A Special Date with Ethan!

So, for his birthday, we had told Ethan we would take him on a date, and he could choose where we would eat, and then we would go to the kids paradise of Toys R Us to choose out a toy! The boy has been in heaven all week planning it all out. He chose to eat at Burger King due to the Sponge Bob toys that come with the kids meals! Again, I think anticipation is often greater than the reality of an experience. It made me feel a bit guilty as a parent to see how in heaven Ethan was the entire night. I know Ethan does not get that much time alone with us, his parents, and that was made crystal clear last night. His eyes sparkled and his smile was so bright the whole night. It truly made him feel so special to have us all to himself for the night. (Too bad our children will not always be this thrilled to spend time with us!) Here are some pictures of his sparkling eyes and smile in the car, at Burger King, and at Toys R Us. I think this will be a night we will all remember!!! There is nothing that warms the heart more than creating happy memories for your children! I also thought it was so cute that he wouldn't let go of his "Super Frog" Webkinz! Ethan has named the frog "Super Frog"!

Benefits of a Birthday Slideshow!

OK, I just love a slideshow and am addicted to making them. I just thought I would share my theory behind my annual birthday slideshow for my children. One, it is so fun for them and the family to see their pictures (at least once a year)!


The main reason to do the slideshow is in preparation for their future! It is hard to do the first slideshow of each kid's life---finding the pictures, etc. However, once the first slideshow is done, then you can just update it every year, adding the best pictures of each year. NOT SO HARD!

The brilliance, is that by the time they are married, you will have an incredible, fabulous slideshow of their life---for their wedding, or just to give them as a fabulous gift---sorta' a scrapbook of their life. I am very happy because I have had the goal this year to do this for all my primary family members. I have done all the kids except for Little Brandon, and his birthday is next month. Definately Ethan and Brandon have been the hardest as many of their pictures are not digital---so I have to still try to find some of Brandon's baby pictures to scan or figure out. Anyway, once you do that first slideshow of their lives, keeping up every year is not hard. Anyway, this is my random theory on why the birthday slideshow is a great idea!

Reclaiming the Backyard!

I think I am feeling a little kidded out!   We have been working on our backyard makeover (a constant process!)  We finally got our new gas firepit set put together, and I am REALLY enjoying some adult spaces in our yard!  It was definately time for some of the kid crap to take a hike!  So, I got on KSL, listed three kid playhouses, etc. and cleaned up our yard.  Within 5 minutes of the ad, I had three phonecalls and everything was sold.  So, if you have kid crap that you want to get rid of, I highly suggest KSL.  Anyway, I finally realized my kids didn't need SOOOO many play things, and it was time to RECLAIM my backyard!  I think the last couple years, with so many little ones, I have felt "in crisis" and have acquired all these playthings in an attempt to handle everything better.  Wow, I feel so much more freedom in unloading all this crap.  It also doesn't hurt anything to make a little cash and let other families enjoy some of these playthings!!!  Yeah, we will also have a nicer backyard for Ethan's birthday party tomorrow!  I just love to accomplish these little or big projects.  If we just move a little more in the right direction every day, maybe one day we will make it to where we should be!

Bye-Bye Log Cabin!

Bye-Bye Castle we have had WAY too long!

Bye-Bye little swing & slide


Hello adult space! It is so time to reclaim my backyard----a little bit, at least! Oh, and I know you cannot guess where we got the gas firepit or the gazebo! You get one guess, and if you haven't guessed yet, you don't know me at all and have never read my blog! COSTCO is the correct answer---once again!

A Birthday Webkinz!

Ethan with his new WEBKINZ!

Ethan was THRILLED to get a WEBKINZ from Aunt Krista & family for his birthday. He also got a giftcard from Nana & Papa, which will be fun to take on our date tonight to Toys R Us.  Ethan has been planning all week the various things he would like for his birthday!!!  It will be fun for him to go to the kids paradise of Toys R Us and choose something fun out! Anyway, I don't think I have seen many kids SOOO excited for their birthday.  Little Brandon is struggling to survive the jealousy he is feeling.  Luckily, his birthday is only a couple weeks away!!!  We keep reminding him his time will come soon!

