MEMORIAL DAY 2010

Memorial Day Weekend

Ethan spent all last week with Grandma Marie and Grandpa Tom - giving Mike and I a week off from parenthood. It was nice but we still managed to go, go, go while Ethan was away. Oh well, we will get a break in about 20 years or so! And for those of you that may be wondering - NO we are not planning to have another kid for a while (if we even have another - we will take toddlerhood one kid at a time!).

Mike and I joined Ethan in Spencer last Thursday evening. He was most excited to see Maggie :( priorities! Mike then worked all weekend with his family for the Avenue of Flags organization that his Grandpa Dean started in the 60's. Mike's uncle Doug created some excitement with a not-so-fun heart attack on Friday - he is doing much better and is home now. Doug we love you - go eat your wheat bread and take a damn nap already!

On Monday (Memorial Day), we put up about 1300 flags in the cemeteries in Spencer. Then at the end of the day, we took them all down! Definitely a great workout and a great community service project.

We tried to leave our long weekend on a good note of Taco House for lunch today (Tuesday) but ended up getting it to-go (which still counts!) and rushed back to Spencer to take shelter during a tornado warning. No tornado or damage, but it made for an interesting route back to Ankeny to avoid all the storms heading into Iowa. We made it home just in time for the round of severe storms hitting our area. Currently we are in a severe t-storm warning and there have been a handful of tornado warnings to our west, so it should be an interesting evening!

Back to work and daycare first thing tomorrow! Thank goodness for a short week!

Ethan and Grandma Nancy with the Clay County Fair pig outside of the Avenue of Flags Building

almost 17 months

Being goofy and saying 'hi' to everyone at the Flag Building

A traditional Johnson nap that could not wait until after he was finished with Sunday dinner!

4 generations - Great Grandpa Jerry Dean's Flag, Grandpa Rick Dean,

Dad Mike Dean, and Little Guy Ethan Dean

Play us a tune Ethan! It actually didn't sound half bad, but then again, I am his proud mommy!

KIDDO IS GROWING UP

Ethan has decided that he does not want to sleep in his crib anymore. He likes to sleep in his rocking chair. Sigh...we have since taken the mattress out of the crib and laid it on the floor - doesn't really matter though. We will be upgrading to a toddler bed soon.

16.5 months

Having breakfast with Maggie in the kennel.

Playing in his sandbox - he doesn't ever want to come back inside! For the record, Maggie does not like the sandbox. :)

RANDOMS

Anyone need gift ideas? Ethan rather enjoys dog kennels, especially his cousin-dog Dakota's kennel!

16 months

He's a pro at the Wheel :)

DR. DREW TAKES THE ATTENTION

I apologize it has been awhile since I have posted. We were in Spencer 2 weekends ago, and this past weekend was Veishea weekend in Ames, so we were busy with weekend activities. The weekend started with Dr. Drew's event at ISU on Friday night - he did a book signing after he spoke, and the University Book Store (in case you wondering, this is where I work!) was privileged to sell his books before/during the signing. I jumped the gun and volunteered to work this event from 9:30PM-2AM - it's been awhile since I have seen 2AM, but its just like riding a bike! Nothing was stopping me from meeting Dr. Drew! And, yes, I put my arm around him in the picture. On Saturday, we attended the Veishea parade and the Spring football game and then headed home for a nap! Rick and Nancy (Mike's parents) joined us for the weekend, so we had a wonderful array of activities to enjoy!

VEISHEA 2010

Ah, what a silver fox! Aren't we cute? No worries, Mike is enjoying making fun of me!

Heather and Dr. Drew

April 16, 2010

Veishea - Late Night with Dr. Drew

Ethan and Mommy at the ISU Spring Football scrimmage!

Ethan-15.5 months

VEISHEA 2010 PARADE

Ethan's favorite float in the parade - balloons!!!

