Ethan-isms

Randy's Mom came over to watch the boys while we went out to dinner for Valentine's Day, but earlier that day I took the boys to a nearby playground. Ethan got a splinter for the first time while playing but he wouldn't let me or Kathy pull it out, we had to wait for Randy. So, when we got back from dinner Ethan said "I've been whining and crying the whole time about my splinter!" When Randy to pulled it out, Ethan cried and cried (well screamed really) while he was doing it. Then we laid in bed together to help him calm down and while crying he said "this is really incredible!"

If you ask him if he wants to do something, he says "I would LOVE to!"


Randy was reading a book about volcanoes to Ethan and Ethan tried to say "eruption," but pronounced it wrong, instead saying "eruftion." Randy said, "no it's e-rup-tion." Ethan said "whatever, Daddy."

We were shopping for jeans for Randy and we had been to several stores and not a single one had his size. I was muttering under my breath, "this is ridiculous, no one has a single pair in the right size!" A minute later Ethan shouts "This is RE-DICKEROUS!"

Ethan is interested in volcanoes, space shuttles, and octopuses. He randomly spews "facts" about them (Dwight Shrute style) such as:

"OK, so, volcanoes have lava in them."
"OK, so, space shuttles have fire in them."
"OK, so, an octopus will bite you."
"OK, so, when lava melts, it turns into ice"

You can't be right all the time. :)

Long car rides

Jake: "Mahhhhmeeee. . . . .mahhhhhmeee. . . .MAHHHMEEEE. . . .MAHHHMEEE!!!"
Me: "Yes, Jake?"
Jake: "(points out the window) Treeeeeeeeeee" (sounds like E.T.)
Me: "Very good, it's a tree!"

Repeat until the car ride is over.

Open for Business

Randy opened the shop on Feb. 1st and has been pretty busy already. We are adjusting to our new schedule and it seems to be going pretty well. Randy worked really hard to remodel the shop before he opened and I am really impressed with how it turned out. He built a wall, put in cabinets, painted, built a shop vac box, and much more. See for yourself!

Coming along. . .

Here is some of Randy's progress with the shop. He has been working his butt off!

Built the wall.

Ethan helping.

Almost done with the wall. . .

Happy New Year!

We tooks the boys bowling on New Year's Eve and they both had a blast. It was Jake's first time and he seemed to get the hang of it right away. So the idea is understood, he is just lacking the strength to get the ball down the lane unassisted. Ethan, however, is able to bowl "all myself" (as he would say).

We baked our lucky nickel in a bundt cake (I got the pan for Christmas) and Randy was the one to find it. So that means he has the luck of the house for 2011, and boy he couldn't have gotten it at a better time! I spent the day putting away Christmas decorations and taking everything off the tree. Ethan kept saying "No! I need my Christmas tree!" I told him that Christmas time is just about over, but I'm not foolish enough to think that will mean that he'll stop singing Jingle Bells everywhere we go ;)

Change is in the Wind

The end of 2010 is going to be very busy in the Russell household! We are opening a bowling pro shop and it is going to take some work to get it ready to open in mid-January. Randy is also starting school on Jan. 11. We are really excited about the changes that are coming and looking forward to what the future holds. And, in case you can't tell, Jake LOVES the Christmas tree and makes this face when he sees that it's still there in the morning.

Christmas is Here

We have been decorating and getting ready for Christmas and the kids are really excited! We can't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning.

P.S. Check out the awesome hat Aunt Annie made for Ethan!