First Day of School

After much deliberation, we decided to enroll Ethan in school this year.  We had a friend that was part of a preschool co-op, and they had a spot open, so we put Ethan in a couple mornings a week.  Being a co-op, I also get to go twice every six weeks to help out and provide the food, and see what he's up to.  I was really nervous that he wouldn't go by himself at first, but he walked right in.  I said goodbye, he gave me a kiss and he let me leave. 

I think he's really having fun, and it's great for him to experience something new (I'm not hating the time to myself either).

Here's some pictures from his first day:

I sure do love that kid.  I can't believe how much he's grown up.

E's first swim class

Ethan LOVES the water.  We have a pool for the backyard, he swims at Nana's house, and we often visit the public pool.  This year, we decided he should try a swim class, so we signed him up for one that started mid-July at Northwest Pool.  While he said he didn't really like it, I think he really did.  He especially liked just going everyday and swimming before and after his class.

First day of class

Getting ready to go in

In class with Miss Rebecca

His completion certificate

 He didn't end up passing the Turtle level after two weeks of class, so we enrolled him again, this time at Enfield Pool.  I liked this pool a lot better, but apparently Ethan didn't agree.  He cried the whole first class and refused to get in (he did not have this problem in his other class).  Thankfully, it got better, and he started participating.  He could touch in this pool, so he got to play more games and I think he liked that a little better.  After two weeks, he passed, so we were very proud. 

Making it rain

Practicing his jumping

Looking for fish?

If he's up for it, we'll probably do it again next year.  It sure was nice going to the pool every day for almost a month.

Fourth of July

 Our Fourth of July was spent in Georgetown this year at my aunt and uncle's house.  Way back when, we used to go to Auditorium Shores for the fireworks, but while Ethan's been little, we've changed it up since we can see the Georgetown fireworks from my family's front yard.

all ready to go

I brought something extra to do this year while we waited for dark, water balloons

Ethan got ready to dig in

He really loved throwing them

He played with them for quite a while

Then he played a little soccer

And finally, we broke out the glow stuff and enjoyed the fireworks

Dance Class

Ethan was in a creative dance class all of last school year, and in May, on the last class day, they had all the parents in for a little "show."

He was in the class with a couple of his buddies, Dax and Audrey, and he also made a few new friends.  Mostly, they danced around to silly songs, and did some galloping and jumping.  By the end of the class, we were pretty impressed at how well all the kids learned to listen, follow directions, sit in a line, and wait their turn.  Most of all, it was good for Ethan to do something without me in the room.  

It was pretty cute to watch all year, and I think he really enjoyed it.  He's now in the next class up where he's learning to tap dance too.  Here are some pictures from his last day:

following directions, finding his dot

The Airplane Song

Waiting for his turn

Shaking his egg

Pretending to be a dinosaur, eating his food

Doing the circus obstacle course

Lego Fest

Ethan is now a Lego kid.  It all started when he went to a Lego themed birthday party for a friend, and they sent him home with an awesome favor.  He especially liked the MiniFigure he got, and has since started collecting them.

When we heard about the Lego Fest that was coming to town, we really wanted to take him, until we saw the price of the tickets.  Fortunately, a friend got us some for free at the last minute, so we jumped on it.

Ethan had a blast checking out all the Legos and sometimes building random things.  He's not really into all the building quite yet, he tends to just like random pieces and the little men.  I'm sure we have lots of building to look forward to, though.

First stop, checking out the Duplo animals

So many Legos

One of his favorite things, a minifigure

making a tile for the art wall

He loved all the littlest pieces the best

Lightening McQueen

Superman

Parts that move are also his favorite

What we added to the art wall

Chewy

Egyptian?

This vacuum thing really caught his eye.  He didn't want to give anyone else a turn.

So happy

Who needs to build when you can just lay around in the pile?

That was our last-minute Lego Fest Adventure.  I think it definitely hammered in his love for these things, and he's now putting various Lego sets on his Christmas list.  Can't wait.

Beach Trip

We headed down to Port Aransas this April for our third annual beach trip.  I look forward to this trip every year, and I think Ethan is starting to look forward to it as well.

We spent the long weekend with my mom, as well as my uncle and his family.  We lounged, we swam, we built castles, we ate, we had fun.  I did not, however, take a ton of pictures.  Ethan still talks about wanting to go back to the tent at the beach.  Me too, buddy, me too.

Here's some evidence of the fun we had:

Easter Egg Hunt

Yes, I'm still behind, but I keep finding more things I want to blog before I'm all caught up.

This is the third year we've gotten to participate in a little egg hunt with our moms group.  I love it and so does Ethan.  He was very into it this year, but he did want to open every egg as he found it.

Waiting for the fun to start.

Ready, set, go!

He found a nice little collection of eggs to build his stash.

 

 

 

Enjoying his finds.

On Easter Sunday, he woke up and searched for his basket.  It was in Harvey's crate this year, and Ethan needed a little help finding it.  Once found, he dug right in.  We spent the rest of the day with my mom and grandmother and had a little Easter dinner.  A little different this year, since we all couldn't be out in Bastrop together as we usually are, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Enjoying his Word World Easter Basket.