6 Months Old

Ethan is 6 months old today! He's getting so big and growing up fast. He had his 6 month doctor appointment today. His new stats: height - 26 inches and weight - 15.0 lbs. The doctor said he's growing fine and following the growth charts nicely. He's a happy, healthy baby!

Christmas

Christmas went well. We had originally planned to get together with Spencer's family but some of them got sick so we just hung out with his parents. Christmas eve we had a traditional dinner. Clam chowder, rolls, salad, and cheesecake for dessert. We also went to the temple visitors center and watched "The Lamb of God" which was about the last days of the Savior. Our other activity of Christmas light watching was cancelled. Christmas dinner was cheesey potatoes, ham, green beans, veggie tray, jello salad, and ice cream rolls for dessert. All was delicious!!!

We had also planned to get together Christmas morning and open gifts, but due to illness we did our own thing. We were lazy. Ethan woke up around 9am so I fed him his breakfast and then made blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs for Spencer and me. Ethan took his nap around 11am so Spencer and I went back to bed. We finally opened presents around 12:30pm. Next year I don't think we'll be able to wait that long.


We didn't have a lot to open because Spencer and I got our presents early. My presents were a ticket to Missouri for my brothers wedding, a trip home to Washington, and getting my hair done. I cut off 3 inches and dyed it back to brown.







Spencer got a 58" flat screen TV (well it was a present for both of us) and a XBOX game "Guitar Hero: World Tour". It comes with drums, microphone, and guitar. Christmas day we gave each other small gifts. Spencer got 2 Christmas ties for church and I got a travel bag and a rug to put by our sliding door.






Christmas was all about Ethan anyways. He received toys and clothes. I don't think he knows what to do with all of them, but he likes them all!

Carrots

Ethan has been eating rice cereal for a couple weeks now so I thought I would try carrots with him tonight. Watch to see his reaction. Sorry about the video I was trying to do it myself, feed Ethan the carrots, and not get it all over us or have Ethan slide off my lap. Enjoy!

Sierra in the Snow

The above pictures were taken Saturday. The pictures below were taken today, Monday. We had a bizzard today... 10 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 35 mph! Sierra loves the snow...I hate the mess she brings inside.

Our Christmas Tree

12/15/07

12/20/08

Both Spencer and Ethan were sleeping and I wanted a picture of our tree so logically Sierra was my only other choice.

Washington Trip

On December 12th at 8pm we left for Washington. We had planned to leave earlier that morning, but I got sick late Thursday night. I guess it was a flu bug that lasted less than 24 hours. It took us about 9 hours to get there. The drive wasn't all that bad. The roads were clear besides in the mountain pass. There the weather changed quickly. Rain, snow, ice, wind....but we made it. We pulled in to my parents house around 4am Washington time. My sisters came too. One from Utah and the other from California.

Saturday was Chris and Melissa's wedding reception and family pictures. Everything turned out beautiful. I didn't get any pictures with my camera...must have forgot I had it. I'll post some later though.

Monday night Spencer and Kirsten got sick with whatever I had.

Tuesday night we celebrated Christmas. Dad read the Christmas story from the scriptures while the little ones got to act it out. Joseph was Samuel on the wall prophesying. Kaylee, Kiera, Kassidy were the three wise men. Mikenna was the angel. Zach was Joseph and Kirsten was Mary. (Sorry Ethan wasn't Jesus....he was sleeping during that part and later woke up). Caleb was a shepard that looked more like Yoda. After that we talked about the symbols of Christmas and their meanings...usually we read "Santa tell the children" but mom couldn't find the Santa bag. No worries though. We finished with singing "Away in a Manger" and naming gifts we are grateful for.

Wednesday morning we traveled back to Idaho. Ethan did great with both truck rides. He slept all but a hour or two of the trip. It's great to go on trips but its great to be home too.

Long Past and Over Due Happy Birthday Spencer

So I have been really lazy with the postings lately and I didn't get one done for Spencer's 28th birthday. His birthday was December 7th. Chris and Melissa had a sleep over that weekend. They had some shopping to do in Idaho Falls and I invited them to Spencer's birthday dinner on Sunday. Dinner was at Hilary and Bryan's house. We had lasagna, salad, french bread, green beans, and peach and lemon pies for dessert. Yummy! Overall a good birthday I suppose. Spencer's response was "It was fine". Spencer didn't want his picture taken so I had Hilary take some at dinner.

St Louis, Missouri

Ethan and I went to St Louis this last weekend for my brother's wedding. Chris and Melissa were married in the St Louis, Missouri Temple Saturday, November 22, 2008.



We left Wednesday and dropped Chris and Melissa at the SLC airport then spent the night at Kathryn's house in Springville. Kathryn, Ethan, and I flew out on Thursday afternoon. It was exciting because I surprised my parents and grandparents. They didn't know Ethan and I were coming to the wedding! I wish I had my camera to capture the surprise on mom's face. We surprised them at Joe's birthday dinner. He turned 10 on Thursday.

