The 8 year old birthday boy

Someone forgot the flash!  Oh well, it's the only pic I have of them all waiting patiently (or not) on our bed at 6:30 am to open birthday presents.

Legos, legos, more legos.

Wii games and science experiments and lots of smiles.

We didn't throw Ethan a big party this year but instead let him choose 3 friends to go on an outing with him.  He chose a local amusement park with rides and laser tag and Taylor went along with them.  Of course that means no pictures of the fun but I've been assured by all it was a blast.
And so we could all celebrate, we invited the whole family to Chuck E. Cheese.  Grandpa is seriously in love with Isla.  He barely ever asked to hold my boys, but this little girl gets carted around non-stop by him.  So cute.

Taylor and Clint spent almost the whole night here shooting hoops.  Competitive much?

Isaac was all about the tickets and was in awe of Esther who returned to the table with over 500 tickets she got by asking I guy who was fixing one of the machines if she could have the tickets inside.  Being cute and blond with an English accent seems to work out well for her.

See!  How could you resist her?

Isla's on the move.  She's taking tentative steps- 3 or 4 at a time.  We're hoping she walks soon!

I do love that my boys are excited to spend time with each other and Isaac is just as excited for Miles that he's doing well as he would be if he was playing the game himself.

The whole Utah gang- Barb and Clint, Arty and Esther, Gram and Grandpa, and our family.

We love living close to family and I'm so grateful they take the time to be with my kids.  They can't have too many people who love them and will be there to support them later!

Since we weren't doing a real party, I didn't make a big cake but instead asked what kind of a dessert Ethan would like.  "A giant cookie with m&m's and blue frosting.  Tadaa!

Happy Birthday my big boy! (he won't let me call him little anymore)

Really?

Having a boring day at home?  

Nope, we have NO problem entertaining ourselves!

Isaac's Soccer

It's 70 degrees outside.  What could be better than sitting in the grass and watching this little 5 year old shoot his heart out...

run like the wind...

laugh his head off as his gives giant high fives to his dad, the coach...

chow down on snacks with his teammates...

kick and play...

and finally celebrate with the victory tunnel.

Lost I-phone pics

It's pretty convenient to not have to remember to always bring my camera.  It would be sad to miss such sweet, normal, candid everyday moments.  Isaac is Isla's little buddy just about everywhere but especially in the car.  Here he's getting in the car after preschool and stops to show Isla the snowman he made.  Such a cute smile.

De-ja-vu mom?  Baby girl with a spoon?

Taylor's little minionette.

Classic girl suffering.

My two sweet "I's".  They certainly are a great pair!

Isla Update

Sadly my little baby doll is growing up too fast but it's a sweet sight to watch her do it.  Isla and Isaac are the best of friends.  If she's around, Isaac is always trying to entertain her.  The wagon which was meant to hold blocks, of course now gets dragged around with Isla set precariously on top.

And this is a first- I have a child, a baby, who LIKES having her face immersed in water.  I mean seriously dunked.  See that cute blondy head?  It's fully dry except for the bangs.  That's because Isla spends most of bath time either drinking from cups (she wishes I'd let her have big kid cups all the time)...

or dunking herself in the water.  I seriously spent a long time trying to get shots of the whole process.

This is the closest I could get.  She dunks herself!

How bizarre.

But she loves it!  Even when the bath is filled with bubbles.

She's getting big too fast!

Isla and Lyla

Taylor's cousin had a baby girl a few months before we had Isla and even though they named her Lyla, Taylor would not be swayed from naming Isla such a similar name.  It's true they probably won't go to school together and they do have different last names.  And its cute when they're together now.

Isla had no problem stealing her food off her tray.

And since Lyla was drinking her bottle, Isla thought that was a good idea too.

Dark picture, but cute rhyming girls.

Ethan Soccer

It's that time of year again and the boys are in heaven.  Well maybe not Miles who tends to throw himself on the ground every Saturday morning wailing "I'm to whittle".  But Ethan and Isaac are happy at least.  2 out of 3 is good, right?  

And it's nice to be outside enjoying the spring weather and watching the boys get a little exercise.

Good times.

This is the Place with Grams

We spent almost all of our spring break in Chicago with my parents so when grams called and asked if we'd go with her to This is the Place on our last day, we said of course we'd love to.  

Plus there were baby animals!

The boys trying their hand at milking a cow.

Ethan was very interested in petting the animals and patiently and quietly followed them around until they settled down and let him pet them.

Isaac and Miles were less interested in the animals and more entertained by the little stream and the rocks they could jump over.

The baby chicks were the best because the kids could pick them up.  Well, some of the kids at least.  Isaac was having one of those days and the chicken house was "too stinky", the blacksmith shop- "too loud", the baby animals- "too boring".  Oh well, can't please them all.

But it looks like we pleased some of them.

Isaac was happy to push the stroller though.

They all liked the school though and could have spent hours drawing on the little chalk boards.

Even Isla was into drawing.

We loved the "train" ride around the park.

And the little train ride around the lake- at least until that back train with grams, Miles, and Ethan derailed and kept going.  That was a little adventure.

And who knew all those old-fashioned toys could be so fun and entertaining.  A great end to our spring break and fun to get to do things with all the grands.