Oh happy day!

Day 1: Ethan voluntarily threw his pacifier in the trash, after several days of "build-up" by the family about doing this. It took over 2 hours to get Ethan to fall asleep for nap. In fact, I think naptime turned into bedtime which solved that problem.



Day 2: My stomach was in knots from the moment I woke up, dreading this day's naptime ordeal. It only took him one hour, 3 meltdowns, and a toy towtruck placed bedside to get him to fall asleep. Things were really improving and I felt hopeful.



Day 3: Tow truck in hand, Ethan passively climbed into his bed. No crying or asking for his beloved pacifier.

We had a celebration for Ethan on his birthday with just the family. No one else. I think this was the first time, first child, to ever have a SIMPLE party. I have heard of friends who only had "family parties" for their children until they were 5 years old. The reasons for this are now obvious to me!! (I didn't have ears to hear their reasons before)

Ethan was as happy as could be. I had made this truck cake (a worthy attempt, but it looks like I need to take a Wilton Decorating Class) while he was napping and when he woke up he couldn't stop talking about it and visiting it in the dining room. He had a few gifts from his grandparents, and a couple from us. Simple. His eyes flew open wide over each gift, and his voice was thrilled to see even the clothing from grandma. I flashed back to the other kids' third birthdays' and remember piles of gifts from oversugared, overstimulated children. The noise level was like being at a Barney Live concert. This was SO much more pleasant.

I am actually looking forward to his fourth birthday....

Matchless

Can you see that Ethan is not smiling?

All day Ethan had talked about going on a hroseback ride with Aunt Julie. But, as things go in the Dayton Ranking System, the Eldest Son got to go first. Then The Eldest Daughter. Then Cowgirl Audrey (since Ethan was napping). Each ride was lengthy so when Ethan woke up from his nap he was really ready to get on with it and ride.

He saw Julie and Audrey coming up the path from his vantage point on the porch and he went running down to the corral yelling "My turn!" I was thrilled that he had decided to join in the fun, since the first days when he wanted nothing to do with the horses. When he got to the corral, he saw the other bigger horse and wanted to ride only that one. As it turns out, it is more of a wild horse and Mike said no sir.

Well, Ethan had already set his mind on riding the bigger horse and started in on a good fuss about only riding that one. We kept trying to sway him and talk him out of it, but he wouldn't budge. He finally walked away yelling his classic "Stupid! Mean!" words to the air. A few yards up the path he turned around and added, "That horse is fat!!"

The picture shows Ethan, finally cooled down, on the calmer smaller horse with Julian. The saddle hardly got warm before he got a lift down....

Santa Fe Farmers Market

While in Santa Fe, we stopped at the Farmers Market and saw these amazing young people performing. They were SO energetic and spontaneous we could've watched all day. I think they could've played all day judging by the smiles on their faces and rhythyms in their souls...

Cowboy Lil' Bit

My Favorite Cowgirl

Yoga, continued.

Making old-fashioned, hand crank ice cream

After much bribing, cajoling, begging, and pleading...we finally got Ethan to JUST SIT on the horse.

In the town square of Santa Fe, we piled into a Bicycle Shuttle for a block back to our car.

The Tent Inspectors

The Dusty Dog Ranch

Crack That Whip!

Making peanut butter pinecone bird feeders...

Julian "Peashooter" Dayton sitting by a fire he built...

Audrey is in love with the dogs (dog shown: Odalee)

got yoga?