July "Stay-cation"

We took our first "stay-cation" this year to spend time with Marc's family when they came into town. We surprised my brother-in-law Mike on Saturday for his 50th birthday. He was under the impression that we were just having a family reunion and I am happy to say that we pulled off the surprise!

I have to say that I felt like a tourist that week! We packed in a LOT in a short amount of time and we even did some things I've never done before. We went to Cleveland to Babyland General (the birthplace of the Cabbage Patch Kid) and Helen for some shopping on Wednesday.

Caught this while we were waiting to see the birth of a cabbage patch doll...

We found a doll names "Ethan Hunter"

Ethan, Jacob, Hunter, Ayden, Casey, and Abby

Me, Ethan, Susan, Ayden, Shelley, and Abby

Then on Thursday we took a trip down to Pine Mountain for an animal safari and then some of the adults enjoyed a relaxing night at the Braves game.

Friday we relaxed and spent some quality time with the family. We always have such a great time when everyone is together. Saturday was party day! We spent the mid afternoon at the hotel pool and then it was off to the party at my in-laws' house.

The kids

Their parents

On Sunday Papa (my Father-in-law) set a stone in the pond in their backyard and let Reece and Ethan "fish." The boys had such a great time with their home-made fishing poles (string and stackable rings tied together). I absolutely love the picture of their backs.

Monday we took a trip to Zoo Atlanta. I tried not to take too many pictures since we were just there a few months ago, but it's hard not to capture the kids...they loved it so much!

Ethan, Reece, Ayden, and Noah

Tuesday we headed out to Stone Mountain in the afternoon to hang out on the lawn and watch the laser show. Reid, Nicole, Ethan, Noah, and I took the Sky Bucket to the top of the mountain and walked around a little. I really wish I had snapped a picture of the Atlanta skyline while I was up there.

Don't fear...Nicole was behind the wall holding Baby Noah up!

Marc and I headed back home on Wednesday evening since we had to work Thursday and Friday. Ethan stayed with Aunt Meme those two days and we came back down to Newnan on Friday night after work. I have to admit...at first the thought of taking time off to stay in town sounded a little silly. But we had such a great time I would absolutely do it again!

What a weekend!

I take back what I said in the last post about Ethan not sleeping past 7:00 am. Saturday and Sunday we all slept until 8:15 and it was GREAT!! Most days during the week I am up at 5:15. What a shocker to wake up to the sun shining!

Ethan's 4th of July shirt. I know it's not traditional, but I couldn't help myself!

Saturday we spent the morning around the house. Gram and Mr. Tom came over and we spent the afternoon at the pool and then joined some of our neighbors for fireworks. Thanks to the Faletras and Stokeses for inviting us to join you!

Ethan and Mommy

Yummy cupcake goodness...and another shot of the great t-shirt!

Gram and Mr. Tom

Marc and I

Ethan and Jonathon Faletra

Ethan on the trike and Marc on the clown bike

I wasn't sure how Ethan would handle the fireworks, but as you can see by the look on his face, he LOVED them!!!

A tad but unsure at first...

Squeals of joy over the fireworks

Like father, like son

What an exhausting day!

Sunday morning was pretty lazy. The weather was overcast and rainy and I was hoping it wouldn't interfere with the Bermans coming over. Ethan was excited for Hailey to come swimming with him. Luckily, the rain held off and we got to go for a dip. Hailey is just getting the hang of the floaties and was doing such a great job of swimming by herself! After the pool we came back to the house for dinner and then the kiddos went to sleep. Ethan let Hailey sleep in his bed and he slept in ours for a while.

If you listen really closely you can hear them saying "Come on Mommy!"

Ethan and Hailey helping Hilary pull the wagon o' stuff.

Caught snackin

Ethan showing Hailey the fine art of jumping off the stairs

Hailey and I makin faces at each other

They are so cute!

Marc reading Hailey and Ethan a story before bed time

TGIF and Happy 4th!

Here I sit at work while my boys are at home. Boo. They are spending the day at the pool and going to Chick-a-lay (as Ethan calls it) for lunch. I love how excited he gets about going to Chick-fil-a. His little face light up and he gasps in excitement!! And the funny thing is that now I find myself saying it the way he does.

