Ethan's 1st Day of Preschool

Today was Ethan's first day of preschool Actually this is his second year of organized preschool and he was so excited to go. (*side note- I use our blog as a family journal as well. After I write them I print them off to keep. So I know there are a lot of pictures that seem excessive but it is easier for me to do it only once.) This year Ethan goes to preschool with Miss Cathy. Charles and Joey from last years preschool goes with him too.

Our morning started off with Ethan being really excited about preschool. He kept asking me when he could put on his preschool clothes.

Then before Daddy went to work he made Ethan whatever he wanted for breakfast. Ethan wanted pancakes and hot chocolate.

Ethan was so excited to have Daddy make his special breakfast.

After breakfast Ethan dressed himself in his preschool clothes.

Then I had to take some pictures of my handsome little preschooler before we dropped him off.

So excited to go and all ready!

Since we were up and ready I decided to walk Ethan to school. Miss Cathy lives just a few blocks away and is in our ward. When we got to her house Ciara and I took Ethan in. Ethan found his name on his cubby hole all by himself and put away his backpack. He then went right in and wrote his name on the board without help. Ethan was not the shy, timid, and bashful little boy he was a year ago. I am so proud of him and how great he is doing. He knows all his letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. He goes into new situations without fear. Both Seth and I marvel at the boy he is becoming.

Ethan walking out of Miss Cathy's house after preschool! He was so excited to show me what he made at preschool.

This is the apple that Ethan painted for me. Notice that Ethan wrote the word apple and Ethan. I love all the cute things he makes from preschool!

For Ethan's first day we went to Subway for lunch to Celebrate! I am so grateful to be a mom and for these special experiences that I can share with my children. I need to remember to cherish these moments for he is getting so big already. I am thankful for Ethan and for the sweet and loving boy that he is. I am so proud of him and excited to see all that he accomplishes this year in preschool.

Summer Fun

I just had to post some pictures of my sweet children in their swim suits to remember how cute they were this summer! We have had a great summer playing and having fun together. Next week Ethan starts preschool, swimming lessons, and soccer. I just love being with my children and watching them grow up!

Seth's New Job

Seth just finished his first week at his new job. Seth now works for Haynie & Company. It is a public accounting firm based out of Salt Lake City. He works with two other men from our ward. He is excited to work in the great environment and is excited about the promising future that this company can offer.

Our 2008 Family Vacation

We just got back from a fun week long vacation to Rexburg, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a long, busy, and fun week. First, we went to Rexburg and we were able to spend time with Seth’s mom and dad, and his brother Mark and his family. Not only was it great to see them but it gave Seth and I opportunity to “Remember When” on our years at BYU-I. We were able to visit the campus, eat at our favorite places, and drive around remembering things that we used to do.

One thing that we were able to do was go to Bear World. In the three years that we lived in Rexburg we never went even though it was just done the street. Bear World is a park that you drive through in your car and can see bears, deer, a mouse, and other kinds of forest animals. They also have some kid amusement rides that Ethan just loved. Then we had the opportunity to go on a special tour where you actually feed the bears. We all got onto a special bus and they gave us trays of food. They then drove around the park where they would let us feed the bears from the top of the bus. Let’s just say you got real up close and personal with some of these bears.

Seth and I also had the opportunity to attend a session at the Rexburg Temple. What a special experience that was for us! The Rexburg Temple is so beautiful. Words can not express how gorgeous it is inside, and the opportunity to attend a session will always be remembered. This was one of my favorite parts of our whole vacation.

After church on Sunday we gathered in front of the beautiful temple to take some pictures with everyone. A little later we walked around the campus. They have done a lot in changing, fixing, and adding to the campus but in a way it is still the same. As we walked around the campus we felt the same special spirit that we felt as we did as students.

On Monday we were able to go to a local splash park with everyone. The kids loved playing in the water, riding the carousal, and playing at the park. It was fun to spend the weekend hanging out, talking, and catching up with everyone.

After leaving Rexburg we went to visit the church sights in Salt Lake City. We spent a half a day walking around temple square, touring the visitor’s centers, touring the Beehive House (Brigham Young’s House), and watching the Joseph Smith Story in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was wonderful to learn a little more about the gospel and have our children feel the Spirit.

Then for our last fun adventure we were able to go to Ragging Waters Water Park in Salt Lake, thanks to some great family connections. Though my camera battery died right when we got there and I did not get any pictures we had a great day riding the rides and swimming. Ethan especially loved the kid section with slides that we could go down by himself.

We had a fun filled week and were able to create great memories with our children. The kids did great traveling so far in the car and sleeping in hotel rooms. Ethan was so excited to go on our vacation. For some reason he thought that staying in the hotel was called a vacation. So during the day we would be out doing things and then he would ask if we could go back to our vacation. After many loads of laundry and some extra sleep things are getting back to normal!