Overcast Tuesday

What would a 3 year old like to do on an overcast Tuesday? Well if you are Ethan, it would be wait for the rain to come. After I got back from my glucose screening this morning, I asked Ethan what he would like to do today. Yesterday we went and saw Bolt, which he loved. So I thought, maybe paint at Paint a Memory, go to the bookstore, go to the park...but no. Daddy had told Ethan that it was going to rain today, so Ethan wanted to stay home and wait for the rain. He loves to stand outside with his ducky umbrella and feel the rain hit the umbrella. So that is what we have done today....wait. But what do you do while waiting?....We made a turkey hand print for Thanksgiving and blew bubbles for an hour. He is still waiting for the rain. Hopefully it will come before it gets dark. He soooo loves the rain!

Small World has Reopened!

Yesterday we took Ethan to Disneyland. Ethan was looking sooo forward to this trip because finally after 10 long months Small World was opened once again! Ethan loved it! The only difference that I saw was the new boats, the canal, and newly painted characters and set. But it didn't matter, Ethan was beaming from ear to ear. His favorite ride is back opened and he could not be happier!

We also had a few firsts yesterday as well. Ethan went on Storybook for the first time and the Columbia. He liked both of them. Especially when the cannon went off on the Columbia. He felt like he was on a real pirate ship!

Second Ultrasound

On Thursday, I had my second ultrasound appointment. Jon & Ethan met up with me. Ethan was very happy to see his little brother again. Although, he had to hold my hand and kiss me over and over again and tell me it was okay. It was sooo cute how he was trying to take care of me. We are now 100% sure Ethan will have a little brother...thank goodness! It would have been so difficult to tell him otherwise. Reid is measuring about a week ahead in all areas. My due date based on the ultrasound is February 13th, but I doubt my doctor will change my due date...we will see.

Ethan's 3 year old Pictures!

About a month ago, Jon & I ventured out to the portrait studio for Ethan's 3 year old pictures. I had many fears going to this photo appointment. Some were: Would he go into the room? Would he kick over the light like last time? Would he hide or cry? To my amazement Ethan did very well. He walked in very cautious, but when he was asked to pose he posed, and when he was asked to smile he smiled. I could not believe what a difference a year made. A year ago I promised never to take him to a portrait studio again and last month I took it all back. Jon & I are thrilled with how well his pictures turned out, and we had to share.

Our 12 Year Anniversary!

Twelve years ago today, Jon & I began our lives together! We were friends for many years and actually were in the same 5th and 6th grade class, but our relationship truly began November 21, 1996. I can't believe how fast those twelve years have gone, and I could not imagine life without him. Happy Anniversary Jonny. Love You!

Tree Lightning at Dos Lagos

On Saturday evening we took Ethan to the tree lightning ceremony at Dos Lagos. We listened to Christmas Carols sung by different choirs, saw Santa and Mrs. Claus, and got to see the huge Christmas tree in the middle of the plaza light up. Ethan loved the music and loved counting down for the lights to appear. This is the second annual tree lightning there and we have gone both years. Ethan just loves this tree the whole entire Christmas season and when it is gone he still talks about it. He is a kid that definitely loves Christmas time.

During the Christmas Caroling

The tree lit

Mommy & Ethan looking at the tree

Ethan & Daddy by the tree

Mommy & Ethan by the tree

Good-bye Old Friend

This is going to be extremely hard to put into words. This evening my parents had to make a hard decision to put a beloved friend and family member to rest. S (yes his name's S) has been a constant in my life. He has always been there since the day I was born. S was more than a horse. He honestly acted more like a big dog at times. You could ask him, are you hungry S, before dinnertime and he would neigh and nod his head up and down.Or in his younger years, he was known for licking you from time to time. S was a very mellow horse. I learned to ride him at a very young age, and my parents who are very protective, soon let me ride alone because he was so calm and gentle; however when you would ride him down to the riverbed he became free. He would run and run and run. He loved the riverbed and loved to run in the open space. Another thing S just loved was to eat the apples off the apple tree right next to his corral. There were many springs where we would go up to the tree and all the apples were gone. He honestly could not get enough off them.

S was more than a pet he was part of our family. For 29 years (my entire life), S has always been a part of my life. I knew that when I woke up each morning he would be up there in his corral (except for the one time I forgot to lock the gate and there was S at our back door). Even now not being at home, I always knew he was there. Ethan would go up every Thursday to help his Poppa feed and give S water. Ethan has learned that S is apart of the family and S has become a part of Ethan routine at my parents' house.

Good-bye S. You were a great part of my life and I'm glad that you a were a part of Ethan's life as well. You lived a long life, 39 years (almost to that Guiness Book of World Records). I will miss you very much. I have so many fond memories of you that I will treasure always. Good bye old friend. We will truly miss you!

Congratulations to a Wonderful Couple!

On Saturday, November 8th, my brother got married! Christine is a wonderful girl and makes my brother unbelievably happy. The happiest I have ever seen him. The wedding was beautiful and every detail was perfect and match their personalities to a tee. Who else could have their first dance be a Metallica song? It was sooo perfect for them. I know that they will have a wonderful marriage. They are perfect for each other and are so much like each other. Congratulations Scott and Christine I know that you will both be forever happy together. Love you both!


The kiss!


The family!


Christine & Scott with Mom & Dad



The Wedding Party!



During their first dance!


Cutting the cake... we all know how Scott just loves cake!


