Snow Storm 2009

Ethan was fortunate enough to miss 4 days of school due to snow and ice. We were unfortunate enough to be stuck at home for those days. To say I went a little crazy during that time might be an understatement. But we were very lucky to have power, because many people did not.

He did get outside some and play with the neighbors. They have a 4-wheeler and hooked up some sleds to the back to take the kids for rides.

Ethan now knows the importance of face masks and sitting up while being pulled behind the 4-wheeler.

Finally, Some Snow!

Ethan has been patiently waiting for us to get more than a dusting of snow this winter so he could play in it. School got out early yesterday and within a few hours his wish came true.
He helped Nate shovel the drive last night and then this morning played mostly in the layer of ice outside.
And this is why Ethan and Parker do not always get along.

Field Trip To The Farm

I accompanied Ethan and his Pre-K class on a field trip this morning to a local farm. After spending the weekend with bronchitis and not leaving the house since Friday night, Ethan was more than ready to get out and run around. Here are some pictures:

(Notice how much taller Ethan is than his best buddy, Garrett, who is one week younger than Ethan!)

Bike Rodeo

Saturday Mom & I rode our bikes to St. Mary's Hospital (a few blocks from our house). No, I wasn't going to the E.R. They had a "bike rodeo" in the parking lot. I completed an obstacle course and learned the proper signals for turning (which I will never use again). And in return earned a new helmet & t-shirt!
Afterwards we toured a firetruck, the dental mobile, met the search & rescue dogs, had a clown paint a spider on my face and climbed around on a lot of inflatable things.

My best bud Jake was there with his family and the two of us can always find some mischief!

The Weekend Report

Ethan got to stay up WAY past his bedtime Saturday night! We went to the drive-in theater to see Underdog & Ratatouille. Ethan didn't quite understand the concept of watching a movie outside.

We popped our own popcorn and Ethan has now learned which button you push on the microwave. He likes to stand a little too close.

Once we arrived and he grasped the concept he only asked about 30 times when the movie would start. Suprisingly he stayed awake for both movies and talked all the way home! He was pretty excited and we'll have to go back again.

The Week Before School Starts

There was no summer camp this past week because school starts tomorrow. I spent time with Mom and Mama Terry doing different things. The usual...errands, shopping, the library, bike rides, etc....

My favorite was swimming all day on Thursday with Mom. It was 100 degrees & really hot!!! The water was warm, but it still felt good. I practiced going under water and holding my breath. This is my new "SuperMan Dive."

Cool New Game

I got this basketball game for my birthday from a friend. Mom likes it because by a miracle it requires NO BATTERIES! Dad likes it because he can beat Mom. I like it because I can play by myself or against Mom and Dad.

This weekend we had a tournament in our house by taking turns playing each other. One person started as the "ref" and then would play the winner of the game and we just kept going in that rotation for a long time Friday night.

Add some pizza, Shark week and some popcorn and it was a good time!

OTTER'S GAME

Friday night we invited friends & family to the Otter's for a baseball party. We had a lot of fun ~ despite the rain! Then 3 of my friends (Riley, Jake & Garrett) came over for my 1st sleepover! We camped out in our basement in a tent.

The Bug Man & Fisherman

I've got two new hobbies - bug catching & fishing. All thanks to my birthday. Dude got me a fishing pole (and tackle box) and Aunt Lynn & Uncle Steve got me a bug vacuum and kit.

There is nothing as fun as practicing fishing skills in your backyard!

As part of my backyard extermination I've caught a fly, ant and sweat bee so far.

Dinosaurs & Creatures Camp

Last week I attended the "Creatures Features" camp at the Children's Museum. It was in the mornings and we did all kinds of cool stuff with bugs, animals and dinosaurs. My favorite part was the skeleton room where we learned about how archaeologist's dig for dinosaur bones and artifacts.

