Nice Day for a Walk

During Rich's Spring Break we all took a walk at the Riparian Nature Preserve just south of the Gilbert Public Library. Since I tutor at the library, I knew that there was a beautiful space to walk there- but I had no idea how expansive it was until a week or so ago. The boys and I had walked and had a picnic there, and we were all excited to bring Daddy this time! We ate lunch, or at least Rich and I ate and tried to keep the boys in one place! Then we went off to dig for dinosaur bones! From there we took a walk around the preserve. Ethan walked the whole thing, but started to get really tired at the end. He wanted to be carried, but instead we challenged him to a race to the end of the hike! He of course accepted and made it all the way back to the car. We cheered him on and celebrated that he didn't give up, and that he did the whole hike himself. His face was beaming and he said, "I'm proud of myself!" ❤

ASU Spring Game

It is so funny to be at a football game at ASU, and think back nearly 12 years to when I first came to AZ as a 20 year old junior in college. I don't think I ever looked into the future and thought I would still be here in AZ! It brings a smile to my face to think of all of the great times between then and now.
Here we are on a beautiful sunny AZ spring day at the ASU spring game! Ethan and Matthew sat still long enough for us to snap a few pictures and watch the beginning of the game. Then after some serious snacking, Matthew and I went on a long walk to get the wiggles out.
As we all walked out of the stadium when we had had enough, Ethan had some fun throwing baseballs and footballs in the giant inflatables. Such a fun family Saturday!

Future Desert Sun Kiddo

Matthew can't WAIT to get to go to Desert Sun Child Development Center like Ethan! Every time we drop Ethan off he wants to stay and explore the centers, or take a peek at Cutie the guinea pig.

While we are on the subject of Desert Sun...We are so proud to say that out of over 700 preschools rated in Arizona, Desert Sun was one of six schools to earn a 5 rating! We knew this was a very special place, but is great that our decision to send Ethan here was validated in such an amazing way!

So...today Matthew and I arrived early to pick up Ethan. While the kids were outside playing, we went into the room to help clean it up with another mom.

He stayed in the stroller for a bit, but then wanted OUT! As I swept up the little patio, he plopped down to read some books. ❤ (That was right before he stepped off the patio and went tumbling into the bushes!)

Circles, triangles, squares, oh my!

"I need a paper to write something," declared Ethan as he rummaged through our desk drawer. He found what he was looking for, grabbed a sharpened pencil from the cup and instantly started to work. I could not believe my eyes a few minutes later when he had drawn all of the shapes he knows! He named each one and stated that he thought about making a picture of shapes while he was in timeout! Funny boy!

Storytime!

I am not sure what happened in the last 3 months, but I am suddenly aware that my little baby is not going to be a baby for much longer! He has gotten much taller all of a sudden, and his vocabulary is really expanding! He is also understanding how to follow simple directions like, "Go put that away." Matthew absolutely loves his big brother and tries to do and say everything that Ethan does and says.

But in some ways he is still my little baby of course, he comforts himself by sucking his fingers and playing with his hair ( or my hair). He also loves to be held and cuddle on my chest, and since he is a little guy-he still feels small in my arms. He also all always smells delicious...like warm toast.

Here we are spending some quality time together at storytime at the Tempe library while Ethan is at preschool. Matthew likes to hang out in my lap the whole time, just like Ethan used to do.

Sweet Moments

My heart just melted when I turned the corner the other day and saw this sweet little moment.  We had just come in from outside and the boys sat down to take their shoes off.  It was just too cute to see our Ethan being such a helpful and kind big brother.  It can be hard being the big brother, but he sure loves Matthew.