Ready to celebrate freedom, independence and pure cuteness!
June 2007 Archives
Well, kinda ...
I spent a little time in my classroom this afternoon (after the most boring class I've ever taken! Boo!). I have spent my four years at the middle school near what is now the media center (until this year, it's been our cafeteria). It's down the "Mile-Long Hallway" from my kids' homerooms.
I have been promoted to "super-cool" status and was allowed to move to a vacant room that shares a wall with my cooperating teacher (where my students are - huh, novel idea!). This means they won't get the 4 minutes of breaking time everyone gets plus four minutes of travel time from their room to mine and the privilege of "leaving early" to go back to their lockers! Sweet! Just think of all the time we gain!
And ... I get a window! Upgrade!
At the end of this past year, I had my juvenile delinquents pack and move stuff (call it "preparation" for their prison job roles in the future, I guess!) to our new room. It's in the same hall as all of my upcoming 8th graders. But it's box after box after box! I spent three hours there today, and just got boxes sorted to where they belong! It's crazy how much stuff/junk I "have to have!" It's a necessity!
My "promotion" to window room! I know there's no view (I now back to the construction area), but there's sunlight and open-air'ed'ness! I'm ecstatic!
And, in case your wondered, I did actually get a raise thanks to our beloved Governor Culver! Moving us up in the world of education, you go Chet!
Groundbreaking!
Not anything "exciting" that we've done, but there's been GROUND BREAKING at 3638 NW Klein Street!
The excavators came in to dig the hole that will be our house one day (within 90 days, to be exact!). It's a deep hole, but not totally done: they dug to saturation, and couldn't go any farther due to the standing water.
Stupid rain!
Those are our dirt piles!
Our only neighbor sits, watching, atop this dirt pile!
To put it in perspective, that's my car in the background parked across the street! That's a deep hole! And where our fooseball table will go shortly!
Poopie in the Potty!
Carter said to Daddy, "Poop?" while she was looking at books. He asked if she needed to go potty and she said yes - like she always does. The two of them came upstairs, and we all camped out in the bathroom, watching Carter potty.
This is becoming a normal thing around here. I think Carter just likes sitting on the potty! She actually brought her Elmo! book along with her this time (like father, like daughter!)!
We coached: "push!" and we coaxed: "if you poopie, you can have a treat!" After a very minutes, Carter announced that she was "awl done." And low and behold, there was a little baby-poop!
Poopie in the Potty!
I know ... gross! But it was the most wonderful thing of my week!
For pooping in the potty, Carter got loves upon loves, 2 M&M's, 1 more for washing her hands, and an episode of "Mey Mouwww," aka Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!
I know ... GROSS! But it was like Christmas came early for us today!
Joyeux Anniversaire
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag
Buon Compleanno
Feliz Aniversario
с днем рожденья
Feliz Cumpleaños
However you say it, Happy Birthday, Andy!
"I want birthday cake!"
AHHH!
Happy Birthday, Daddy! Tell him twice - he's old, he'll forget!
One year ago (give or take), our favorite little red-head despised the pool! She absolutely hated it!
June 2006: Unhappy water-baby
But now, she's loves it! Amazing what a little growing up can do to a girl!
"Just getting my feet wet!"
She had a ball squatting to get her fanny wet, then jumping back up!
"Splash, Daddy!!"
She even remembers the "kicky's" and "bubbles" from swimming lessons in January!
Yes, for those of you counting, today is the official anniversary of our first date, in 1997! That's ten years! I could have gotten less of a "sentence" if I'd robbed a bank!!
Ten years ago, around this time, we were sitting in an Iowa City movie theater, watching Jurassic Park 2. This will shock most of you who know him: Andy Chalupa made me buy my own movie ticket!! But I continued to date him! Why couldn't I see his cheap ways back then?!?
Who am I kidding? I'd have dated him anyway!
It's crazy to think that one thing could have altered both of our lives (and, subsequently, Carter Kay's!). What if I'd gotten a job at Fareway instead of Hy-Vee? What if Andy had been successful at breaking up with me when he left to go to school? What if I hadn't followed him all over creation, eventually ending up in Ankeny? Would we be here today? I guess that's not something we get to know, but I do know that no amount of money would make me want to change my path. The past 10 years have been fun, exciting, interesting, silly, zany, sometimes annoying and rude, but always full of incomparable love and respect. I couldn't imagine my life any other way. I wake up every morning with a smile, and I am thankful for all that I've been blessed with. For that, I'd buy every single movie ticket myself over and over again!
Who knew goofy could take you this far in life??
Andy's hair may be lessening, but I know that his love for me grows daily!
Over the years, our bellies have grown, just like our family!
And nothing, not even the Hawkeye/Cyclone debate can divide us!
10 years. It's been a long trip with many, many pit stops and detours. But I wouldn't change one single stop, bump, or turn along the way. I heart ya, Daddy!
With the busy week ahead, we had Andy's birthday dinner early. And, of course, we went to the Cazador's! Yum! Andy got to wear the hat and we all got to partake in his birthday ice cream!
Happy birthday, Old Man! We love ya!!
You'd think Carter could have gotten Daddy a good attitude for his birthday - wrong!
I love the sombreo! Ole!
Birthday well-wisher Rory & Andy
The birthday boy and his adorable lady-friends!
It's amazing that something so simple - like finger-painting - can turn into something so outrageous!
... but we had a ball! And that's what's truly important! That, and no furniture or walls were damaged!!
Hand prints ... simple, right??? What could go wrong???
Ohh ... finger painting! Neat! Very fun!
... this is where things started to turn sour ...
Body art?
By the end, it was a pure, adorable MESS!
\
And I facilitated it! It might be messy, but it makes me a great Mommy!
Day two is over and the sales are completed! We all raked in some moola, that will no doubt go to a great cause (like shoes!)!
It was fun to hang out with our buddies all day and make a ton of money (between Andy and I, we made over $300!).
I love garage sales!
The Garage Sale Saturday Crew: Kacie, Amy, Andy, Carter, and Rory, with Andy 2 and I!
Rory, the Kentucky Derby/Garage Sale winner!
An offer?!? We'd give her to ya! Carter helped with the garage sale, also, and did a great job staying outside with us for the majority of the day! Such a good girl!
By the end of the day, we'd all adopted an "It all goes!" motto! And most of it did! What didn't all fit in one Durango-load to Goodwill. Too bad the Goodwill guy lacked any "good will" and was a total jackal! I wouldn't be a happy camper either: I was 2nd in line of nearly a dozen cars, waiting to drop off! Crazy garage sale Saturday's!
We'd this come from?!?
I heard there was a chance of rain this afternoon. Around 3:00, it started to get darker, so I finished up the sale things I was doing (sell, sell, SELL!) and high-tailed it to get Carter. It wasn't raining when I pulled out of the drive, but it was raining so hard when I got there that I couldn't tell if it was or was not hailing! I think it was! I ran in to get Carter, and in the 20 steps, I was soaked, head to toe! I wrapped Carter up in her blankie and we ran back out. Of course, she was twisted in the blanket, making it impossible to get her strapped in ... my butt was soaked! Not cool!
We returned home to Lake Chalupa, which is better than the Chalupa Car Wash at the new place only because "Lake Chalupa" will (hopefully) be "Lake New Owner" and someone else's problem soon!
We usually get some standing water in hard rains near the fence, but the water backed clear up to the trees! That's like 20 feet between the two!
All of our neighbor's yards and my garden were totally submerged! Too bad no one's selling an ark at the garage sale!!
Day 1 of the annual garage sale went wonderfully! We began setting up early - 7am for some of us! - and we had lookers while we arranged. We had some hagglers ("of course I'll take a dollar for that!" became my slogan for the day!) and some people who were crazy (we always do!). But we all did pretty well and made some extra money! Money that, in our case, will be spent on "treasures" to be sold at future garage sales, I'm sure!
With 5 couples contributing, we had a garage full of stuff .. and it over-flowed to the yard and drive!
You know you want some baby clothing!
How about a carpet cleaner of a cooler?!?
Our stuffed-full cash box! Yeah!
As the day wore down, we got silly from selling! Andy didn't want to part with the baby goods ...
... and we all wondered what on Earth possessed me to purchase this skirt (which can be YOURS for $2.00). Andy said a bunch of kids looked at it, but their mom's swiped it and put it back! Yeah ... I would too!
So, our toddler room has "swimming days," which made me a bit nervous. It wasn't the idea of Carter swimming, but more the idea of squeezing 5 little toddlers into a yard pool. Self-centered toddlers + small area = bitten children, probably mine!
Instead, they go out into the yard and play in the hose! I guess last week Carter snatched the hose and tried spraying everyone, including Miss Jill!
Are you really surprised?!?
Erin (Carter's arch-nemesis) and Carter run from the sprinkler!
Run Carter!
5 little toddlers in the hose ... I know you're asking yourself where do I sign up at?!?
Pigs are funny Grandma!
Carter enjoyed the pond at Brian and Anna's and tried to jump in!
Top 3 People in the World:
#1: Mommy & Daddy
#2: The guy who invented grapes
#3: Mr. Marker!
So many decisions!
"Let's go with pink ... all over my face and elbow!"
Now that we're nearly two, you would have thought that a barbecued pork rib patty would have been cleaner than this! Gross!
That sandwich was everywhere!
So, we striped down and made a Toga-Baby!
