The color has arrived

Finally I finished my work today and was able to get out to enjoy some of our perfect weather today.  It didn't rain today...YAY!!!  I was able to get my front flower beds weeded from last fall when I had foot surgery and wasn't able to do it and they now look spectacular with all the tulips open...not nearly as impressive as the tulip festival but I can't compete there so happy nonetheless. 

And somewhere along the line another gnome joined Smitty "the creepy gnome".  If the gnomes would just keep the weeds away maybe I wouldn't be opposed to having them in my yard.

It is going to be a long night...

A nap is extremely rare for Ethan and quite frankly I hate the nights that he has one.  When they do happen it always seems to be at 4 or 5 p.m. and then at 11 p.m. he is still chatting away in his bed, which tonight will make a really rough morning tomorrow when we have to be at the dentist for him at 8 a.m. and then school right after.  Oh well, it was really quiet for a short period while I worked.  Funny that he is only half on the couch as well. 

Happy Easter!

The best holiday candy ever! Ethan found his Easter basket in the dryer and I am not sure what he was more excited about, the candy or the 2 Lego man's inside his basket.  To not be left out, Charlie and Copper helped themselves to some of the hard-boiled eggs, colorful shells included, that Jeff had on the counter while he was hiding them for Ethan...good thing we colored so many so we still have some for the potato salad.

Has it Sprung?

This past weekend & week we have had several days of sunny, dry weather (YAY!!) and finally we were able to get out and do some yard work (not so YAY!! but it looks really nice).  My tulips are opening into beautiful color, our beautiful backyard is blooming with trees, our lawn is needing to be mowed twice a week, and we planted our garden.  We are looking forward to 45-70 days when our peas, squash, spinach, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, beets, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, corn, and pumpkins will be ready to enjoy.

Also with such great weather, Ethan's preschool has been able to play outside on the playground this week and Ethan took full advantage of it.  On Wednesday when I picked him up from school, Teacher Shanise told me that he wiped it out and peed on the playground.  While I was laughing inside, and I figured that this would happen at some point, I was a tad bit embarrassed when she told me.  We had to have a talk about only going potty in the toilet and the new rule....we can only pee outside when we are camping.   We can always count on entertainment from him.

1st bike ride of Spring...

This afternoon we also got to take our 1st family bike ride of the year.  It hasn't rained ALL DAY as so we took advantage of it.  Ethan's bike was even upgraded to the seat being turned around like it is supposed to be used and even raised a little bit.  He will still have to use the modified foot pedals but he was loving every minute of it and I don't think he stopped pedaling the entire ride.

Jeff is once again starting school...this time to get his histology degree.  Jeff started off his pathology career in 1997, when he went to school at the U of U / ARUP for a degree in cytology, in short, the diagnosis of cancer mostly through Pap smears.  About a year after obtaining his degree we moved to Oregon and now almost 12 years and a master's degree in business later, he is now going to start an online program to obtain a histology degree, in short, frozen section of cells and tissue then thinly sliced and viewed on a microscope to diagnose cancer and other diseases, and he will be able to do his clinicals with his employees, as he is the operations manager of a pathology company.  Not sure how many initials he is currently up to after his name but what is a few more, right?

In other news:

Yesterday my cell phone fell out of my pocket and into the toilet (or my poo phone as Jeff now calls it).  My heart sank as I realized I hadn't moved some my pictures from the phone to the SD card in my phone and I was afraid all the pictures were lost.  Luckily my cousin, Stephanie, gave me a tip to put it in a bowl of rice and see if it might help get the water out.  Not sure how well it worked, and I will definitely need a new phone, but at least for the moment it is working and I was able to get my pictures off the phone.  Especially this one...

    Newell (aka, Uncle Noodle per Ethan), Doug and myself - 04/10/2011

My brothers mean the world to me.  I love them dearly.  I don't get to see them very often, and that makes me sad, but when we are able to hang out we make the most of it and I can always count on them. 

This is the captain speaking and we have been cleared for takeoff...

Ethan and I took his first airplane ride this past week and oh what fun we had.  We traveled to Utah to visit our family and to celebrate my Grandma Caldwell turning 80.  Unfortunately, my Aunt Kathie past away while we were there after fighting a long battle with breast cancer with metastasis to the brain.  She was a wonderful lady who will be missed and my heart and thoughts go out to her family.  Here is a link to their family blog if you are interested...One More Day

Grammie picked us up from the airport and we met Uncle Doug, Kiara, Charmaine and Aunt Lori for a trip to Hogle Zoo.  They had a few different animals than at the Oregon Zoo so we got to see a few new ones as well as my most favorite...the giraffe's.

 Here's a hoot just for Amy!

Ethan, Grammie, and Kiara.

Then Sunday we traveled the 5 hours to Hurricane and were able to spend a few days with the rest of the bunch.  Ethan loved playing with cousin Avery at the park and with the toys at G&G Hadley's.

 

We also got to ride Papa Steve's bus at Zion National Park after having dinner at the Pizza Noodle.  

On our way home from riding Papa's bus Ethan all the sudden started to cry.  I asked him what was wrong and he said he wanted to go home and see his daddy and puppies.  So not even 3 days in and he was homesick, it was so sad. 

He woke up the next morning still wanting to go home but was really excited to get to ride the 4wheeler, climb the tree and swing with Papa Steve so it took his mind off of it for a while.

 Tuesday was the only day we were able to wear shorts and flipflops.

Ethan, Papa Steve, Jacob and Ellie....they love to ride the 4wheeler.

 Ethan also got to feed the bearded dragon and play with Pumpkin at Aunt Lexie's.

We then traveled back up to SLC on Thursday and had lots of fun with Aunt Lori.  Sucks that it had to snow most of the time we were there but we made the most of it.  Thanks to Lori again for letting me have a break for several hours on several days, I truly appreciate her.  We celebrated my Grandma Caldwell turning 80 yesterday with a large family dinner and reception.  It was really fun to spend some time with my family, most of which I haven't seen in 10+ years.  There were several people taking pictures so I didn't take any, so I will have to update when I have some of those pictures.  Unfortunately the party ended on a sour note when my brother & sister-in-law, Newell and Kristina's, car was broken into and her purse and several other items were stolen as well as the window having to be replaced...crossing my fingers that karma will take care of that.

Ethan was very excited to see Daddy waiting for us this afternoon.  He took off running...or better yet wobbling with his heavy backpack...but we are all happy to be home again.