Which is Scarier?

So Halloween is supposed to be scary, right? True - little kids just look cute in whatever costume they put on. But I want you to decide, which of the following pictures is more scary ... the one that was a normal day occurence or the one that features the costume actually worn for Halloween?

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Here is Picture One and the scenario:

"Ethan, it's time for a bath."

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I don't want to take a bath - I don't want to get my hair wet - don't touch my hair - NOOOOO!!!!" (Translation - I'd rather die than get in that bath.)

"Okay, I'll just put a shower cap on your head."

Bad look ... mad toddler ... sneaky mom.

Pretty darn scary - normal day occurence.

Scenario TWO: Ethan has been ubducted by Disney and is totally obsessed. All month he decided he wanted to be Lightning McQueen for Halloween, but has refused to wear the costume. Finally, after much explanation and patience, he put the costume on for the Trunk or Treat and decided to be the car. Pretty cute ... not too scary.KACHOW!

What we've been up to ...

Ethan and I have been having some serious fun lately. We purchased 5 Seattle Symphony concerts designed for toddlers and we go about every 6 weeks. We make an adventure out of it and go on the bus. Ethan was excited to go all week. We got on the 9:30 bus - when people are still very quiet and trying to wake up. As soon as we sat down, Ethan yelled, "Let's GOOO!" The whole bus woke up and everyone was laughing. Here's Ethan with his snack.

Before the concert, there are musical instruments in the lobby. We of course tried the violin. What do you think? Does he have a future?We've also been getting a bit more crafty - yeah, hard thing for Krista. Ethan loves to string necklaces of noodles, beads, and fruit loops. I can hardly keep him from eating the fruit loops. He has a play group with two friends on Fridays, and all three of them were lunging for the looptie loops.
Krista is not a big fan of pumpkin guts, so friend Lindsey told me about Potatoe Head Pumpkins. Ethan loved doing this. Every time he goes out the door or comes up to the door he greets Mr. Pirate Pumpkin and yells at the top of his lungs, "Arr Maytee." The neighbors have all told me they have heard him and it cracks them all up. The pumpkin sits next to our door that has been decorated by different things Ethan has done at his little school. He goes to a Tot Time program twice a week for two hours. The kids play, have snacks, have story time/circle time, do a craft, show and tell, and run around in a big gym the whole time. One time we didn't bring show and tell so to compensate, Ethan went and got his coat and said, "This is my coat." Whatever works!

Latest Photo Shoot

Don't you just want to melt?

Today We Remember For All

In loving memory of Oliver David Connell, born January 7, 2008.It has now been nine long months since Oliver was born. I like to think he does this with the Savior quite often. I'm sure he does.

Ethanese Series

Ethan's latest in the morning is to say, "I want to put my dress on." Translation: I want to get dressed. Also, if he wants to be held, he'll say, "I want to hold you." Who doesn't want to be held, right? He also hates to get his hair wet ... random.

Heaven on Earth

It has been about a month since we vacationed up on Vancouver Island, B.C. We went with Steve's sister, Jen, and her husband, Tyler, and children. Ethan loves these cousins - Lauren, Brookie, and Bennett. We had a blast with four adults and four children all in a minivan. We took the ferry over and found a place to camp on the Island. We went for some great nature walks and had fun watching the kids run around. Bennett and Ethan both had a piece of bread for lunch. I love that Ethan only ate the crust, and Bennett would only eat the middle. Canada has really nice campgrounds! The next day we toured Victoria. Here we are in front of the Old Boat Festival near the main city center. Isn't this place beautiful?

We also went to the famous Butchart Gardens. All I can say is that I was in heaven. I just felt grateful for all of God's creations. It doesn't get any better than this. The following are some of my favorite pictures I took:



Here we are on one of our nature walks. Ethan could not stop running. The rainforest areas in the northwest are beautiful.

The cousins and the van we all piled into. Now whenever Ethan sees a van, especially if it's blue, he shouts out, "The Cousin Van!!!"

Okay, if I could get hanging plants like this, all I can say is I'd be rich!The E-man liked the flowers too. Really the only mishap on the trip was when Ethan had an accident right on the wood floor of a Gelateria. Um ... sorry lady owner!
What a fabulous trip!!

All I Can Say is WOW!

So Ethan was talking to my dear grandma the other night. She is a serious talker - which is a good thing - she's so fun to talk to. So counting for the fact that she was talking and Ethan talks quite softly, the communication wasn't going so smooth - especially for Ethan. He kept trying to tell her things he had done during the day when he finally got frustrated and yelled in the phone, "Hey --- LISTEN!" Whoa Nellie! I'm not sure what to say right now. (Grandma kept on talking ... love you grandma.)