Ethan came to me this afternoon and told me that he found a good spot for me to hide an Easter egg. Here is how our conversation went:
Ethan: Mom, you could hide an Easter egg here.
Me: You mean the Easter Bunny can hide an egg there?
Ethan: No, you.
Me: What do you mean? Why do you think that I hide the eggs?
Ethan: Because there's no such thing as big bunnies. I think it's really parents.
Sigh...I guess he's growing up.
Ethan is growing up so fast in some ways and not fast enough in others, but moments like this make me wish that he would stay little forever. Ethan went outside and parked himself right in front of the door and blew bubbles. I couldn't help but grab my camera to capture these cute pictures of him entertaining himself.
and maybe you did too.
It's good to be reminded of the important job a mother has and the divine help that we are entitled to as we love and serve our families.
Just wanted to take a moment to document something very important.....
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Brett made this video for me and it really sums up my daily battles with Autin. Austin and I watched it together and we were both laughing, then Austin said "that doesn't sound like us!"
We were truly blessed when a wonderful family in our ward gave us their piano that they no longer wanted. It has been such a joy having this instrument in our home. I have wanted a piano for years and years, and now that we have one, we are using it and enjoying it. I have started giving the boys piano lessons. Here is Austin practicing his first song.
It's true, I am a worrier. I worry about EVERYTHING! I worry about my kids, my health, my family's health, our safety....you name it I worry about it. It's exhausting, but it's me. Well, my worrying finally got the better of me this weekend, and I'm pretty sure that my worrying ways have finally earned me the
MOM OF THE YEAR
For 5 minutes of peace today. The boys were out of school today in honor of Veterans Day and that always makes life interesting. Austin and Cameron don't always get along (see here) and today was no different....the bickering, hittting, tattling and the mom going crazy! But this afternoon Cam had the idea to play Hullabaloo and instead of the usual angry fighting words, I actually heard a lot of laughter! Music to my ears. So thank you Hullabaloo and thank you Veterans for protecting our rights and freedoms that we so graciously enjoy!
Winner....take a bow!
At 5 months old, Ethan is very attentive. He is laughing and squealing and he just lights up when you give him a little attention. He can sit with some assistance and it won't be long now until he can do it on his own. This little guy is growing so quickly! If only there was a way to slow him down....I am really loving having a baby around again! He is a JOY! 
We went to Target to pick up a couple of things. We were cruising around the store checking things out when Austin says to me "Mommy, my arm is stuck" I look down and sure enough, his little arm is stuck in the cart between the seat where he was sitting and the basket where Ethan was sitting in his carseat. I try to pull it out and it is really stuck, (we are talking stuck as in his arm wouldn't budge at all). No luck. I try again. At this point, poor little Austin is crying and telling me that it hurts, so I need to figure something else out quickly! Panic is setting in, and I am just sure that I am going to have to call the fire department to come and cut my child out of the cart. Then an idea comes to mind....Vaseline. I race up to the front of the store (because of course we were way in the back) and I find a little jar of Vaseline, tear the lid off, get a big ol' glob and rub his arm down and low and behold, his arm slides right out.....Whew! Crisis averted. Back to shopping. Now Ethan is fussing. OK, I pick him up and discover that he is a huge mess. We're talking blow out!!! That's it! Off we race back to the front of the store (because again, we were in the back), pay for the couple things I needed and out to the car to clean up the poor little guy. And that was the end of our happy day at Target. I vaguely remember a time when shopping was fun.....those were the days! When I asked Austin why he stuck his hand in the cart, he informed me that Ethan wanted to hold his hand. How sweet is that?! However, I don't think that he will be doing that again any time soon. Let's hope not anyway! Oh, and in case you were wondering, I did pay for the Vaseline. The whole fiasco cost me an extra dollar. ☺ Here is Austins account of the day. Enjoy!
Sorry, the sound is kind of fuzzy!
I just told Brett this story and he laughed as he informed me that he set the kids up to drive me crazy so that I wouldn't spend so much money at Target....haha! Little does he know that once he gets home I am leaving all the kids with him and I am going shopping.....ALONE!!!
My sweet baby boy is now 4 months old. It is scary how quickly time flies by. I love having a baby in the house again and I am not wanting him to grow up too quickly.
Ethan at 4 months:
Ethan is the most patient baby ever. He is content to sit and observe. He sleeps through the night and he even puts himself to sleep. He loves watching his big brothers, and one of my favorite things to see is when I lay Ethan down on a blanket, without fail, his big brother Austin is right there laying by him holding his little hand....so sweet!
