funny boy

Ethan loves to pray. He says every prayer in our house these days and if you forget to let him pray first...he'll just pray right along with you, adding in his own sweet words as well mimicking yours! It really is funny and sweet! Tonight though, I asked the boys to fold their arms and get ready to bless the food. Ethan jumps right in and starts in on his prayer. He gets a few sentences in, and without a single pause, informs me that I forgot to put cups on the table for dinner, and then continued on to ask for blessings on Olivia (who is still Weewa in his words), prays for Garrett and Daddy and all his friends...and then ends his prayer. Funny little boy...guess we need to work on closing our eyes during prayers and not assessing what is and what isn't on the table at the moment!

Stormy Day

I love days like today! Unbelievably windy and rain pouring down in torrents every once in a while! The funny thing is, I took Ethan and Olivia on a walk to our favorite nearby fountain since it was beautiful outside and slightly cooler than it has been the past few days. I knew the rain was coming (at least according to the trusty weathermen on the morning news!) but it was great outside at the time! But within 2 minutes of coming inside, the rain started POURING! I think we'll stay tucked away inside now! And if it weren't still 90 degrees outside, I'd want to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate! Oh well, you can't have it all!

about time

we finally did it...and are loving it! the boys couldn't be happier...which means we couldn't be happier either! :)

Oh...and don't worry! We have the safety net on it now! These pics were taken before the assembly was quite finished! :)

whatcha thinking about???

I often ask my boys what they're thinking about. You know, in those random moments that they are quiet and obviously off in their own little world! It's funny to hear what they say. Lately, I've been asking Ethan...and this is what he's said over the past week...

Me - E? What are you thinking about?

Ethan - Elephants.

Me - Elephants? What about elephants?

Ethan - Yea, elephants. Elephants so big!

Me - Ethan, what did you dream about during naptime?

Ethan - Books?

Me - Really, books? That's a good dream!

Ethan - Yeah...I like books!

and today while riding home in the car...

Me - E? What are you thinking about?

Ethan - (looking a bit sheepish) You!

Me - (not knowing if I heard him right) What...did you say me???

Ethan - (now sporting his little embarrassed grin) Yep...you Mom!

Man, I love that kid!

siblings

The boys completely adore their sister. Not to say that we don't have our issues when Mommy can't help when help is needed...but those times are very few and far between - thankfully!!!

Ethan is especially concerned with and attentive to his "WeeWa" - as he calls her. He is quick to run to the fridge to get a bottle any time she cries...not so helpful when I'm trying to nurse her, but his heart is in the right place! He also is convinced that the music button on Olivia's swing solves any problem. He is known to turn on the tunes at the slightest little squeak! It's pretty cute...loud and annoying...but cute!

Garrett is adoring in his own way, and really is very helpful. He hops in the car everyday after school, slides up next to her carseat and just peers in at her with the adoration evident in his cute face! I'll walk into a room and find him just sitting next to her and staring at her contentedly...and she just stares right back!!! Soooo cute!

It's funny how different they are with her...but it is completely true to their personalities. Like the other day, I asked Garrett to wipe up Olivia's chin when she had just spit up. True to his perfectionist personality...he refuses to do anything until he has been properly trained on the ins and outs and whys of every situation! Once he knows he can do it, he'll do anything...but I hadn't ever 'shown' him how to wipe a chin, so he wad completely freaked to do it! :) While all this was playing out though, Ethan had walked by Olivia's swing, seen the spit up, grabbed a napkin from the counter and was over her in an instant, wiping her chin, all the while, soothing her in his high-pitched 'soothe the baby' voice. It was priceless!

Cute baby girl!

Crazy Boys!

Ethan, on watch duty!

Surprise!! Pictures

So I was looking at our blog the other day and noticed that we haven't posted photos of our little girl in a long time. So, in case you were thinking that we don't like our little Olivia, here are some photos of the little cutie!

She has been home for just over 2 weeks and is still doing well. She is probably around the 6 pound range but we haven't weighed her for over a week. We are trying to figure out how to get our sleep...although I sleep through the night just fine, Dani claims that she is up with Olivia every 2 hours to feed her.

it's all in the wording...Ethan style

Side-out = inside out

(I learned this one as we were getting jammies on tonight. Ethan was running around, waving his pajamas, yelling "SIDE-OUT! SIDE-OUT!" all because he had managed to twist his shirt inside-out while trying to get dressed)

Side-wards = sideways

(This one was as he managed to get his shirt on, but it was sideways and he couldn't find the arm holes!)

Tiny-lots = a whole bunch!!!

(This one I figured out as I handed him a bunch of stuff and he shouted out "Whoa...dat's lots...tiny-lots! I figured it meant a lot!)

Liddle-hot (meaning little hot!) = COLD!

(This is what Ethan exclaimed as he took his first sip of his smoothie today. Nothing like frozen fruit and ice to inspire a new vocabulary!!!)

Biss one...bat one - this one or that one

Dantin - napkin (always said in a high-pitched squeal with sticky fingers held out in front of him)

WeeWa or Weeva - all words for Olivia! (always said very excitedly)

And not really a word...but just something cute. Ethan was playing with the Leapfrog ABC Magnets on the fridge the other day as I was making dinner. He put the K in and it told him the sound and then started it's song...'The K says 'kuh' (imagine the K sound...I don't know how to type it without using my useful phonetic alphabet from college!!!) But cute little Ethan is singing along, very passionately, "The tay says 'tuh'...the tay says 'tuh'." It was pretty cute! Most other letters he can say...but that tricky K is out to get him!

Also, not a word, but whenever you say yes to Ethan or tell him something he approves of...he responds with a little 'Yea!!!' either under his breath as he is off to his next thing or a huge "YEA!!!" at the top of his little lungs! Luckily it was the quiet version today as he asked during church if he could have his fruit snacks! Well, as quiet as Ethan gets! :)