Come On Baby!!!

Need I say more??? Ethan was 6 days early and Ava was 17... my hopes were obviously too high and now I feel like everywhere I go people are wondering why I am there...as am I actually! Any guesses on when this baby might come? There may even be a prize for the winner...

October Festivities!

Ava's birthday party was quite a hit! Christi dressed up like Cinderella and the girls were all in lala land. More than one told their parents how the REAL Cinderella came despite the fact that Ava kept calling her Christi- thanks Christi!




Just a couple of pics to document halloween 2009. David dressed up like a nerd for trick-or-treating. I think our entire neighborhood knows him just a bit better now, and many were shocked as he walked away with toilet paper hanging out the back of his pants and as they heard his ever so endearing nerd voice.

Ethan was Harry Potter, and Ava was princess Ava except for trick-or-treating, she was a Lion so she wouldn't freeze. The picture above is when we went to Omniture where our brother-in-law Brandon works. The owner's theme for his department was the Smurff's, so we are pictured here with the Smurff's, and they were as nice as they seem on TV when I was young. We had a great time- thanks Brandon!

I think I officially hit that part of pregnancy ... less than 4 weeks to go and counting everyday! Too bad I need to get Christmas figured out between now and then. This time of year is going to take sink me every year!

A month of Firsts

It has been a month of firsts for Ethan- He had his first day of Kindergarten, learned to ride a two-wheeler bike for the first time, swam length wise by himself across the swimming pool, and last night he lost his first tooth!!! He was so excited he could hardly stand it. He was eating pasta and had it suddenly in his hand. He also said, "If you believe enough, the tooth fairy will bring you gum and money!" Well he believed (or so I thought) and the tooth fairy brought two packages of gum along with the money, and then this morning he said, "I didn't even really believe and I still got gum"... hmmm, at least he will enjoy the gum.

Latest Howell Happenings

Just a little update on what is going on with us, along with some pictures. It has been a great summer and I can feel fall knocking at the door - Come On In! I love fall and can not wait for the apples on my parents tree to be ready to pick for applesauce, apple nutmeg cake, apple pie, apple cider... yes we will be tired of apples come December.

I have found that my house is a little cleaner since I can't do much to get ready for our baby yet - I am sure the clothes would have least been out and sorted if we new the gender, but I am guessing it is a girl (I gotta have something to blame my moodiness on). We went and saw a friends preemie baby this week who weighs 5 lbs 7 oz and she is just so teeny- 12 more long weeks for us! We still have not made any headway on baby names, so feel free to share- we need all the help we can get! I gave Dave a list of about ten names of each gender probably 2-3 weeks ago and I don't think he has even looked at it yet!

Ethan started Kindergarten and loves it! He loves his teacher and is doing great in his school work! Ava started preschool and also loves it! She asks me everyday if I am going to miss her and laughs when I say how much I will miss her. They both did a reading program at the library this summer and received free cookies from Cookies By Design (see below- they are yummy!), and they get free taco's, Carl's Junior Kids Meals and both got free books- love the library!

First Days of School








Swimming in St.George- We went to St. George with my family. We had a great time in the lava caves, the crack, on the hydrotube, and swimming!




Here is Ethan in Wizard of Oz- he loved it!

Summer time news

Back and after only a couple months! First and foremost, for any who have not seen me in a while (because if you have seen me lately you definitely already know), we are having another baby!!!

We are so excited and just had an ultrasound, to which I was true to my promise of not finding out the gender... and now I am wondering if I am going to regret keeping that end of the bargain! Ahhh, so, let me know your guesses and any suggestions to baby names as well. David committed to help have four boy names and four girl names one month before we go to the hospital so hopefully this child will receive a name before being two months old. Anyway, we are thrilled for December 5th, and I am hoping the debut of this child is about two weeks early ( I guess I better get started on that Christmas shopping now!).

I went to Girl's Camp a few weeks ago which was awesome except the drive home with my good friend, Julie, and her husband, our bishop. I threw up the entire way home. The following week Ava got dehydrated and was throwing up over and over for about 9 hours and three days later, Ethan got some bug and was throwing up all night- hopefully we have had our fair share and get a little break now, but I have done enough laundry to last me for the summer. Maybe that is why I have that huge pile in the laundry room and the other in my room... oh well.

