Aaaaah. Beach Days.

Lovely lovely summer, how I love you. You make me tan and happy! Okay, so I am working on being happy no matter what circumstance I am in, but the smell of tan oil, sand in my toes, and waves splashing on my kids just does it for me. We spent the fourth out at my parents house cruising on the pontoon and over at the beach. Ate too much, got too much sun, and didn't do much of anything, but that's the beauty of it, right? Okay, I will try and NOT tell myself it is okay to have three brownies just 'cuz I am pregnant, but that is all I will try and fix.

I often wonder why we live in Minnesota if Wade and I share the same love of warm weather, but I do believe it is because we savor it. We get 9 months of the not-so-ideal for the thrill of the 3 wonderful ones. Do not ask me why we have chosen to be pregnant for three summers, because I have no smart answer. I tuck my round body into a swimsuit and play with the kids anyway.

The beach today was a lovely experience- complete with Ethan's first time with head under water, Emri's first time sitting and playing in water, and my Cousin Megan's son Carter's first time flashing the beach. Yep- the funniest thing- we were chatting away of course and Megan jumped up quick and my mom radar went up. Is Carter okay?? Of course. Just naked. What can I say, the kid just likes to be wild and free. And at three years old, who can blame him?? Well, some people I guess because 10 minutes later the manager of the beach came out and asked us, "This is a weird question, but is there a boy out here with no clothes on? Someone came in and complained about it." We were shocked. I had to contain myself- seriously! Who would be so cruel to a mom to do that?? It isn't like Megan was letting him run around like that! So please, if you are ever at the beach and you see a naked child, remember there is somewhere likely a mom who is completely embarrassed and doesn't need it pointed out. There. I have said my piece for the day. Thankfully Rita, the manager, thought it was a ridiculous complaint as well.

So my message is enjoy summer- I know we will be. And Carter will be too. Probably naked.

What's in a name??

About four days ago Wade and I noticed that Ethan was no longer calling us Mommy and Daddy. We were now Mom and Dad. Yes, he is three going on 13! I seriously didn't think that transition came until much, much later. I am trying not to view it as him growing up too fast, but somehow I can't help it. The other day he watched a video of himself we had taken just a year ago, and his speech has changed sooo much that he was actually laughing at himself and said, "I talked funny, huh Mom?" My response when he calls me mom is to call him 'E'. If he can shorten it, so can I. So there. Hmmm, don't think it phases him. I guess nicknames don't, as Wade and I have come up with some pretty interesting ones.



For Ethan: E, E-man, Little E, Wheat thin, Eepshton, Little Manley, Monkey Man, and Doug. Yes, Doug. That was from Wade. That nickname alone shows Wade's sense of humor. Dry and off-the-cuff. The first time I heard it, I doubted it would stick. But today, Ethan said, "Mom, my name is Doug-Ethan." Score: Dad one, Mom zero. Bummer.



For Emri: Emmers, Memmers, Memory, Munchkin, and Gremlin. You know who calls her Gremlin.



So what is a name? I guess not much as long as it is said with love. Even Doug.

Too smart.

The other day I had told Ethan three times to stop throwing things in the house. I was determined to discipline him the next time he did it, but didn't really want to have to of course. But, sure enough, there went a ball whizzing by Emri's head. He looked at me right away.

I said, "Ethaaaaaan!"
His reply, "I'msorry." As fast as can be.
Me, "What did I tell you??" Oh, I am so my mother.
Him, "Iloveyou."

He's got me all figured out.

I can't resist some of the things he comes up with these days. Saturday night we were at my parent's house and had a bonfire to roast marshmallows. He told Papa, "I am going to make my marshmallow golden brown and healthy!" ????

He is beginning to like the company of his sister and the other day I caught him calling her Peanut. Too cute.

All for now, more Ethanisms to come!!

Manners!

I have found it very difficult to get the idea of manners into Ethan's cute little blonde head. I tested him yesterday by letting him go by himself from the park over to Great Grandmas (about 50 of his little steps away) to ask her, "Please may I have a doughnut? And may I have one for Emri too?" He came back successfully with two doughnuts in his sandy little hands and his sister was very grateful.

Later on, I went back to my Grandmas to ask her what she thought of that. She said it was wonderfully funny to have Ethan come to the door by himself. Then came the test. I asked her what he said when he came in the door. She replied, "Well, all he said was, 'I want a doughnut!'"

AAARGH! Every day, probably every HOUR we practice saying 'please, may I'? I guess this is a battle of endurance that this mommy is determined to win!

My first blog!

So it took reading just two entries of my wonderful friend Rachel's blog to realize this was definitely something I wanted to do. I have always had a bit of guilt that I don't keep track of things that go on with my kids very much- pictures, yes, the occasional video, yes, but I get a pang of guilt when I see friends with their beautifully crafted scrapbooks- a talent I admire but am too busy and impatient to explore myself. So I am loving this blog idea!! I know I am way behind but, hey, time goes by so fast I will have a history here in no time.

So here is a little rundown on our family. I am the mom. I love it. I stay at home and wouldn't choose any other way right now. My hubby Wade is a 'Senior Electro-mechanical Designer' (gotta love big titles companies give ya to make you feel good!) but he would just say he designs circuit boards. We have three kids- Ethan is three, Emri is one and a half, and our baby is 4 months in utero;)

So let's get this thing started- I don't know if I am doing it right, but I will certainly give it my best! This is one scrapbook I can actually enjoy.