving through something "scary" and he wasn't sure if he wanted to watch. ;-)

Ethan spent a lot of time and "credits" on trying to win something out of the claw machines. Poor little critter never won.

This is the Angry Bird cake I made per his request for his "real" birthday cake.

My 7 Year Old

Gasp! Where had the time gone?! How is my first born SEVEN?! It sounds so old. Of course, that's what I say every year when he turns a year older. ;-) He is in the middle of first grade right now and doing great. He has lots of friends and hates doing homework. I don't remember hating homework so early. I told him to just wait until he gets into highschool! I'm soaking in every time he asks me to come eat with him at school or when he gives me a kiss before he leaves the car. I know those days will soon come to an end. :-( He is reading 100% better than when he first started school. It's really amazing to see the transformation. As for his writing....well...if he actually puts in some effort it's pretty good.

He has a love hate relationship with his brother...but it's mainly love. The best part of my day is hearing those two play happily together or laughing uncontrollably with each other. Poor Ethan puts up with a lot from Caleb. Sometimes he just wants to be alone or quietly watch tv and Caleb is in his face or throwing toys at him wanting to play. Ethan will tell him, "Bubba is tired and cranky! Leave me alone!" Haha....

He loves when I come to his school to volunteer. He clings to me and doesn't want me to go. Yep, another moment I'm soaking up while I can.

He has taken over Gracie as "his dog". That works out well since Caleb has claimed Lexie. Really, Gracie just doesn't tolerate Caleb's craziness because she's old and crabby. I love that Ethan has bonded with Gracie and I love to see them snuggle and play together.

Speaking of snuggling, he is still a Daddy's boy big time. He always wants Daddy to lay with him at night. If given the choice of Mommy or Daddy for an activity, he chooses Daddy. That works out well since Caleb is stuck to me like glue.

He is very animated and keeps us laughing. I told him his hair looked like it had devil horns so he gave me his "devil face".

This is his "I want something and you won't give it to me" face. I see that frequently.

Since birth he has been a ladies man and continues to be. Anywhere there is a teenage girl, he's right next to her holding her hand. If we run into a girl at the park, Ethan is like a magnet to her while his other friends are playing, riding bikes, etc completely oblivious to the girl. I didn't think boys were supposed to like girls at this age. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out when he gets older.

Of course he is still a silly little boy most times and is an attention seeker. I'm suprised he hasn't broken another bone yet (knock on wood!).

The most exciting thing that has happened recently is that he learned how to ride his bike! Well, I should say we finally taught him. He would've been doing it a lot earlier if we had put in more effort. Now that's all he wants to do every day!

He still loves his cousin Blaine and thinks he hung the moon. He even offered him $5000 for his brand new car. Ethan, I don't think your piggy bank holds that much money.

Of course, what blog would be compete without a video of Ethan dancing!

We love you Ethan and are so blessed to get to be your parents! You're going to be something truely amazing one day. I just know it! ;-) Happy birthday buddy!!

Ethan's Birthday

Poor Ethan had to go to school on his birthday. But I sent the cupcakes he requested and his class sang him happy birthday so it all worked out. After school we went to eat at Olive Garden and then played some games at Main Event. I'd say he had a pretty good birthday. :-)

He had a bike helmet but wanted a new "cool" one that wasn't all black and boring like the one he had. So we bought him one that has neon green stripes on it to match his bike. He LOVES it.

Mmmm...breadsticks with alfredo dipping sauce.

Who loves Olive Garden?!

I love that Caleb still isn't quite old enough to know he's not really playing.

This was funny to watch. They love to "ride" this game. The seats shake and kind of move around while you watch a movie of a roller coaster, plane, or something that moves.

One final present...Chipmunk pj's! I think it's pretty funny that he requested pj's for his bday when he usually only sleeps in his underwear.

Martin Luther King

Ethan learned about Martin Luther King at school which brought on many conversations about treating people fairly and also about how he died. I played dumb and asked him who Martin Luther King was. You should've seen the look that he gave me. He was just dumbfounded that I didn't know. He said, "A long time ago the brown people had to sit in the back of the bus and the white people sat in the front. Martin Luther King said that wasn't fair. Now everyone gets to sit together." That's a pretty simple way to put it. He also asked me a lot about why someone shot him. Tough question. I tried to simply answer it and move on.

The first grade performed at the PTA meeting that week. I decided to grab a pic of the boys before we left.

Jeremiah (?), Braden and Will. It was so cute seeing him run up to all of his friends and chat. I remember when I was his age and had evening programs at school. I always thought it was so fun to be in my school at night with my friends.

All of the first grade classes.

That's Ethan's teacher Mrs. Dressel. She's the lead teacher for first grade.

Singing his little heart out! :-)