Autumn Days

Well, it seems that autumn may have already come and gone...at least the autumn I am familiar with. It was beautiful and splendid for maybe a week, with crisp mornings and evenings, sunny days filled with leaf crunching and jacket wearing, and now it's like autumn "Tim Burton" style- and if you are unfamiliar with Tim Burton animations, then just picture autumn without the sun and with lots and lots of rain and there you go. A bit gloomy to say the least. But on a positive note, I have a new camera- and we managed to get some great autumn pictures before autumn died...

And yes...I am obsessed with every cute dimpled part of this little boy...

He was such a Hoot in this pile of leaves I went photo happy on him...can you tell?

Ethan and Dad out back getting ready to grill some salmon!!! Even chilly weather won't stop a man from using his grill...or his son from being his apprentice...they are attached at the hip when David is home

He just looks like a little boy...just strutting through the leaves all grown-up-like...it's bittersweet

He is obsessed with sitting on his pumpkin that he got at the pumpkin patch...he even tries to tote it around the house, but it is quite heavy for a little guy, but it's super funny to watch him huff and puff for the split second he can pick it up and take a step!

CHEESE! He knows he's being silly, that's the only way I get him to smile for me!

Now what little boy doesn't want to play with a stick? They are seriously the coolest toy and whenever we go to the park he is constantly picking them up and holding them until the next coolest one comes along...well on this particular afternoon he hit the jackpot!

It was hysterical to watch him tote this around as it was twice his size, but he was happy and so were my camera and I!

I just love this boy so much I can't fathom how it's possible to fall this much in love with another child! But I also didn't realize how much I would love this boy before he was born. I know this new addition to our family will be a great blessing and be loved beyond what I can now comprehend, we're just excited to find out what it is...any guesses as to girl or boy? We are open to name suggestions either way as well...just saying!

Big City Adventure

We finally did it...what you may ask? Well we made the trek down to Minneapolis for a visit with the Rohrers. It was a solid 5 hour drive plus rest stops...and with a toddler and pregnant lady in the car (me) we had to make a few ;) but it was so worth it...and I can't say how welcome a sight two lane highways and criss-crossing freeways were...and I don't recall hearing ANY TRAINS all weekend! The weather wasn't super cooperative, but that didn't stop us from enjoying big city life and great company to their fullest. So here are a few of our adventures...


Kristy offered to watch Ethan in the morning so we could go to the temple which was fantastic...the morning was rough, which tried to deter me from going, but in the end even a burnt thumb (who knew the frosting on a poptart could melt of and get stuck to your finger?)  and bad attitude can't take away a single ounce of beauty from a temple experience! It was wonderful! Thanks Kristy!

First sightseeing adventure was the famous Mall of America! IT WAS HUGE! and I'm not just saying that because we live in a town of 200 outside the big town of 6500- this was a really big mall by any standard, and we were thoroughly impressed!

He looks so innocent...HA

Yes we bough a  "leash" for our son...to prevent those split second breakaways toddlers are so famous for...and he actually loves it! He thinks it is the funniest thing, besides his Dad's singing ;)

A puppy leash for our human "pup"

The famous cherry on the spoon sculpture...yes we had to be good tourists and take the classic Minneapolis tourist picture

We went to Red Robin for lunch on Saturday which may not be a super big deal for some people, but for us it was HUGE! We only have a few places to eat in International Falls, and most of them are just local places not chains so they are either great or terrible- we've had a little of both- so a great burger chain was just what we needed!

The two boys were hysterical...Carter is a FANTASTIC eater and Ethan is....well he's not so it was funny to watch as Carter ate and Ethan played, and we tried to give Ethan french fries, I mean who doesn't like french fries...but he wasn't interested, so Carter ate his too ;)

Ethan was also in toy heaven at the Rohrer's house because they were all new to him. They played pretty well together and it was super cute to watch them follow each other around the house just toddling...and they even worked out a way to play with toys at the same time...see for yourself...