After the mess was cleaned up, we played downstairs for a bit. Carter was in the mood to chatter, so here's a little Carter-speak:
What a sweetheart and a great sharer! Too bad for Sammy it's not chicken noodles!
Carter shares her morning Cheeri's with the beggar
"Here, Sammy! You have one, too!"
Our Dad's are awesome! We've got the best father's around - just look at how great we all turned out (some of us may like to speed, but we're still good at heart!!). One day just doesn't seem like enough to thank our great dad's for all they've done for us! Today, and every other day, we love you very much, Dads!
The Chalupa's (and Kappas' and Maas' and Molly the pup) gathered for a family picnic at an Iowa City park. We grilled good food (our turkey burgers were good, despite what the Chalupa boys thought!), played and had a warm-but-fun day! You could tell the day was a success: Carter left with a full tummy, covered head to toe in dirt and grim, and sleepy! Always a sign of success!
Carter and Grandma went to get Grandpa for breakfast ... and they ended up on a 4-wheeler ride that Carter loved! "She wants a Harley!" Grandpa said!
Daddy, Carter and Mommy, playing in the sand and sun
The Chalupa/Kappas Clan of Cuties: Carter (22 months), Kristy (4 years; Courtney cousin) and Courtney (21 months). Branch one of the Chalupa tree ended with 4 boys. Will branch 2 be all girls???
Our sweetie pies: Courtney and Carter, swinging together
This weekend was Whoopee Days in Brighton. For those of you who don't know what Whoopee is (seriously - do you live under a rock?!?), it's kinda like Brighton's own State Fair, or SummerFest, or what ever you'd like to call it. My parents are big fans, right?!?
But I know that Brian and Carrie Lueck, and daughter Emma, will be in the same place each year, so Carter and I went to the parade to visit (and for the free candy!). It was 87 degrees at 9:40am when Andy dropped us off. But it wasn't too bad when the parade began. Emma (20 months) and Carter, along with Carrie's nephew Jack (4 years) had a ball watching the parade. Carter liked the fire trucks begin the parade with their sirens, loved the horses, and had a ball picking up candy. Despite the gross heat, it was nice to catch up with the Lueck's and watch the parade. But it was heaven when Poppy and Gramma unexpectedly showed up to pick us up (we were going to walk the 4 blocks home without a stroller) in the air conditioned truck! Poppy is our hero!
Carter and Emma: Parade Spectators
Jack, Emma and Carter intently watch as they hear the firetrucks start down Main Street
Carter, the Candy (wo)Man
MEANWHILE ...
While we braved the heat for the parade, Andy braved the law and drove to Missouri to purchase our fireworks display! If I wasn't excited before, I sure am now! He purchased "100 balls and shells" for our extravaganza. And all you have to do to participate in the fun is show up with a yummy food dish to share! More details to come!
Carter's gone from riding in the block wagon to building masterpieces!
"Mommy! The guys goes on the spinny-star! Duh!"
"Hey! Daddy! Check me out!"
Watch your cell phones: if you get a call from "Kelly Chalupa's cell" it just might not be me!
"Look what I got, Mommy!"
That's the ornery smile!
Who sleeps like this?!? Whatever ... at least she sleeps!
Nightly procedure: place pillow on mattress, get stomach on top of pillow, hibernate for the night!
This evening, Amy planned a surprise, pirate themed party for fiance Jon. I wasn't able to attend - I began summer tutoring with a boy who's super-excited about it! - but Andy said it was very fun and festive. And Carter had fun, also. She had part of a cupcake, and was in no mood to go to sleep when they returned home around 8'ish!
Happy Birthday, Jon!
Carter ponders what it's like to get old ... like Jon (ahh cha cha!)
"Puppy Love" on a whole 'nother level!
Carter wasn't really sure of the doggies when we first went to Andy & Rory's for dinner tonight. They welcomed her with open paws and slobbery tongues, which Carter did not like. But she soon got over her slobber-concerns and fell in love! Moda is a fan; Rinky is not ... yet! Carter will win him over soon! Just wait until she shares the Scooby Snacks she picked out with them!
Andy helps Carter pet Moda nicely ... and Moda loves it!
Moda repays the hospitality with a doggy-kiss!
This, apparently, is the face that piggy's make when they oink! Carter's just learning the oink noise with a face!
It was a lazy and loving Sunday at the Chalupa house! We slept in, cuddled and read, then ate breakfast. We played around, and then the three of us walked to the park. Carter monkied around there, and then came home for a lunch of reliable old solid food (thanks, Foot & Mouth, for going away!) and she crashed.
I love Sunday's!
Today, Andy, Rory and I went to Minnesota to retrieve Rory's "children:" two cute and loveable doggies!
