Chug chugga!

We got this gift to Ethan, for Christmas. Those that know me know that I do not wait. Ethan saw the box as it came in and Larry had no idea it was coming so he didn't know to hide it. Right now Ethan is obsessed with trains. When I say obsessed, I mean like in a crazy maybe needs to be committed kind of way. He has to sleep with all three rubber trains, wakes up and wants ALL his trains (which isn't that many, but his babysitter, Becky gave him a train set for his birthday).

This train has tracks that can be added and it's battery charged. For those concerned, yes, there is a very loud and obnoxious whistle.

Every morning since we got it, it's about the train - living and breathing this train. He eats on it, sits watching TV on it, and lays on it. This is the best present he's ever received in his whole life!

So, I have finally given in to the pressure. I went to Target and threw some cheap things in a basket. This is the experimental year. I am just trying to see how everyone handles a tree. So, the tree is like, what, two feet tall, a sting of lights and a box of cheap glass ornaments... voila! It's sitting on the wine cabinet with the Christmas Village and already Kita is trying to eat the tree and the wires, and Ethan is trying to get the bulbs... sheesh! This is why! I have to admit, it is kind of fun and gets me in the Holiday spirit, but man, lights on the tree are a pain in the a.....!

Phases?

Lately, Ethan has been going through this "phase" - he is taking extra care of his 'guys' - he likes to hug them, make them hug each other, and baby talks them. He takes his stuffed frogs and tucks them in his bed and says "night night froggies", turns out the lights, and comes back downstairs. He does this several times, or rearranges them in the bed. Sometimes certain frogs don't even get to be tucked in the bed, they get thrown off to the side with Bear and Trini (his stuffed giraffe) or hid under the bed.

He also does this with this little polar bear set my Mom gave him when he was just a few months old. I think he loves the fact that there is a big bear and a little baby bear, and the penguin.

Ethan is just over 2 yrs old and he is saying and doing new things every day. Sometimes it's hard to believe he is only 2 yrs old and I think why are you still pooping in your pants!? I was scolding him the other day and I said "you're acting like a 2 year old". Wait a sec... yeah, smart!

He is counting to 14 by himself - why 14? I have no idea. He is singing and recognizes shapes. He loves the alphabet and animals - right now, every stuffed animal's name is Trini. The real Trini doesn't even like him, so I don't know why he calls everything Trini either. Today, we got home from the many errands and I finished putting everything away, I walked in the front room to see this ... why do they grow up so fast? Great! Now, I am crying! He tries to be like both of us, but he is such a Momma's boy right now, which I love because I know that will be over soon enough.

Surprise!

So, I took a 4-day weekend this weekend - boy, did I need it! Mostly to clean, which I did on Monday for 8 hours! Anyhoo. I was surprised to find a large box on my front porch Saturday. Now, y'all know that I do not and have not decorated for any holiday - especially Christmas! But since Ethan was born both Mom's have been sending me stuff to get into the "holiday spirit". It has actually been fun. No tree this year still, but working up to it. Seriously, we have two cats and a toddler. I got this box and look - isn't it cute? It's a starter Christmas village with a chocolate shop! It's so cute. I will definitely have fun building on this, although Larry reminds me of the limited space.

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium

Despite the Bears game today, we battled the traffic, tail-gaters, and high priced parking (I forgot it was game day... duh!). Today we visited the Shedd Aquarium and had so much fun. Ethan loves fish and I thought he might get excited. He did. Flash is not allowed in the aquarium, so the pics are a little dull.

This week Ethan got a special birthday package from Uncle Todd and Aunt Andrea... it was decorated in Handy Manny cut-outs and had a Blue's Clue's card. I tried to grab the camera, but I was so caught up in his excitement - I was a little late. You can see how excited he was to get it. I told Andrea, 'I don't know if he was more excited about the box and card then the actual gift' which are the DVD's you can see to the side.

Isn't this little boy so cute? This is Collin, he is just a few months older than Ethan and he is the son of a gal I work with.

Trick-Or-Treat ~

Last Saturday I went to the Monster's on Main Street in Brookfield with my girlfriend from work. It's a really big deal. I wasn't sure how it would go over though, considering, Ethan is only 2. He had a blast! I will have to post some pictures of Michele's yard decor, let's just say - Halloween to her, is like Christmas to my Mom's: out of control decorations.

Anyway, businesses put a pumpkin in their windows and it means it's okay to trick-or-treat. Ethan had so much fun. He held my hand the whole time (except when I was carrying him, of course) and he probably ate more candy than he actually got... don't know how that happens. We were out for about 3 hours he ate sucker after sucker, gummy candy, and M & M's while getting more!

As soon as we left, Ethan crashed... sugar coma. He was out for four hours! Now, if you've been paying attention, Ethan doesn't sleep for 4 hrs during the night. Yesterday he went to bed at 7:30 pm and didn't wake up till 6:30 this morning! I definitely think walking around for 3 hours and crashing after all that sugar helped.

Yummalicious!

Initially, I got these for Ethan... I thought they'd be a great idea for him - but, he doesn't like them, and I started eating them. Now, I am addicted! Which is weird, because I've never like peanut butter 'til I was pregnant.

10 Years Ago I was:
1. Living in SLC
2. Working for Miller & Company
3. Hanging out with my very good friends, Janet & Sammy
4. Having fun with my then little nephew Ry-Guy
5. probably lots of other things that I clearly cannot remember

5 things on my "TO DO" list today:
1. Go to work because it's mandatory... how do they do that?
2. Hang with my Mom-in-Law
3. Laundry
4. Dishes/dishwasher (loading & unloading)
5. Hopefully have dinner with my family, if all goes well

5 snacks I enjoy: (this is at the moment)
1. Cucumbers or carrots
2. saltine crackers
3. grapes
4. ice cream
5. Cheeto's!

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off our bills!
2. Pay off my family's debts.
3. Take my family around the world
4. Buy homes for the family all together
5. Buy lots of shoes!

5 places I have lived:
1. Hungtington Beach, CA
2. Grand Prairie, TX
3. Bountiful, UT
4. Provo, UT
5. Lynchburg, VA

5 jobs I have had:
1. Collection Agent
2. Cocktail Waitress
3. Food Server
4. Babysitter
5. Grocery Store Clerk/Cashier

5 People I tag:
1. Tami Tran
2. Kim Weinreb
3. Pat Christensen - bet you didn't see that one coming ;)
4. Brenda Anderson
5. Caleen Christensen

I know, we're dorks, but it's interesting...

Larry was teasing me this evening, holding my arm, trying to tickle me... I was screaming and laughing trying to get away because I hate to be tickled. Finally, I crouched down, huddled, and Ethan came over, yelling "Momma!" He leaned over me stretching his arms over trying to protect me. Of course, we were joking around, but I thought it fascinating - at 2 - he is so protective of me.

Okay, I am not really sure what is going on here, but this CANNOT be normal!

So, last night, I'm doing stuff in the front room, I call to Larry to check on Ethan in the kitchen (it's just a little too quiet). Larry goes 'you'd better come see your rug':

Ethan IS like me...

Maybe more than his father hoped, but still, I'll take what I can get! Last night I was sitting at the computer while Larry was on the couch and watching Ethan. I hear this disappointed or moaning "oh no"... "what's wrong?" I ask. "Just look at your son!" Well, they are cute shoes!