End of August 2011

Then end of August was jam-packed full of things on the calendar! But before the craziness began, we did get a chance to do some low-key, fun activities. Of course, life around the apartment was still revolving around unpacking, nesting, staying on top of chores and getting organized. Ethan has gotten really into helping though, especially with the laundry. Every time I turn the washer on he comes running and wants to help put stuff in it. Then he insists that I pick him up so he can see inside the washer! Let's hope this desire stays with him as long as he lives with us!

One night while Tristan was at work my mom and dad invited us down to the Tumwater Falls Park for some dinner. We ate and played at the Historical park and then drove down to the falls park for a walk.

In front of the falls
Checking out the (empty) salmon runs...but the water was still impressive to him!

And, of course, if there's a tractor, Ethan will find it. One of the park workers was cleaning some limbs up and Ethan was chasing her all over the park. We finally caught up to her and she let him sit on it, which made his day!

More water falls
It was a fun evening and a nice break from making dinner!

One morning Kelly and I decided to trek up to Seattle and take the boys to Woodland Park Zoo (who also honor our Baton Rouge membership--score!!). It was a really pretty day, but super busy considering it was a Tuesday morning!

We arrived at the giraffe enclosure right as they were doing a giraffe-feed, so they were really, really close!

Kelly and Anderson checking out the Orangutans
They were so funny--they were hiding out in the tree with burlap sacks over their heads!

We were trying to get a picture of our two little monkeys with the monkey statue, but this is the best we got!

Ethan insisted upon giving the monkey a hug and kiss...my sweet boy!
He loved playing in this tunnel by the Meerkat exhibit. So much so that when I made him leave we went into major meltdown mode and the day was pretty much over!

One saving grace at the end of the day was the tractor (of course!), except when he had to share it with anyone else! Both he and Anderson loved the tractor.

It was a fun morning and a good way to burn some energy!

Every year, Tristan's mom's ward holds a memorial bike ride in memory of Tristan's dad, Milton. He was an avid bike-rider and people turn out to ride their bikes on the Chehalis Western Trail and then meet up afterward at the trailhead for a BBQ. I was excited for Ethan to get to go be a part of it, so even though I had to sit the bike ride out (I was having some problems with contractions that day and had to set up for Ethan's birthday party with my family) Tristan took him and walked him on his tricycle. I was able to meet up for the BBQ afterward, though, so I still got to benefit from the yummy food! It was the hottest day we had had so far this summer, so it was beautiful!

Tristan said that Ethan loved rolling down the hills on his own (they aren't that steep) and that he loved wearing his helmet!

After the bike ride he was thirsty! These pictures crack me up because they look like he just finished a mini Tour de France!

Enjoying the park during the BBQ!
I'm sure glad we have gotten to enjoy some of the beautiful summer weather that we love in Washington! Hard to believe the summer is almost over!

Turning 2!!

O.k., seriously...

How does time pass so quickly that we can already have gone from this sweet newborn face...
to this smiling 2-year-old face?
Ethan's second birthday snuck up on us since we were busy moving in to our new apartment and because it was the same day as Tristan's brother's wedding. So we were busy all day trying to make all of the celebrations special! We started out here early that morning with a birthday breakfast and presents! Ethan has been really into tractors, lately and as you can see, he loved them on his wrapping paper!

Construction wall decals for his new room
New construction big-boy bedding since his little brother will be inheriting the elephants

And some new bath toys since his other ones got nasty inside...it's so funny to think back to last year when he wasn't interested in gifts at all!

The card got opened last, but he was still excited about the tractors and the tractor stickers!
We had chocolate chip pancakes and pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast. Since we weren't doing a cake that day, I decided to stick a candle on it!

Making a wish!

After breakfast, we headed up to Bellevue for Kelsey's wedding at the Seattle Temple. I was so grateful that my mom and dad came up so we could still be with Ethan on his special day. They watched him outside while Tristan and I attended the sealing and then helped me with him while Tristan was busy with pictures. They were lifesavers and they were worn out by the day's end!

With Grandpa and Grandma at the Temple
He kept trying to hug the little girl that was on this statue...complete strangers were even taking pictures of it! It was so sweet!

