Shoot 'em up!

The boys carrying the bases up to the park.

Getting ready to play Shawn's nerf gun version of capture the flag!

The birds and the bees

My Ethan is going to have a birthday next week, can you believe he is already 9? I can't. It makes me sad that he's not my little boy anymore. No matter how hard I try to keep him young and innocent, and naive, I cant stop him from growing up, and naturally becoming interested, or curious about things. Heaven knows I try! Lately I've been feeling the urgency to talk to him about "stuff". You know there are so many things out there, and most of his friends are a year or so older, and I just worry about him getting half the story, or some totally bogus story about "things". And I am not talking just about the birds and the bees, I am talking about all those things that you want to shelter your child from. I heard the other day that boys as young as 6 are becoming exposed to pornographic images. I mean hello how easy is it to stumble across something that you didn't want to see while browsing for something online? Ethan is such a pro on the computer, way better than me, so we have had to lay down some rules concerning the Internet. But ugh, how do I bring something up with him, that he's never heard about, with out planting that seed of curiosity? When we talked about the computer I just very lightly brushed the topic, with out making it a big deal or alarming him about it. I think it was a success (mostly because the conversation ended with me telling him no computer, EVER. JK, I felt like it though.)
Then yesterday I was talking to a friend, and she was telling me that she was getting ready to have the talk with her son, because he just turned 8. I totally started hyperventilating, and said to her I am supposed to have "the talk" with Ethan...like now. And she says well that's what they say, that now is the time. First off, I want to know who THEY is, I mean please. No thanks. I knew it was coming, but certainly not this year for crying out loud.
So needless to say I am a little freaked out. I don't think I slept at all last night, I was just tossing and turning all night. I have never in my life considered home school as an option, but yesterday, I was rethinking it.
So any advice? Have you had the talk yet??
*Note: I thought I'd add that he's not interested, or curious (that I know of??) about any of these things.-except he does like to sleep with no shirt...he thinks its manly???!

Gecko's

In Ethan's class they have been studying the Sonoran desert in preparation for a field trip to the Botanical Garden (which BTW, is gorgeous, if you've never been I highly recommend it, but only go when the Monarch butterflies are there!) So anyway one of the things he learned about were gecko's, and now he is gaga for gecko's? Why? Because they are chameleons, and super cool of course! So he has been begging to make a shirt with a gecko on it. Shawn said I should buy a gecko brand shirt, but that's no fun.
Now I am all about letting kids do a project however they want, its not the finished product that matters its the process, right? But when it comes to wearing that project out... in public, well that's a different story. So when I saw this project I thought it would be perfect. You use freezer paper as a stencil, so cool right? All you do is cut out your design with an exacto knife, then iron the paper, wax side down, on the shirt. Then let the kids go crazy. We just used puffy paint, and a brush. Then you just peel the paper off. That easy, and they were quite proud of their creations!

Baby Boy

Look at my handsome new nephew! Mom and baby are doing well. They are resting after a very long night. She texted me a few times yesterday to let me know what was going on. And then her darling hubby texted me through the night to keep me updated, isn't he so sweet. My favorite text was at 2:49 am saying wake up! He's almost here! It makes me get all choked up again, I am so excited for my sis, and this new chapter in her life. I know she is going to be the best Mom (and already has been), and put us all to shame! Baby boy is 8.14lbs, and we have to wait and see what name he goes home with! I love you guys, can't wait to see you!

Quick trip

We got home last night from a quick trip to CA. My sis was getting sealed to her hubby for time and eternity. Taryn (my other big sis), Danny, Shawn and I got there early to do a session before the ceremony. The San Diego temple is gorgeous. It is so peaceful, I love it! After the temple Amberly had a party for her friends and family to celebrate. Sunday we hung out with Shawn's fam (2nd pic) and had a great time just relaxing and catching up, oh and stuffing our face! Then we went to my Mom's house for Sunday dinner, our used to be Sunday tradition, but its been awhile. Look at Amb's belly She's due on my birthday, which is Wednesday. Don't you think that if she has the baby on my birthday that she should name it after me? Hmmm, I think so.
It was a great weekend, very busy and packed full of fun! And to carry on the fun, we brought my niece and nephew home! Yea for cousins!

Happy Valentine's Day

Cheers!

Last weekend we had a little Valentine's Day party! Complete with heart crafts, and pink heart pancakes, and a late night walk to the park! While I was putting everything together Shawn saw all the pink and heart stuff, I think he felt like he needed to remind me that we have boys. DUH, that's why I am having the girls over, silly boy! It was so fun even the pets had to get in on the action! Sorry Aspen hope you don't mind sharing your bed with Andrews.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Hope you all get lots of loving!

A winter song

I found this video, here, and thought it was so lovely I had to share it with you. (The blog that I found it on was very lovely too!-check it out, if your into stitching!)