the ups and downs of parenting

So, I had a really great parenting moment a couple days ago. Hopefully I don't get too graphic here, but I heard Dylan (now 18 months old) say "poop" from the other room. So I in turn said, "you have to poop?" and he said "yeah" and started walking towards the bathroom. I took him inside, sat him on the potty and told him to go for it. After a few seconds he said all done, but had actually done nothing. So, I showed him the empty potty and said that he wasn't done yet. I then asked if he wanted a book, and he did, so I got him some stimulating reading material. After about thirty seconds of pointing out apples, and keys, and TV's in his favorite book he actually pooped in the potty! I was so excited and made a big deal about it and even gave him a "cockily" (aka chocolate treat). So that was my parenting up. The down came about thirty minutes later when I left him alone with a bowl of oatmeal for about 5 minutes. This is what I came back into the kitchen to find.

You win some you lose some!

first day of school

It finally happened, that dreaded first day of first grade. Luckily, this day was only dreaded by me, not by Ethan. I had a lot of anxiety about Ethan being gone the whole day, and even got a little teary about it on a couple of occasions, so I was a little worried about how I was going to react on the actual day. I was in charge of carpool that week so I decided to let the boys ride their scooters to school while I ran with Hallie and Dylan in the stroller. Those boys are fast on those scooters and by the time we got to school I was hot and sweaty. There was a lot of commotion with all the first graders and their parents trying to figure out which line their child was supposed to stand in and before I knew it Mrs. Knowles came and led Ethan's class into the school. I didn't even have time to feel sad right then, although it hit me a little on the long walk back home. It was a long day so I baked cookies for his arrival home. I expected Ethan to have really missed me but when I picked up the car pool the first thing he did was ask if he could play with friends, and he didn't even want a cookie. I guess it was a much longer day for me than for him!

Ethan * Marshall * Easton

A couple of firsts

The first of our firsts belongs to Ethan.  A couple of weeks ago, while camping and eating corn on the cob, he lost his first tooth.  He was very excited and didn't even mind that his mouth was bleeding (apparently it didn't hurt).  He was especially excited for the tooth fairy.  However, when he woke up in the morning he came downstairs and told his dad that the tooth fairy had taken his tooth but didn't leave any money.  They quickly went to Ethan's room and discovered that the money had fallen onto the floor.  The tooth fairy had left him one dollar and sixty cents.   Ethan has another loose tooth and has been begging for more corn on the cob!

Our second first belongs to Dylan.  At the age of 18 months he had his first haircut.  Dylan has curly hair and I kept it long because I wanted him to be one of those little boys with beautiful big curls, but that never happened.  His curls have a mind of their own and mostly they just flipped up in the back and by his ears.  So finally I decided it was time for a change.  I stripped him down to his diaper, gave him a sucker, stuck him in the bathtub, and went to work.  I think the end result turned out well.  Isn't he such a cutie!

before

after

Our families next first happens tomorrow with Ethan's first day of first grade.  More to come!

Fourth of July

The fourth of July has recently become one of my favorite holidays and it is a time that I look forward to each year.  Last year we discovered that Snowbird Resort has an Independence Day breakfast and we had such a good time we decided to make it a tradition.  We headed up the canyon this year and enjoyed a yummy breakfast in perfect cool mountain weather.

  After breakfast we did a little exploring and then took the tram to the top of the mountain.  Suddenly the cool mountain air became super cold mountain air.  There we were at the peak, in shorts and flip flops, in 40 degree temperature!  Burr....thank goodness I packed sweatshirts just in case!  It was definitely worth it because the view was amazing.

Our night, as always, was spent and Andy's Aunt Sharon's house for a barbecue and a viewing of Holladay City's firework show.

