Zoo People

Ok - so Jason and I are zoo people - always have been.  When we go somewhere new - we check out the zoo.  So - naturally - We take Ethan to the zoo - often.  Usually we go at least once a week - maybe twice if we go with Jason on the weekend....so here are a few pics of Ethan playing around at the zoo!

Driving the Tractor

He loves to ride the camel - this one is "Dale"

He also likes to feed the giraffes with Daddy -

Another new favorite - the petting zoo

We have really been taking advanatage of the nice weather - because we know that 110 is just around the corner!!!

Mark your calendar and set your DVR

Some of you may remember that Jason and I took a trip to Vegas in January.  You may also remember that we went to a couple of tapings of "Lets Make a Deal" while we were there.  Sadly - we did not get chosen to make a deal with Wayne....but you will be able to catch us in the audience!!  Just look for a farmer and her chicken!!  Our shows air on March 4th and 5th.  It is carried on CBS - you folks in Phoenix that is Ch 5 and it is on a 2.  The rest of you check your local listings!!!  The show was a lot of fun - hope you can catch it!!!

Some pics...now that the computer works!

Ok - so I finally figured out the problem and was able to upload some new pics...so here you go!

 Here are a couple from our VIP Elephan trip.

Me feeding the Elephant

Ethan's triumphant return to the train!

Playing in the sand....for you who don't live in AZ - notice the shorts!!

Climbing the ladder at the park - such a big guy!

They run the exact same way - so cute!

My boys were TIRED out!!

The Olympics made me do it...

So, obviously - I am not so great at keeping up with my blog! Oh well! It has been busy around here the last couple of weeks! And, of course, they Olympics have been on - so we are up late every night - watching sports we don't really like! Right now - women's bob-sledding!

The semester is in full swing - and I like most of my students! Teaching Public Speaking at 8:15 am is much different than at 1:30 pm! I really enjoy my Learning Community and my teaching partner, Heather. It does keep me busy however!!
On the "health" front. My dad is doing great - getting back to his old self a little more every day! Bob (Jason’s step-dad) is home and doing amazing! There is no explanation for why he is recovering so well - but we will take it! The only one we still need to get well is my niece Heather who has been at Phoenix Children’s Hospital for the last week - so sending lots of prayers her way!
Ethan has been busy as always. After our bad experience with the hay ride around Halloween - he has not been interested in riding any trains etc. However, a couple of weeks ago - he decided he was over it - and has been on the train at Desert Breeze Park a few times and even rode a Camel at the Zoo with Jason! He is talking up a storm and sooo independent right now. "Ethan do it by his-self" is a statement I hear 100 times a day! While I have been loving the rain here - Ethan is going a little stir crazy - and ready for the ground to dry out so he can play!
One of the most exciting things going on the last month (for me at least) was getting the "behind the scenes" tour of the Elephants at the Zoo. A friend of a friend is an intern there - and she set it up for us. It was a great time and we got some great pics.
Oh yeah - why no pics? Something is "amiss" with our computer - so it will not let me upload pics. Hopefully I will get it figured out in the next day or so and post some new ones!

Momma needs some earplugs........

I believe I have said before that my son is addicted to drumms.  Everything is a drum or a set of drumsticks.  He had gone through 2 sets of "kid" drums so far.  For a while - we improvised.  That would be a cookie tin, on top of his laundry basket - played with chopsticks....

However, this "band-aid" was only temporary.  He wanted real drums.  He went to the music store and played a real drum set.  He told us he wanted "real" drums.  So, after going back and forth about getting him a real snare drum - or something else.....Jason came home with the solution.  My 2-year old son is now the prould owner of his very own Remo Tunable Drum Pad - and a set of "real" drum sticks.

He loves them.  He playes them all the time.  First think in the morning - he asks to play the drums. He puts them in a special palce at night.  I am sure he would sleep with them if I would let him!

1, 2, 3, 4..........

So - in my next house - I will need to have a soundproof room, because I think these drums are here to stay!  Really, I am ok with that - he can do whatever he wants!  However, I may need to stock up on some advil and buy some good earplugs.  I know how thoes drummers are :)

Practicing his best rock star grin....

Running the "turn table" with Tutu.....

Outside of drumming, he also loves Mickey, playing outside and running around.  I swear the kid does not stop - I get tired just looking at him!  He is doing great - going through a little phase right now where he is pretty whiney if he does not get his way - but I think that goes hand in hand with being 2!  We are so lucky -he is such a great little boy and the light of our lives! 

In other news - today Jason and I are celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary.  I can't believe it has been 8 years - time sure flies!  We have had quite an adventure so far - and I am truely looking forward to whatever comes next! 

Sunrise in Las Vegas

Jason and I spent last weekend in Las Vegas - it was a Christmas, Jason's birthday, Anniversary trip - and we had a blast. I had not been to Vegas in a few years - so it was nice to see what was "new".

Ethan wanted to go in Jason's Bag

Day 1.....

