Like, he's totally a Tween, for reals!

Ethan at the beginning of June had a birthday. He turned 11! I don't think i really wrapped my brain around it for the first week. Now that he's 11 and so close to 12 and all that follows that i feel just a tad older myself. Ethan has told me a few times he's a pre-teenager or an early teenager and i tell him no you're 11, and you're not a teenager until you are 13. We don't need to rush this anymore than it already feels. What is scary is that i totally remember 11, vividly. So at this point i could be scarring him. We try not to, but being a parent is hard, and being the oldest he gets to be the guinea pig (and i suddenly have a little more sympathy for the oldest children in all families). The time has flown by. As is tradition we pulled out the scrapbook of the day of their birth and reminisce. I looked at some of the pictures and it just seems impossible that the little baby that i was soooo overjoyed to have out of my belly is now 11. He still smiles the same, he still has boundless energy, still fights sleeping each night, and we can still see the gears turning in his head. The reasons we love Ethan:
-his spongyness (he absorbs all information)
-his raw talent that is focused and channeled into great accomplishments
-self determination (he is very driven all on his own)
-the way he loves music and creating his own songs
-he is a good big brother and is always willing to play whatever game Ryan is begging for. (Ryan told me the other day that he liked being by Ethan--i thought that was sweet).
-he is a great helper around the house (like the jobs are actually done to a level that i don't feel like i have to go back and re-do or touch up on) he's always been a great helper but it's hit a new level.
-I love that he has no fear of being up in front of an audience
I do not question that Ethan will do many great things. (and no I'm not in the least bit biased). He is a wonderful boy, and we are very happy he is a part of our family.

WE LOVE YOU ETHAN!

still here

After taking a small break from the electronic world for the more simple life of a cardboard box we decided we'd join the fast lane once again. Oh who am i kidding, we have been in the fast lane with the cardboard box, and we live to tell the tale. We are finally settled enough (i guess) that we felt it was about time to get a post on the blog.
We are feeling more and more settled and the house is feeling more and more like home. The boys have over the last few days as we've pulled away said "mom, i really like our home." That to me is a big step to feeling more at home here. The fact that the boys are feeling good here makes the move less painful. Since the weather has finally decided to be good and summer like they have had the chance to meet some neighbors and make some friends. They are outside lots riding bikes and scooters, playing in the yard, catching grasshoppers, and just loving the summer. They have been real troopers over this last month. Blake and I have been working on getting our home ready for the parade, all our stuff packed, and getting mom and dads home in order for their return. Needless to say they have had to adjust to many long filled days. I am so grateful they have been so flexible. Home is defiantly where the heart is. And since i just found the box that i had packed my heart in i guess we can call this home. (Visitors are always welcome!)

Hey, that's my birthday!

Today as Ryan and Sam were sitting at the table eating their lunch we had a conversation that went like this.

Ryan: Mom, what day did i come out of your tummy?

Mom: Dec. 10th

Ryan: Hey, that's my birthday!

Mom: Yep, that's why it's called your birthday.

Sam: Ryan did you know you were supposed to be born on Jesus' birthday? But mom didn't want that. So you would have been pretty lucky to have the same birthday as Christ.

Ryan: Dec. 10th was when i was a baby, and i wasn't two.

Mom: Nope not on the day you came out of my tummy. (whew)

Ryan: And you called me Ryan, but my name is Ryan.

Sam: Was it hard to name us?

Mom: No, i knew what we were going to call you both as we got close to the day you were born.

Sam: So how did you know that?

Mom: Well i had a dream that i knew Ryan's name was Ryan.

Sam: So you had a vision?!

Mom: No, i just knew that it felt right that his name was Ryan. And I knew i wanted to name you Sam.

Several parts of this conversation just made me smile. I wish there was a recorder close by to record some of these conversations, cause I'm not always very good at writing them down. Who knows maybe in heaven we can sit and watch the videos of our life and smile again at the things our kids said.