Haboob!

This has been a crazy summer with dust storms! The technical term I have learned in my 11 years in Arizona is "haboob!" The first storm we had was so huge, that we were out and about and had to race home before it hit. In these pictures, Ethan and I decided to go to the library to check out some new books. We arrived, looked over our shoulders and couldn't believe what we saw. I tried to get Ethan's picture alone with the storm behind him but he was too scared to stand there by himself!

Welcome Baby Lainey!

Proud Daddy Jared and Rich

Carrie, did you really just give birth naturally a couple of hours ago?!?

Rich remembering what it feels like to hold a new baby

Hooray! Baby Alaina is here! Our great friends Jared and Carrie added another beautiful girl to their family two weeks ago. Ethan calls her "Addie's baby sister," or "Baby Lainey." When I found out that Carrie was in labor and that Alaina would soon be born, I told Ethan, "Guess what, Addie's baby sister is coming out today!" He sat quiet for a minute thinking, then in a matter of fact way says, "oh."

Ethan has met Baby Lainey two times, and both times has wanted to lift up her blanket and tickle her tiny toes. He likes to see her pull them away. Good practice for when he becomes a big brother in a few months!

Congratulations Jarecki Family!!

Future Star

Ethan loves baseball so much that every time he passes the sporting goods section at a store, he has to try on the helmet and hold the bat. Here he is at Target in San Mateo.

Family Camping Trip

We decided to beat the heat and head up north last weekend with our extended family-Ric and Stephanie (Papa and Nana), Madison and Jordan (Rich's sisters), and Brandy, Jeremy, Jayton, and Brekin. Ethan was on cloud 9 getting to spend all day outside with his cousins. They spent the days digging in the dirt, playing on Jayton's bike, building forts, and going for rides on Jeremy and Brandy's Ranger.

We brought a tent to sleep in and a huge Aerobed (which took up the entire tent!). I was a little unsure of how I would do with sleeping, being 23 weeks pregnant and all, but I was actually pretty comfortable. I just couldn't stay asleep! Poor Ethan (and everyone else) woke up in the middle of the first night screaming because he couldn't figure out where he was. It took him a while to go back to sleep but when he woke up, he was so proud that he had slept in a tent!

The second night it rained cats and dogs, and so after a fun evening of cards, we decided to sleep in Ric and Stephanie's tent trailer. We all slept a lot more soundly that night!

That second day as we packed up to go, a huge herd with hundreds of cattle moved close to our site to graze. We all got a kick out of watching them move closer and closer...so close at times that Ric had to go over and shoo them away!

We had such a wonderful time being up in the trees in cooler temperatures, in fact Ethan had a meltdown when he got home! The poor guy started crying and didn't want us to take him out of his carseat. That night at the dinner table he says, "I know! We go outside, all day! Like camping!"

Waking up in the woods

Brandy and Brekin cuddle time

Rich and his dad

Brekin and Ethan digging in the dirt

Happy Family

Building a mini-fort

The Morris Family

(Trying to keep our faces from getting burned!)

Madison, Jordan, and Steph

Ethan holding an elk bone

Jordan-showing us all how much better she looks than me in my hat!

Happy 4th of July!

Waiting for the show to begin

Ethan and Momma

Running with Kayleigh and Addie

Pregnant Mommies!

(Hard to believe Carrie had Lainey just one week later!)

Patriotic Addie

Cheese!

Watching the fireworks show

(I love Ethan's hand resting on his Daddy's arm)

We celebrated 4th of July with the Jarecki and Thie families at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. We arrived early and set up our blankets on a perfect hill in the shade. There was actually a pleasant breeze...hard to imagine after the scorching 119 degrees from just two days before. The kids had fun waiting for the fireworks show by racing around the hill, playing at the playground, and of course... snacking!

We got a little nervous that the fireworks show might not go on because it got a bit windy, but it died down just in time. Once the sun went down it was time for the show to begin! This was Ethan's first time seeing fireworks and he ooh'd and ahh'd and said it sounded like drums!

Cars Party!

We had intended to celebrate Ethan's second birthday with a Cars party at the splash pad at our neighborhood park - Desert Breeze. Oh, we knew it would be hot (it is Arizona in July after all) but as the afternoon crept on we were finding ourselves in record temperatures...even for the middle of the desert! When we were driving over to set up and my car thermometer said 119 degrees (with humidity) we decided to go with plan B!

Rich's Dad Ric, and Step-mom Steph offered to have Ethan's party at their house. As soon as we stepped into that air conditioning we knew we had made the right choice! Ethan was just excited to have a Cars party, so he didn't mind (or notice) the location change.

The kids all had a blast swimming in the pool and we sang Happy Birthday with a cupcake for Ethan, and ice cream floats for everyone. Yum! When we were outside eating our treats, I asked Ethan, "Should we go inside and open your presents?" I'm telling you, that boy took off running faster than I have ever seen right into the house!

Thank you sooo much to Ric and Steph for opening up their house to everyone at the last minute, and to everyone who helped Ethan celebrate his second birthday! We were especially thrilled to have Ethan's Papa Cuff, and his Bubby and Papi here from California!

Ethan's 2-Year Doctor Visit

I took Ethan to see Dr. Miller today for his 2-year check-up. I think this is the longest we have gone without having to take Ethan to the doctor! It seems like he has outgrown all of those ear infections that brought us back again and again, today his ears looked great!

Ethan was 29 lbs 10 oz, and 35 inches! He actually weighed more at our last visit. He is in the 75th% for both height and weight, and is following the growth curve perfectly. Dr. Miller was very impressed with Ethan's talking and galloping! He told her all about his baby brother in Momma's belly, and about going to the fireworks. He told her, "I know!! Fireworks! Addie, Jared, Carrie!"

4th of July Project

Ethan is so proud of his 4th of July flag! Now he recognizes the American flag whenever he sees one.

Busy Birthday Boy

Swimming Lessons with Ms. Holly

Opening Presents...Round 1!

Look, New Shoes!

Ethan's New Strider Bike

Opening Presents...Round 2!

Being Silly with Mommy

Look at my new cars Bubby!

Cheese!

Ethan LOVES his Daddy!

We celebrated Ethan's birthday with a day full of fun. We had swim with Ms. Holly first thing in the morning. Bubby and Papi got to see Ethan show off his stuff in the pool. Then it was off to the Farmhouse in Gilbert for breakfast. Ethan ate a MOUND of blueberries off of his mickey mouse pancake.

Then it was home for presents. Bubby and Papi gave Ethan a new pair of Keens, and a Strider Bike! The bike doesn't have any pedals, Ethan will just learn to walk and balance the bike, then he will progress to being able to sit on the seat and put his legs up on the frame and coast. That way, when he is ready for a big kid bike, he shouldn't need training wheels because he will have already learned how to balance. There are videos on youtube of kids doing Strider bike races, pretty cool!

That night, we had birthday cake and presents from Momma and Dadda. It is hard to believe he is already 2 years old!!