We went on a field trip to the nature center and made lots of neat stuff, including a dinosaur egg. They had the zoo bring in animals and talk to us about what they eat in the wild. Did you know snakes eat mice? They really do!

Mama Terry got to come pick me up a couple times and Dad took the afternoon off on Friday to pick me up and we stayed to play in the museum. He had never been before so I showed him all around.

Corn On The Cob

Ethan, Jake & Luke

The Sandbox I Never Thought I'd Get

Kind of like the dog. Mom caved again. Actually, Dad just built it while Mom & I were gone for the weekend.

4th of July Vacation

We spent the weekend before the 4th of July in Warsaw visiting family. As usual we did a lot of fun things while we were there. We stayed at Papa Ivory & Mama Judy's and got to swim and drive the big red tractor! Plus I helped Daddy & Papa with a project and messed around in the barn. We visited Great Grandma & Grandpa Carpenter and I helped feed the fish in their lake.

I got to celebrate my birthday a little early with Grandma Anita, Aunt Cindy & Uncle Doug, Aunt Natalie, my cousins and Great Grandpa & Grandma Blackburn. We also celebrated Madyson's birthday & Dad's at the lake. Lots of sand and water! That night we got to see the fireworks at the lake too!

Grandma Anita also took Madyson, Jordan and I to the Fort Wayne Zoo. They had a lot of really neat things there to do.

As usual I miss them and can't wait to see them all again soon!

Rough Housing With Dad

What Ethan Has Been Up To.......

Green popsicles.


Practicing riding his bike.


Poking snake holes with sticks at Mama & Papa's.

Playing at the water park.

The Weekend Report

The Children's Museum

Last weekend we went to The Children's Museum with Mama Terry, Papa Kelly & Maddie and Tyler. I had been there on a school field trip before, but this was the first time Mom and everyone else had been. My favorite part was the water room! I'm going to a special (1 week) camp there this summer for kids my age about creatures!

A Cosmic Experience

Can you guess what we did this weekend? We went with some of Mom & Dad's friends (Simona and Jeremiah) to eat pizza and go bowling. Not just the regular kind of bowling, this was the kind they call cosmic. They turned the lights off and had these cool neon lights and music going. Everything glows too! Including these shoes. Mom called the shoes a fungal greenhouse? Whatever that means??
This was the first time I'd ever been. Dad wanted to get the bumper lanes so he could beat Mom I think.

Jeremiah is a very cool guy. He danced a lot. So much that the people in the other lane were laughing at him. He also played monster trucks with me. Simona let me hug all over her all night (I may be 4 but I do have good taste!).

I learned several things:
1) Don't put your fingers in between the balls when they are coming back. They might get smashed.
2) You can't throw the bowling ball like a baseball.
3) If you kick your leg in the air, your oversize shoe may come flying off.
4) Standing with your knees slightly bent, doubled over and yelling "Go ball!" will make your ball knock more pins over.
5) Don't run. You'll slip and fall and almost crack your head on the floor and see stars for sure!

Dad won one game. Mom won one game. And I'm pretty sure I won the last game.

WAY TO GO!

Indiana 71
Wisconsin 66
(ranked #2 before this loss)


WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO I.U.!

Next up ~ Iowa

Monster Truck Mania

This weekend Dad & Dude took me to a Monster Truck Show at the stadium, while Mom stayed home and slept. (I'm sure she really wanted to go, but she was resting from her elbow surgery.) It was so exciting! Thank goodness Papa Kelly gave me some ear plugs, because it was definitely loud. They had all kinds of big trucks that ran over cars. There were motorcycle bikes, four-wheelers, and then the big surprise.....tall metal robots that shot fire! Those were cool.
Dad didn't want to carry around the camera bag like Mom wanted, so these are pictures of me after I got home @ 10:30 p.m. with my book. I love going through and naming all the different trucks. My favorites are Grave Digger, Samson, Batman and Croc Hunter. I hope they come back soon!