UPDATE 10/31/09- PICS HAVE BEEN ADDED!
WOW! I know, right?! Long time, no update. No good reason, just excuses- Carter stopped napping and that's when I would usually update. We got a lap top and I don't have any pictures on the lap top, so I put off posting until I am on the desk top, which I never seem to be on anymore. I spend too much time on Facebook.
Like I said, no good reasons just excuses. There has been plenty to blog about. Life, even everyday life, always seems interesting around my house and if I can't find anything to say about what Carter is up to, I can usually rant about something on my mind ranging from Bible study to celebrity gossip- quite a range right? So, no excuses.
It's been 3 months since my last update. I am determined to catch-up, although no pictures today. (I am on the lap top...good reason coming...) We are having new flooring installed and the contractors are in the area where the desk top is, so I can't sit to upload pics right now. I WILL post them soon, though!
In the meantime, let's pick up where we left off.
In August, we went downtown to Dallas Union Station for a tour of Disney's, "A Christmas Carol," train. It was a free event and since Carter loves trains, it was a no brainier. Noah took a vacation day and off we went. Can I just say though, Christmas in August is a hot one! No, it wasn't terrible, but it was August in Texas, so you put two and two together!
We had to wait about an hour to get inside the cars and once there we got to see Charles Dickens memorabilia and a variety of items from the movie. Carter was just excited we were on a train! After the tour, we got to walk over and watch a 3D preview of the movie (which opens next month). As a big fan of Dickens, "A Christmas Carol," I cannot wait to see it. However, as the mother of a 3 year old, he will not be going to see it with us! Still too much death and chains and gloom.
On the way home we stopped at a fun burger place called The Twisted Root to have burgers and then crashed home exhausted from a great family day.
The next weekend we went to Ham's Orchard. We took a day trip out to the peach orchard on it's closing day with our friends the Lifsey's. It was a cute little place that sold fresh burgers and dogs for lunch and, of course, homemade peach ice cream! The store had all kinds of homemade goodies and fresh produce, so we came home with a bundle of yummy items. It was another fun day and fun family activity with friends.
Also in August Uncle NaNa, Aunt Nina, Ashton and Alissa came for a weekend visit. Nathan (aka Uncle NaNa) is a Navy man and was preparing for deployment to Qatar where he is flying missions. After we put the kids to bed Friday night, we old people decided to try to take some shots (Jaggerbombs and Duck Farts- don't ask!) and play some Wii. Let's just say none of us are 21 anymore! The next morning came too quickly, but we went on a family bowling outing to Main Event. After Main Event, the guys went golfing and the ladies and kids hung out and played. Sunday, we all went to the park to play and to feed the ducks and swimming at the neighborhood pool. I hadn't been to the neighborhood pool since I went with Nina and Ashton 6 years ago! Ashton was just a baldy- about 5 or 6 months old- the last time we were there- now she is 6 YEARS old! Amazing how time flies.
It was a great weekend and we felt blessed to have them with us. It was great to see Nathan before he left and to have time to pray with him over breakfast Sunday morning. I love having my sister and her family around and I am SO happy they are so close in San Antonio. I can't stand the thought of where they will end up when this assignment is over.
(If anyone is interested in sending Nathan a card or care package let me know and I will get you his address. It is such a treat for him and a great way to let our servicemen know we are thinking of them.)
Grandma (my Mom) also visited us in August. (Yes, see I told you life has been full and busy, not boring!) It was the weekend before Mom's birthday. I was going for a perm and to get my hair done (or "did" as everyone seems to say these days. What is up with that?!). She went with me and we sat and talked with my stylist, Amanda, about how she can never find anyone that will do her hair the way she likes it. This conversation went on and on and on. Finally, it dawned on me, "Amanda, can you work Mom in?" "Sure!" Guess what I got Mom for her birthday? Yup, a haircut she likes! I love Amanda she's the best!
On we move to September-
Carter had his first dental cleaning last month! The dentist visit and the fact that I needed to take Carter had been on my mind for a bit, but was prompted by our good friend Amy taking her little one, Aaron to his first cleaning. Aaron did a great job and Amy posted pics of Aaron at the dentist on her blog. I called Carter over to look at the pictures and talked to him about what the dentist was all about and why everyone needed to go. I kept pointing out what a big boy Aaron was in the pictures. I then told him that, very soon, he would have to go to.
