Roam the Dome

This past Saturday Marc, Uncle Jimmy, Ethan, and Hailey went to the Georgia Dome for the Falcons pre-season "Roam the Dome" event. The newspaper describes this event as "...a very family friendly affair that allowed the kids to run around and enjoy themselves, concessions were open, and there were games and activities after the scrimmage." Unfortunately, they never made it down to the field, but here are some of the pictures Marc took from the day.

Thanks to Marc and Jimmy for taking the kiddos! Hilary and I got a TON of scrapping done and the kids had a great time!!

We Are Not Above Bribery

Someone asked me the other day if there was ever a time in my life when I had to throw out everything I thought about the way it should be and realize that I was wrong. The answer is simply...Of course...I have a child!!

I swore that I would never bribe my child. There will never be a need I told myself. Commence your giggling now. I know I was WRONG!!!

When we started potty training, we rewarded (bribed) with stickers. Then we moved to matchbox cars, then onto candy we went. Once Ethan got the hang of it, we removed the reward. Easy enough, right? Yeah, ok, sure.

Ethan has been having troubles realizing when he needs to poopy in enough time to make it to the potty. This has been especially problematic at school since they are always playing, not to mention there are 9 other kids in his class. We finally gave up control this past weekend and let him know that it was totally his decision...to potty or not to potty...to wear a diaper or BBUs. It was all up to him. I took a lesson in reverse psychology, and boy did it work!! He decided he was going to use the potty on Sunday...YAHOO!!!!

Monday after work, I went by WalMart and picked up the Fisher Price digital camera that Ethan's been wanting for quite a while. That night, we showed it to him and said that when he decided it was time to use the potty completely at school, the camera would be his! Until that time, it sat out in plain view in the see-thru package just tempting him. I told his teacher about our little bribe and she was on board!

On Tuesday, when I picked him up, he had an accident. He told me "Mommy, I had an accident in my pants. I don't get my camera today." Same goes for Wednesday. Then the glorious day finally came. On Thursday, when I arrived to pick him up, he was sitting in a chair holding a bag of ice. Oh lovely. Turns out he had fallen right before I got there and hit his nose and it had bled a little. Once he told me all of that, he says "MOMMY! Guess what? I just went poopy on the potty at school and I get to have my camera!!!" Oh happy day!!

As soon as we walked thru the door he was itching for that camera to come out of the package. I felt bad because we really needed to get him cleaned up and his clothes changed. He was a trooper and held patient until it was time. I made sure we had batteries on hand, but who knew getting the batteries INTO the camera would be such a challenge. I had to keep repeating "Be smarter than the toy" over and over as to not chuck the camera across the room. The camera is waterproof, so the battery compartment is on lock-down...literally.

After many long minutes of struggles, we were in business. Ethan started happily snapping away and chanting "Mommy, say cheese!" Sabo, however, would not say cheese, much to Ethan's disliking. And I am happy to report (and now feverishly looking for wood to knock on since I am probably jinxing myself) that we have not had an accident since!! YIPPY!!!!!

Stay tuned for some of Ethan pictures to be posted soon. That camera sucks batteries like I have never seen before and they are already dead!!

It's a Strike...It's a Spare...It's Ethan's First Bowling Trip!

Thank the heavens above that my child takes after Marc when it comes to athleticism. He can hit a baseball, throw a football, shoot a basketball, and kick a soccer ball. He has all but mastered the Wii Sports (with the small exception of tennis) and his coordination surpasses mine. Yes, the child has been blessed with all of the athletic bones that passed me by. YAHOO!!


We decided on Saturday that it was time. Time to throw him into the world of REAL bowling...not just bowling on TV (the Wii). And I must say, to no surprise, he did great! Once Marc showed him the fine art of the granny-role, he was in business! And we were not allowed to help. He would let us stand with him, but we could NOT touch the ball. Oh no.


Game 1, he bowled a respectable 45. Of course we had the bumpers up, but we quickly learned that this does not mean that you are guaranteed to knock down pins every time. The bumpers stop short about 2 feet from the pins...just enough room for the ball to squeeze by. Nice. Game 2, he rose up to a 71!!! I know it doesn't really count, but in the 8th frame, he missed all the pins on the first ball and then got them all with the second...so that's kind-of a strike, right? Well, at least it is for a 2 1/2 year old!


We were also lucky to have a nice family in the lane next to us. They were taking their time and didn't mind that we were taking our time as well. They even cheered for Ethan when he did well. Ethan did keep trying to bowl on their lane though...he'd put the ball down and we'd all yell out "NO!! Not that one!" and one of us would run up there to point him in the right direction.


After we finished, we had dinner at where else but Chick-a-lay! All day Sunday he kept telling me "Mommy, I so had fun real bowling with Daddy and with you Mommy!"

Kitty's New Do

I know it's supposed to be all about Ethan, but I couldn't help sharing these pictures of our cat, Samantha. As most of you know, she is quite the fluffy little beast (or "Fat-Rat" as we affectionately call her) so once or twice a year we have her shaved. I have to say that while she does look a little silly, we can tell that she feels so much better. She hates being brushed and her fur can get completely unmanageable, so the vet suggested the "lion shave." They leave the hair on her head, bottom half of her legs, and the tip of her tail. Ethan didn't seem phased by it at first but now wants to pet her more often.

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.