Mother & Son Dance


I know that Ethan is the spitting image of Jon, but I also think my genes skipped a generation. Isn't there such a resemblance?


Ethan with his Amma, Auntie Christine and Uncle Potty!


Ethan & Taylor dancing away!


Best Buddies!

After the Rain, came a Disney Evening!

After the rainy afternoon, we decided to head off to Disneyland. Ethan had a blast as usual. We went into Playhouse Disney for the first time. Ethan loved watching some of his favorite characters come alive right before his eyes. He was amazed. He refused to sing or dance however; he is such a shy boy. We had a yet another great time at Disneyland!

Ethan wearing his Disney pass...he is proud of all his pins he is collecting!

Mommy and Ethan on Winnie the Pooh!

Rainy Sunday Morning!

Last, last weekend, November 2nd to be exact, we had a light rain storm for about 20 minutes. Ethan was so cute and had to get his duckie umbrella and stand out in the rain until the rain stopped. We stayed outside for the entire twenty minutes. He loved every minute of it! Too bad we only get rain a few times a year in California.

Happy Halloween!

Ethan had a very eventful Halloween season this year! It all kicked off with our trip to Trick or Treat Night at Disneyland, then followed by a trip to the pumpkin patch with his daycare, then a trip to the pumpkin farm with us, then back to the pumpkin patch with his daycare ( yes he got to go twice), and carving one of his three pumpkins on Thursday evening. Finally on the day of Halloween, he joined in on a wonderful Halloween Party at daycare with Auntie Twila,and then joined Jon, myself, and Amma Trick or Treating around our neighborhood.

He was pretty tired after the party, so he did not last very long Trick or Treating about 45 minutes or so. But I must say that he did very well collecting the candy. When he was all tuckered out, he said, "let's go home and watch t.v." It was very cute. Ethan with all the adventures of this Halloween season has managed to collect over 3 bags of candy and 3 pumpkins!

And since my son does not seem to have a sweet tooth, Jon & I have been the ones consuming some of the candy. For me it is the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and for Jon it is the Snickers and Peanut M&Ms.

Ethan helping Daddy carve the pumpkin

Halloween party at Auntie's! Ethan and Lyndsey won a pumpkin drawing (his costume is not on because he was getting too hot in it by then) and that is Auntie in the Minnie costume...too cute, but Ethan of course wanted to be no where around Minnie (he has a fear of character costumes right now).

Off we go Trick or Treating!

My favorite picture of Ethan that night!

Amma and Ethan and the end of the night!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! We sure did!

24 weeks!

This is my 24 week belly picture. I haven't compared yet to see if there is much difference to my 20 weeks photo. I feel a lot bigger than 4 weeks ago. One example of this is a week ago I sat down on the couch after a long day at work and my button on my pants popped off. I guess that was the sign that I needed to start wearing maternity pants. I am still hoping that I am 24 weeks along and not farther along...my next appointment is Monday. We will see what I measure than.
Everyone asks me how I'm feeling. I'm great. Then the next question is always is this pregnancy different than your last? It isn't that much different. I feel larger than with Ethan, but the most significant difference is the movement of this little boy. With Ethan, I was lucky if I felt a flutter of a movement a day up until I had him. With this one, I feel him moving all the time, while sleeping, eating, teaching, driving, walking. This one is very very active.
Jon, Ethan, & I are also pretty set on a name for this little guy. I gave a list of names to Jon and Ethan, and they both seemed to pick the same name: Reid...so we are pretty sure that will be the name of our little guy come February!

Ethan's Trip to the Peltzer Pumpkin Farm!

Saturday evening, Jon & I took Ethan to Peltzer's Pumpkin Farm in Temecula. It was a truly beautiful place. We were surrounded by wineries and it felt like we were in the country.

Ethan loved running around the pumpkin patch trying to pick out just the right pumpkin. One of his favorites at the patch was when Daddy started a hay fight and another toddler and Dad joined along in the fight. I sat back and watched the excitement on all the children (I'm including the Dads in this description) while all I was thinking was, the eyes watch out for the eyes!

With the help of Daddy, Ethan picked out a huge pumpkin for us to take home. Ethan also got to see many animals including ponies, and he also got to see a pig race. We should take this kid to Vegas because he said that the red piggy was going to win (red being his favorite color), and guess what? The red piggy won! Ethan was very excited! We also had an adventurous trip through a Corn Field Maze. Our navigator, Ethan, did a great job leading us through the maze. He only made about 2 wrong turns before we were able to get through.

Before we left the farm, Ethan had to go on the train. Ethan loves trains! I think most little boys do, so Jon took Ethan on the train ride around part of the farm. Ethan was beaming from ear to ear.

We had a wonderful time at the pumpkin farm. Ethan did not want to leave 'Old MacDonald's Farm' as he called it, but it was getting dark. We are going to have to go back here next year and hopefully make it a tradition. It was a wonderful pumpkin patch farm!

During the pig race...red piggy winning!


Ethan next to the largest pumpkin at the farm!


Ethan before we entered the Corn Maze!



Ethan and Mommy in the Corn Maze!


Ethan & Jon with our huge pumpkin!


My favorite picture of Ethan that evening...totally shows his personality!


Look, it's Ethan the friendly ghost!



Ethan & Daddy on the train!


Leaving the pumpkin farm. Notice our pumpkin had a seatbelt...silly Jon!