Ethan is SIX !

Yesterday, we celebrated this special guy's SIXTH birthday! 

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought it would be fun to do with Ethan....

1. What do you like to do for fun? I like to play the Wii and my DS. And, I like to play soccer. 
2. What is one word to describe you? Kind. {For the record, Colin said "nice" and Cameron said "playful". True, true.} 
3. What was the nicest thing you did for someone? Ummm...I gave someone a present on their birthday.
4. If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why? A bear, 'cause I'd like to be a bear. Me: Why? Ethan: I just do. 
5. If you could have one special power, what would it be and why? I would turn into a guy like Hulk and be really strong but I'd also have a hammer nobody else could pick up. 
 6. Favorite candy? Those green things we had in Missouri that look like popsicles that had sugar on them {rock candy} 
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A plane driver. 
8. Favorite color? Red.
9. Favorite things to do in school? Music {YES!} 
10. Favorite song? Blessed be Your Name {Double YES} 
11. Favorite book? The ants go marching. 
12. Favorite sport? Soccer 
13. Favorite Drink? Sprite 
14. Favorite Ice Cream? Green mint with the chocolate chips. 
15. What is your favorite food? Tacos and pizza 
16. Favorite Restaurant? Monicals 
17. What is your favorite thing about Colin? That he helps me sometimes when I can't get stuff and I can't do stuff. 
18. What is your favorite thing about Cameron? That he plays with me. 
19. What is your favorite thing about Lola? That she is cute. {Heehee} 
20. What do you love about mom? You make food for me. {Ah. A way to the man's heart....} 
21. What do you love about dad? That he plays with us at night time, he plays basketball in our bedroom and nerf wars. 
22. What are you looking forward to now that you're 6? I can't wait to do stuff when I'm six that I couldn't do when I was five. {Good thought process} 

We went about 9:30 and took--at Ethan's request--some muffins for his class at school. 

Lola was more than a little excited to see him! These two are the best of friends, but can also

 fight like cats and dogs sometimes...depends on their moods! I much prefer the good days :)

Lola was quite the hit with the boys in the class. Oh, dear.

Ethan was very excited to show me his "special birthday chair on the special birthday carpet". *grin*

A birthday crown from his teacher!

First bite of his favorite muffins....

The class all sang to him and he got his "birthday spankings". All in all, a successful morning!

Later that afternoon, I worked on his cake and some accessories. 

I found online how you could dye rice, so Shane worked on that, while I worked on decorating his cake.

Ethan requested a Bowser cake and I freaked out...but then I remembered Pinterest!

Thank you for the inspiration Pinterest!!

We had a lovely dinner....Ethan requested his favorite. Tacos :)

Right after dinner, Ethan got a phone call from Grandpa Danny! 

Then later, Grandma 'Nette and Grandpa.

After that, we started on the presents. We had a bit of catching up to do because

of some sickness over Christmas and Lola's birthday...so she opened a few first.

She's still on that Hello Kitty kick. *grin*

I have to say....I just think that "present-reaction-pictures are priceless! The looks on their faces....

Ethan

Colin

Ethan again

Cameron

and Ethan some more.

Ethan loves sheets....last year, it was Mario Kart, and this year....

Angry Birds!

The best for last--his favorite, Super Mario for his DS.

Then, the rest of the family got here and we started in on Christmas celebrations!

Livy opening her Violet

Aunt Karen and her birthday snuggly blanket (those were 

a popular gift in our house this year, they are the best!)

Soon, Daddy led Ethan in to the kitchen...it was CAKE time!

The finished product. I couldn't wait for Ethan to see it!

His reaction was awesome. I don't think he could even believe it!

We sang Happy Birthday, and he got all the candles out in one whiff.

His birthday was very special....here's to many, many more years with this precious little man!
We love you Ethan!

A special 3rd birthday

 I promised to write more.

Life just moves so fast, doesn't it? *sigh*

I will get back on the wagon. Have lots of things in my head that I want to "talk" about here, and several things I want to catch up on.  But, for today.....it is a special day. A third birthday!

Little Lola and I had a good but low key day to ourselves. I (and several of the fam) have been sick. I was lucky that this sweet little girl wanted to do easy things that a sick Mommy could manage without too much trouble today.

She was good to pose for me :)

Silly girl....

I asked what she wanted to do. The answers? Take a showerbath (her term for letting the water fill up in the tub while taking a shower *heehee*), paint her fingernails....

....paint her toenails...pink, of course....

....play beauty shop, play "hold me like a baby, Mommy" (that one is a personal favorite of mine) and play beauty shop, put on real lipstick, snuggle, and watch a Veggie Tale. We had so much fun, despite my not feeling well. (I particularly enjoyed the snuggling part.)

When her brothers came home, much to their delight, she wanted to play trains. 

Of course, a birthday girl must wear her princess crown while playing trains!

Then it was time for presents!

The crown didn't last through those. *heehee*

It may be TMI, but undies are a big deal in the Merritt household. 

Lola got some new Hello Kitty underwear  and was thrilled!

Colin, being the loving big brother, painstakingly took every single pair 

out of the package, unfolded them, and showed them to her.

Lolee girl is in a phase right now. She loves all things "twirly". This means skirts, 

fluffy dresses, and especially night gowns. She gets so upset at night if her nightgowns 

are not clean and she has to wear two piece pj's! It is almost funny. :) I have done a bit 

of extra laundry just so she could always have her twirly pj's, but thought her birthday 

would be a good excuse to add a couple of new nightgowns to her rotation. 

If you hadn't guessed already, Lola happens to be on a Hello Kitty kick these days.

While I was taking pictures, the boys got an idea--they all ran down to their room to grab their DS's, so that they too could take pictures of Sis opening her gifts!

  It was hysterical! She posed for them and everything.

Then, Daddy got to show her another something new....the look on her face is priceless.

"You mean to tell me....my baby gets one too! WHAT?!"

Then, the big gift.

I have to tell you about this. It is the most amazing thing. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine emailed me and asked me if Lola would like a dollhouse that her daughter no longer played with. Without knowing anything about it--size, cost, etc.--I said, "Sure!" Lola loves playing with her friend's dollhouse, and I assumed she would love one of her own. I also assumed that is was probably older and smaller. I didn't care about those things at all, I just knew Lo would love playing with whatever she had!

Well, I came to find out that this dollhouse--and all the accessories we were gifted at zero cost to us--is one of the most popular toys on the market right now, and is probably well worth over $150 or $200. I had no idea, and couldn't believe someone would be kind enough just to give this to Lola! It was an incredible blessing to our family, and could not have come at a more perfect time!!

And, by the way....she wasn't the only one who loved it. *giggle*

Checking out the family

Super duper excited!

She and Ethan played the longest. It is now all set up and ready to go for her tomorrow. 

I envision hours and hours of use out of this wonderful toy and am so grateful to have it!

Time for pj's and bed. The twirlies made her so happy.

{Lolee and her most favorite baby doll}

 Kisses before bedtime

Just about the cutest thing I've ever seen....

As you can see, we ALL just adore little Lola and are so thankful God gifted us with her. It's been a wonderful three years, with her in our lives...Happy Birthday, sweet baby girl!