Quotable Qoute

So, we are having computer issues which is why I haven't posted anything about our FABULOUS trip to England- it is always better with pictures. However, Ethan did say something today that made me laugh, so hopefully it will make someone else chuckle as well!

I was asking Ethan about people he knew who were at a meeting we went to last week:

Kari: Do you know Debbie?
Ethan: Is she that green girl (she was wearing a green shirt that day)
Kari: Yes! That's right.
Ethan: She was nice to me, she let me into the nursery
Kari: Her name is Debbie Moody
Ethan: Why Moody (Actually it was "Why Bootie" but I thought he said Moody)
Kari: Because that is her last name, like ours is Howell.
Ethan: That's funny, Bootie, like Butt, Debbie Butt
Kari: No Ethan, Moody, not bootie
Ethan: Oh Moody

We will try to post some pictures soon!!!!

Update

As I was looking through these pictures I noticed that many of them had one thing in common. Can you tell what it is??? It may not be obvious to the untrained eye, but in about 12 or so pictures, I noticed Ava or Ethan eating Reeses Peanut Butter Cups- they seem to be the candy of choice for our family. Happy Easter to Ethan and Ava!!! They each must have had at least 5.





Ok, so I am not addicted to blogging, but here are some of our happenings as of late! Busy season is over!!!! And let me tell you there is life after busy season. We have been getting in as much play time as possible to make up for the first three months of the year. David and I went skiing, David took Ethan skiing, we went to the Bounce place (as Ethan calls it) and Ethan ran his first race!!! Elmo was probably the highlight of the race, but the medal and T-shirt have been Ethan's new obsessions. He did a great job and ran the entire way!! We have also been to a few Jazz games (GO JAZZ) and as the Jazz dancers were throwing shirts to the crowd, I cheered and yelled trying to get one and the dancer basically started telling me I had to dance and be more excited to get one- through body language of course, so I did- and now Ethan's running shirt has been replaced with an adult large Jazz shirt- which he has to wear pants- not shorts- with so he doesn't look like he is wearing a dress. Here are some pre-race pictures from the SLC 5K and 1K for Ethan- I am doomed to have an entire family of morning people (and yes, it is 12:38 am as I write this post)- one of these kids is not like the others.





Ethan has decided our family is the Berenstain Bears- except we don't live in a tree- but we do have Mama, Papa, Brother and Sister. And after he watched "Cheaper By the Dozen" one night, he called Dad the next day to say, "I want a pet for a frog". Since neither David or I are into cats, and we are not ready for a dog, we thought that would probably be a good idea. We shall see if it amounts to anything. On Sunday I walked in on Ethan's pretend play time, and heard him saying how he was going to cut off someone's head and stick his knife in him- I quickly said I didn't like that kind of talk and didn't think that was a good way to play to which he responded "I am Nephi and getting the brass plates". Hmmm... didn't quite know what to say to that. Ok, I am probably good to go for at least a month... have a good night!

By the way- is everyone LOVING Idol??? Sad that Carly is gone- but, the rest I won't miss too much. I am thinking Syesha could be next on the list... any thoughts???

My Life...

I just posted an novel about all the craziness that has gone on the past couple of weeks, but I wanted to shed some light on our happy little lives here in the Drape. When someone asks the question, "What's new?", I don't feel like I really have a lot to say, but I must say that we have an amazing little world. Ethan and Ava are purelt hilarious and make me laugh and smile multiple times a day. A couple of the new favorite things are:
- Ava blowing bubbles in the bath and saying "buhbuh"
- Ava tickling Ethans "buhbuh" aka belly button every night and him laughing hysterically
- Ethan doing great in school, kindermusick, soccer and with friends (We love you Pede and Pord) and daily saying, "Mom...(waiting for a response), "yes Ethan", "...I love you"
- Ethan getting up at 6 am to be with David and them hanging out for 45 minutes while David gets ready, both talking incredibly loud and me pretending to be asleep but hearing every word.
- David finding time to do really good and important things, even though he is absolutely drowning in work.
- Ethan writing his name (Ethan Howell)
- Ava going up the ladder and down the slide multiple times on her own and getting her own diaper and wipes (today is was one wipe...no, that does not work) and all of her accomplishments.
- The park by our house which is currently a second home to me- love it!! And with the nice weather, we often have visitors at our second home!

I have wonderful and amazing friends and we have wonderful and amazing family members- thanks to you all!!!

Scoop of the weeks...

Ava's Black Eye (and tongue)

So I have anxiously been awaiting this time of year for the past two and a half months. For some reason, by the end of February I feel like my life is over as I know it, have a couple of freak episodes about David's long working hours, and then 2 weeks later- I see the light! David's busy season ends March 31st- no, not about the end of March, but the END of March or so he says:)). I know what day I have to get to, and you can do anything for two weeks right???

Well, two weeks ago, Ethan ended up with that flu that has been going around. He was sick with a high temp. and aches for 3-4 days (I know it could have been worse)and he is a little dramatic to put it nicely.

