Splash-pad Fun with Grandma!

E got to play hooky from school one day this summer to hang out with grandma and my Aunt Darlene at the splash-pad - he LOVED it!  MN peeps you'll have to check out the Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville next summer - it's perfect for toddlers.

Chicago Wedding Festivities x 2

We headed to Chicago in June for a busy weekend of wedding festivities.  My mom and her sisters threw a fabulous couples shower for cousin Chris + Amanda on Saturday.  We had perfect weather, amazing food, and no shortage of beverages - so fun!  Sunday we celebrated at the wedding of cousin Tyler + Anna on my dad's side which was just gorgeous.

Daddy's Little Helper - Mowing

This was our first spring/summer having a yard to mow!  Ethan was fascinated - we'd sit in a chair in the backyard and watch daddy go back and forth and then we'd move to the front and "mow" the driveway while Brian finished up the front.

Random Spring 2012

E insisted that grandpa sit in his little chair with him to watch a movie.

Dog Stairs = Toddler Fun

St. Paddy's day with the Kappas celebrating Amy's birthday!

Mimosas with the bride and mothers of the bride & groom before the wedding fair

Asking E to be their ring bearer!

Easter 2012 - DSM

We had a lovely Easter weekend in Des Moines, and E had a blast playing with his super fun cousins!

ECFE

I signed E and I up for a 16 week ECFE class Jan - May on Monday nights.  ECFE = Early Childhood Family Education and is run through the school district.  The first 30 minutes is free play and this slide was the highlight of the whole semester.  Then we'd do circle time and sing songs and play games and then the kiddos went played with teachers while the moms talked parenting.  Overall I'm glad we did it but decided to pass on the fall class and try swim class or little gym instead.

1st Wild Game

We had fun taking Ethan to St. Paul for the first time to celebrate Uncle Trent's birthday and hit up his first Wild Game!

Ethan's Surgery

Ethan had his big surgery on March 9th. He had a bilateral orchiopexy to correct undescended testicles.  Yes, there were a lot of ball jokes flying around the house that week ; He came through like a champ and happy to report that the goods are in prestige condition now ;)  

The staff at Children's Hospital in Minnetonka were wonderful - he thought it was a pretty fun place to hang out until it was his turn.

It was heartbreaking to see him after surgery - he woke up so scared and mad.  But Elmo came to the rescue and he was a cuddle bug the rest of the day.  Very thankful that he had a speedy recovery and was running around like normal the next day and healed up great!