"Thank you for touching my life, my heart, and my soul." ~ my Granny J
Ethan started Soccer this week. His dad is on cloud nine with Ethan finally old enough to start city sports, especially soccer!
It's really more like cluster ball. I didn't expect much more but when it was E's turn to kick the ball off and he kicked it all the way to the goal, I was so excited! I cheered so loud that Mason could not compose himself for quite a while he was laughing so hard! It's a lot of fun. Best of all -- he loves it!
I never thought the day would come when I have a kindergartener!~ Really, I have a son who is old enough for school! REAL School!
I was more than expecting to get sad and emotional for them to be gone, but I was more excited for them to get to start together. Ethan didn't want anything to do with me or with pictures, he just wanted to get going. He even asked me when I was going to leave!~
Ethan was so excited to get to go to the same school as Mason finally.
Because they are at the same time the bus is allowing Ethan to ride with Mase! Lucky me. I don't even have to car pool or drive any more. 
Isn't it great when life finally starts to get back to normal?!! We have had, what seems like the busiest summer of all time! We are finally home and I can tell you it feels good to be here. Like a true beginner I assumed Ethan would be starting school yesterday, but luckily before I took him I found out that he still has another week! We are just getting home from another trip and I am still in the winding down process. I'm excited to get to finally have the time to post some pictures of all of our summer adventures and to get back to reading about all of my friends' adventures.
I think I've mentioned before that Spencer and I have really made a big deal about me getting to spend some alone time with Ethan. He gets to share a lot of time with Mase, but we have some fun things that we have always done together.
We go out on dates a lot... almost as often as Spencer and I get to go out!~ He's never been one for casual dates, he prefers us to get all dressed up and to go out in style! Spencer gives him money to surprise me when the check comes at dinner, he'll pull out his little wallet and pay for dinner and giggle at how shocked I get! This time was extra special. My sister has front row center season tickets to capital theater. She couldn't make the performance of High School Musical. I know that you are shocked that Spencer had Ethan take me rather than go himself, but we had a great time together.
He is always the perfect gentleman and gets my door for me and holds my hand. It was a night I will never forget!
We sat on the front row and Ethan was absolutely fascinated by the orchestra. He stood and hovered over watching the conductor most of the first act. At intermission a few of the musicians wanted to talk to him. The drummer gave him one of his sticks and autographed it for him. Ethan thought that was pretty cool. It was all I could do to keep him from 'drumming' on the divider in front of us! 
This year we were the hosts of our biyearly family reunion. We had 28 people staying at our house in the course of the 6 day reunion. It was a serious party complete with morning calisthenics, (thank you Matt) a talent show where everyone participated, (thank you everyone for being willing) the Olympics games (thank you all who prepared events), the 4th of July hot air balloons, and a spectacular firework show (thank you firework committee). Family came into town from Washington, California, Texas, Arizona, and Illinois. We had such a good time just playing games and spending time together. I hope it works out again in 2010.
So, it's been a month since I have posted. I know, I know. What is the deal!? Life sometimes just gets crazy all at once, don't you think! This time happened to all be good crazy. We spent about a week in Chicago at an Ichthyosis conference. If you don't know, Mason has a genetic skin condition called Lamellar Ichthyosis. It's extremely rare and there is an organization that is out there to support this 'community' called F.I.R.S.T. www.scalyskin.org They are so great. We got together with other families from all over the country and world as a support. We had such a great time.
Spencer's sister Karrie and her family live nearby where we were so we were able to spend time at their house. It was so much fun.
Immediately following our return home we hosted the 2nd Family reunion for Spencer's family. We had 28 people here for 6 days! It was surprising that it wasn't a whole lot more crowded around here~ We had people from everywhere! We had a family Olympics, and a family talent show that everyone had to participate in! It was so much fun.
After that Ethan and I went on our annual 'mom and Ethan' time to Lake Powell. Again, so much fun. Ethan was the only kid there. There were 6 adults to him. He didn't much care however, Lake Powell is his favorite place in the world. He was giddy from the time we rounded the corner and could catch our first glimpse of the Lake until we got home. He still thinks that we are going back next week. I don't have the heart to explain that one to him quite yet. He was in the water every second of the day. He recruited everyone of us to accompany him, whether we got in the water or not! He went on every hike, and had 3 requests of places he had to visit while we were there: "the Indian houses, Shell Mountain, and Volcano Rock." Luckily we knew what he was referring to and were able to see everything and then some.
Now we are home, recovering from our month of fun! I've heard that it takes you just as long to recover from a vacation as you were gone. I'm in big fat trouble if that's the case!