We also celebrated Herriman Days a week before the fourth of July.  I always have such a good time at our little town's celebration!  The parade is just the right amount of time and each entry that goes by throws out some kind of candy.  The kids definitely love this part!  At one point Dylan saw someone throw a small package of skittles, so he threw down the taffy he was holding and hurried out to get the skittles before Ethan or Hallie could.  By  the end of the parade we had two gallon sized baggies full of treats!  

Later that night we went to the park to enjoy rides and a firework show.  I love this time of year and I love to living where my family can enjoy so much freedom!  

Kindergarten Graduation

The big day was on June 11, Ethan graduated from kindergarten.  His graduation program was so cute.  His class put on a fashion show.  Each child dressed up in something that they love and walked along the "catwalk", really the stage, while the "emcee", really Mrs. Craven, told about their look and their likes.  It was so fun to watch Ethan walk across the stage with his tongue in his cheek (this is what he does when he is embarrassed). It was also fun to watch the other students.  I have gotten to know them a little throughout the year while I helped in the classroom.  They also had a few songs they had been preparing and a slide show of all the things they had done throughout the year.  I am quite proud of myself for holding it together so well, even though the "Friends Forever" song tugged at my heart a little.  Ethan is very excited to move on to first grade, however I'm not sure I am.  I can't believe he is going to be gone all day and I know I will miss him.  I guess I will cross that bridge when it comes.  July 27 is not nearly far enough away.

Ethan's teacher this year was Mrs. Craven and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher.  She was so wonderful and got to know each child so well.  I was so sad on Ethan's last day of school and I think that the biggest reason was knowing that Ethan wouldn't see Mrs. Craven on a daily basis.  She was such a big part of his life for 10 months and now it is all over.  Ethan also told me that he is going to miss her too.  I can only hope and pray that my future kindergarteners will have Mrs. Craven as their teacher!

Hobbies

Life for the kids has been busy lately.  Besides spring bringing along warm weather, green grass and blooming flowers it also brings dance recitals, singing recitals and baseball games.  The kids have been spending their time with practices and extra practices and performances.  It has been fun watching them but I have to admit that I am glad it is all over now.  With baseball twice a week, singing twice a week, and dancing lessons it gets a little crazy.  All this, and the kids are only 6 and 4.  I can't even imagine what it will be like when they are older.  I am grateful for the time that we have to spend together as a family right now and I know I need to cherish it while I can!  I guess I am officially becoming a soccer mom.  

Birthday Kids

Hallie celebrated her fourth birthday on March 27.  This happened to be the same day that Monsters vs. Aliens came out so she took two of her friends out for ice cream and a movie.  She had such a fun time being the birthday girl.  That night we went out for dinner and she got to pick her favorite place, The Pie.  I can't believe that she is already four.  She is such a sweet little girl, but also has a feisty side too.  She is definitely an entertainer.  Everything that comes out of her mouth is in song form.  She loves Sponge Bob and Barbie movies and she loves making her brothers laugh.  She loves playing with her friends, going to her singing lessons, and dressing up as anything.  I am so grateful that she is part of our family.  She keeps me laughing and brings such happiness to our lives.

Ethan turned six on April 19.  My how time flies!  My baby is now six years old, is getting ready to graduate from kindergarten, has his first loose tooth, and looks like a big kid instead of my little Ethan.  He is very in to watching big people movies with his dad so he decided to have a spy/mission impossible party.  He invited six of his friends over for "agent training".  They had target practice with water balloons, a race to see who could get their disguise on first, and had to solve clues to find their goodie bags.  It was fun to finally have a birthday party where the kids could actually understand and follow through with games.  That night, Ethan's choice for dinner was The Mayan.  He loves that place, however mom and dad do not! (it's a good thing birthdays only come once a year)  Ethan is your typical crazy boy.  He does pretty well on his own, but when you get him together with his friends trouble is on the way.  He is very smart and especially loves doing math.  He is such a good big brother.  He lets Hallie win at games and absolutely loves Dylan.  He is so sweet and is becoming such a help to me.  I think your first born always holds a special place in your heart!