Random...or just the usual

Life is good. Things have been CRAZY around here, like they are for almost everyone out there. It is with all good things, but it makes me wonder. I think about whether or not I am spending my time the way I REALLY want to. What is more important, gymnastics and kindermusik, piano and soccer, or playing a game together as a family and having free time to let your kids imaginations run wild?

Anyway, we have had a crazy life lately. On December 11 (wow, I can't believe it has been that long ago), I discovered that our dishwasher had been leaking (no Noth, I will not bring the mushrooms for the 3rd Sunday) and the following Saturday we left to Minnesota. We had a company come clean up the mess, and as of last Friday, our kitchen is finally put back together. We had to have about half of our lower cabinets replaced, floor, countertops and sink. We also have had the entire house painted- it will be finished tomorrow!!!! I love it. I am realizing now that the ALL WHITE walls, were probably not too good on the psyche. I am however loving our updated look- now we just need to do the cabinets (get them painted), carpet, railings, and a few key pieces of furniture (thank goodness David never looks at this blog!).

Here are a few shots of the last month or so:


Here is Miss Ava, the elf, helping at Zone Conference in Minnesota. The other day we had two plumbers hooking up our faucet. I was on the phone and came out as I knew Ava would be chattin' it up with any workmen. I asked if she was behaving herself and the one said, "Oh she is just telling us we are bald." I lightly scolded her (shame on me) and went into the other room to get off the phone. When I returned I heard the same plumber say, "Well maybe I am fat, but he's not", then turning towards me he said, "she is wondering if it is because we drink coffee, maybe we should change the subject." Oh Ava, nothing like that girl to brighten or ruin someone's day. She is always keeping me on my toes, or letting me know when I have been far too flat footed.


Ethan Man took 2nd place in his school spelling bee out of the 1st-2nd graders. The kid loved spelling the words out loud, and was so excited, it was really fun to watch him. He is still playing soccer and we are thinking about starting him in piano. Junior Jazz is about to end, and we can't have any free time now can we... (see above).


Love my little family. This is Christmas day, we were able to attend a baptism in Minnesota of a great family with four children. It was awesome!



Aidan turned one!!!! The sweetest little guy who is starting to get very opinionated!!! He and Ethan share a room now and Aidan woke Ethan up every morning and Ethan pulled him into bed to play!! Conspirators, those two early birds- it was 6:20 am)! I am not sure about this room sharing thing with Aidan, but hey, the paint colors had to be boy and girl, so Ethan and Ava were no longer able to share ;) Aidan started walking within the last couple of weeks and loves to walk back and forth. He also loves to empty everything out of anything he can get his hands on and spends way too much time in the toilet. If anyone has suggestions on teaching older kids how to flush the flippin' thing, I may pay you for this bit of advice and my children will be grateful of of their days- all of them for different reasons of course.

Happy January!

Halloween 2010

A Native American :), BatGirl, a Tiger and a Jack O' Lantern... oh wait that's Ethan. Here is what we looked like on Halloween... ya David and I were kind of lame in the dressing up department this year. Happy Fall!!!!

Aidan- 11 months

I hardly post about Aidan, but considering he is the one who changes the most, I just wanted to catch up on him. Aidan will be 11 months old this week. He has eight teeth, pulls up on everything and pushes walking toys around. If he is ready for a nap or bed, I put him in his bed with his blanket, walk out and shut the door. It is a rarity that I hear a sound come from his room. He is sweet and tolerant of pretty much everyone and everything unless that "everyone" happens to be his 4 year old sister who is treating him like a stuffed doll. But he adores her almost more than anyone because of the attention she gives him. He refuses to wave or clap but thinks it is hilarious when other babies wave and clap, and when he gets overly tired, he usually gets the giggles.








Love this BABY!!!

Ava is 4!!!

Let me tell ya bout' a girl with sass, charm, and attitude. She is sweet as molasses and sly as a fox, and figures out a way to get most anything she wants. Her name: Ava and she had a birthday and a great one at that. We painted her toenails and finger nails 5 different colors, and she walked out of the house in full neon, with silly bands up her arms, rings on three fingers and her hair in a side pony... just the way she wanted it with NO input from me!

We had a great day with breakfast and presents, Thanksgiving Point with Halle, and the Bouncy Place with our family. The great thing about Ava (and ya it may have everything to do with her age) is she loves Loves LOVES everything!!! She has so much enthusiasm for life. She is really proud of herself lately at not being bossy (which she has worked very hard on) and she can do a great headstand! She is loving soccer, gymnastics, school, friends, and especially her halloween candy! Happy Birthday miss Ava. We love you!!!

Quick Update

Ava- could not be more excited for her birthday in 4 days!!!! She doesn't miss telling anyone about the two goals she scored in one game this season in soccer. She is happy and crazy and an angel, but has an awful hard time keeping her little paws off her baby brother. She is taking gymnastics and loves doing back bends. She loves carrying around her Hello Kitty purse full of all her treasures.



Aidan is as fantastic as can be except his eating issues. The last couple of days he refuses to eat anything that is not sweet. He shuts his mouth, smells things, and turns his head. Guess it is time to go sugar free until his birthday. He is as sweet as he could possibly be- gives head bonks (softly most of the time) and is pulling himself up on everything. He finally has changed from army crawling to regular crawling and is happy 99% of the time. He is a snuggler, has tooth number 8 coming in, and loves everyone.



Ethan lost his front tooth tonight! We were driving home and he screamed for about 5 seconds (drama runs through the Howell blood in him) and then when we got home, he touched it and it came out! He has read three Jack and Annie books in the last three days, is loving soccer and excited for Junior Jazz to start. He is loving first grade and all he is doing but just wants to add violin lessons and foreign language class after school...ya, sorry bud.

A word...or two... about Minnesota

In August we went to Minnesota to visit my in-laws, and anyone who has talked to me in the previous 4 months knows I had some concerns about the Boundary Waters experience we were going to have- canoeing, portaging all of our gear (children, food, tents, sleeping bags, clothes, porta-crib, etc.), camping with our three children, and having no access to civilization in case of an emergency. Well, we went and had a FABULOUS time on the trip- Boundary water, Canada, Minneapolis, Blue Fin Bay, staying on Lake Superior, and just being together. But just to prove (ya, I am that kind of pathetic) that my concerns were not totally irrational...

My in-laws took David's brother and sister and their families to boundary waters this past week. During the second night, they heard a bear outside of their tents in their camp - my bro-in-law was banging pots and pans, screaming, and doing all he could to scare it away (He has a three year old and baby just older than Aidan). It came back two more times that night- clawed through all of their water bottles, egg container, and ruined a bunch of other things. They were all wide awake at 5 am and packed up to go home... smart decision.

Good bye summer and hello fall!!!

Quotables

Ava was being babysat a couple of weeks ago. My sister and her kids had been here for the last few weeks from London and apparently she was trying to imitate the English accent, talking like a Brit as Ethan likes to call it. He asked her what she was doing and she responded, "I'm talking like an English Muffin."

The other day I was taking Ethan to school and he told me that this boy at his school was really fat. I told him that is not really a polite thing to say and he said, "I know, a nicer way is to call him puffy."