The homemade Shrek float

The homemade Scooby Doo float

The official start to the 2010 Veishea parade

Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Rick joined us for the parade. We had excellent seats just down from the MU - it was second row, so not the best seats for candy! :)

15 MONTH CHECKUP

Ethan's 15 month check up went well - he always seems to impress the doctor! He is 28 lbs 4 oz (95th percentile), 33.5" tall (100th percentile), and his head circumference was 19" (85th percentile). So he is big and healthy - and proportionate! He has 13 teeth, with the 14th one ready to pop through. And, he is due for yet another hair cut! He knows where his toes, nose, belly, and hair are - we are working on fingers, tongue, and ear. He has completely mastered eating with a fork and spoon (he prefers a fork). And, I think he said 'poop' today - and yes, there was poop.

EASTER 2010

Ethan loves dogs - he tries to "rescue" each and every one of them from captivity.

Easter Day

15 months

Butt shot!

Filling up that basket like a pro!

Double whammy!

It was chilly this morning, but the clouds cleared and it warmed up for us to go outside for an Easter egg hunt. Nothing fancy, but it entertained him!

Opening Easter gifts -

A soccer ball, basketball, crayons and paper from Mom and Dad

2 hooded towels and M&M filled egg (which he would not let go, and eventually had to take a nap with it - he doesn't know there are M&Ms in it yet!) from Grandpa Rick and Grandma Nancy

Books, plates, PJs, and Goldfish from Grandpa Tom and Grandma Marie

He also had a fun filled day at daycare on Friday - they had a big Easter egg hunt and he brought home all the eggs he found (soccer ball basket in the background - filled to the rim with plastic eggs). They also colored their own eggs to bring home.

SPRING BREAK 2010

Ladies Man...

Ethan 14.5 months

Last snow day...during Spring Break (after we returned from 60 degree weather in NYC)

Helping Daddy with the floor...he was a BIG helper.

The finished product!

NEW YORK CITY

The Dean's to NYC -  2010

March 12-17th

We visited many attractions, but definitely didn't get to see everything. It was cold and rainy the first few days, but on our last day we were able to enjoy sunny, 60 degree weather to visit the Statue of Liberty. We plan to go back again someday, preferably in the summer time when we could enjoy a picnic in Central Park and the venture up the Empire State Building.

Toys R Us Ferris Wheel - Times Square

Times Square

Another shot of Times Square...there is no way to see every detail that is put into the area.

It was hard not to think of how much money exists in Times Square - the cost of food, etc. as well as the advertising dollars for the huge billboards and video boards.

NEW YORK CITY

Hershey's candy store - Times Square

Inside the M&M Store - Times Sqaure

The never ending wall of M&Ms - Mel would have been in heaven!

The store was 3 stories of candy, merchandise, statues...Ethan fell asleep.

Wall Street - it was actually full of tourists and not really any business people.

Statue of Liberty

NEW YORK CITY

Hi Everyone! I have more pics that I will post this weekend (it's getting late - I need to get to bed!) - more NYC, as well as playing in the snow and our big home improvement project!

NEW YORK CITY

Ethan and Mommy at Battery Park - Ms. Liberty is in the background.


Ethan and Daddy on Liberty Island - NYC in the distance.


Going for a stroll on Liberty Island (the structure in the background is the base of the Statue)

The fam in Times Square

Mike and Heather in Times Square

NEW YORK CITY

Mike at Planet Hollywood

Ethan in his "bubble" - we bought this to shield him from wind and rain, but he was NOT happy!

Ethan and Daddy swimming and splashing in the hotel pool

The ride home...

KLINGE/DEAN REUNION IN NYC

Ethan (14.5 months) with Miles Klinge (almost 17 months)
Best Buddies!



For the record - both of these kids peed on that floor.

An official Johnson nap! The new king of the remote.

We were watching the Olympics, but ended up watching a documentary (which I have to admit was interesting and finished watching it once he woke up).

14 months

BIG sippy cup!

Playin' Deadliest Catch

He was collecting all the sea animals, and right after I took this picture, he flipped out trying to catch the clown fish (just to the left of him)! Let's say Mommy was soaked. Then he tries to drink the water from the fountain (star fish right behind him), but gets mad when he picks it up and the water stops. At least it all keeps him entertained!