A week ago Sunday was David's sisters homecoming, which was amazing and a great day. Ava sat quietly on my lap from the beginning of the meeting until the end and didn't even want to go to David (unheard of). I thought I must be getting some type of deserved (HA!) blessing...but I should have known something was up. She was very clingy all day, the same but whinier the next and the next, and finally Tuesday evening started a fever. You'd think I would figure it out before the fever, but alas, 101.8 degreesnand I took her to the Doctor. Of course it was 6:40 pm and the on-call doctor was an African American woman (sorry, but can any of you imagine a caucasion man doing this?). She looked in her ear, jumped back and screamed- yes, really, I am not much of an exaggerator, so maybe a yelp (for lack of a better word) is a better description. She said it was a 9 or a 10 (??? on a scale of 1-10 I asked?) and prescribed antibiotics for 10 days. That was Tuesday (well Sunday - Tuesday I guess).

Wednesday night while at the park, she walked in front of a moving swing someone had jumped off and it hit her right in the eye. She has had a black eye for a week and I have had no less than 20 people mention calling DCFS on me- thank goodness for witnesses- phew!

On Saturday Ethan came down with another fever and missed his soccer game and a play with Grandma and Grandpa Whisenant, and I missed a wedding reception. We left early from church on Sunday so that we wouldn't get his little friends sick being too close to them in class.

Ethan complained so bad about his teeth over the past week (the cavitity was HUGE and I HATE tooth pain) that we took him for an emergency trip to the dentist yesterday, who was tripled booked because of my request (Thanks Dr. Stucki who would never in 10 million years read this). That was Monday.

Then to top it all off, Ethan slammed his finger in the car door (blue, purple and swollen), screamed for 35 minutes until the IBprofen kicked in and then we went to get Frosty's because they make everything better. At the park later, he hit is face on the slide, fell of the slidy thing and hurt his jaw. That was today!!!

Ok, sorry about the boring travel log of negative happenings, but I just have to wonder, what do I have to look forward to during the next 13 days? Forget the next two weeks, what will happen tomorrow???

American Idol... who is yours??

Ok, so did anyone wonder if Brook Wight was LDS after she told Simon that she and her husband had never seen an R-Rated movie in their lives? There are two LDS singers in the top 16 this season on AI and I just wonder, when is AI going to come to Utah for auditions??

So, David Archuleta... Simon, you are right as usual, he is the one to beat. What was up with AlexAndrea and her hug to him after to final song though??? Thoughts anyone? Anyway, I loved his rendition of 'Imagine' and I had previously been tired of that song since my junior year...in high school! The kid can sing and I love his song choices! Ok, so here are my top picks for AI (in order):

David Archuleta
Carly Smithson
Michael Johns

I also like Jason C. and Brooke Wight in my own way. Not that I think they will win or should, but they just seem like "shiny happy people" if you know what I mean.

I am not sad to anyone gone who is gone although I would have liked Alaina to stay another week- I could have chosen someone else to go in her place. My picks for the top 16 would include all but: Danny, Luke, Kady, and Amanda. Danny's voice is good actually, but ... we'll leave it at that for now. Am I to into this??? Please, don't answer that...

What can you do in 24 hours???

Last night I had GNO with some friends (you know Girls Night Out for those of you who have been away too long, like myself) and we had a great time! The food was amazing - I must have had 8 dipped strawberries, and a ton of salad, bread and fruit-the company was fabulous, and the stories made me cry with laughter! Let me see if I can jog some memories out there; homemade pink taffeta Easter hats, wiping food of your childs face with your finger and licking your finger, lace collars that look like bibs, dating height requirements...ahhh, it is fun to remember the days of yesteryear and fun to get home after 10:30 pm!

This morning we had our neighborhood fitness assessment. It went...ok I guess. We started off doing sit-ups and while I was going as fast as possible, Ava walked right into the line of fire and caught my elbow in her face. Needless to say, I didn't do so hot the rest of the minute. My run went ok except for the wind- the only reason I ALWAYS would prefer a treadmill- and I have been coughing ever since, but it is not the sick cough people have been having for weeks - knock on wood.

Ethan's soccer game could not have been more of a highlight for him or myself for that matter. David stayed home from work this morning to attend and stood by Ethan every time he had the chance. Dave's parents and two sisters also came and I think Ethan was happier during his game than he was on Christmas morning. If any of you know Dave, his parents and sister, Christi (probably anyone who would read this does :)), you know they are more enthusiastic than a high school varsity cheerleading squad at the state championships- well, my little four year old had all that enthusiasm bouncing off him in a small gym full of four year olds. His cheeks must have been sore from grinning, mine were :) He played better today than I think he ever has, despite all his GQ looks at the camera. He got to the ball and kicked it over and over while he was in. Thank you for your support Grandma, Grandpa, Christi and LB!!! We came home for a quick lunch and celebration for Ethan's great soccer playing- with nothing other than oreo ice-cream!

After naps, we went to see my parents and Ethan made cookies with Grandma Whisenant and did puzzles. She even let him put the eggs in the cookie dough (huh??? He is only four, and I still have a hard time making sure no shell gets whatever concoction I am drumming up). Needless to say, so much attention in one day made him a very happy little guy.

American Idol... my guilty pleasure

Ok, so after watching the top 12 guys tonight, I have my picks of who I think should make it to the top 12. Here we go:

Michael Johns
David Archuleta (Murray High!!)
David Cook
Jason C.

Top two are my top two. We'll see how tomorrow plays out!