Springtime Fun, Ethan's Birthday and More

We've spent quite a bit of time outside so far this spring.

Ethan's favorite activity is eating suckers on the front porch.  Owen usually has a few licks and then just holds onto it while Ethan is eating his.  Then, when Ethan is almost finished with his sucker, he asks Owen if he wants to trade and Owen agrees.  

Not sure how much longer that's going to last.

Owen's new favorite pastime is playing in the car and pretending to drive.  Here, we are waiting in the parking lot while Ethan is in therapy.  Can you tell how much he loves it?

Ethan has started asking to wear a hat lately.  

I think he wants to be like his daddy.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Ethan 
making the famous "funny face" when he was 14 months old.  
I love this little outfit he's wearing, 
so of course I had to save it for Owen to wear.

Here's Owen in the same outfit at 18 months old

Another of Ethan - love those chubby legs!

Owen chewing on a piece of grass

We have these little green worms all over our yard right now, eating on our trees.  

Ethan loves letting them crawl on him.  

If you look closely, you can see it close to his right eye.

it was tickling his cheek

Hudson liked the worms too!

We let the worms swim in the water table.

I'm sorry to say, some of them couldn't swim.

The other day Owen was mad that I wouldn't keep the refrigerator door open for him.  

I walked out of the room and when I came back, he had pushed his chair up to the frig and was trying to open the door himself!  He has been rearranging my furniture for a while now, but this is the first time he learned he could use it to his benefit.  Pretty soon afterwards, he learned he could push the ice maker and all the ice would pour out on the floor and, of course, he thought that was hilarious.  

Daddy had a board meeting on Ethan's birthday, so he took a few hours in the afternoon to meet us at the park and have a little dinner.  

Then we went to Sweet Frog for Ethan's favorite - chocolate ice cream with m&m's

When we got home, our neighbors, Chloe & Bryce

had left us some yummy cinnamon muffins!

Ethan's PT at Touchstone has been working with him in this new piece of equipment.

I can't remember the name of it, but, as you can see it straps him in, but does not give any support for his hips, hands or arms.  This is a stretch for Ethan since he depends a lot on hip and arm/hand support in his walker.  Ever since he started using this at therapy, he will try to let go while standing in his walker and has gotten up to standing for about 10 seconds without holding on!

using it while walking on the treadmill

We planted flowers at Aunt Allie's house to celebrate Earth Day

Brinley enjoyed the chair more than the planting

our finished products

Alisa

A few weeks ago we had a wonderful, week-long visit from our friend Alisa.

This was her frist vacation - ever.  And we were so honored to have her spend it with us.

We spent a little time cleaning up the playroom before she got here (since this also happened to be her bedroom for the week).  Here is Owen "cleaning up" his toys.

She happened to arrive while Louisville was playing in the final four, 

so Ethan had to wear his Louisville shirt to support the city where he was born!

Owen was excited to have her here because 

he had a bed to jump on every day in his playroom

Alisa made the mistake of letting Ethan play with her phone.  

He quickly became hooked and asked to look at her pictures constantly.

Pop, Cara & Allison came over to play one day

Here is Alisa and Cara enjoying the hammock in the backyard

Ethan enjoying his apple juice popsicle on the back porch

the three grandchildren attacking Pop

We went on a few walks in the neighborhood 

and I put Alisa to work pulling the kids.

Here she is teaching Owen how to crunch ice

(I couldn't help posting this picture of Alisa in her red footie Mickey Mouse pjs)

We had a wonderful week with this special woman.

The boys were both so sad for her to leave and have talked about her for weeks.  

We love you, Alisa, and we can't wait for your next vacation!