Ethan smiles a lot! He is a happy little guy and his sweet smile is infectious! He also giggles from time to time, usually at his daddy.
Ethan is getting very close to rolling over...won't be long now.
Ethan is such a sweet little boy and this Mommy loves him more than he will ever know. It has been a joyful 4 months with this little guy! ♥
For those of you who want to be a Mean Mommy like me, here is a quick tutorial to help you out.
First: Every day (yes, every day) that the kids are off-track, write up a list of chores that you would like each child to be responsible for and leave it at their place at the table. Then require that they tackle those chores immediately after breakfast. *Note: the longer the list, the better the grumbling. Little do the boys know, but this little list of chores is still going to appear when they return to school. (insert evil laugh)
2nd: Check their work to make sure that it was done properly, if not have them do it again.
3rd: Add a few more chores as the day goes on just so they don't get too bored or if they start fighting too much. (I tell my kids that if they can't play together, then they will work together.)
4th: After the chores are completed, for a little reward, take them here:
*Warning: This step is questionable, because I am not sure if this little outing is worse for the kids or the Mom.
Then if they are really good at Joanns, you may be able to let your guard down a little and take them here:
But just to look! Remind them that you are not buying anything!
If you do these things, you can be a Mean Mommy just like me. This system works and believe me, your house will be tidy and your boys will learn to clean up after themselves. They'll also learn to be patient while shopping for fabric and crafts (especially if you bribe them with treats). Their wives will thank me someday!
Good job boys! The house looks fabulous!
It's amazing what a little medication for me and baby can do! Things are much better today. I am on a course of action to being pain free, the boys were "angels" today and we even managed to make it to Costco...yes, me and all 4 boys and we've lived to tell the tale!
Remember this comic I posted awhile back? Well, today was one of "those" days.
The kids were loud, messy, fighting, rowdy, bored, hyper, restless, hungry, laughing, crying, yelling, teasing, hitting, whining etc. Sounds like any normal day at our house, but for some reason it seemed so much worse today thanks to a lovely little infection that I've developed. My poor baby is fussy today (thanks to the above mentioned infection) and not napping well (thanks to the above mentioned rowdy brothers) and my house is a disaster (sigh). Well, tomorrow is a new day let's hope its a better one!
Ethan Charles
Born June 1, 2009 at 12:00am and 30 seconds. He was almost a May baby.
Weighing in at 7lbs. 5 oz. and measuring 20" long.
We are so happy that he is finally here! 
Lots of love for our new little guy!
Happy birthday sweet boy!
So I am officially 2 weeks away from my due date and this is where it gets hard for me. I start to worry about how this is all going to play out. I worry about my boys and what I will do with them when I go into labor and while I am in the hospital (even though I have wonderful people lined up to help us out), I worry about how everyone will adjust to life with this new little person (although I am sure that it will work out just fine...right Austin?!), I worry (or am more annoyed rather) that my maternity clothes are getting tighter and tighter and soon I will have to work to lose all this baby weight, and overall, I am just ready to move on to the next stage...life with a newborn. Did I mention that I am starting to have crazy dreams about going into labor? It makes for a very restless nights sleep! I still have a few things to do to prepare, one major thing being that I need to pack my bag for the hospital. I will do that today! I decided that 9 months is a really long time and I am ready to wrap this up (goodbye heartburn). Thank goodness I am not an elephant as their gestation period is 22 months, however, at the moment I am feeling slightly larger than one. I think that I need an afternoon of crafts, so my plan (after packing my bag of course) is to start sewing my diaper bag (hopefully tomorrow). The race is on...we'll see which comes first the baby or the diaper bag. Here's hoping the baby wins!
and a little spoiled too.
My boys were good to me on Mother's day!
Nothing beats a handmade gift from your children! Thanks boys!
Brett and I thought this comic was pretty funny from yesterdays paper!
I receive the Family LDS Gems in my e-mail each day and I love this quote by President Thomas S. Monson.
Women Have a Great Influence for Good
"Too frequently, women underestimate their influence for good. Well could you follow the formula given by the Lord: 'Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God' (D&C 88:119).
"In such a house will be found happy, smiling children who have been taught, by precept and example, the truth. In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved."
Don't we all want that?!
The whole talk is really great too. Take some time out today to read it here
