I know that Ethan looks just like Clay, but he is really starting to act just like Clay.  Friday evening about 50 people from our church met up at a nearby park for dinner, playing, etc.  I had been telling Ethan about it all day and he was super excited to go and see all of his friends and play on the playground.  In the past couple of weeks Ethan’s little legs have gotten long enough for him to reach the pedals on his bike, so we took that along as well.  We got to the park and got settled, and his friend Hannah had brought her tricycle along.  They thought it would be fun to switch, and that was the beginning of Ethan’s obsession for the rest of the evening.  Apparently, her tricycle is a little easier to maneuver than his, so he spent a few minutes inspecting the wheels and the pedals, and then he was off.  He really did ride that thing the entire 2 hours we were there – nonstop.  I tried to get him to play on the playground, play with the bubbles, watch some of the kids fishing, but all he wanted to do was ride that thing. 

So, being the overly concerned person that I am, I asked Clay if he thought it was strange that Ethan didn’t want to play with any of the other kids.  That’s when Clay looked at me and said, “He’s my son.”  Translated to the full version, this means that when Clay learns something new or really gets into something, it would take an incredibly earth shattering event to pull him away.  I just shook my head and went on letting him ride around the park all by himself – happy as a lark! 

(And while Rachel was not at all thrilled to be at the park that night, she did have a few moments of peace lounging in a camping chair.)

Way to go, Cara!  I think you must be remembering the good times Ethan has had sitting on the piano bench with your kids banging away at the keys on the PIANO!  Side note – even Clay couldn’t guess what it was.  I suppose it’s one of those things you pass every single day but never really notice. 

While we are a musical family and we love having the piano around, it’s much more than just a piano.  It’s also much more than just a piece of furniture that fits oh so nicely in that space in the living room.  For me, it’s the only tangible thing I have from my Granny & Pa (my dad’s parents).  I am blessed to say that they are still living and they’re both quite healthy, so not many of their things have been passed down.  But, some time during my growing up years (Dad, I can’t remember exactly when we got it), they gave the piano to my parents, and then when Clay and I got married my parents gave it to us. 

My dad actually remembers when his parents got the piano – I believe it was 1960 – and it was already old then.  My dad likes to tell the story of a man sitting in the back of my Pa’s truck playing the piano as they drove it home.  I would have loved to have seen that!  I love thinking about all of the people who have sat and tickled the ivories.  I’m not sure that either of my grandparents actually play the piano, but for some reason they thought it would be a good idea to have one.  That piano is a good conversation piece, a great place for fall and Christmas decorations, hours of entertainment for children and adults alike, and I love it. 

When my brother and I were in high school, my parents would have a cookout at our house every Friday night before a home football game.  We would both bring a bunch of friends over to hang out and eat.  Well, Bryan had a friend named Nathan who was a great piano player so we spent a lot of time hovered around it listening to him play. 

So, that’s the story of our piano.  And although it needs to be tuned (badly), it still sounds great when Clay is playing ABCs for Ethan on the left end, and Ethan is playing his rendition on the right end. 

What a happy day for a certain 17 year old!  Kelsi Lynn, we love you and wish we could be with you today to help you celebrate.  And even though you not only stole my spot as the youngest cousin, but also took away my “only girl” status, I still love you.  I just can’t believe you’re 17!  Have the best day and hopefully we’ll see you soon.  (and don’t be mad about my picture selection – I just wanted to showcase some of your many “talents”)

Remember, all guesses are welcomed!  (also, you can click on the picture for a better view)

Cara, Jack & Josie invited us to go to Mainly Music with them this morning, and we had a blast!  For the first few minutes the kids just play with toys and get acquainted, and then for the next 45 minutes they sing their hearts out while jumping, jogging, skipping, sitting, etc.  Ethan was in heaven.  I thought he might be a little shy or reserved at first, but he just jumped right in there!  It helped that Jack was showing him the ropes.  The lady leading it was very animated and patient, and we’ll definitely be going back.  And the best part is that it was only $1 – and they have a snack at the end!  Thank you, Cara, for sitting with your 2 children (3 really) and Ethan while I held Rachel (who, by the way, probably enjoyed music class as much as the big kids), and thanks Jack & Jo for dancing and singing with Ethan. 

At the end of the class the teacher asks all the kids to come to the middle of the cirlce to say a prayer.  I told Ethan to go over to the circle and sit quietly for a prayer.  I can’t help but smile and get a little teary-eyed looking at this picture:

Not only do we have a 2 1/2 year old, but today we have a 2 1/2 month old!  I can’t imagine our family without Rachel Ryan.  Here are some things about our little girl:

