First Snow

"Wanna build a snowman with me, mom?"

...was the first thing Ethan asked me when I picked him up from daycare today. Cute huh?

Our first snow was yesterday, October 6th. We got about 3 inches. It's really wet and melting today. Hurray! I'm not ready for the next 6 months of winter...

Ethan also made his first snow angel and then had his first hot cocco drink with marshmallows afterwards...he liked it; no surprise he LOVES chocolate!

A Little More...

...progress on our re-landscaping project that we started late August. We got the gate back up and the road base down. All that's left is a couple more boards under the fence line and some curbing between the grass and road base. Hurray! Almost done before it snowed....yes first snow was October 6th this year.

Re-Landscaping

We have started a project at our house....updating/changing the landscaping. When we are done we'll have curbing around the house, replace the remaining bark under the windows with rubber mulch or small rock, add a few shrubs and flowers, and add gravel/road base behind the fence (which still needs to be put back up). Here's the progress so far....

The Befores: (removing the bark)

The Middles: (framing and prepping for cement)

The Afters: (the cement is poured)

We have a nice big driveway now!

Ethan's 3rd Birthday

Ethan's Birthday is June 26th. We had a family dinner on his actual birthday (spaghetti, french bread, and salad then chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert). Grandpa Rick and Ethan celebrate together because their birthdays are two days apart.

and Spencer convinced me to do a friend party for Ethan the following tuesday after I got off work. He had a pirate themed party.

Here's his invitation I made...(yes I burned the edges of it to make it look like "pirate" paper).

It says: Ahoy there matey! Pirate Captain Ethan is turning three! So join us for a Pirate Birthday Party! He needs shipmates to swab the deck, walk the plank and hunt for the long, lost treasure... A pirate cake and some ice cream will also be there for your pleasure! Please say you'll come for a swashbuckling fun Pirate Birthday Adventure! We set sail on June 28, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. and we will return by 3:30 p.m. Captain Ethan's Pirate Ship is docked at 3864 Summer Sun Dr. RSVP Pirate Co-Captains- Corinne 317-1556 and Spencer 317-1590.

Seven kids came over and made pirate hats then went on a treasure hunt following this map

They walked the plank and received a hook to become real pirates. Then island hopped. Shot cannon balls at bad pirates trying to steal the their treasure, then looked for a red "X" that marked the spot for treasure.

Walking the plank was a board over cinder blocks.

Island hopping was jumping thru hoola hoops.

Cannon shooting was throwing balls at pictures of pirates on poster boards and

a treasure chest pinata was under the red X.

Then hit the pinata and got their loot of candy.

Then we did cake, ice cream and presents. We made a treasure shaped cake.

3 Attempts and here it is:

The pirate party was ended with the party favors (sword, necklace, whistle, pirate money, eye patch, prism, and activity sheet all inside a treasure chest):

The party was a success! Till next year.....