Sticking Out His Tongue

Water Boy

It is pretty hot outside these days and Ethan is learning how to cool off!

One morning we went for a walk to the park. Once we got to the park, I let him out of his little push car to go down the slides. At that moment, the sprinklers went of.

The slides didn't have a chance.

Ethan took off running through the sprinklers... and I just gave in.

He was SO happy!

After he had drenched himself, we headed back home and I started to realize why the park was completely empty...

At home, our sprinklers we on too.

Oh the joy!

Here his is, round 2, sprinkler fun!

Wet face!

Mark and I have had an interesting time with Ethan anytime we go to a real pool because he wants to go underwater! He gets so excited when he submerges himself!

He will actually get upset if we try to keep him above water sometimes.

It's kinda cool... but really, kinda scary.

If you saw his kiddie pool video, you know Ethan likes to lay down in it.

We've learned he does the same thing in the bath tub... so we have to keep the water levels down.

Here's the little man in the tub...

notice the serious tan lines!!

So excited, he we went cross-eyed!

In quieter moments... Ethan watching some Veggietales (and vegging himself)

Story time with Daddy

That's all for now!

Hope you're staying cool too!!

Our Little Fishie

Thank God for Grandmas!

Ethan has been having a rough few weeks lately. He's been delayed in getting his teeth... his first few popped out around 11 months. This meant we had a very easy and pleasant experience with his infancy... well, we're making up for it now! The boy is turning into Jaws and it's hard work for everyone!

Lately, Ethan has experienced the typical teething symptoms and but just last weekend, he spiked a serious fever. Mark was living the care-free life with his brother, Jeremy. They escaped to Sand Mountain and had a boys weekend quadding. So... yours truly was left to deal with the sick kiddo...

Almost. Hence the title of the post. THANK YOU, GOD, FOR MY MOM! She was literally heaven sent as she helped me care for our little guy who was completely miserable. We gave him lots of luke warm baths to bring his temperature down, stayed out of the heat (unless he was up for the pool), and plenty of TLC.

Once Saturday rolled around, he was in high spirits once again. Teething is a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde roller coaster kind of a ride!

Grandma helping Ethan get his toes wet!

Most of these pictures were taken once E was feeling better... 

My parents bought this fountain for our wedding day :)

Grandma helping the super drooler while eating snacks

Shoving his fist into his mouth... impressive :)

Mmmm gold fish!

Watering the plants

One of the coolest things about going to Grandma and Grandpa Wager's (aside from the pool) is that they live in a park! 2 acres of land for Ethan to explore!

I was truly blessed to grow up here... and celebrate my wedding here too!

But! A house is just a house unless there is someone special living there to make it warm and welcoming.

I thank God everyday for my parents. For the sacrifices they made, the safe and loving home they provided, but most of all for keeping their marriage a priority and therefore, their family a priority.

39 years is a long time to be married... and they are enjoying the fruits of their faithfulness.

Now that's something to live up to!



Veggietales

I just love the children's cartoon Veggietales. It's a christian DVD series and it gets Ethan dancing and his Dad and me laughing every time while we learn/are reminded of God's love though bible stories or stories they put together like "Lord of the Beans" or "Pistachio" (instead of Pinocchio)... clever and cute.

But that's actually not what I'm posting about... just thought it would make a cute title :)

Vegetables in our garden are growin'!!

Some of them look like they might be on steroids, but they are as organic as they come! It's a bit silly how giddy I get when I see something new growing in or have just harvested a new batch.

Here is a look at what we're cookin' up at the Young Household :)

Cherry Tomatoes

"Sweet 100"

Zucchini... I'm running out of things to make!

I've made zucchini bread, roasted zucchini (with the tomatoes, onions, etc.), sauteed zucchini...

My first harvest :)

Our cherry tomato plant is out of control!

Mint (contained in it's own pot)

Would you judge me if I told you I only wanted to grow it to make Mojitos?

Though you might ;)

The beginnings of our bell peppers...

we're expecting red, yellow, and green!

Cucumber... I'm going to leave it on the vine for a bit longer...

String Beans

Japanese Eggplant

Yellow Squash

Another over sized tomato plant...

I think this is what Mark was afraid of... veggies taking over our yard!

also, Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, Oregano, and Strawberries

One strawberry... I think the season is about done for us!

Cherry tomatoes

Beans, if you please :)

My gigantic veggies... they don't look like much until...

I use a pen to draw everything to scale!

Almost black blackberries

Okay, so it's not a vegetable, but it's a new addition to the yard. My topsy turvy tiered plant holder that originally held most of our strawberries was fried during the week we were in Hilton Head...

it's the only thing not hooked up to drip line (for obvious reasons)... thought it could use a face lift!

An amazing lady and equally fabulous neighbor, Kathleen, nursed several different types of seeds to plants. She had so many she asked if anyone wanted some.

To Mark's delight I said, "Sure!"

We ran out of garden beds and wine barrel space so I planted them in our lovely, rocky, El Dorado Hills ground. Yup, straight into the Earth. I used potting soil and plant food, Mark hooked 'em up to the drip line, and we have watched them grow quickly!

3 more tomato cages later and now we are expecting Black Heirloom tomatoes (black tomatoes?! awesome!), Fantastic tomatoes (slicer tomatoes), and more cherry tomatoes that I can't remember the specific name for... also, a Mexican pepper plant!

You can see the plants and cages against our fence...

And that's all!

Happy Harvesting!!

It's darn hot enough! :)

Escape to Seascape... also, my Hubby the "2011 Maino Cup Winner"

Every year in July my Dad attends a golf conference at the Seascape Beach Resort in Monterey Bay... lucky for me, I have a husband who loves to play golf... and added bonus... likes to play golf with my Dad. This means... we get to tag along to the Sutter Gould Golf Conferences!

The first day we arrived, on Thursday, we went to the beach. Seascape is a super family friendly resort... there were lots of kids around (to Ethan's toothy smile/waving delight). One of the nicer offerings they have for their guests are golf cart rides to the beach. And with a little guy... we took them up on it!

Once we got to the beach, it was hard to get Ethan past the sand...

but who could blame him? Beaches have the biggest sand boxes!

Chasing birds with Daddy

Splashing around in freezing cold water!

Little foot prints :)

Digging with Dad

A nice landing spot for parachutes I guess...

Our boy was a snuggle bug in the spa... we were soakin' it up!!

Dinner out at Bittersweet Bistro

Watching the fish eat up watermelon slices

Back to our room in time for the sunset

The next two days, my dad and Mark went golfing.

Meanwhile, my mom and I lounged at the resort during Ethan's nap time, went to lunch at Gayles Bakery, and let our little guy go nuts at the playground, pool, etc.

I

So, my dad did actually attend a class/meeting and did actually get some units out of this "medical conference"... but did so in between 2 rounds of golf.

To make the conference more fun, the Doctors compete for the "Maino Cup"

(The Maino brothers are the founding Dr's of Sutter Gould)

Mark and I have attended this same conference for 3 years now (I think... maybe 4) and have watched as Dr. after Dr. received the title of Maino Cup Winner at the farewell dinner. They have other fun prizes too... lowest score, sorest loser, etc.

But this year... Mark took the cup home!

My Dad was a proud Father-in-law :)

Mark considered himself "lucky"... as he just played a month ago in Hilton Head and scored nothing close to his scores here...

Along with the cup, Mark won $125!

We immediately used $25 of his winnings for a sitter Monday night...

And that is why I can't get enough of my champ :)