My little marine biologist

Ethan has renewed his love and interest for the ocean after he took a break to learn about dinosaurs and dragons. I always think I will remember all the things the kids know and their cute little sayings but I am already starting to forget some. I am going to use the blog more to write those things down.

Ethan has been trying really hard to memorize all the sea creatures he can. So far he knows...
Sharks- Saw, Hammerhead, Great White (grey white), White Tipped Reef, Leopard, Thresher, Megamouth, Whale Shark, Wobbegong, Nurse, and Blue
Other fish- Puffer, Barracuda, Viperfish, Cowfish, Swordfish, Eel, Ray, Seahorse, Octopus, Crab, Lobster, Jelly Fish, Seal, Sea Lion, Walrus, Narwhal, Beluga Whale, he hasn't learned the names of all the whales and dolphins yet but I'm sure those are next- he likes the scary looking stuff better.

I might be forgetting some, he knows them better than I do but I am learning all about them along with him. I love this new quest for knowledge that he has.

My little Princess

Chloë put this outfit together all by herself. She loves to play dress up even though sometimes she is a fierce growling princess (she has to protect herself from the Ethan Dragon). I told her to give me a big smile for this pic, I just love that little face!

Antelope Island

Saturday the 29th Nana Julie and Papa Mark took the kids and me out to Antelope Island. They loved the Bison and all the stuff around the farm. We even saw some chickens at the farm (which prompted Ethan to walk and talk like one for a while). On the way out we saw two coyotes way out on the ice. It was a cold foggy day but we had a blast running around and exploring!

WHY?!

Ethan is fully in the "why?" stage. He used to give his own reason when I would say "no" to something... "too scary?, too dangerous?, too loud?" and my favorite "too annoying?" but now instead he asks "why, why mom?" The best example I can think of is this morning in the bath, went something like this...

Ethan don't drink the bath water
-Why?
Because its gross
-Why?
Because its dirty
-Why?
Because we washed you in it
-Why?
Because you were dirty
-Why?
...and it went on and on from there!

And so I have become one of those "Because I said so!" moms. There just isn't any getting around it, the questioning never ends. Chloë does it occasionally now too but I'm sure she will do it more and more to be like her big brother. Just another day in life of rasing two little monkeys!

Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year. The kids had a blast opening and playing with all their presents. They sure are spoiled! We spent Christmas Eve at home, just the 4 of us, and opened all our presents that morning. It was fun spending the whole day playing with the kids and their new toys. Christmas Day we headed straight to the Farnsworth's for some yummy dinner and more present opening! After that we headed to Wendell and Carole's and celebrated some more! Thanks everyone for the great gifts and making our day so much fun!

of the 149 pics taken... here are the highlights!

24

This year (as most years) I got to celebrate my birthday twice! The first was on my actually b-day the 17th, my parents took me and the kids to McGraths- so yummy! Since Travis was working that day we also celebrated on the 18th too! I am so glad that everyone was able to make it that day and have dinner and cake with me. Thanks everyone for making my birthday so special, love you all!

2010--Merry Christmas!

2010 has been another year of joy and happiness. It's hard to remember everything we have been up to, luckily we take a lot of pictures.

At the beginning of the year we couldn't wait to get out of the house so I took the kids up in the mountains to take some pictures, run around, and throw some snowballs too. But as it goes in Utah we still had to entertain ourselves indoors mostly. Chloë really likes to play dress up- as a ballerina, a princess, or as mommy! In an effort to make Ethan look more like a little boy again we cut off 10 inces of hair and donated it to Locks of Love and just in time for spring! As soon as it was warm enough we hit the lake in Stansbury Park to fish and boat.

We finally made it up to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden this year and the kids had a ball. We enjoyed our summer outdoors, in the pool, and even on the jet skis at Deer Creek Reservoir. Ethan turned 4 this year and is in his 2nd year of preschool. He is still loving it and learning a lot! He talks non-stop...no really! We also reached another milestone this year with getting both Ethan & Chloë potty trained, we are so proud of them!

As the summer wound down the weather stayed nice so we stayed outdoors. On our trip to Bridal Veil Falls we saw the Heber Creeper train and enjoyed the hiking. Chloë turned 3 in November, she is quite the character, always bossing everyone around and is not afraid to tell you her opinion on everything. She is the sweetest little girl but she can hold her own against her big brother! We squeezed in one last trip in November to Nebo Loop (tallest mountain in the Wasatch range- 9,345 feet) and saw Devil's Kitchen... looks like Moab!

We have been enjoying the Christmas season and feel so blessed! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!

Love, The Rhynsburgers

Alexie, Travis, Ethan, & Chloë

Oh Christmas Tree!

Ethan & Chloë got to help decorate the tree at Papa Mark's and Nana Julie's house. They had so much fun putting the decorations on (then off and back on again). We are so excited for Christmas and the kids are at such a fun age this year, they both know what is going on and what to expect! Ethan made a countdown at school so they can't wait to tear off the last piece of paper and open their presents!

Ethan

We had a parent/ teacher conference yesterday and went over Ethan's IEP (individualized education plan) They first do testing to see what Ethan can do then we make a plan based on that.
Ethan can:
Say his first name
Knows his age
can name the colors: red, yellow, blue, green, orange, brown, purple, black, white (all the colors in the test!)
Touch count to 3 (goal is 10)
Count to 3 (goal is 10)
identify the number 3 (goal is 1-10)
He can identify the letters A E O and m o

Our goal is to have him naming 4 basic shapes, speaking in 4-5 word sentences, naming his numbers and letters by the end of the year. The LEA representative said she doesn't think that Ethan will qualify for these services by next fall because he is making such good progress! Ethan will have this year and one more year of preschool to get caught up before kindergarten in fall 2012!

3 & 4

Tuesday I took the kids to the doctor for their yearly "well baby check up"- okay so they aren't babies anymore- The doctor said that they are perfect, but we already knew that! Ethan is as always tall and skinny and Chloë is tall and just a little chunky!

Things change a little at 4 years old, they take blood pressure and check their BMI
Ethan- 34.39 lbs (31%)
41.24 in (64%)
BMI- 14.2 (8%)- this number is supposed to be under 90
BP- 105/60- normal

Chloë- 31.97 lbs (65%)
38.19 in (73%)
head circumference- 20 in (92%)

I can't believe how big they have gotten! (Chloë turns 3 in just five days) They truly aren't my little babies anymore. They are so independent now and talking so much, Ethan is getting so good at communicating and is understandable for the most part now- especially when he really wants to get his point across... or flirt with girls (yes that has already started)!
Ethan is doing his yearly IEP (testing) at school on Thursday and we will also do a parent teacher conference at that time as well. I will post the results next week!

*On a side note the picture was taken today- so we are a little late carving the pumpkins but hey the kids don't know the difference!