We got in Thursday night, got checked into our hotel (The Monte Carlo) and had a bit of time to kill before meeting his dad and step-mom for dinner. So, we went to the Coke store, the M & M store and the "Millenium Mall" - under Planet Hollywood. After killing a couple of hours (and loosing some money at BlackJack) - we had a great dinner with Sue and Larry! Since we had been up early that day - we hit the hay early as well. I told Jason if we went to bed that early again (before 11) that they would kick us out of Vegas ;0)

                                                      Jason and his birthday drink - Gingerbread Cookie Martini

Day 2...

Friday morning we got up and just hung out untill it was time to head to the Tropicana. We went to a taping of "Lets Make a Deal" - oh yes - it is back, hosted by Wayne Brady, and films at the Tropicana!! Since we don't make it to LA or NY much (where most shows are filmed) - we figured this would be a fun, new thing to do in Vegas! It was a blast!! Sadly, we did not get chosen to make a deal with Wayne - but we will be on TV for both of the episodes we taped...I will let you all know when they will air once we know! Look for the farmer in the big hat....and her chicken. Sadly - no pictures to post because we had to leave them in the hotel room - and Jason was not keen on getting back into the chicken!!! If you are in Vegas and have a day to spare - it was a lot of fun...a lot of sitting, waiting and sitting - but a fun thing to do - and hey - you might get picked!! I did find it funny that you had to go through more security for the taping then at the airport ;0) After our day of filming, we grabbed dinner and went out to the new hotel - The M....it is really pretty - but about 15 miles south of the strip! Jason had some luck with BlackJack there - and I won $5 plaing craps!!

Day 3...

We walked over to the new Aria hotel at City Center and walked around - it is really beautiful and modern! We ate at the pastry shop there - yummy- and then spent a little time looking at City Center - lots of great art...and thier own fire station!

"Boat" art by the Aria

Fire Station under walkway to Aria

I needed to check into my online class - and instead of paying $20 at the hotel to get onto my laptop...we went to Jason's dad's office and hung out for a bit. Then, we hit the outlet mall - oh yes there is one in Vegas!! After lunch and shopping - we went to the Wynn, Venition and the new Palazzo. All very nice - and we love to just walk around on the strip and people watch! We also went to the "Bodies" exhibit wich is at the Luxor. If you get the chance check in out in Vegas or the traveling exhibit. Very Cool!

In front of the lake at the Wynn

In the Bellagio Garden

Day 4.....

Sadly, time to hit the road for the LONG drive home. I swear the ride home from Vegas always seems longer than the drive there!

However, I was very glad to get home to my little monkey. Ethan spent the weekend with my folks and had a great time, I am told. They played lots, went potty on the potty chair, went to Costco and Ethan "helped" Tutu around the house also!! We are so lucky to have such great babysitters so close!!! And...so willing! I am sure Tutu slept good Sunday night!!!

Oh yes, why did I call this Sunrise in Vegas.....because 2 out of 3 mornings there...we saw the sunrise over the strip! And no...not because we were still up from the night before. Because, apparently, even on vacation we have lost the ability to sleep in. Ok - so Vegas is an hour behind Phoenix...but still....7 am - come on. Oh well, it was pretty to see the sun come up over the MGM......

One more "baby" step to toddler-hood

I am very lucky for 2 reasons (ok- so I am very luck for many reasons - but these are the two I am talking about today)

1- I have been lucky enough to stay home with Ethan most of the time - so I have been able to witness most of his major milestones. First smile, first word, first food, etc.etc.etc.
2- Those that I have misses have been witnessed by either Jason or my mom (AKA Tutu) - and knowing they were there are just as good!

It is also important to note - that since having Ethan - I have become one of "those" moms, I get a little teary-eyed when things happen that mean he is "growing up". Not that I want him to stay a baby - but I can't believe how fast he is growing.

When he was 8 days old - his umbilical cord fell off - while I was in the shower - I cried. The first time he rolled from his back to his tummy - I was at work - so my mom called to tell me - I cried. You get the picture.

***Upcoming potty talk - so if you don't want to hear about it - stop reading***

Well, for the past few months - we have been talking about the Potty Chair. We let him pick out a potty chair - a cool green one from Ikea. (We got one for Tutu's house also). Now, we have used it as a hat, TV chair and bucket. However, he has been starting to "get it" - he tells us he is poopy or wet. When we go to the "potty" he comes in and sits on his chair. We even had a couple of close calls - "MOMMY, poopy in the potty" But - by the time we got in there and got his diaper off - we missed our time.
My mom - apparently - has the skill.
Last night, we dropped Ethan off with Tutu and Popy while Jason and I went for a quick dinner. Near the end of dinner - I got a call from my mom's house (now any of you with kids know that a phone call from the sitter while you are out is usually not good) - and it was my little boy telling me that he went poopy on the potty at Tutu's!!! Everyone at the restaurtant also heard me tell him how proud I was of him for going poopy on the potty!! ( Apparenty, After dinner - she noticed the "look" - and asked him if he wanted to use the potty - and he did! )
Now, I don't expect this to mean diapers are leaving soon - but we are moving in the right direction!!

However, now I have to step up my game. In the 45 min. between that call and when we got home...Tutu had already made a snazzy "Potty Chart" for the bathroom, put stickers on it, gave Ethan a sticker (and a bath) and had celebratory M & M's!!

So...another step for Ethan away from my "baby" to my "little boy".

And no.....we did not take any pictures of the "event!"