We rode up squished and came back even more squished! Rory took some things to his ex Don's house and the four of us did shop St. Paul shopping, which, yes, included IKEA. I am shopping for play room items, and I purchased a little blue table and chair and an art easle with a chalkboard on one side and a white board on the other. It'll be super in Carter's toy wonderland! Andy and Rory also purchased some things, which - with two dogs and all their accessories - filled the truck!
We picked up the "kids," Mota and Rinky and I adore them! They are fantastic and they fulfill my desire to have my own dogs. The five of us packed up and headed home in a stuffed Ford truck. And, yes, as you can imagine, Stimpy "welcomed" the boys with open arms!
Hope it gets better, guys! Support TEAM DOG!
Welcome, kiddo's! Mota and Rinky
TEAM CAT: Stimpy is very receptive to his new roommates!
Earlier in the week, I took Carter to the doctor because she'd been running a fever (100.7) for over 24 hours and was generally inconsolable. He took one look at her mouth and decided she had a strand of the herpes virus, which caused a bunch of little blister-like sores in her mouth. He said we'd have to "wait it out."
Well, today she kept saying "oooowie!" and pointing to her foot. She always says "oooowie" so I didn't think much of it. She kept at it, so I checked: I found a little blister thingy. I remembered seeing something similar on a finger. I checked, and one had multiplied to three. Weird. I told Andy that I thought she had Foot and Mouth, he researched, and we're 99.4% sure that's exactly what she's got!
My guess is that she was exposed at the daycare later last week, and began displaying her own symptoms with the fever and sore mouth Monday. According to www.webmd.com, it should nearly have run its course, but is contagious through exchange of bodily fluids.
If I get Foot & Mouth, I will be mad!
Carter's aren't nearly this bad, but it still sucks!
Honestly - this girl has more fun with household crap than any toy I've ever purchased!
The "envelop hat" will be a head-turning fashion statement this summer!
A bath and a good hair-brushing does a body good! So does sitting with Daddy on the Deck!
Carter has been a grouch today! We had to pick her up early from daycare yesterday, and she's "out for 24 hours from her last fever." Our daycare, always caring!
So Carter got what she deserved: some TLC from Mommy! We slept in and then ate cinnamon-sugar toast and some Cheerio's for breakfast. We played together for awhile, then curled up for some good ol' Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
No ... no Elmo.
Totally, 100%, competely fixated on Mickey!
She loves this!
We have been working non-stop to prepare the house for showings and open houses. I'm not a patient person, so I've been utilizing every free second - which hasn't been much lately - to de-cluttering and organizing our house so it doesn't look like a complete sty for potential buyers.
I figured I'd have all this week to clean and pack up some things.
Wrong! We had our first walk-through today! They were a younger couple - like us when we moved in! - with children. They're "very interested" and she "adores the colors!" Me, too! They are leaving for vacation this evening, so who knows what will become of it. We have a Realtor open house next Wednesday, where realtors come check out the joint and share with their clients. That should create a lot of action, but it might not be necessary if these guys really want to buy!
How awesome is that?!?
Our storage unit is slowly, but surely, filling up!
Blurry, I know, but proof of our first potential buyer!
We got this less-than-stellar day care report today. Jill just wanted to let us know that Carter was hitting others with a squeeky-duck. When she took it away, our beloved Carter Kay got angry and "refused to participate" in afternoon art.
Such a temper.
Where does that come from?
She's running a little temp, but that still doesn't okay her "hitting with ducks" behavior!
And totally for real! We are officially on the market! Our realtor, Bonnie King (also my retiring Dean of Students at the middle school), came by for some final paperwork and to place a sign in our yard!
So spread the word, buy our house!
The sign is great, but the piggy-tailed baby is the cutest!
After a long day of class (I sat facing outward to the sunny free world while classmates did presentation after presentation!), we played outside for a bit and then left Carter with her favorite (at least closest) aunt and uncle so we could go to dinner with Andy and Rory and to Shrek the Third. It was a nice, baby-less night out! For once, it wasn't our kid hooting, screaming, or smelling up the joint!!
Daddy's Caddy!
Fore! I'm pretty sure Carter's suppose to like this more than Andy!
Stylin' shades on the way to Corey & Amber's
Stylin' shades on the way to Corey & Amber's!!!
Like Mommy, like daughter!
Carter and I monkey up the stairs!
Monkey see, monkey do!
If I recall accurately (and trust me, I do!), I was told by my loving, adoring husband that I was not to buy anything until we moved. What I wanted for the new house could be purchased after the move, and I didn't need to buy anything now that would require us moving additional "crap."
So explain to me how this theater room projector arrived on my doorstep, addressed to Mr. Andrew Chalupa?!?
Imagine that - Carter loves playing in the box! Just like the cat box at Poppy & Gramma's house!
Where's Carter???
She looks so amazed with the corner of that box!
"Hey you guys! What's up?!"
