.Big Boy.

All things Ethan...

We have a little graduate on our hands...

...Ethan is now paci free! YAHOOO
He is also...

sippy cup free to go to bed at night! WAHOOO

We also have a learner on our hands...

He is keen to potty train. He takes himself poop, and will pee on the potty, just doesn't know the sensation in time to take himself pee as yet. What a little champ!

Our baby boy is getting so big!

.I Need Me A.....

Mary Poppins!

Oh how I want for her this coming weekend....

....Rehearsal Dinner....Wedding....Both speaking on Sunday.... and alas, no family available

Mary, I need you... just for the weekend!

.Happy Easter.

I have always loved Easter. As a young adult, when I was single, we would have a regional conference for all us YSA's in the church every easter where we would have wonderful speakers and great hymns and I feel touched by easter more so than any other season for this reason. For that I am thankful. Here are a couple of my favorites. Enjoy!




Wishing you a wonderful easter full of love and laughter (and perhaps some delicious chocolate) and that you may reflect on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

.Happy Anniversary Babe.

I have been married to the most amazing man for 8 years today!
Happy Anniversary babe, love you.xx.

Cute Boy

I was looking through old photos and videos while trying to compile a photo book for Ethan and came across some really cute ones. It makes me miss a little baby around the house at times...

Birthday Boy Ethan

We recently celebrated Ethans 2nd birthday. We had a great time and Ethan really enjoyed his day. Hard to believe at times how fast the last 2 years have flown by.

Things that our Ethan is up to at 2 years old...
- ALMOST sleeps through the night...almost!
- Talks in 3 word sentences. I was trying to compile a list of all the words he says now, but he says just about everything and is a little parrot. He is great with his manners and I find him quite easy to understand.
- Loves to say prayers, he usually repeats the last word of the sentence said, but we'll take his precious little prayers anytime.
- Is obsessed with puppies and dogs. I thought Cade was bad, Ethan is 10 times more obsessed. Just adores them and will spot them anywhere we go.
- Can wrestle with the big boys and hold his own. He is a fun boy who enjoys getting in the thick of it with Cade and daddy.
- Has a keen interest in the potty and will tell me when he has gone potty (in his diaper) but doesn't quite get the big potty yet.
- Is still the cuddliest, snuggler. Loves to snuggle.
- Gives kisses and cuddles freely.
- Has an attachment to me lately, cries to go to the sitter or to nursery.
- CLIMBS and is an escape artist, (much to my freak out and dismay)
- Knows when he is being naughty and will give a cheeky grin.
- Is a great little eater with a sweet tooth.
- Has a good sense of humour and will tell you the same knock knock joke over and over again.
- He really enjoys Blues Clues and any show with animals and singing.
- When going down for a nap, he opens and closes his hands and asks me to lay with him.
- He chucks a fit whenever he is told no. I call it the no button, say no and he flops on his belly in a tantrum.
- Loves to sing or be sung to. Very content when music is playing.
- Knows the words and sings, 'Follow The Prophet' and 'I Am A Child of God' once again, this is sung with the last word or each line or the chorus only. Super cute.
- Still loves water and 'swims' in the bath.
- Whenever he wants something he says, "Have it?" and then, "Pleaaase, have it?" It is cute, but is usually when requesting something he knows he can't have.
- Adores his paci, and will often have one in his mouth and one in each hand. He sniffs one paci as a comfort and changes out which one he wants to smell at the time. He got this honestly, I did it as a child, just not with my paci. We are trying to do away with them, but I fear he will take up thumb sucking which is what I did. We'll get there, this next month, we are hoping to be paci free, wish us luck!
- Ethan is quite shy, if we go to story time or playgroup he will choose to be with me for quite sometime. I even noticed this last Sunday that he did the same in nursery, hung back until he was comfortable. If we are at home and others come to our house for a play, he is not like this. The comfort and security of home I am sure.
- Has 16 teeth, 8 on top and 8 on bottom. No sign of 2 year old molars yet. He loves to brush his teeth and is great at letting us do so for him too.
- At his 2 year well visit yesterday, he was measuring 34 3/8 inches tall(50th percentile) and weighs 29 1/2 lbs (70th percentile). Healthy little man and for this I am SO grateful.

Ethan is a delight. I have told Cory that if we could have the sleep habits of Cade in an Ethan, that would be a great baby and one I would sign up for anytime! He can be a challenge lately, with his escape attempts, that give me heart attacks, but he really is a beautiful boy. I am one blessed momma and count these little men as true blessings each and every day (even if it is when they are fast asleep in their own beds)!

.Giveaway.

