Happy Birthday Ethan 2011

Since we had a big party this year for the boys together, the day of their actual birthday was low key and just family (us and the Avers').  

Ethan enjoyed a party at home with a cupcake and a few gifts.  He really liked the one from the Knox Family, but struggled a little with how to work it at first :)  Watch the video below...

I can't believe he is 3 years old this year. Time is flying and I am truly starting to understand what people say about embracing all the moments...the great, the good, and the not so fabulous ones!

He loves transformers (which I think we all have realized by now), any kind of movie, Lighting McQueen, all vehicles, and loves to pretend to play farm and good guys vs bad guys.  He really has started talking so well and knows his colors and numbers.

He has a quiet demeanor, a caring heart, and his favorite person is his daddy!  They are so much alike it is not even funny.

This past year he has grown up so much!  He started the ECC program where he has blossomed into a imaginative-talking-movie watching boy.  He loves playing with his brother and his best friend is of course Gentry Hoke!

The Big Bash

I think that I get a little smarter every year.  Okay stop laughing!

This year we only did ONE HUGE PARTY to celebrate the boys birthdays.  They have all the same friends for the most part, which totally makes it easier on us and the other parents!

We did the big bash at our house this year and made it a fun water slide party.  It was a very HOT summer this year, so this was perfect!  We set up canopies and 2 slides.  I bought one this year since renting is just as expensive!  The Reid's brought over their slide (which turned out to be the hit of the party) as well.

All the kids had a blast.  We had about 40 kids there and no one got hurt and they all played together well!

This year I also tried to be thrifty and save on the cake idea.  Now my sister can make some awesome cakes and I knew that I could not make anything that was close to that, so I opted for a cookie cake.  I mean who can mess that up?!

I ordered these special Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee edible pictures to put on them as well.  Needless to say, it was a typical Brown situation and they did not turn out as expected.  But the kids didn't care and both of the cookie cake were ate!

No lets talk about present opening...CRAZY!  I tired to make them open the gifts from the same people at the same time.  That didn't work.  Then I tried to have them read the cards and say think you as they opened them.  That didn't work.

What worked was all the other kids helping hand out and open gifts.  I have no idea who got them anything, but all the kids were having a blast and that is all that mattered!  My ocd self had to just roll with the punches on this one!  These pictures only tell part of the chaotic story :)

This is definitely the way we will handle their birthday parties for years to come!    Thanks to all the wonderful friends and family that were able to help make this day so special for each of them!

New Hats!!!

Grandma Charlene go the boys new cowboy hats and spurs for their birthdays.  They are on cloud nine!!!

First Days of School 2011

The first part of back-to-school is the "Meet the Teacher Night."  Basically paperwork and craziness :)  

Caiden was really excited to see his teachers until we got there.  It was like pulling teeth to get him to take a picture with them.  He was more concerned with all the new stuff to play with.

(Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Owens)

Ethan was totally pumped!  He had been to this classroom so many times in the last two years since Caiden was in the program.  He walked in liked he owned the place :)

(Mrs. Franklin and Mrs. McClure)

The official first day of school was very exciting to the boys!  They could barely sleep the night before. They both love school and enjoy learning, but most of all playing with their friends (I know a shocker)!

Yukon Rodeo 2011

This was our first year to attend the Yukon Rodeo.  The boys and I had a great time!  We will definitely be making this a yearly tradition.

Caiden was old enough to ride the sheep this year.  Him and his friend Grady signed up.  Of course this literally was my first rodeo, so we did not have the correct attire.  Luckily we have some great friends that let us borrow the correct sheep riding gear :)

It was definitely a site to see! 

Both the boys got to participate  in the goat chase (don't think this is the official name).  Caiden won $10!!!  The object is to chase the goats and grab the ribbon off their tail.  Once again a site to see!