Calling All Super Heros...Ethan's 5th Birthday

 

Picking out a theme for Ethan's Fifth Birthday was quite easy this year- Superheros!  The party planner in me could have had a field day with all the fun super hero party things available now.  This was our very first party to not host in our home, which made everything quite simple and limited my super hero decorations!  I just had to learn to "sit on my hands" and watch the My Gym staff do their thing!  We always do a birthday banner for the birthday boy and this year's happens to be one of my favorites.  What can I say, you can't go wrong with Etsy.  This banner will end up in a Ethan's room or playroom.  

We realized Ethan's bike was way to small and gifted him new bright orange bike.  He woke up at 6 am to find it downstairs.  So this momma sipped her coffee and watched a bed headed Ethan riding before anyone was awake in the neighborhood.  

 

We gave Ethan his first set of golf clubs for his birthday.  The morning before the party David took Ethan to play his first official 9 holes.  I think they both enjoyed it!  However, next time little brother gets to go!  He was bummed when he did go:(  What can I say Bennett lives for sports and the kid is barely two!  We just have to find him left handed clubs.  

The party at My Gym was a blast for all.  The staff keep the kids very entertained from one stunt or game to the next.  Ethan had some of the biggest smiles I've ever seen!  The party favor was the super hero capes I found here which made the super hero party!  Our littlest guest got a pink super hero socks and headband set from Target.  We handed out the favors at the start of the party and kids were precious running around doing stunts with their capes blowing in the wind.  The kids were thrilled to take them home.  Before Ethan blew out his candles we surprised him with this Green Lantern Super Hero costume.  Part of the My Gym Party is coming out on this motorcycle.  We thought it would be fun to dress him up as his new favorite super hero.  Not sure where he learned of the Green Lantern?!  The kids ate chocolate or vanilla cupcakes make by a local baker who seems to nail every cake theme I give her!  After all the fun we took Ethan to his favorite restaurant PF Chang's where he laughed his way through dinner with his cousins.   

this October day...

this October day marks the third day that the hubby has been gone.   in all honesty..I don't dread him going on his annual hunting trip.  I think the 'only child' in me enjoys the alone time.  Each year I tackle something big...potty training or marking 90% of the Christmas shopping off my list.  however October seems a bit early to Christmas shop.  I must admit its kind of driving me crazy...not having a big project to accomplish.  
today I dressed the kids up in their halloween costumes to take a few photos.   halloween eve always is busy with and brewing with excitement, so its hard to get a few good shots and be in the moment.  we had the best time running around, middle of the day dressed up, just being silly, laughing.  its true what they say...the simple things in life are the best.  
so if it rains on halloween {60% chance here as of today} it will be okay. my halloween was made today.  just me and my boys.  hearing them laughing at each other, leaves crunching under their feet, was perfect.   

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brother like brother...

my boys at 19 months...I used to think they looked totally different...

one brown eyes, one light blue.  One blonde the other light brown.  

but these days they look and act more alike everyday.  

slow moving mama....

The last few weeks I've been secretly dreading falling back into our fall routine...rushing through breakfast, packing lunches, getting in the car to realize the highlight of my morning {coffee} is now cold. Did I mention he only goes to school three days a week? Oh, and lets factor in soccer, swim lessons, and ISR.  What will come of me when he starts kindergarten? I suppose that is why I'm savoring the slow moving mornings and keeping my boys on our own agenda ----- play dough.   I must admit that maybe my home school mama friends have figured a little something out!


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oh Canada!

We just returned home from Canada where David's family has been camping for four generations now. We had lovely weather... warm enough to swim during the day but cool at night to snuggle down in your sleeping bag.  David drove to Canada towing our boat and I flew up two days later with the boys.  

I had been raining when we arrived at camp.  

The first thing Bennett did was go stomp through a few puddles.  

Ethan all smiles one morning when we woke up to a chilly day and needed our warm clothes.  

I was super excited to see Bennett sport his flannel:)

We found a Canadian ball for Bennett and he couldn't have been a happier camper.  

The boy loves balls!

After a super chilly night, David started a fire for us to warm up. 

One of my favorite things was Ethan picking me "flowers" every day.  Don't worry, he would get the root and all!  I wore my flowers in my hair all week.  

