Minecraft Birthday Party

 This year for Ethan's Birthday I decided to throw him a minecraft party.  He wanted to invite his cousins and some of his friends.  So with a group of 16 kids I started looking up different party ideas and there were some great ideas out there.

 We had creeper drinks

 Cheese sticks, apples, carrots, chicken nuggets, jello jigglers (blue) for water, and watermelon.

 I also made Ethan a creeper cake.  He really liked it and I had a fun time making it for him.

 For the games we played pin the tail on the Enderdragon.  The kids were so fun to watch while they tried to decided where to stick their tail, and the 4 closest got a prize.

 Next we played a game like musical chairs, but we used minecraft blocks to walk on.  Aaron put together minecraft songs that the kids could walk around the blocks to.

 Our last game was a pinata.  I made an enderman pinata and all the kids were able to hit it a couple of times.  I filled the head and the body with candy so once it broke there was a lot of candy to go around.

 All the kids sang Happy Birthday really loud and it was fun to hear all those voices singing to Ethan.  He has some really great friends.

I am so glad the party went so smoothly because I had just had our new baby 3 days before.  I guess planning the party 2 weeks before helped.
Happy Birthday Ethan!  I am so glad you liked your birthday party.  We sure are excited to see all the things you will accomplish this year.

Happy Birthday Ethan

 Wow! It is hard to believe that Ethan is 6.  It feels like yesterday when I was holding him in my arms for the first time.

 On Friday we celebrated Ethan's 6th birthday just as a family.  I made him letter pancakes before he had to go to school, and then I asked him if he wanted me to make him a special dinner or if he wanted to go somewhere and eat.  He thought only for a brief moment and said he wanted Macaroni and Cheese for dinner.  I smiled and said perfect.  After dinner we went and got ice cream and came home to watch a show as a family.

 Ethan is in love with a computer game called minecraft.  So for his birthday Aaron got him a red stone block night light, and a torch.  I found him a minecraft shirt and made him some creeper shoes. Landon gave him minecraft Lego and he also received gifts from his Grandparents.

 Lily chilled on the floor and listened to the boys opening gifts and having fun.

I still can't believe how big he is.  He is such a good boy and we love spending every moment we can with him.  Happy Birthday Ethan!  I am so excited to see the amazing things you will accomplish in your 6th year of life.

Visitors

 Wednesday afternoon after being able to rest and eat a little breakfast Lily and I had our first visitors.

 Ethan, Landon, and Daddy came to see us.  The boys were so excited to hold their baby sister and were so gentle with her.  It was cute to see their faces and hear them talk to her.

 Landon told Lily that he loved her and then gave her a little kiss.  Priceless!

 Whenever Ethan has a moment and Lily isn't being fed, he asks if he can hold her.  He is going to be a great big brother to her just like he is with Landon.

 Kathy and Dan also came to visit us Wednesday evening.  They were so nice to bring us dinner and snuggled with our little girl.  They will be having a baby girl in just 1 month and we can't wait to see her.

 Lily and I were able to come home on Thursday afternoon.  Grandma and Grandpa Stout came to see us at the house and go to Ethan's baseball game.  After returning home from the game Nathan and Devanie came to see our baby and brought us some dinner.

It is nice to have so many people around that love us.  I wish my family could be closer, but I know they will be here in just a month to enjoy our little family.

38 weeks

Tuesday, May 21st started off like any normal day.  I got Ethan off to school and Landon and I got ready to go to my weekly Doctors appointment.  I was seeing a new Doctor because mine had her knee replaced the day before.  I was a little nervous, but had heard great things about Dr. Bierer.  The appointment went great and I had expressed my desire to have the baby sooner than later.  So Dr.  Bierer and I decided to strip my membranes.  Sometimes this gets labor started and sometimes it doesn't.  It worked for me.

Labor started about 5pm.  Landon and I took Ethan to his baseball game at 6:45 and by the time we arrived home I knew this was it.  I told Aaron that he should get the kids ready to go to his brothers and I finished up some things for Ethan's party and wiped the counter and table down.  Once all that was done we were off to the hospital.  The boys were excited, but a little nervous for mommy too.  It was very sweet at how concerned they were for me.  

 Once in my room I was able to get my epidural right away.  It was the best epidural so far.  My labor progressed and at 4:29am on Wednesday, May 22nd I had our beautiful baby girl Lily.  It was a very easy delivery.  I only had to push twice and she came into this world.

 She didn't cry to much and has been a great sleeper and eater.

 Lily has been our littlest baby.  Aaron was so excited to meet her.  She weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  I forget how small newborns are and I have loved every moment of snuggling with her.

We are truly in love with our little girl, and we can't wait to see all the amazing things she will do.

Spring Soccer

 We have started spring soccer and boy are we having fun.  I purchased Ethan some soccer shoes to help him run even faster on the field, it took a little getting used to but he decided that he liked them.

 Ethan has really come a long way since he played in the fall.  Aaron has been helping to coach his team this season, and I think it has really helped Ethan.  He loves having his Dad out there on the field and you should see how proud Aaron is.

 Aaron has a huge smile on his face the whole game while watching Ethan play.  And at the quarter mark and half mark Aaron comes over to me and asks me if I have seen all the great things Ethan has been doing.  It is so cute.  Aaron loves that Ethan has very powerful legs and can run very fast.  Aaron was also a very fast runner at this age.  He also loves that Ethan can kick the ball very far, especially when everyone is surrounding it.  

We have loved going to his games and are excited for more to come.  His little brother can't wait until it is his turn to be out there.