Boy or Girl???

Will the cake be pink or will it be blue??  That was the question on everyone's mind all day yesterday.  We could hardly make it until after dinner to find out.  Who knew it would be as exciting as Christmas!

It's a BOY!

 

Dinosaur Museum

I have to admit, having a membership to Thanksgiving Point has been awesome.  Saturday we went to the dinosaur museum for fun in the evening and it was nice to be able to stay as short or long as we wanted and leave when we wanted and know we can go back whenever we want too.  It makes the kids more willing to leave.  Well, except Cooper!

We started in the huge brick room where Madeline was happy to let Todd brick her right up!

 He left her a window

 and after it was complete, made the door so she could get out and the boys could get in.  Though, this is as far as Cooper would go...

 There were lots of areas of the museum that Cooper was unsure of

 woah biiiiiiig!!

 but he loved the water, water, water!!

 watch out!

 and of course, he LOVED the sand pit.  Which is why he wasn't a happy camper when we left.  Next time, we're going to skip the rest and go straight to the sand.  I think we could stay all day!

22 Months Old

22 Months Old:

 Sometimes he even calls his milk "milk" now instead of water!  Though lots of times he says "milk or water" for milk.  I think I confused him asking him if he wanted milk or water.  Lol!

 He LOVES the garbage truck, but calls it a "garbage car".  And a dump truck a dump car.  I ask him if he can say dump truck and he smiles and says, "dump car!"  Then he'll chuckle and grab his milk cup and look and me with a sly little face and say, "water!"  He gets the most excited when we're driving in the car and he sees a big semi pass by.  He literally starts shaking with excitement and declares in his loudest and deepest voice, "BIIIIIIIG car!!!!!"

 He's talking more and more.  Sleeping less and less.  Into everything just as much.  And as much fun as he ever was.  He is thrilled when I let him outside to play in the dirt.  And if he could live off of grapes for lunch and noodles for dinner, he'd be one happy little guy.

I like the below picture because those baby cheeks are starting to thin out and go away and I'm glad that they still look a little chubby when he's looking down.  So kissable and cute.

My Birthday

Chocolate Cake!!!!!

 My birthday this year was fantastic.  Todd took the day off and took our family out to breakfast at Mimi's Cafe.  I was in heaven eating orange cream french toast.

 Then I went and got a pedicure.  I loved that.

 We went out to dinner with my parents and Todd's parents and home for presents and cake.  I enjoyed getting some fun makeup and a gift card to a jewelry store.  Clothes for your birthday when you're prego just isn't quite as fun, but makeup and jewelry always is!

And here I am.  You might think from the candles that I'm 3 or maybe 4 if you add them up-haha!, but really I'm 31.  Hmmm, not sure how I feel about that one.  But I guess good.

The day was nice.  Ethan and Madeline made me THE NICEST cards ever.  I'll eventually have to post them.  They are the kind I'll definitely keep forever!  And that is something I know exactly how I feel about.  Happy.  So very happy.  I have the best kids ever!  And the best hubby.  The best family indeed.  (and doesn't Madeline look so darling in this picture and OLDER.  ack!)

Cousins

We like to pack our summers with lots of cousin love. 

Cowabunga Bay

July 5th, we went to Cowabunga Bay with my brother's family.  The kids LOVED every second of it.  Such a fun place for kids!  I think Todd was the only one who got sunburned and that was totally my fault since I sprayed his sunscreen on.  Whoops.  I spent most of the time there taking pictures and floating around the lazy river.  Someday maybe I'll go when I'm not pregnant so I can actually go down some of the slides.  But I still had fun anyway!  Definitely a good way to spend a summer day.

Stadium of Fire

We left the kids to party with their cousins at my parent's house 

 and yes, they had fun!

 And we headed to the Stadium of Fire.  Todd surprised me with AMAZING seats - 11th row on the field - as an early birthday present.

 A few rows up sat Todd's parents and Aunt Leslie and Russ.

 Studio C performed several times and was hilarious.  There were sky divers and trampoline jumpers and dancers and singers and it was an all-around awesome show.

 But, of course, my favorite part was Carrie Underwood.  She was incredible.

 Yes, I took a picture of the jumbo screen.  Did I mention that I like Carrie Underwood.

 Her concert was so great and I wanted it to last LONGER but the fireworks were pretty cool.  And they didn't even shoot into the audience like the last time I went.  I was excited about that.  Though being so close, we did get sprinkled with ash a time or two.

 It was well worth it though.  So cool!

Happy Fourth!

Happy Independence Day!!

Ethan's Last Day of Second Grade

Here's a picture of Ethan on his first day of second grade...

 And here he is today on his LAST day of second grade:

 My kids thought it was so fun to wear the same shirt - though Ethan couldn't wear the same shorts or shoes as both were too small.  The shirt is getting there too.  The biggest change for Ethan I think is that he still had his top baby teeth on the first day of second grade.

 Here is Ethan with his best friend, Michael.  Next door neighbor and in his class, these two are inseparable.  Best friends in every way.

 Ethan had a great year in school.  He did awesome, learned a lot.  And is now on level w in reading.  He earned the Soaring Eagle Leader award and was just an all around awesome student.

Madeline thought it was so funny last night when she said she was in first grade and Ethan was still in second, but now he's officially a third grader!  Well, I guess not for three whole weeks.  We have such a long summer…cough…I guess it's a really good thing that my kids love school!

More Last Day of School Pics

I had to take a few pictures from the last day at the school with Madeline's friends today too:

 Bittersweet day…she will be sad to say goodbye to her friends and her school

 Next year, she'll be headed to the same school as Ethan, so we had to say goodbye to more than just kindergarten

 But Madeline isn't the only one going to a new school next year.  All three of these girls will be going to different schools.  I guess change is just inevitable.  It's a part of life that is good and bad.  She'll miss her friends, but is excited to go to school with Ethan.

She'll be the first one to tell you that he's her best friend after all!
It sure has been a great year!

My Kindergartener

Today is Madeline's last day of Kindergarten.  I can't believe that this is her last half day of school.  I'm going to miss her so much during lunch when first grade starts.  She has loved kindergarten so much!  She's been really sad to have it end.

These first two pictures are from her FIRST DAY of kindergarten.  Last night, she decided she wanted to recreate the first day in clothes and hairstyle today, so you can hardly tell the difference.  I think she looks older, but if you weren't paying attention, you'd think they were all the same day!

 She was so cute and excited to start school:

 And these were taken this morning, on her LAST DAY of Kindergarten:

I'm so proud of all she learned and did in kindergarten.  A great start to a long school career!
Tomorrow is Ethan's last day of school.  Kindergarteners get out one day sooner.  Knowing Ethan, he'll probably want to wear the same thing as his first day too.