A visit to see Ethan's great-grandparents

Yesterday, my siblings Rebecca and Matthew were headed over to my grandma's house to make pierogis so I decided to go as well.  I didn't get to help that much since I was busy watching Ethan but we did get to sit and visit while the dough was rising.

There is always time to read a book!

 Granny always pulls out this little pot when the great-grandkids come over.  Who knew an little old pot could provide so much entertainment?

My Dad also stopped by for a bit. Ethan got so excited when he saw him and immediately wanted to go outside.  Looks like Ethan will be like his Dad and Grandpas - interested in the outdoors and gardens

He has finally gotten tall enough to climb up onto chairs on his own. His favorite game is standing up on them.  Each time I would stand up from my chair, he would laugh and sit down on his own. As soon as I sat down, he would stand back up! The little stinker knew he wasn't supposed to be standing up and just trying to test me!

At Ita's and Ito's house, Ethan found another bench to play his game. This time I sat next to him and he promply got down. 

We love that we can take daily walks around the neighborhood.  

Once we take him out of the stroller, he bolts for the water any chance he gets

Today it was raining when we usually take our walk so this is what Ryan and Ethan did instead:

What can be better than watching Finding Nemo with Daddy while picking out the grapes and blueberries from the fruit salad?

Happy Father's Day

Ethan is so lucky to have such a great Dad (and I am lucky to have such an awesome husband!) so I am glad we got to celebrate all he does for us yesterday.  Ryan wanted a low key day and thats exactly what he got.  I cooked the meals that he requested.  I wish he'd pick the meals everyday because I'd be happy with a rotating schedule of pasta, pizza and burgers! I am just not creative when it comes to meal planning.

He got in an after church nap (usually I take one) and then we went to relax in our yard.  We even started a campfire to roast marshmallows and make smores for dessert.  We were going to make one for Ethan to try, but before the fire got going, he walked back up to the house, went inside and tried to climb in the bathtub.  I guess he was done for the day! After a quick bath, he went right to sleep and Ryan and I enjoyed the fire.

Ethan loves to help his Daddy water the plants - just look at the concentration on his face!

He tried so hard to play in the water, but every time he reached for the water, it stopped! Good thing the wand is so long he can't squeeze the handle and play in the water at the same time!

Ethan enjoying a ride on Daddy's Father's Day gift!

PS After my afternoon nap today, I caught Ryan painting the Adirondack chairs! I should post my wish lists on the blog more often!

I think we need to remodel the bathroom

Ryan recently asked me what I wanted for my birthday.  This is not your typical list, but my only hope for getting these projects done in the near future. Here is my list:

1. Finish painting the trim on the first floor
2. Finish painting the bathroom
3. Finish painting the Adirondack chairs

Notice a pattern? These are all projects Ryan started and then moved on to something else before finishing.  Now he wants to spend his summer outdoors working on the yard.  After yesterdays shopping trip,  I came up something else to add to my list:

4. Add storage to the bathroom

This is what the corner of the bathroom looks like.  With all the free shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap, lotion, razors, etc. I get from my coupon deals, I have run out of space! Both the upstairs and downstairs bathroom cabinets are crammed full of toiletries. There is just no where left to put them. Hopefully Ryan can come up with a solution and my bathroom won't be messy anymore.  I lined everything up for the picture and Ethan promptly played Godzilla knocking them all over the place.  He also likes to hide bottles in his room.  I found a lotion bottle under his dresser while looking for his binky the other day.


I'm sure that anyone who actually reads only reads it to hear Ethan, so here are a few pictures of what we've done since Ryan is now done with school!

He loves the sprinkler we just got him. He was just too cute, he'd bend over, stick his face in and then come up all surprised his face got wet! Then he'd laugh and do it again. He had a ball getting wet and I'm sure we will be using this sprinkler all summer long.

Today we went for a bike ride, he doesn't look too excited at the moment, but he really does enjoy it.

Where have we been?

We've really just been at home. Nothing too exciting has happened lately which is why I have been slacking on the blog. We mostly spend our time outside where I try to read a book while Ethan plays but instead end up chasing him around trying to keep him in the yard. You would think with an acre lot, we'd have plenty of interesting places to play but apparently the road and neighbors' yards are a much better place to play. The only thing that holds his interest is water. We have a little water table that he loves to play with. He even dunks his face in! He ends up soaking wet and filthy -yesterday he made a saw dust and dirt concoction with the water- so I only like to bring it out after dinner and before bath time. That is probably been my favorite time of day lately. We all go outside where Ryan will tend the garden, Ethan plays with the water and I finally get to read my book! Its so beautiful out and not too hot yet, I hope it stays that way!

Oh I do have exciting news~ we are having a GIRL! I can't believe I hadn't posted that yet! We are thrilled, though I think me more so since I can't wait to go girl clothes shopping :) Ryan and I went through all of Ethan's clothes this past weekend and pulled out all the gender neutral items. I had to explain to Ryan that even though it had a cute little duck, bear, etc, it was BLUE and not gender neutral. We mostly have onesies and green and yellow sleepwear for the new baby so I definitely see an outlet shopping trip in the near future! Her name will remain top secret so inquiring minds will have to wait until the end of October. Suggestions are still helpful though, its a lot harder to come up with a name when it wasn't picked out in middle school like Ethan's name was.

Ethan and I did go to the Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island a couple of weeks ago. We had a great time with our friends. Here are a few pictures (now that I have found the camera cord)

The giraffe was pretty close to us! 

Ethan and Ollie liked watching the Elephants get a bath

Whatever animal we were looking at here must not have been exciting.  A lot of the animals were small and/or sleeping so Ethan didn't recognize that anything was there.

There was a small petting zoo and our fearless little boy had no trouble going right up to the animals to touch them.