I got the appointment set up and made a trip to Borders and Half Price Books to find stories about going to the dentist. (Amy had mentioned she read the Dora Goes to the Dentist to Aaron.) So I found the Dora story and SpongeBob Goes to the Dentist and The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist and we read them and read them and read them. I pointed out the light and the chair and the tools. We talked about what might happen and what wouldn't happen. He was reluctant saying , "I don't have to go," and, "I don't want to go Momma." I did the Mom thing, firm, but kind, "Everyone has to go to the dentist."
I debated booking an appointment with a pediatric dentist, but we really like our family dentist, who happens to be Uncle NaNa's cousin, so we decided to see her. I am so glad we did. Everyone was so sweet and kind. They treated Carter like a king and I am VERY happy to say, once there, he never hesitated. Carter jumped right up into the big chair and pointed to the light. They gave him cool dinosaur sunglasses to wear and showed him how each tool worked before they put it in his mouth. All in all it was probably about a 30 minute visit, but Carter did an awesome job! I was so proud of him.
Also, in September Auntie came to visit. When Auntie comes to visit nothing is off limits. I think she spoils Carter more than the grandparents (which is NOT necessary Auntie if you are reading this!) We started out with a trip to Hobby Lobby. Almost $350 later I got some Fall decorations, Christmas decorations (Yes, I said Christmas), Carter got a 3 foot Christmas tree for his room and his own truck/car/airplane/train decorations for the tree. Plus, she bought some western/cowboy ornaments for my uncle and cousin a Christmas tree. I think the cashier thought we were crazy! The lady kept looking at everything we were putting up on the counter to scan like, "How much more?!"
The shopping spree continued the next night after a conversation about Carter's "big boy" room and bedding for it. We spent hours on the Internet searching- she on the lap top, me on the desk top- for what I was looking for- a quilt that is multi- primary colors. No themes. My thinking is that if it is bright and primary colors, anything will go with it- car sheets or truck sheets or train sheets or whatever. We finally found something I liked and called customer service to order it at 1:00am! Bedding- check.
Of course in between all this shopping was fun pay time with Carter. He is such a cutie. I know all mom's say that about their kids, but I do love him so much. When I look at him, even in those frustrating times, my heart just overflows.
Fall is here and that means it's time for the BIG Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina!
The first Friday in October, Noah took a flex day and we visited the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina. It is my favorite family tradition. It holds a special place in my heart because it is a tradition Noah and I started for "our" family. The first one we've begun for our family of three, not one passed down or that we are continuing from our childhood.
We did not plan to go the first Friday in October- very early in the season- opening week in fact, but we knew we had a busy month ahead, with most of our weekends already booked with activity, so when I woke up October 2nd to the MOST BEAUTIFUL fall day and nothing to do, I called Noah and asked if there was anyway he could flex that afternoon so we could make our trip to the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm. Thankfully, he was able to!
We stopped at Chick-Fil-A for lunch where, of course, Carter wanted to play INSTEAD of continuing on to the farm, but we eventually got him out of the restaurant!
When we got there, we basically had the farm to ourselves. Opening week, early in the season, a weekday and the State Fair going on "down the street" meant we beat the crowd and really got to enjoy our time on the farm.
Carter always loves the petting zoo portion. This year in addition to the sheep, goats and cows, they had a sweet donkey and lots of chickens roaming free. Carter kept trying to chase them wanting to feed them, but to no avail!
Then there was the hayride. He always sits next to his Daddy- nothing new there! He always wants to be with his Daddy. It's like you can see their connection. Along the hayride trail they had new hay "creatures-" bats, pigs, spiders. It's a cute trip around the farm.
I love to take pictures at the pumpkin farm. I mean, it's the perfect spot. However, Carter has moved into the "fake smile phase" of childhood, so in all the pics he has these weird faces. Oh well, more memories, right?
We picked out our family of three pumpkins, said goodbye to the farm and were on our way home after a GORGEOUS day together.
A beautiful day, on a beautiful family farm with my amazing family. Praise be to God!
