Show Your Green*

*Other possible titles for this post include: Twist and Shout, Danke Schoene, Before the Parade Passes By, and Don't Rain on My...

Most people don't know this, because I kind of tend to let information slip through the cracks (totally unintentionally by the way), but Audrey has been taking Irish Step Dance since the beginning of January and she has absolutely loved it! She takes at a small studio here in Sandy which, according to the parade announcer (I'll get to the parade part in a sec), has the most 'champions' out of all the schools in the area. So we've had a blast getting to know the world of Irish Dance which is surprisingly different than the dance world I'm used to.

We found out a few weeks ago that Audrey would have the opportunity to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade here in downtown Salt Lake. She would also have the chance to perform in the Siamsa (dance performance) following the parade. It was so neat and a super fun tradition that I hope we can be a part of for many years.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am very proud of my Irish heritage and I've always wanted to learn Irish Step Dance. But while it's too late for me (at least to have it be a big part of my life) I'm glad that Audrey is enjoying it so much. And after the parade and Siamsa, Siobhan now wants to try it out and I think she'll really enjoy it as well. She actually didn't march as she's so tiny she would probably get trampled by a horse or something. So she rode on the school's float.

The theme for our school in the parade was something having to do with lads and ladies from Ireland around the turn of the century (the last century) but obviously a little duded up. This is what we came up with. I was determined to not buy anything for this costume so this is what we pulled from her closet.

Up close. She's so pretty. I don't know why she doesn't smile in pictures.

Audrey and one her fiends from class. This girl is actually in the 'new beginner' class and Audrey is a Tir Na Nog (the younger class) but they have class at the same time.

All the little ones that came for the parade hanging out on the float/truck.

I have a video of Audrey dancing, but it won't upload...does anyone know of a good way to upload a video to blogger? At the very least, I'll put it on facebook.

Unfortunately, this did not happen, but wouldn't that have been cool?

First Meeting

Here's some fun pictures of Siobhan, Audrey and Mr. Will meeting Ethan for the first time at the hospital. Siobhan and Audrey were immediately taken with the handsome little guy and Mr. Will was just excited to have all the Oreos and Sprite that a little guy could want from the snack area. So all in all, it was a pretty great experience for all involved! Now, enjoy looking at how cute my family is....especially the kids!

Siobhan loves being the biggest sister. She's even changed Ethan's diaper...one time by herself without telling me. She actually did a great job, but was instructed that from now on, she can only do it with Mommy or Daddy's permission and while we're there with her. She loves him so much!

Love this picture!!!! So sweet!

Audrey is, as always, her sweet loving self with him! Every time he cries, she says, 'Mommy, I think he wants more boo boos milk!' She enjoys babysitting him while he's in his bouncy seat.

While at the hospital, Mr. Will just pretty much ran around and was very cute yet very indifferent to Ethan. However, things have changed a lot in the last six weeks. He loves to give Ethan hugs and kisses and is always concerned when he cries. Even though I caught him dragging Ethan across the floor one evening, he just wants so badly to play with his little bro!

Best picture we could get of all four.


Wow, this family is getting big!

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BTW, the stuff on Siobhan and Audrey's faces are Utah Jazz tattoos.

Haircuts

Yeah, I keep promising meaningful posts and they'll happen eventually. But for now, here is a post about Siobhan and Mr. Will getting haircuts on Monday. We went to a fun place called Cookie Cutters which is pretty much just like every other kids salon. They did a great job with both kids and were super patient. When Mr. Will was getting his hair cut, Audrey was very insistent that she did not want her hair cute but as soon as Siobhan was getting started she wanted her hair done. We decided that we would keep her hair long like Repunzels. So here are the final products.

Carson was very against the idea of a full on mohawk. He's kind of conservative that way. But in the end, I won out-like usual :) I just think that while he's 2, he can get away with it. Although while he's wearing that camo outfit, he kinds of looks like a hellian, but that's okay.


You may remember this post about the first time we cut Siobhan's hair. Well she's been begging us to get it cut again so we did! We cut off 6 inches! I asked her how she would feel about getting it cut up to her ears and she said she wanted it cut up to her eyes. But we stuck with a cute little bob. I love it!

We May Not Be Important, But We Felt Like It

Well it's no secret that we love The Jazz! It all started with Carson being a super fan and I only said I was a fan by marriage. Then the kids got all excited....people started getting jerseys....season tickets became involved, and then there was nothing I could do. I, yes me, learned not only the starting line-up (which has changed drastically-you suck D Will) but also the entire team. We watch games as a family and 'Santa' brought us all Jazz PJ pants and Ethan may or may not have come home from the hospital in a jazz onesie with a jazz blanket wrapped around him.