Carter just hasn't realized he got the raw end of this deal! lol 

The weekend was just a ton of fun, we enjoyed late nights getting destroyed at card games and Settlers of Catan, and fun outings in the city. The boys did pretty well overall even though their nap schedules got thrown off a bit! What troopers! Thanks again Dalan and Kristy for a great weekend!

And We Thought Life Couldn't Get Any Better Than This...

It always seems that when you suddenly feel like all the pieces have fallen into place just right, your life is perfect, you are blessed beyond measure,  and you can't imagine anything better than what you've already got...in those moments I think the greater plan comes into effect and says "You THOUGHT your life was perfect, but here's another little something to make it even better"...so with that said

 I suppose that it's time to let Ethan clue you in on our new little blessing...in case you hadn't heard it through the grapevine yet...

Just hoping this isn't what he REALLY thinks of the whole idea! 

Before They're Forgotten

Every child has their own unique personality full of all sorts of fun quirks, and since all to often I find myself promising that I'll never forget these little things...it's amazing how time doesn't just fly away alone, it takes memories full of laughs and smiles along with it...so before I forget some of these funny things about my little boy, I decided to make note of them so that when they fly away I'll at least be able to look back on them someday and I'll smile again remembering how much joy he has unknowingly brought into my life.

He loves to pick out books one at a time and come sit in my lap. He doesn't necessarily want me to read them, as I usually just start reading and then he turns the pages, but I think he just likes to be close to me.

He gives kisses...big open-mouthed slobbery kisses right on the lips, and I LOVE them.

Sharing a drink with him always leaves delightful floaties in my cup, and you know, I think I'll miss those someday.

Part of Ethan's bedtime routine is that I sing to him right before I lay him down, and he usually gets drowsy and snuggles up to me and then goes to bed no problem. So when David has had to put him down he sticks to that same routine, only when David sings, instead of snuggling up and getting drowsy, Ethan just laughs and laughs...I think that if it wasn't so cute and funny, David might be offended! lol

I really don't keep the TV on all day for Ethan but there is a show on PBS first thing in the morning that he really likes, so now when I get him out of bed in the morning and sit on the couch to cuddle him, he always hands me the TV remote...well at least we've established a routine right? ;)

Ethan LOVES music, I think this kid was born to dance, and his moves have gradually changed. When he was younger he would just swing his arms and twist at the waist, then he started turning full circles once his balance was better, and now he does this mix of knee bending and hip thrusting...it's kinda like this...

Toothbrushing was quite an adventure at first so David decided to make it a little more fun...don't worry we do a better job than this now! lol

So there you have it...a few silly quirks which are very fitting for a sweet and silly boy!

And then it got cold...

So northern Minnesota is truly an outdoor spectacle...it's so full of trees and greenery, I'm so glad we got here soon enough to enjoy it, because once September rolled around it was like BAM...cold front. We went from high seventies to high forties and low fifties seemingly overnight, then last saturday there was a blessed reading of 73 degrees and so we took advantage and made a great afternoon picnic at the park! This last week we have just touched up into the fifties, but it has been downright cold outside! Apparently around here we go straight from summer to winter...so forget sweaters and light jackets, and bring on thick coats, scarves and gloves. Winter is here!!!!! (And that seems so wrong!)

Oh and one other little tidbit...our camera bit the dust so now all we have is the camera on David's phone...which means he is taking more pictures....which means all of a sudden there are mommy and Ethan pictures. The only problem is that I am now realizing how seldomly I actually get ready these days...so they don't flatter me, but they are sweet and make me smile!

The last hoorahs in the heat (well kind of heat)

Saturday morning breakfast out! Yay for not cooking!

The best outdoor toy ever...A STICK! And some cheesey smiles!

Me and my boy

walking to the playground

He LOVES crawling through tunnels

Mommy and Ethan storytime...I love these moments

This little guy also loves steering wheels

Got milk?

his big smile while I massage his chubby little legs and feet...he loves it if you can't tell!

