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!

It's the most wonderful time!!!!!

I can think of some talents that I have, many that others have, and some I would love to to develop ( and some, others would like for me to develop), but one is the ability to tell a great story, whether it be through writing or verbally. I have been addicted to the following blog, www.cjane.blogspot.com- I could read her stuff all day. Granted, she she has a much different, more emotional story to tell, but she can tell it in an amazing way. Others I know have a similar talent (SPW), who I can listen to all day and laugh no matter how grumpy I am. I wonder if this is a talent than can be developed or if it is just a gift...

Next, I have seen other posts asking this same question, but in light of the upcoming holidays, what are your favorite traditions? We have some in our home that we have adopted from our families of origin, some we have heard about and even a couple we have come up with on our own (that is good for someone as uncreative as I am). Our kids are at the ages when they are up for anything and make us feel great about anything we are willing to do- but we would still like to have the best traditions we can, so if you have any you love, please feel free to share.

One we will start on Sunday is hot chocolate and Christmas books every Sunday evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ethan has been talking about it for weeks and I think he thinks it is every night, but that will all get straightened out I am sure. Another one we do is watch Scrooge (while we put up Christmas decorations), and we sing it most days during the holiday season and some days in the summer actually. We have tried the "Last Straw" which usually means Ethan picks up a toy, and then puts away stuff Ava is playing with, I am trying to cook with or finds a new spot for things that are already put away- this lasts about 1-2 days and then I spend the rest of the season trying to put the straw in the "easily stored" (always falling down) manger that collapses any time anyone touches the table in our living room.

Happy Holidays!!!

What else we have been up to

Ethan and Ava both had great birthdays. David and I did as well, but I don't think we took any pictures of them- sad. I don't know if Ava has been happier in her life than when all her cousins sang happy birthday to her and cheered when she blew the candles out. She got tons of dress up shoes and princess stuff- ahhh, life is so good. Ethan went to "the bouncy place" and then we had a planet party- he won nearly every game, so he was psyched as well! He also got a birthday crown at school, here it is!





OK, I think that is about enough of us for a while!

And.... we're back!!!!

David got the computer fixed last night- hurray!!! So, here I am with updates!!! Here are a few pics from England. I have to say, we had the best time! My sister and her family were fabulous hostesses/hosts, were so fun and planned great things for us to do. We had so much fun walking to school, riding scooters, playing at parks (Ethan particularly liked the pirate ship one), going to castles, listening to Hannah Montana, going into London, riding the train, meeting all their friends, eating great food (Amy is an awesome cook) and just being together. Here are some England pics...

Ava got hit with a swing in the eye- you can see the first time that happened a few posts back


Buckingham palace, David, Kari, Ethan, Ava and Marta



Frisbee in Hyde Park
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