So they just called me. Ethan told me that he stayed in Daddy's bed until 8:15 and that they were going to mow the lawn. Exciting!!! I love hearing him tell Daddy that he wants to talk to Mommy...my not so little face lights up :)


Last night we went to the pool and there were a ton of people there. We live in a great neighborhood with wonderful neighbors! Ethan has fallen in love with an older woman...Alex is 14 and she is the resident babysitter. The moment she walked through the gate he was following her around the pool. But much to his disliking, she had another little boy with her that she was playing with. It was extremely evident that Ethan was not a happy camper. His finger went into his mouth and he started the great pout of 2009. He would barely even hug her when we left.





As much as I hate to see him upset it was pretty cool to watch him experience a new emotion. His first encounter with jealousy! Alex promised to give him her full attention at the pool today.

Let the summer begin!

He was supposed to helping give Sabo a bath



I love this picture of my boys




Congrats to Marc's soccer team on winning the championship!!

The summer started out on a better note than we ended last summer at the pool. Ethan spent last summer on the steps of the pool and wouldn't budge! Part of me thinks it was his fear of the unknown and the other part thought he was just being stubborn (wonder where he gets that from). The weekend my Dad, Marc, and Rich built the deck - picture below - I took Ethan to the pool for the first shoot at the water.

I'll post a completed deck picture soon. It's awesome!!


Grassy dirty stinky little boy feet

I was pretty apprehensive. I didn't want to feed his fear or intentionally frighten him, but Marc and I both LOVE the pool and want the same for Ethan. Much to my surprise, he was OK. And by OK I mean he would come off the stairs but would not release the death grip both his arms and legs had on my body.

A few weeks of the same pass. If we tried to push him away from us, he would totally freak out and inevitably end up with a mouth full of lovely chlorinated water. I bought him the coolest Speedo water wings - didn't matter. His friends were all jumping in and swimming on their own - didn't matter. We tried bribery - didn't work. UGH!!

Finally we went to the pool on a day when just a few people were there. This was it...our chance to let him scream without protests from others. And we (read Marc) totally seized the opportunity. Marc put Ethan in the water and let him go. About 10 minutes later, the screaming was over and Ethan was paddling along like he had been doing this for years. Amazing the light switch that is a child's mind.

Fast forward one week and he is full on jumping in on his own. "Don't help me Mommy. I do it myself." Now we all can sit back and enjoy the company of friends at the pool without the screams of this 2.5 year old! Ah, sweet relief!


Notice the infamous leg kick. It never fails. EVERY time he jumps in he kicks his leg back.

From the mouth...

I swear Ethan is the funniest kid I know, and I'm not trying to be biased. He really does say some of the funniest stuff. Here's the conversation that ensued at the dinner table last night after Marc gave Ethan his monkey-shaped vitamin...

Amanda: "Ethan, what does a monkey say?"
Ethan: "OO-AA"
Marc: "What does a monkey eat?"
Ethan: "BANANAS!"
Marc: "Do you eat bananas?"
Ethan: "Yes, I do. YUMMY!!"
Marc: "So, if a monkey eats bananas and you eat bananas, what does that make you?"
Ethan: (thinks for a second) "Full"

As most of you know, Marc shaved his head a few months ago. When Ethan asked him where his hair was, Marc said "I don't know!" So Ethan thinks it's lost. Well, a few weeks ago we are walking up the stairs and Ethan sees a clump of Sabo hair on the landing. He yells to Marc "DADDY! I found your hair!!" Fits of giggles ensue.

March 2009

At the beginning of March, we took a day trip up to Dahlonega (where Marc and I went to college...and more importantly, where we first met!) Marc participated in the North Georgia alumni soccer game and then we strolled around the square and got some sweet treats.

Ethan and I waiting for the game to start

Hard to believe, but this was Ethan's very first ice cream cone! We've tried to give him ice cream in the past, and he didn't want any part of it. Now he loves it! He'll take a bite and act like his shivering and say "Mommy, it's really cold!"

Our nephew Hunter came and spent a weekend with us. Ethan is one of Hunter's biggest fans. They always have such a great time together and Hunter is awesome with Ethan! Here they are playing the Wii. Ethan wanted to do everything Hunter did.

Part of our daily routine is to go play with our friends when we get home after school. When we drive into the neighborhood, Ethan will say "Mommy we need to see if my friends are outside playing." If they are, we grab a snack and juice to share and out we go.

Emerson, Colby, and Ethan sitting on the curb

I made them move closer together and Ethan wasn't thrilled

One weekend we spent the day at Nana and Papa's house. I don't remember why we were there, but whatever we did wore Ethan out! We were hanging out in the living room and he just plopped down on the floor and fell asleep with his car in his hand.