This year the mosquitoes and the deer flies were terrible!!!  I kept myself and the boys covered in deet and I am fairly certain I will smell like deet for the remainder of the summer.  But hey...it worked.

Fishing was pretty good this year!  David caught the largest perch he has ever caught.  We someone 

managed to not get a picture of it:(  Ethan and I got new fishing poles...mine was pretty awesome.  

We picnicked on Big Island.  Bennett read Brown Bear to ward away the bears!

David and I snuck away one night to have a date night on our boat.  The sky and clouds gorgeous in Canada.  I found myself always looking up.

Things weren't too rough...I'm pretty sure David didn't get to watch his favorite show at night when he was a little boy.  One of Ethan's favorite memories this year was waking up to be surprised to see his cousins in his bed.  Cousin sleepovers while camping is kinda a big deal to a 4 year old!

Poor Baby Bennett had to sport his life jacket a lot last week!  He did great though.  We had to make sure to take the key out of the boat so he wouldn't drive it away!

We ate at Wheelers which has pancakes, french toast, and maple sausage on the menu.  My sugar loving baby loved his pancakes and was all smiles.  His momma was all smiles after a treat of hot coffee!!!

Babies first s'more!

One borrowed snorkel from a kind cousin and who knew Ethan could snorkel? 

 Guess we need to buy one...

Someone was so sad to leave and misses his cousins!  We all drove home and I was amazed at how well the boys did during our 20 hour car trip.  We split it up into two days and I came prepared with new toys from a local toystore.  I guess they were also worn out from a week of outdoor life!

press rewind...

Okay...so I haven't been blogging like I used to.  I simply got behind and then more behind...and well, I'm a bit overwhelmed at trying to play catch up.  A lot has happened with our little family so I will hit the rewind button via pictures...

Bennett... he has grown so much.  He is now 15 months and has the best laugh.  He has been working on several teeth lately, loves to hold the remote and sit on the couch, can now feed himself the squeeze baby food, and has spent a lot of time playing outside.  Drum roll....he is now a walker!  He has been taking steps but took off walking around 14 months.  I am ashamed to tell you we have practiced walking all over the dirtiest floor imaginable while watching Ethan at swim.  Bennett is a mommas boy but gives his Daddy all of his heartiest laughs.

Ethan... he is a typical boy.  His teacher just told me how he is always finding rolly pollys on the playground and other insects to "bring home."  I was wondering why his finger nails were soooo dirty after a day at school.  He has completed a second season of soccer with David as his coach.  He is a very much a talker and asks "why" about every 3 minutes or so.  When I asked him "why do you ask why after everything I say?"  His response was, "Moooom, I'm a little boy and little boys ask why!  We don't know so we ask."  He is a mess of thick, blond curly hair with his father's eyes.  He is very sweet and yet so brave.  We recently had to have a little spot removed off his neck.  I had to hold him down for the lidocaine injections and the removal.  He was so brave...and treated with ice cream afterwards.  He and Bennett giggle at each other all the time and are now each other's playmate.  Which as a mother is the one of the best sounds I've ever heard...the boys laughing at each other.   Ethan's had two field trips with his school this spring.   He seems to be quite the ladies man...he only talks about the girls!  Ethan has finished his second session of Swim America.  He is now working on strokes.  

Family Vacation...  a couple of weeks ago we took a trip to Ameila Island.  We stayed a fabulous hotel and had a great time.  I swear Ethan just looks as if he grew up on the beach.   He loves the sand, waves, and of course the pool.  Bennett did great at the beach.  He loved gathering the shells and playing with his sand toys.  David and I enjoyed having a glass of wine after dinner and letting the boys run all over this green area.  Ethan and I danced at night to the pianist in the lobby.  We enjoyed our time away!

Around the house... This spring we have been watching a Robin's nest outside of breakfast window in our cherry tree.  It has been the neatest thing to watch the eggs appear, turn into babies, and then grow big!  We have also had some renovation on our barely three year old house.  We decided to rip out our guest bath and remodel it.  Lets just say David has had to be rushed to emergent care and have a few stitches.  The bath is still under construction...and who knows if it will be ready for our Pirate Birthday Party this weekend!  More pics to come on that later!