All my brothers and sisters were there. That is quite the accomplishment because they are from Washington, California, and Utah. We always do our best to make it to special occasions but there are so many of us that it makes it very difficult to get all of us together.

The family also visited our Great Aunt June. That is my dad's dad sister. She is in her 90's. (She's holding Ethan in the picture below) Ethan, David, Joe, Grandparents Gale, and I ate lunch with her when the rest of the gang went to Melissa's endowment session.


Before we caught our planes on Sunday, Lisa, MJ, Kathryn, Ethan, and I went to see the St Louis Archway. It was huge...630 feet up! There is an elevator to the top but we didn't go up.


Over all it was a great trip. Fast, but fun! Ethan did great on the airplanes. Thanks to Kathryn for all your help. I don't think I could have done it without you!

Next trip is home on December 12th to go to the reception in Washington. Let's hope the weather is good and Ethan will be good for the long drive home!

Roll Over

Ethan started rolling over yesterday. Usually during Tummy Time he gets frustrated and starts to grunt so I've been helping him roll over onto his back, but he finally did it on his own yesterday. In fact he did it 4 times in a row! Hurray! I guess now I have to be more careful because it won't be long before he's rolling front to back and back to front.

Halloween

So after all the costumes....Ethan was a bumblebee. Spencer had to work on Halloween night so Ethan and I hung out with Aunt Hilary, cousin Kyleigh, Toni, and Rick. The girls and Ethan tried to go to a halloween party, but it was way too crowded so instead we went to a park by the falls and took some pictures. Later we went to Grandparent Cook's house and watched "Hocus Pocus." Nothing too adventurous for his first Halloween. Next year we'll try trick or treating.

Grandpa Cook, cousin Kyleigh, Ethan

Grandma Cook, Ethan, cousin Kyleigh

Ethan and cousin Kyleigh
Aunt Hilary and cousin Kyleigh
Ethan and Mom

Happy Birthday Sierra

Today Sierra turns 1 year old! I asked Spencer if he should have a doggy party and he just rolled his eyes. So I guess we won't.

Poor Sierra no party on her birthday.

Motor Boat

I was saying the motor boat rhyme to Ethan ...."motor boat, motor boat go so slow....motor boat motor boat go so fast"...and doing the motor boat sound when Ethan started to do it too. Of course I had to get the camera and try to record it. He did it much better before the camera, but it was still cute so I thought I would share it with everyone. Enjoy!

4 Months

Ethan had his 4 month old (16 weeks) chekup today. His new stats are:
Weight: 13 lbs
Height: 24 1/2 inches
Head Circumference: 16 1/4

For comparision his last stats (at 11 weeks) were:
Weight: 11.3 lbs
Height: 23 inches
Head Circumference: 15 3/4

The doctor said he's a little skinny, but nothing to be concerned about. Everything else is looking good. He's right on schedule with his motor skills and other developmental aspects that the doctor checked. Next appointment is after christmas when he's 6 months old!

Pumpkin Patch

Deer Hunt

It's not too often I get a picture of Spencer so when I do I better post it. Spencer, his brothers, and his dad all went deer hunting about a week after Ethan and I got back from our Utah trip. Spencer and Bryan both shot a deer. He brought it home already cut up. But that's okay with me because I didn't enjoy cutting up the elk he brought back last month. However I have enjoyed the jerky and elk steaks we had last week. I guess that is what's meant in the phrase, "enjoying the fruits of your labors".

Tummy Time

I was having "tummy time" with Ethan tonight and Sierra decided she wanted to join us. He hasn't rolled over yet. He'll be 4 months next week. Then again Sierra hasn't learned to roll over either and she'll be 1 year next week. Who will roll over first?

He was concentrating on the light of the camera so hard he began to drool.

Oh and his new things are sucking/gumming his thumb and pointer fingers and also grabbing his feet.

First Haircut

Spencer has been saying for a while now that he is going to cut Ethan's hair. I told him not yet. He'll eventually rub it all off anyways. Just wait. Well he finally did it. Spencer asked me if I wanted to mow the lawn (as a distraction to get me out of the house of course) and when I came in he had the scissors in hand. Oh well at least Ethan doesn't have old man's hair anymore. The tuff on top and in back are gone.

Before:



After:

Trip to Utah

Ethan and I took his first road trip. We went to Utah for 10 days. We spent a few days at my sister's house. It was Kathryn's birthday.

Then we decided to take the kids to Provo Canyon and

look at the change in colors.
It was beautiful up there.

We continued our trip by going to St. George with my mother-in-law, Tonia and 2 of my sister-in laws, Hilary and Jen. Their kids came too; Kyleigh, Jackson, and Logan. We were celebrating Tonia's birthday at a condo in St. George.

We did lots of activites including hiking in Zion's National Park, watching a play at the Tuacahn (a really cool outside theater set up against the red rock cliffs), going to a ghost town, shopping at outlets, swimming, and just hanging out and relaxing. Here's some pictures from our trip.

Hiking:

Ghost Town:

Swimming: