Before & Semi-After

 Before

 Yucky right?  Look at those steps.  They were so narrow and awkward to walk up/down.

 Semi-After

(because it's not finished yet)

Thank to all of our friends and family who came to help lay sod.  I was at school and missed all the action.  We love you guys!

 (we really do have cool family/friends...just ask us)

Ben's going to put in a pathway with pavers right there so we can get from the driveway to the front door without walking all the way around (it will be most convenient in the winter). 

The plan is to build a deck over the cement pad in the back so all that dirt back there will be covered by a deck.  One Day...

Why are yards so expensive?  Yikes!

Sometimes I miss the days when I got to spend all of my paycheck of clothes.  Now I'm old and I get excited about grass!!

Let's give a shout out to Ben...who is awesome...he built the walls all by himself (with little/no help from yours truly).

Then & Now

Wow, look at the difference between the years!

He's going to be a heart-breaker for sure (just like his dad was).

Looks like his hair pretty much stayed the same.  :-)

Tonsil-less

Ry Ry had his tonsils taken out last week.

Poor guy, I totally know how this feels...it pretty much is the worst.

He was so brave (you can tell he looks so nervous).  He was most nervous for them putting the IV in though, and they did that after they knocked him out...sweet!  The nurses and doctors were so sweet.  His doctor said it's a good thing we took them out, they were buried deep and filled with pus...Yum.

I'm grateful my Mom was able to take a day off work to be with Ethan. Ben was out of town, so I needed the help.  And thanks to my awesome friend who brought us dinner.

Side question: How do women with military husbands do it? (probably because they have to, right?) I have a hard time when Ben is gone 4-5 out of 7 days of the week.

My Sweet Ryan being wheeled away.  I know it's weird, but I totally cried after he was out of sight.  I really feel for parents who have kids in the hospital all the time.  It's heart-breaking.

 Just got out of surgery.  It went very well.  Ryan has been tough and taking his medicine and drinking water.

He's still not eating solid food (it's been 7 days). Hopefully he'll be better soon.  He still hurts pretty bad.  

The doctor let Ryan take his bears in surgery with him.  So sweet.  

And here is Ryan's Unbirthday Questionnaire:

How old are you?  7

How old is your mom?  29

How old is your dad? 31

What makes you happy? Hugging my Teddy Bear

What is your favorite animal?  Sharks

What is your favorite thing to eat?  Milkshakes

What is your least favorite thing to eat?  Lasagna

What is your favorite thing to do?  Playing with my Brother

What is your favorite TV show?  Johnny Test

What are you really good at?  Being Brave

What is your favorite movie?  Meet the Robinsons

What is your favorite color?  BLUE

What is your favorite song?  Star Wars (Theme Song)

Who is your best friend?  Logan & Elise

What do you and your mom do together?  Play Geo Trax

What do you and your dad do together?  Go Hiking

What is your favorite Sport?  Football

Where is your favorite place to go?  Legoland

What is your favorite book?  SHARKS

What do you want to be when you grow up?  An Engineer

Happy Birthday Eth-Man

Ethan's 4th Birthday:  We love our little E-Man. He seriously is such an easy fun-loving kid (unless he's is tired, then watch out).  For his birthday I took the boys to see Lion King in the theaters while Ben was at work. Then later we went to Chili's for dinner with Grandma Harris.  He had a fun birthday. Although, I would not recommend doing a 4 year old birthday party early, because on their birthday they want another party.  Ethan kept saying all day, "Mom, how come no one is coming to my birthday?"  It was sad.  It was hard to explain that they already had come, just two weeks earlier.

Eth has been begging for a jack-in-the-box.  That was easy!  

We also got him more Geo Trax.

I can't believe it's been FOUR years since I was last pregnant!

Ethan was so happy Grandma Harris joined us for dinner!

Ethan's Birthday Questionnaire:

How old are you?  4

How old is your mom?  41  (Ah, Do I act this old?)

How old is your dad? 42

What makes you happy?  Tickling

What is your favorite animal?  Chipmunk

What is your favorite thing to eat?  Mac & Cheese

What is your least favorite thing to eat?  Bugs

What is your favorite thing to do?  Playing with my Brother

What is your favorite TV show?  Spongebob

What are you really good at?  Baseball

What is your favorite movie?  Lion King, Tangled & Harry & the Hendersons

What is your favorite color?  RED

What is your favorite song?  ABC Song

Who is your best friend?  Jake

What do you and your mom do together?  Snuggle

What do you and your dad do together?  Play Matching Games

What is your favorite Sport?  Baseball

Where is your favorite place to go?  M&M World

What is your favorite book?  Dinosaur Book

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Drive a Tractor

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Halloween Time at Disneyland

Our second leg of the trip we took the boys to Disneyland.  It really is the happiest place on earth.  We loved it, and did not think 3 days at both parks was enough time.  I think we should go once a month, what do you think? 

What's up with my photos turning sideways? Does anyone know how to fix that?

Again, my photos did not end up in order, but oh well. You get the idea.

 Toy Story Soldiers.

 That scary dude snuck into our picture.

I absolutely loved the haunted mansion decorated for Halloween.  If you have not been to Disneyland at Halloween time, you should defiantly go.

The boys surfing with Mickey.

Blurry photo, but Pluto was eating Ryan's head.

Ethan was a little scared of Pluto, it was funny.

Ethan was flirting with Minnie, it was adorable.  Guess which stuffed animal he chose to buy?  Minnie.

We all loved seeing the Characters so close.  They were so nice to the boys!

In front of our favorite ride: Toy Story Mania

 The Clegg Family Action figures.  By this time, Ethan had about had it.  It was a lot of walking around. (although, we did end up going to Wal-Mart and buying a stroller for him...note to parents with kids 4 & under, bring a stroller!)

 Riding the tea cups again.  At one point Ethan was laying on Ben's lap.  I guess a little too much spinning.  I absolutely would not get on this ride!  I wanted to keep my lunch down.

Waiting for the Parade to start.

 Look at that cute smile.  He was watching Mickey & Minnie in the Parade. Seriously, a real crush on Minnie, right?

My cute boys in the hotel on our last night there.  It was so hard to leave.  But we made great memories, and had so much fun together.  I wish we could go on vacation once a month!