Birthday Parties Part I

On Wednesday morning we headed up to McGhee for choir and to share some of our monkey cupcakes with first grade teacher Kate Cannon who also happens to have a birthday on April 28th!! Because we were in the right place at the right time we got an extra birthday song and a piece of Kate's cake. (Etta is always getting cake there - she is going to LOVE going to school I think...)

Birthday twins (give or take a few years)



Then it was time to head home to get geared up for our playgroup party.

Waiting for guests to arrive. Lining up animals and duckies.



Last year play group was held on Tuesdays and Etta's birthday was on a Tuesday. This year playgroup happens to be on Wednesdays so...perfect! We had: Grey (2) with brother Ronan (10 months), Porter (2) with brother Paxton (6 months), and Evan (3) with sister Josie (5 months). All in all it was a pretty good time. But wrangling that many kiddies doesn't leave a lot of time for pics...

That's my monkey cupcake!



The whole crew



At one point the three of them did not have their shirts on, unfortunately I did not get a picture of that. But then they all went into Etta's bedroom and came out with hats. They played together pretty well.



Grey, Evan and Etta

Baby Input Suggestion #1

Mommy: Etta, what should we call the new baby?

Etta: Tongue

M: What?

Etta: Tongue

M: ???

Birthday Eve

Yes, today is actually Etta's birthday. But since it is not over yet I am going to save today's pics for tomorrow.

But yesterday we did get started with the celebrating a little early. About 7:00 a.m. to be exact. Got the cupcakes mixed up and baked so we could frost and decorate them later in the day. I actually took the time to let Etta help me mix up the cake batter. She is much better now than she was the last time we baked together. I think that I am going to try to let her help more often!

Helping mix the dry ingredients. Let me help you identify the outfit: Underpants, cupcake apron and birthday crown. Cooking like MT Grandma!



Taste test with the spatula - AFTER we were done scraping the bowl for the last time!



Delish mom!



A troop of monkeys



A close up of a crazy face

Baby Sistah

As Etta Grace is now saying. We are all pretty excited to know who will be joining our household. Now we just have to agree on a name...updates to come.

Profile shot



And a cute pair of feet

Spring...

...comes to Lewiston - and fun at the park begins!

Catchin' Up on the News

Just enjoying the Trib.

New doll

Our nice next door neighbor brought Etta over a little gift the other day. Her daughter picked it up in the Bahamas. Etta promptly put it in the wagon and drug her all around the living room.

Geez mom, more pictures?



Fine. Cheese! Isn't my doll cute?!



[And the one time the wagon tipped over? Just about the end of the world.]

Bob = 30

Bob's birthday was yesterday. Cathy and Steve took the three of us to Roosters for dinner. I had wanted to eat outside because it has been so nice here for the last few days. Of course it had to be breezy and cool last night. Oh well, it was still a great time!

Birthday daddy and his little girl



[If you zoom in and look really close you can see the "choo-choo twain" in the background. Etta wanted to "ride the choo-choo" and/or go in the water to get to the choo-choo.]

Dreams

This morning while we were all laying in bed together.

Etta: Etta dweams.

Mommy: Etta, what did you dream about?

Etta: Jesus!

The Tooth Fairy

While Bob was at a church board meeting Etta and I headed down to see the tooth fairy. Our friend DeeLee is the tooth fairy. Etta had a pretty good time.

Controlling the magic cavity finding wand.

Tuwips

Outside our front door.

I LOVE this time of year.

Here's the tuwip mommy.



Etta, look with your eyes, not with your hands.



Tall flowers.

Been farmin' long?

Last Saturday Etta and Bob had a daddy/daughter day. The morning included heading out with Baba Steve to get his annual "herd" of cattle. I accidentally told her on Thursday that she could "help" Baba with the cows. At that point she was done with dinner and wanted to go, go, go. And first thing on Saturday morning she was ready to go. Love it.

Dressed and ready. She asked for the boots and the hat. I provided the rest of the outfit.



Cutest. Picture. Ever.



See. There are cows. A picture to prove it.



And of course, her favorite past-time, driving.

Early Prep

Before we went to DC (more recent pics to come soon!) Etta wanted to help daddy walk the dogs. She is always putting on various articles of his outwear and saying "Walk dogs", but this day she really meant it.

Getting ready to go - where did everyone go?



Here they are! Let's go dogs.



Notice the hat, gloves and scarf. All put on by herself.

An Etta post...almost

If you prefer to not look at boring old monuments and would rather hear about Etta Girl...

Yesterday before breakfast...

Etta: Eat breakfast!

Mommy: Do you want bananas?

E: No.

M: Strawberries?

E: No.

M: Blueberries?

E: No.

M: Beets? [and to be fair, she DID ask for these for lunch today!]

E: No. Hotdogs!

And then after eating banana and some coffee cake

E: Candy?

A week ago Thursday - Part II

After our zoo outing on Thursday we all headed back to Molly and Jim's. And then they very graciously watched Etta while Bob and I headed back into DC. I actually drove. I am not a big city driver, but it went okay.

We walked around "downtown" (I guess) for a bit before dinner.

The White House



The other side of the White House



We went in. It was a theatre lobby...



The gate to China Town



After a tasty dinner at Chef Geoff's Downtown we headed over to the Marriott to meet the bus for our Night Tour. It was really neat to see all of the monuments in a "different light".

The Capitol - Not technically at "night" but we were getting there.



WWII Memorial. Montana and Idaho next to each other



The fountains



Jefferson - We didn't see this close up during the day. But I liked it at night!



Inside



Washington Monument. Visible from ev.ry.where.



FDR



Korean



Lincoln



Vietnam



Nurses



Iow Jima

Traveling Home

A five-hour flight from DC to Seattle isn't the very best for an almost two-year old. But overall I thought she did really well. Better than I did on the prop plane from Seattle to Spokane through wind and snow. I'm not a happy flier anyway...it was a little rough for me. But we made it home safe and sound and are ready to go back!

Enjoying breakfast at the airport waiting for our turn to board.



Daddy doing the entertaining during our three hour layover in Seattle.



Etta loved watching the planes take off and land. "Plane!" "Plane. Up guy (sky)."



[That is our prop plane there in the background. Bob couldn't even stand up straight in the aisle. Did I mention that I am not a good flier???]

A week ago today...Friday

[I'll do Thursday Part II tomorrow - hopefully...]

Friday proved to be a bit less structured which was okay with everyone. We started out the day with a trip to the National Aquarium. This was by far Etta's favorite. I think it was because she could stand right at the tanks with her little face right next to the glass and see the fish up close. (Not many pictures because it was not great lighting.)



Etta's new, very own, Nemo fish



Took a spin by the White House.



(That is my itty-bitty baby bump - I swear I'm not just porking out...)

That's really all the pics from Friday. I'll share more, fun pics tomorrow.