One of Ethan's many "little places" (little people need their own "little spaces")

Another of his favorite "little" places 

The best part about his little places is that they are many...I frequently find him tucked in small corners, or on the side of our bed, in the cupboard, under a chair...but my favorite was when I found him tucked in a tiny little corner standing just like this picture with spoon in hand, inside this pot which was inside of a box. Love this kid!

This picture cracks me up...it was a little windy and he didn't like it!

All I have to say is, I LOVE this little boy! (and he's adorable)

Labor Day MinnesOta Style

This was our first holiday all the way over here in Minnesota...we have no family close and no one we know really, so it was QUITE a treat for us when our good friends from BYU-I, Dalan and Kristy made a road trip up here from Minneapolis to come for a visit! Now we won't take credit for their success as a married couple, however we will say that it was super fun to reflect that over three years ago we doubled with them on their first date and now here we all were happily married chasing after our one-year-old boys! Time flies, but enough jibber jabber and on to the fun...PICTURES!!!!

Saturday started off with a trip to the Sha Sha Resort- yes I know it looks like it should be pronounced simply how it is spelled however it is correctly pronounced Shay Shay (Dalan suggested maybe it is because of the accent...there may be something to that)

anyway this is a little place to stay that has a really large, several level deck and small restaurant sticking out into the waters surrounding Voyageurs National Park- it was beautiful and is known for it's mass amount of chipmunks that supposedly walk up to you and eat nuts out of your hand...
This was pretty much the only one WE saw...maybe they lied?

Then there was this giant birdcage with a swing in the middle...we just liked the fact that we could put the boys in it and keep them in one place for a while! The seemed to enjoy it too...

Ethan decided to put on a show...this little boy has the funniest little personality!

After the boys had a nap...and yes I do mean ALL boys, we went to the city beach...it was pretty overcast but still a decent enough day for playing in the sand

When one crawls in...the other crawls out

It was so funny to watch them play...Carter's calling for the day was to dig holes- he just kept at it, and Ethan ran around, dug a little, fell, etc. in that continuous cycle

As always, a struggle to get him to pose with me for a picture...this didn't turn out too bad!

And even though it wasn't warm enough, once Dalan decided to go for a swim, the little boys decided the water was calling them as well...Carter would crawl straight in on all fours and Ethan would walk straight in and fall on his face once the sand started to move! They were hysterical!

Dalan decided to swim out to the far waterslide and both little boys seemed very concerned...I love their faces in this one

And here you go...our first family picture from minnesota...yes it was a hard one to get as Ethan kept trying to faceplant in the water!

We had a great Labor day weekend...it was so relaxing to cook over the firepit and sit out on our back patio  enjoying good food, great company, and a cool summers evening! I guess bring on the fall...we're getting ready for it!

Oldies but Goodies

In the hustle and bustle of the last couple of months, and as Ethan has gotten so busy I have realized that my camera is no longer constantly full of pictures of my sweet boy...the thing that drives me absolutely crazy is that David's iphone, which is my nemesis, has captured more good pictures than I have...and they are awfully cute, so I thought to myself that rather than be bitter about it, lets catch up on the things that were missed due to my pitiful attempts at catching him on camera, and I guess I'll say it this once, thank goodness for the iphone, it takes GREAT pictures for a phone!

At our old apartment complex- he loved to climb this slide!

Stare down with a cow

we're still not sure who won

Some sweet moments with Grandpa!

Gotta love some serious CHEESE!

Lovin on his mama- that's what little boys are supposed to do!

As always, trying his best to help out- yes he's a great un-packer

Ethan's new favorite cabinet to destroy 

His favorite cubby space cabinet...always finding his little behind poking out of it as he's on his way in

Yet again "helping out" by crawling on top of the dirty clothes I'm trying to load into the washer

Hey mom- this is kind of like a puppy! 

So there you have it- that catches up the last couple of months a little bit better- can't believe how old this little fella is! He's growing up fast!