UPDATE: Ethan is SOOO thrilled with his frog Webkinz. He would not let go of it on our date to Burger King or Toys R Us! The boy is attached to this little froggy. Oh, the sweet love of a six year old boy!

Happy 6th Birthday Ethan!

Happy Birthday Ethan!

I can't believe my baby Ethan is already six years old! From day one, Ethan has brought such joy and happiness into our lives. He came into this world through an emergency C-section during which time we were told he had "flatlined" and was no longer with us. I have never heard so many pagers going off as I was drifting into a beautiful la-la land of my own. I guess we were both having some trouble. Anyway, we have never enjoyed the sound of a baby crying so much as when we heard his cry as they pulled him out of my stomach and we knew he was OK. He was born at about 5 lbs. 13 oz. He was such a tiny, little guy. Our hearts were filled with such a great love for our new, sweet, baby.

Ethan has always been such a sweet little boy. He loves technology, Star Wars, computer games, Ben 10, "used" to love Spiderman, and sports. He is a quiet guy who likes to watch what is going on and figure things out on his own. I just love my little man Ethan and am so proud of the person he is becoming! Happy Birthday Ethan!

Can I just say that Ethan is in such a cute stage. He has been counting down the days to his birthday, and has been so excited about having a "date" with Mommy & Daddy, and having a Pirate birthday party. He truly is a beautiful child who brings such a happiness to our family!

Going through all these pictures to do the slideshow brought such happiness, sadness at being at the end of Ethan's babyhood, and tons of reminiscing. Such emotion!!! That's why I love to do the slideshows---I love to reminisce! I also added a couple songs (just for today) that Ethan loves (especially the Marc Anthony song and Paolo Nutini's "New Shoes" song!)

A little, big blessing!

OK, I know that makes absolutely no sense, except to me, but anyway............I am grateful for the "little" big blessings!

So, our walls are looking not so great these days as a result of all the "artwork" done by our children. So, we had run out of our touch up paint, and there were no labels on that paint to tell us the brand, color, etc. So, we called our builder to get the name of the color and manufacturer of the paint. So, the builder gave me the number to the "paint" guy who happens to live in our subdivision. Anyway, I called him, and it turns out that our builder no longer uses that color paint, so he happens to have 5 gallons or so. He told us we could just come and get it. DREAMY! How nice to not have to go buy it, and to have the perfect shade. I just love NICE people like this who are SOOOO helpful. Maybe I won't have such an ugly feeling in my stomach next time my children decide to do artwork on the walls. After all, we now have 5 gallons. We better hide that from the kids, or our couches and floors might end up with "artwork".

Chuck E. Cheese

Since this week is Spring Break, some of my friends and I have been doing lots of fun activities. The kids have had a blast!!! Here are some pics of today's fun!

Just for fun!

Often, when we are on the way to a fun outing, I use the outing as leverage to try to take some cute pics. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I never tire of taking pictures!
Sweet Maddie Pie

Benjamin & Dylan

All five kids---our true reality!

I hope they call me on a mission.........

(In the car, Brandon speaking to me) "Mom, I think I have changed my mind. I think I will go to Hollywood or Las Vegas on my mission." (He has heard of "going to Hollywood" from American Idol.) "What makes you want to go to Hollywood on your mission?", I ask. Brandon: "Well, there aren't many members of the church there, and they need the gospel." Very true. I have to enjoy these moments! I love that a mission is on his mind!!! (He said he wants to go to Vegas so he can say hi to his friend Brock!) Brandon has such a sweet heart, he has so much love, I know he will make an excellent missionary man someday! We shall see what the future brings. Just a couple days ago, he wanted to go to France on a mission because of "poodles" and "fancy people".