My bestie MEL, is doing a giveaway, check out HER CRAFT BLOG to win her handmade creation, just leave a comment on what you want to hear more about! Simple.

.Health Habit Blog.

Just wanted to share my new project.

HEALTH HABIT BLOG

.And I Still Call Australia Home.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Today in the land of Aus (they are a day ahead) ...
it is Australia Day - January 26th.

This is what I would consider the equivalent to the 4th July in the USA. It is in the thick of summer with lots of fun to be had.
I always, always miss Australia at this time of year... for lots of reasons but I think the cabin fever and the fact that I would give my right eye to thaw out in Australia on Australia Day is really up there!!

I thought as a tribute to all things Australian, being Australia Day and all, I would give you a bit of a look into the things I love (and miss) about Australia.... I will warn you, this might be a long post, but it is just a look, so it won't be as long as I could make it!! :)

First off, my family!

I miss them like crazy at the best of times and even more at the worst of times. We truly have been blessed to have such frequent visits!

Today, they will be together (most of them) at my sisters house enjoying this...

Where I would be getting my laughing gear around one of these sausage sangas...

After that, they would be heading here... Newcastle Beach

...to do some of this...

beaching and relaxing while the kids play...
OHHHH to click my heels and us to be there with them....

I would then be enjoying this for dinner perhaps...(if mum was up for cooking her lamb roast)

If not, we would all chip in and enjoy some fine dining of fish n chips! CHICKEN SALT please....

Then... we would all enjoy some 'oh so delish pav'....mmmm

Where we would then all watch this....

believe me when I tell you, nothing beats an Australia summer sunset! ahhh the serenity!

When Cory and I were chatting and I was thinking of all the things we love and miss, it was fun to reminise. I am so glad that he was able to enjoy the same parts of Australia I did and even more so in some ways....
I miss alot of the food and goodies I grew up with and Cory is particularly fond of these things too... here are a few...

TOTALLY top of the list... cadburys chocolate, and I mean the REAL stuff! (My favourites are Peppermint, Black Forest, Top Deck and Snack. Cory likes those too, but his fave is Crunchie)

I particularly love this little baby.... (although Nestle make him, he is a good one)

Lollies...oh lollies...how I miss you...

Weis Bars... you are just lovely...both Cory and I agree that Mango, you are our fave

Bickies...
Monte Carlos...heaven...

Mint Slice...think, girl scout mint thins on crack! They have a smooth mint center, like a york peppermint pattie in a cookie!

Now for the savory...
Cheezels...

...Burger Rings (they sound gross, but trust me... they are mmm mmm good)

Bakery items... oh how I miss you, on those cold, cold days (which are plentiful here) when I crave you daily when pregnant... ahhhh I miss you..
Lamingtons... (I use to call these wellingtons when I was a little girl...memories...)

Meat pies... HAVE to be from Bakers Cottage... THE.BEST.BAKERY.E.V.E.R!!

Sausage Rolls...with sauce (ketchup)

Apple Turnover with cream....

Chocolate Mud Cake (with King Island Cream)... THE BEST!!

Vanilla Slice...AND chocolate ecclairs..

Scones... oh you call my name almost daily!

These would be the only "cold ones" I would be slogging back on Australia Day, and any other day for that matter!! Sars and Ginger Beer are like the equivalent to Root Beer, just depends on your taste. I am partial to Sars myself, think sweet, homemade root beer...even better!

I found some really cute tributes to Australia and thought I would share...




I also found a blog that had some fun facts... some of it is a bit shonky (yeah another Aussie word)... but it was a bit of fun none the less...

I seriously could go on and on! I got to thinking of all the lovely smells and sights of the familiar parts of Australia, but thought I might leave that til next year!!

Hope you have a great Australia Day!!

.Currently.

Reading: Take Time for Your Life by Cheryl Richardson

Looking forward to: Ethan being potty trained...someday

Stressing about: Getting it done, making it happen

Craving: Coke...I am trying to quit

Wanting: A youngest boy to sleep through the night, every.single.night

Proud of myself for: Going to MOPS also taking the boys to the library today and still doing dinner!

Wearing: Jeans and a cute top

Avoiding: Filing away last years papers to make room for this years

Sick of: A little 'not quite 2 yet' boy being a 2 year old!

Learning: How to make food storage happen

Suffering from: A killer headache today

Struggling with: My want to exercise vs my lack of time and energy

Overcoming: Raising my voice, impatience

Hoping to: Go to Long Beach for a conference in March

Excited for: A nice tax return

Relieved by: Catching up with my husband after a long day at work

Splurging on: Chocolate

..What's the G.O. with you currently..??

p.s. Thanks KaLee for sharing