Nicole and Kelsey coming out of the Temple

Walking the stairs
Ethan was NOT happy about taking this picture! But we at least tried!
Walking the stairs again. This time with Grandpa.
Eventually he wanted to get rid of the dress shoes that were really too small for him, but I made him squeeze into one last time. I know, I'm mean, but I really wanted him to wear his suit! He was loving putting his toes in the grass!
The reception was about an hour away, so we made a pit stop at Red Robin on our way there. I had a free birthday burger and Ethan had a free kid's meal to get so it was perfect! My mom and dad brought along his birthday card with cars on it and he was very interested!

Enjoying his birthday chocolate milk

They even came and brought us both birthday sundaes, birthday balloons and sang to us!
Me and my birthday boy
By the time we got to the reception I was too tired to take any pictures, but it was a beautiful reception and we were so glad to get to be a part of it. It was a special day for many reasons, but I was thankful to spend it with two of the most important people in my life...my two boys!!

Mid-Summer Fun

I'm going to apologize in advance that this post is really long. But I realized that with a month to go until our new little one arrives, I better get caught up quick! Tristan left at the end of June to head back to Louisiana for a whole month and Ethan and I stayed with my parents. For the most part, we were pretty low-key and stayed close to home. We did squeeze in a few playdates and trips to the library, but mostly entertained ourselves in grandma and grandpa's back yard!

There were a few firsts while Tristan was gone for the month. Ethan went potty on the potty! This wasn't the time that he did, just an attempt, but one night he was successful!!!

We also gave Ethan his first Slurpee. To celebrate their birthday 7-11 was giving away free slurpees. He wasn't overly impressed, so I'm glad it was free!

One of my good friends from high school came to visit from Utah with her three kids. So Kelly and I went out to her parents' lakehouse for a visit. It's so funny to hang out again now that we're no longer high schoolers and we all have kids. This was the best shot I could get of our three boys that are all the same age: Ethan, Anderson and Jensen!

I'm not going to lie...it was a loooooong month that Tristan was gone. You name it, we had issues with it. Behavior, eating, sleeping...by the time he got home I was beat. But I was looking forward to some family fun once he returned!

We found out that both of the major zoos in our area honored our Baton Rouge Zoo membership, so that meant we can get into them for free! We were so excited because we love going to the zoo. We headed up to Point Defiance Zoo one beautiful morning for a family field trip. First stop was a new play area next to the lemurs and meerkats. These were the otter slides.

Trying it on his own...although it looks like they go fast, they barely went at all! Ethan had to use his feet to get down it!

The baby clouded leopard cubs are the rage at the zoo right now, so we stopped by to visit them.

Two little monkeys...

I guess this camel was hoping that if it layed in the sun taking a nap, they wouldn't make it get up and give the camel rides!

Checking out the walruses, one of the day's favorite stops.
It was so crazy how she just came right up to the glass and made eye contact with Ethan!

This is a life sized mural of the polar bears...that is a biiiiiiiig bear!

Tristan is really good about getting some one-on-one time in with Ethan when he's home. One day he decided to take Ethan to a park that is within walking distance from our apartment while I went grocery shopping. From the pictures it looks to me like Ethan had a grand ole' time!!!
I can just hear him saying "Whoaaaaaa!!!" from the look on his face in this one!
Love this smiling face
Snack time!
Riding home...he's so funny, lately he has loved wearing his helmet when he rides his bike and we just encourage him because it's a good habit. He looks like such a big boy wearing a helmet! I'm so glad that he gets to have fun time alone with his daddy.

At the beginning of August Thurston County (read Thurston Parish for all of my Southern peeps ;)) has a fair and we decided to take Ethan. It has traditional fair food and a few rides, but the main attraction are the animals and agricultural displays. We knew this would be right up Ethan's alley and decided to take him. Right from the start he loved it...we parked in the free parking and rode the "shuttle" a.k.a. school bus to the fair. Ethan loves buses, so he was thrilled! Then when we arrived, the first barn we walked in to had the tractor displays...I think Ethan thought he had died and gone to heaven!

Next stop was the cattle barn. He really like petting the cows, but when one of the workers tried to get him to sit on one, he drew the line and wanted out of there!
Petting the calf
Visiting the poultry barn
There was a grassy area with hula hoops set up and he had fun watching some of the bigger kids hula hooping, but when it was his turn I think he was a little confused about why his wouldn't spin around the way theirs did!
Of course, no fair visit is complete without a Fisher scone (especially when you're prego)! Yummy! It was fun to get to do some traditional summer activities with Tristan home as well.