Anyway, we went to Minnesota at the end of June for Paulos's wedding and had a great time- waterskiing, canoeing, touring Minneapolis with Segways, and going to the Children's museum. The wedding festivities were awesome and we love our new sister-in-law, Jessica! The following week I went to Girl's Camp which was great as well- you never quite know how it is going to go, but everything went very well! Besides that, Ethan is going to be in Wizard of Oz at Draper Historic Theatre in August as one of the Lollipop guild munchkins. Ava is officially potty trained (wahoo!!!) and without any ruined underwear! The kids were able to be in the children's parade downtown which was a lot of fun, but the 100+ degree weather surely started Ava's dehydration. We are loving having my sister, Amy, and her kids in town, swimming, and loving the summer... it just goes by far too quickly!

Hello Shar!!!!

Happenings...

Busy season.... ahhhhh, I was looking forward to it being over for probably 10 weeks and it seems like it has lasted about 6 past those ten weeks... any suggestions people??? Ethan has started spring soccer and is doing awesome! He loves it and also just tried out to be in a play. He also wants to start karate, T-ball, and piano. I tried to tell him how busy that would be with going to school everyday next year to which he replied "Ok, I don't want to do school then."

Many people have commented that Ava looks like a future cheerleader (to which I respond "NO, soccer player with extra energy") and I have decided that our children have more of Dave's blood in them than my own- lucky kids, although I think I may die of exhaustion. She is full of energy and smiles. She played with her little buddy Halle today and squirted her with a spray bottle relentlessly (it is ok, they were having a water fight). I think she enjoyed being the predator instead of the prey for once. One thing I really admire about Ava is her happiness- she can make anyone smile anytime. Funny girl!

David is starting soccer and frisbee teams (he is playing on them) and coaching Ethan's soccer team. He is hoping to cut his work hours down and get some stuff done around the house (we are also hoping). I am loving staying at home with my kids- challenging in a very different sort of way, but SO much fun and very rewarding. I love step class at the gym (Ashley at Lifetime fitness should receive and award!), being outside, and having wonderful friends (some of which are also family)!!! I am starting to garden this summer with my sis-in-law and am hoping our yard looks better in a month than it does currently.

We are looking forward to the summer- Dave's brother getting married in Minnesota, my sister coming from England, and hopefully a little less of hanging out at the big EY for David.

Shar, since you are probably the only one who ever checks my blog (not that I blame anyone, it's not like there is much "news" on this thing and this may be my last post ever, nahhh)... this one is for you! Obviously, here I am and it only took me a day- MIRACULOUS! I do still get on my website to get to other blogs :) But, I never look at my comments! This must be fate.... hmmm, I will start thinking about my favorite restaurant. And next Friday, I will set up 3 step benches :) You are awesome!!!

Dear Santa...

Last week we went to the mall to see Santa- Ethan was scared and wanted Ava to go first, but since she wouldn't go near Santa, Ethan piped up from a few feet away. " I want carmel hot chocolate, an Indiana Jones whip and video games." Ava said "treat" through her trembling voice and that was about it. I considered the trip a success besides that fact that I didn't get pictures because Ethan's hair was a mess and he was wearing some mismatched attire and I would have had to pay $5 to take pictures with my own camera... does it make me old to be able to vividly remember the days when you could take pictures of your kids with Santa without having to pay for it???

Well today Ethan had his "Winter Sing" which was awesome! On the way to school he said he can't go to Challenger next year because Santa comes every year. He was terrified of Santa- the girls on each side of him both said they would hold his hand when Santa came (he is scared of his ho ho ho, and his fat tummy apparently). Well, when his turn came up his teacher held his had and walked him up to see Santa- no matter that he is the tallest kid in the class and was the only one who had to have his hand held to get within a few feet of Santa. He got close to Santa and said, "I want a bell from your sleigh Santa." When Santa asked what else he wanted for Christmas he said, "I already told you, at the mall remember!" With all those kids he hears from, I guess Santa forgets some conversations, but at least he remembered when Ethan reminded him. I love this time of year!