Ethan turns 4!

I love my sweet Ethan! He is a determined, strong willed child. He does everything he can to get what he wants. He is the sweetest little boy and gives the best hugs. He is always cracking us up with the funny things he says. He loves to go to pre-school and just started soccer and loves it. He has to be doing something, he loves to go places, anywhere, just loves to be out. He is 30 lbs and 3' 3".
This year for his Birthday he wanted to go bowling! Bowling with the kids is so much fun! They love it and it is hilarious to watch. So much fun!






We always do Sunday dinner at my Parents or Grandparents.
I always make a cake for the kids Birthday. Ethan Loves the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So this year My mom and I made him a Willy Wonka cake covered in Willy Wonka candy and  a chocolate water fall. Ethan loved it! Ethan loves the Macadamia nut turtles that you can get from Costco. My grandpa buys them and we bust them out for Sunday games. So cute Grandpa Great got Ethan is own box, labeled it so his dad and grandpa stay out. I keep them in the Pantry and Ration them, or he would eat the whole box! He had a great birthday and was spoiled by Great grandparents, grandparents and aunts. He was such a crack up and all he asked for this year was a lock and key, he has been obsessed with keys. Grandpa hooked him up with his own.

Valentine's Day and Meatloaf

Valentine's Day is not a big celebration in our house, but this year some cute neighbors invited me to do "14 Days of Love". So cute! You make 14 of the same Valentine and then you switch with 14 ladies in the neighborhood, so you have 14 different valentines to give your husband. The whole family got involved in hiding and giving Dad his valentines.
Grandma and Grandpa Little came over and brought the kids giant Kisses!
That night we had a Valentine's dinner as a Family. We had Heart Meatloaf. Mark loves Meatloaf, I have never been a huge fan, so I have tried different ways to make it. My mom has Mastered it, in a healthy gluten free recipe. It is the best in the crock pot!


Gluten Free Meatloaf
1 lb ground beef
1 lb Italian sausage
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1 handful chopped spinach
3 cloves of garlic minced
2 eggs
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder

Sauce:
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 Tbs honey
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp parsley

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl till combined. Put in the crockpot, I shape it so it is an inch away from the sides of the crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 30 mins before you are ready to eat. Combine ingredients for the sauce and poor over the meat loaf. Cook for remaining 30 minutes. You can also take the meatloaf out of the crockpot, poor the sauce on and broil on low for 15 minutes in the oven. I like how it gets a little crispy