CATCHING UP

Ethan is totally into making crafts. A couple days ago (11/21) I decided it might be fun to make a pinata together. All in all, it was a messy good time. Ethan loved every minute of it, which was the desired result, so I'd call it a screaming success. We had plenty of the flour/water mixture on our pinata that the drying took a little longer than usual, but it was certainly firm. I neglected to open a blog entry so that I could document the fun, but here are a few photos. Brynn sat patiently in her swing the entire time.

Ethan never seems to be at a loss for words. He speaks so clearly, and has such an enormous vocabulary that we often forget how old he is. Here are a couple of my favorite things as of late:

ETHAN

- Today when he woke up from his nap, he saw that I had put the Christmas tree up and stood admiring the lights. Then he said "This tree looks great Mom...GREAT JOB MOM!"

- A couple nights ago when I was brushing his teeth, I said "Ethan, you have such nice teeth, there are a couple of teeth in there that I would really like to have, would that be ok?" to which he replied, "No mom, those are all my teeth...they're my chompers."

- Last night when the Home Teachers were over, they were talking to us about temples and after our discussion, Bryan looked at Ethan (who had been playing fireman the entire time & could not be interrupted to sit reverently) and this was their conversation:

Bryan: "Do you have a favorite temple Ethan?"
Ethan: "Yes, I do."
Bryan: "Is your favorite temple in Utah?"
Ethan: "No".
Me: (thinking that he might be trying to remember the name of one of the temples in his scripture book) "Is it the Nauvoo temple?"
Ethan: "No"
Me: "Kirtland?"
Ethan: "No"
Bryan: "Then which one is it?"
Ethan: "Costa Vida...with my friends."

Ahhh yes, I suppose in some social circles it could be considered the holy of holy's when it comes to Mexican food.

- Today Ethan found a centerpiece that I had put in my banquet in the dining room for safe keeping (it's all candles and Ethan, a year or so ago, liked to throw the round one like a ball...which isn't good for candles). He emerged into the kitchen, where I was cleaning up after breakfast, carrying a large candle singing Happy Birthday to me. He did it again this evening, only the Happy Birthday song was directed at Brynn.

- He has been choosing to sleep in his big boy bed, which he is extremely proud of. It's a queen size bed, so it's easy for him to have Mom or Dad lay down next to him and talk for a little while. Tonight, I went in to tuck him in and say goodnight and he said "Mom, lay down by me. You can lay on your pillow." I couldn't resist the invitation to lay down and cuddle with my little boy, so I laid down on top of his bed. He propped himself up on his elbows, looked at me and said "Mom, you need to get your legs under the covers." I ablidged and after a few minutes I said "Okay, I need to go downstairs and put Dylan to bed and finish getting a couple things done." Ethan rolled over and said "No you can't mom, your legs are under the covers - that means you can't leave." Clever kid. I now know what to tell him when he tries to get me up to make him breakfast earlier than usual. ( :

- I love how he is always so excited in the morning when Brynn wakes up. He will rush to her side and smother her with hugs and kisses saying "My Brynnie is awake. I love you Brynnie...you're so cute!"

- At night, before I put Brynn to bed, Ethan (more often than not) runs into my room and says "Can I hold her for a minute before you put her to bed?" It's so sweet to see how much they love each other...Brynn always lights up when she sees or hears him nearby.

BRYNN

- She squeels, giggles and loves to talk...it's adorable. I absolutely love this stage.
- I love the way she gently reaches her hands up to hold onto my face.
- She's such a cuddly baby - I just can't get enough.
- I love how she talks to, and laughs at, the toys on her play mat.
- I love the dimples in her cheeks when she smiles, and the little dimple she has in her chin.