Watch Ethan Grow!!

I can't believe how much Ethan is growing and changing everyday!

Here he is at 2 weeks - all balled up! So sweet! And, then with that newborn stare, how quickly they change!

Here's Ethan at 3 weeks, asleep on daddy.

And, at 4 weeks - he's waking up!

These last 3 were taken at 6 weeks! He's starting to smile more and more everyday. He looks like such a baby now (v. newborn) and he is so good!

This look is soooo Ethan! I love it!

And, yaaaawwwwn...

It goes so fast!

Fun Times!

These kids crack me up! Here's Patrick getting ready to "shoot hoops" - he thinks he's big stuff!
And Nate... he found my winter hat and gloves and marched around the house! Everyday is dress up day at our house!

Here's Patrick getting in on a picture with Daddy & Ethan! He's such a ham - if he sees a camera, he can't stop himself from posing:) Such a typical firstborn!

Here are the boys on Easter.... they're holding their Easter baskets at Mamaw & Papop's with all the eggs they found!

This is Patrick playing his Leapster before church. He's loving videogames lately... I'm not sure how long we can go without getting a Wii!

Here's Nate playing (secretly) with Patrick's hockey guys before church. I think this was moments before Patrick raced in to rescue his "special" toy!

I love this one of Nate laughing at my dad as he tried to take Nate's Easter candy!

Here's Ethan on Easter morning. I loved his bright springy Easter outfit! Thank you Whitney!

And here he is lifting his head like a big boy while my mom held him!

Patrick loves to get right in Ethan's face... poor kid! Here he is loving on Ethan.

These last 2 really crack me up... it's our 4 1/2 year old helping our 2 1/2 year old play games on the computer. Who would have ever guessed a 2 & 4 year old would be so comfortable on a laptop! And, they're so serious while they play Curious George shapes games!

Oh the fun we have!

Welcome Ethan Mitchell!

Ethan Mitchell McGrath arrived Friday, March 6th at 10:28 am! He weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and was 21 inches long. He's 2 weeks old today & doing great! Patrick & Nate adore their baby brother and we're having fun getting used to being a family of 5. wow!

Here are Patrick & Nate playing Dr. Patrick & Dr. Nate! They've had a lot of fun with Brian's surgical wear.

And, of course we've had St. Patrick's Day! Here are my boys...

And, here's Nate giving Ethan lots of hugs & kisses. We lucked out with beautiful weather and Ethan's already spent plenty of time oustide!

How blessed are we!

Breakfast with Santa

We joined Brian's family for Breakfast with Santa last Saturday and had a great time! Patrick was very excited about seeing Santa... for the last few weeks, every time we asked him what he was going to tell Santa he wanted - he said a "power pal." Neither Brian nor I knew what that was - so when I casually asked "Patrick, what does a power pal look like?" He replied..."Oh, you'll see when I get it." We laughed so hard at that one! After much research & discussion - I think he means Power Ranger (let's hope!)


Here's Patrick with Santa... it was magical for him.

Nate was a bit hesitant at first - but when he realized Santa likes chocolate (just like Nate) - he warmed up fast! Later - Santa fixed Nate's balloon and he was really impressed. This Santa could do it all!

They even got to meet a reindeer! This is "Misfit" - the antlers were amazing, as was his super soft fur!

Here are the boys at breakfast... I think Santa had just walked in the room and Nate was looking at him, very excited!

This is Patrick with his cousins - Evan & Ryan. They are so silly!

And, here's all the grandkids with "Memom." Just before this picture, Nate had crawled under/into the tree! It shook and the lights flickered... it took some cajoling (and Brian lying down flat on the ground) to get Nate out! Of course - leave it Nate.

Thank you Memom for a wonderful time!

Halloween Fun!

Halloween is like Christmas in our house - I LOVE it! We had so much fun... kicking off our neighborhood parade with the firetruck... trick-or-treating... bonfire with roasted hot dogs, ham & beans and of course - tackle football in the dark! (Safe, right?!) Fortunately - no broken bones - just a few tired kids (mainly me) and possibly a few extra pounds! Here's a glimpse of the fun!

First- here's Patrick & Nate during my "dress rehearsal" on Thursday night. Patrick made all sorts of silly faces & poses - but Nate would have rather been playing. You can tell by his glare - he's just not that into it! But, once he realizes candy is involved - he changes his tune on Halloween night!

Here are the boys looking at the firetruck and waiting for the trick-or-treating to commence!

And - they're off!

Here's Nate giving a very good pirate face! He was so funny - after every house he'd stop to check out what he got, and then he'd want to eat it right then & there! Nathaniel LOVES his candy - and did not miss out on one house!

This is my favorite photo -it was one of the first houses and they were SO excited! Here they are running back to show me what they got!

This is the Beam Reach "gang" - posing after one of the last houses. (Ava, Patrick, Max, Nate & Will!)

After hours of running non-stop (in the dark) playing football and soccer - we finally got the kiddos inside for dinner. Here are some of the kids who joined us - starting with Zach Lemming! He & Nate are in the same class at Learning Time!

To calm them down - we finally put in the Lion king. Nate is about ready to fall asleep here! This is Spiderman (aka Jake), Ava & Nate!

And finally... Patrick & Max!

This last photo is classic! I found Nathaniel lying on our kitchen table (with chocolate in his hand and halfway in his mouth!) - just about asleep! He didn't make it much longer. What a fun night!

Hope you had a Happy Halloween!