1. She gives great smiles
2. She loves to “talk” – especially during a diaper change
3. She still sleeps between 10 and 11 hours every night (I don’t want anyone throwing things at me – we definitely paid our dues with Ethan and I think this is God’s way of paying us back)
4. Not only does she sleep that long, but she wakes up happy and smiling
5. She does not like her car seat
6. She prefers being held while the holder is standing up – sitting down makes her upset
7. Her favorite place in the world is her changing table (this was also Ethan’s favorite place at this age)
8. Her second favorite place in the world is her vibrating bouncy seat (especially if Baby Einstein is on)
9. She doesn’t care much for a pacifer
10. Even though she seems to like being swaddled at night, she always manages to get at least one arm out
11. Her hair just keeps growing and hasn’t fallen out yet
12. She has beautiful blue eyes and gorgeous long eyelashes
13. She loves watching her brother play
14. She doesn’t care much for a stroller (probably because she has to be in her car seat to be in the stroller)
15. She’ll usually fall asleep in the car
16. She can put herself to sleep at night
17. The vacuum cleaner still calms her down
18. She likes being whispered to
19. She only nurses 5-6 times a day (I think Ethan ate about 10 times a day at this age)
20. She is cuddly, mostly content, soft, precious, sweet smelling, smiley, lovable and perfectly two and half months.

Ethan is exactly 2 1/2 today.  Here are a few things about my sweet boy:

1. He gives me unsolicited kisses every morning when he crawls up in our bed
2. He loves, loves, loves to be outside
3. He says his favorite color is purple
4. His favorite song to sing is the ABCs, and he thinks it hilarious when you sing it slow, fast, silly, etc.
5. He is so incredibly helpful – he takes laundry out of the dryer and to the bedroom, he throws away Rachel’s diapers, he washes Rachel’s hair, he helps unload the dishwasher, he vacuums, and he loves to dust the dining room and coffee tables
6. He can’t stand for things to be upside down, wrong side out, etc.
7. He can work the DVD player (and referring to the subject above, he can’t put a movie in unless it is exactly facing him, and if I’m putting a movie in, he has to “check” it to make sure I put it in correctly)
8. One of his favorite times of day is when Daddy reads books before bedtime
9. He makes up songs during the day and then asks me to sing them with him
10. He plays pretend with all kinds of things (today he was dragging a camera strap around the house saying, “Come on worm.  It’s okay, Ethan’s here.”)
11. He loves his cars and knows every single one that he has
12. He gets excited about going to Bible class
13. He’s still not potty trained
14. He enjoys Monday and Thursday mornings because he gets to watch the trash truck come by
15. He still says that every plane in the sky is going to see Addi and Libby
16. He loves wagon rides with Poppa
17. He says he can run really fast
18. He tells me to be careful when I’m leaving to go somewhere without him
19. He still wakes up from his naps crying
20. He can completely tune out Rachel’s crying fits – he can even sleep through them
21. He will eat just about anything – as long as you can get him to take that first bite
22. He has the memory of an elephant
23. He has a new love of playing with sticks
24. He could watch Mickey Mouse all day long if we would let him
25. He is sweet, smart, sensitive, playful, funny, stubborn, literal, determined, rhythmic, energetic, and perfectly 2 1/2.

This is so much fun!  I’m glad so many of you took the opportunity to wager on the inaugural run of ‘What is it Wednesday!’  While there were many great guesses, this week’s prize goes to David & Ginny, Tracy, and Nicole – nothing like a 3 way tie!  And I think I’ll also give the ‘creative answer’ prize to Will for guessing that it’s one of Mickey Mouse’s ears. 

This is not only a picture of an antenna/rabbit ears, this is the picture of the Starr Family Band reconnecting with the outside world.  When we bought the house a year ago, we decided that we would not only not get cable, but we wouldn’t even bother getting rabbit ears.  We really didn’t watch that much tv, and we thought of it as a small adventure.  It’s amazing what all you can get done when you don’t have the option of turning on the tv.  It also meant that we’ve rented a TON of movies over the past year which has been fun.  However, last Friday when the tornados were rolling down the interstate and we had friends over who said, “Turn on the news so we can see if need to take cover,” I thought we should probably try and figure out a way to pick up the local stations.  Well, who knew how clearly the stations would come in with rabbit ears!  Clay tried to explain the analog/digital station thing, but I really didn’t get it.  All I know is that I can once again watch the news in the mornings, we can watch Sesame Street at 11:00, and Clay can watch this really weird channel called ‘The Tube’ that only plays footage from old concerts like The Who.  So, welcome back SFB to the wonderful world of television!

Well, since Ginny has her Sunday Stories and Cara has her Friday Funnies, I’m beginning my own adventure called What Is It Wednesdays.  Now, I’m not sure if there are any readers out there that never comment (maybe you’re a friend of a friend because I know how easy it is to get sucked into those links), but here’s your big chance to make yourself known!  I plan on taking a picture of something – just showing you a piece of it – and we’ll see who can guess what it is before the big reveal on Thursday.  Now, don’t roll your eyes because you think I’m going to take a picture of a carton of orange juice or a dirty sock or something.  Oh, no!  It will be good and it will (hopefully) have some relevance to the week.  So, that being said, get your thinking caps on, your fingers ready, and hit that comments button to make your guess. 

Here’s today’s pic:

Even though the post is a couple of days late, I’m so thankful we got to celebrate with you on your birthday.  Thank you for being exactly who you are, and for loving me the way you do.  I really do thank God for the blessing of you. 

(For the blog fans out there, check out my nieces singing happy birthday to Poppa – you’ll want to watch it more than once!)