ONE OF A KIND.

Here's Ethan ohiss first birthday. He is and will always be every thing his shirt says: Funny, Brilliant, Charming and ONE OF A KIND. He's the only on

This morning I interviewed Ethan as he was having stiy rice for breakfast.

T- Ethan what is yourr favorite food?

E- Sticky rice, and cereal. That's all

T- What is your favorite color

E - Blue, Yellow, Green Gray, Black actually the same colors as Tommy

T -What do you like to do when you are board?

E -Play XBox with dad.

T -What do you want to be when you grow up?

E -Batman

T -Why?

E -Because he's my favorite super hero.

T -Why

E - Because he can do side kicks and put away bad guys. I like his cape. And the best thing is the hot suite. I can run through fire and not burn.

T - Where do you like to go on vacation?

E - Ummm, to Aunt Thanh and Uncle Brian's house.

T - What do you like to do their.

E - Live with them.

T - What do you like to do at school.

E - Play with Tommy.

T -What else should the people who love you know about you.

E -I like to play with my puppy. my new favorite game is tennis.

But I get so mad when the ball misses me.

I like to eat olives.

I like to get the mail by myself. I like my sister.

There was no wavering on the answers these question. That's what I love about four year olds. They are decisive and determined to be independant. Or at least the four year old in our house is that way.

Ethan - We love your big dreams and desire to save the world. Happy fourth birthday kiddo! - Mama, Dad, Aidan, Elise and Pup.

Piggy back giggles

I must admit that Aidan, Ethan and Elise are good together. Here's how Aidan and Ethan entertain Elise. She giggles when they giggle. They conspire to do something funny that makes her laugh all the time. On days like the afternoon that these pictures were taken in the winter months. I'm reminded of how being a stay at home is truly the best job in the world!

I advised against playing this game but they could not help it. Lucky no one was injured.

Good catch Ethan!

Hall of Famer - Father

That's right. Only the one of a kind dad's get a custom in house hall of fame where he's the only shining star.

A note from Aidan.

For Fathers day the kids planted an apple seed at the gardening class that I teach.

Aidan and Ethan have been good about watering their apple seeds on a regular basis.

Kyle and Elise dishing out tickles.

Kyle as a dad

Summer classic

One of my favorite pass time activities is to watch Ethan eat ice pops.

Recipe for Mud Pie

From Monday to Wednesday I can't stop thinking about my Little Green Thumb friends.
On this Wednesday at gardening class we made mud pie.

First you make some mud. And you mix it.

Then you add some plants and sticks and stones to it.

Then you pre-tend taste it. Yum, yum, yummy!!

Then all the mommy's pre-tend taste the mud pies.

We should have invited Bobby Fley for a mud pie throw down.

Everyone earned a ribbon.

A photo was taken of all the first prize winners. Who would have guessed all the kids tied?

To place your order for World Famous Mud Pies contact the Little Green Thumb Project.

A playground for three

I have not gardened much this year. But the kids are growing. So I am thankful for that. What's changed in having three kids vs. two kids is at all hours of the day some of the three kids need me. Often they all need me at once. So while the dust collects in the corners of our home and I continue to rotate the handful of meal options I can create without much effort, we play on. Laughing, learning, and loving the good times shared.

Finally she's old enough to play on the play ground. Aidan and Ethan asked if they can all go down the slide together. Injuries flashed in my mind of all kinds. I told the boys their dad was coming home soon and we fo not have time between dinner and bath to go to the hospital. Sorry boys. But they asked to hold her at the top of the slide with a promise to not slide down.

Ethan was especially excited about little sister being on the swing. He asked if she was scared and said " don't worry Elise, big brother is here. I give you baby pushes because that's what you are... a tiny baby".