I tell that story so you will know why this is awesome! The Jazz do fun things for those who hold season tickets. While we don't actually own the tickets (the company Carson works for does) we do still have the opportunity to take part in the perks-mainly because we're the ones who really appreciate it. So the day before I went into labor we got to go to Energy Solutions Arena for a tour and to have our picture taken at center court with the Jazz logo. We were even able to go into their locker room (it's surprisingly small). We got to sit in the players seats and the girls had fun deciding which chair was D-Will's. It was super fun if you're into that sort of thing. We haven't gotten the picture yet that they took of us (they had a professional photographer) but we got a bunch of our own pictures to document our adventure.

The girls thought this whole thing was pretty cool. Not sure where Siobhan learned to do the bunny ears, but it's pretty funny!

I guess Mr. Will enjoyed himself....its hard to tell with him sometimes.

How many kids can say they slam dunked at Energy solutions? Well two out of three isn't bad. Audrey's scared of heights apparently.

We never could decide which chair was D-Wills, so we just told the girls they each sat in it.

Everyone in front of D-Will's locker room stall.

Me and the girls in the press conference area.

Edit....Note that we are all (aside from Mr. Will) wearing number 8 for D-Will (he still sucks by the way!) aside from Mr. Will who is wearing number 26 for Kyle Korver. Korver doesn't play for the Jazz anymore as he left right along with Boozer to go play for the Bulls after last season (they suck too). Mr. Will has a Williams jersey but it's too small.

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This is a picture from when I used my pregnancy to get D-Will's autograph.....another story for another time.

I Really Want.....

I really want to blog tonight, but I'm so tired, I just don't think that a really meaningful post is going to happen. I'm exhausted! I did some math today and between illness, vaccines, and well child checks, here's what's swimming around our house....2 flus, one more coming I'm sure, 2 blocked tear ducks, 5 shots on two different kids, and a scraped knee. We're in bad shape but keeping positive. That's why I'm so tired.

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I said in my last post that I wasn't going to promise much with the blogging, but if I don't write down what to expect, I won't do it. While I'm not sure when I'm going to do it, here is what I'm planning on writing about this week.

*I will blog Sir Ethan's birth story
*The kids meeting Ethan for the first time.
*Having lunch with (near) D Will from the Jazz
*Our VIP (sort of) tour of Energy Solutions Arena
*Valentine's Day
*Will's 2nd birthday

Make Me Better Monday-A Pledge and a Return

It's been a while since I've done this. If you enjoyed reading these in the past, sorry I bailed. If you don't enjoy reading then, sorry I'm back at it. Can't please everyone, right? Anyway, the reasons I stopped were many, but the most prevalent was the fact that I got lazy....the end. But life is returning (slowly but surely) to more normal routines which means I feel better and more life myself. So now that we have a new little one, I'm having to re-commit to a few things. Things like sleep deprivation, limited social contact for the time being, and sweat pants. Whilst I'm in the re-commitment sort of attitude, I'll re-commit (say re-commit again) to being a better version of myself.

The Pledge:
*Get everyone healthy again and keep them that way-Mr. Will and Audrey have been sick and remain in a continued state of drippiness and hacking.
*Figure out how to get Ethan comfortable in the sling-He's in it right now and while he's not crying, he doesn't seem totally comfy.
*Create some sort of textile for myself-I just got this book and I think I'll start there. Now that there is a vacancy in my belly, I can actually make something figure flattering and cute!
*Valentine decor down, St Patty's decor up....it's one of my fav holidays so expect something fun and unexpected!
*Bring back 'unplugged thursday'
*Spend some time (lots of it because who wouldn't want to) admiring this face and getting to know him a little better.
*Do a lot of blogging, but I'm not promising how much!
*Let go of some anger and negativity that I've been holding on to.
What do you want to do better this week?

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A Few Things Overheard Recently:

Me: 'Audrey what's wrong?'
Audrey: 'My tummy hurts."
Me: 'Is that because I asked you to clean your room.'
Audrey: 'Yeah.'

Siobhan: 'Dang it to heck! I left my prophet papers in the car!'

Introducing Sir Ethan McCartney

In the email that I sent out announcing the arrival of our sweet Ethan, I promised a blog post. Sorry this is a few days late. Unfortunately, this post is going to be mostly pictures (I know, heaven forbid you have to stare at beautiful pictures of a sweet little baby instead of reading my pathetic ramblings....). We were supposed to go home this afternoon, but late last night, the nurses noticed that he was having trouble with his breathing. After a chest x-ray and blood work, it was determined that Ethan has pneumonia and will be in the hospital until at least Friday. After going through so much work to get him here in the first place, this was obviously not the way we wanted this hospital stay to work out (who would?), but the nurses are taking such good care of him and he's finally able to eat again. We've been praying hard for a quick recovery for him and no lasting effects and so far, it looks like things are shaping up and he's going to be just fine. Aside from the pneumonia, he is doing well in all other ways and is such a trooper!

Now without anymore delay, here are some amazing pictures of Ethan. At our hospital, instead of the typical 'hospital' baby pictures, they have a professional photographer who does the most amazing pictures and she did not disappoint when it came to our little guy. Enjoy!



Ethan McCartney Mitchell
January 31, 2011
2:34 pm
8 lbs 13 oz
21 inches