We've found and adopted our new park. We have to drive - we didn't at the old house, but the new park is bigger and has a pond with a "mountain" (aka - a fountain!) and ducks!
Running across the paths like a park-pro!
"SLIIIIDE, Mommy!"
Daddy and Carter brave the swinging platforms! Doesn't it kinda look like a Survivor challenge??
She knows no fear!
Weee!
The park is always fun!
Big girl foods, big girl sandals, big girl piggies .. now her big girl bed!
It is true: they do grow up too fast!
Carter helps!
She's not much of a "help," but she's too sweet to say no to!
.. maybe she could just push it up the steps!
Enjoying the fruits of their labor!
She loves her big girl bed!
LOVE IT! But the true question is: WILL SHE STAY IN IT???
UPDATE: we laid her down at 8:15 Saturday evening, and when we checked on her at 8:30, she was out - in the same spot we put her in! Sunday morning, around 8:15, we heard "KNOCK! KNOCK!" and "MOMMY? DADDY?" and we knew she was out and ready to get up!
Forget about eating with a spoon! Why didn't we teach her this months ago?!?
This is awesome!
... and she actually likes doing it!
At our last IKEA trip, I found a cute bean-bag shell, shaped like a beaver! We finally sat down to stuff him and play with him.
Carter and I took apart a pillow and stuffed handfuls of cotton into our stuffed friend. She had a ball (cotton ball! Ahh cha cha!) helping and totally loves our final project!
How cute is this?!?
Cannon-ball on the beaver!
The look of sheer naughtiness!
1 .. 2 .. 3 .. JUMP!
Dearest Isaac,
My mommy bought me socks - lots of socks - today, and I couldn't help but think of you! I hope you're doing well and still loving socks!
Love,
Carter Kay
She loves her red socks!
SOCKIES!!!
.. they stick together!
Carter and Sammy, having suppie
Carter gets the left-overs???
I love Halloween!!
Pretty in peacock-purple!
I don't know what's up:
A change in the weather
Adjustment to the new house/enviroment
It being Tuesday
I don't know what the root of the problem is, but Carter was a beast this afternoon!
I do know I'd sell her for $5 to any taker!
A fit near the island ..
.. and a fit int he dining room
I don't know what makes me happier:
Knowing that she knows her alphabet and numbers or
Hearing her sweet, smart little voice sing them both!
A genius at work!
After much begging and pleading, well, more like the promise of home-made baked beans, we convinced Andy and Rory to come over to help us hang some things. I wanted my pictures and shelves hung .. but I'm good with the microwave being up instead!
Andy and Rory center and install the mounting bracket ..
.. while Lazy Andy and I watched TV!
It was great not having to help!!!
Tonight we found the bath toys and took a fun bath in the new tub!
.. in the box of toys, we found the bath tub paint .. aka "Carter Paint"
She looks like one of the Hunters from Lord of the Flies!
"Ohh! Loook!" She'd puff out her tummy to see it, looking like a bloated piglet!
"L'ellow!"
Our beautifully decorated baby
"Kisses!"
Carter vs. the filing cabinet at the day care. Carter = 0, Cabinet = 1.
It's been a hectic week, but Carter's settling in and getting used to the place. She is still hollering and carrying on like a man-child at supper time, but (I'm hoping) that will go away soon.
She clomps through the hallways with my big shoes!
She likes to haul her little stool everywhere - here, she "washes hanny's" at the sink!
Little by little, it's beginning to feel like home.
It's us now.
Carter's fu-fu, frilly room
Her bathroom, and the office loft
Our cozy bedroom retreat
Our bathroom - our super-cool shower curtain and the monster-tub
Carter's ultra-organized playroom!
The living room, and our new comfy chairs and loveseat! Now .. if we only had cable ..
The cozy nook and the dining room area
Our big and totally unpacked kitchen! Woo hoo!
The "Elphaba" Wing of the house - the bathroom and laundry
While we were moving, we left the garage doors and both front and back doors open to move in and out with boxes.
It allowed us to come and go easily. It also allowed the flies to come, and not go, easily, too.
And Carter has been screaming, wailing and crying over these stupid flies! She hollers, "BUTTER-BYE's!" and flips out. She is genuinely terrified of these pesky little buggers.
So, while at Casey's on a pop-run, I came across this schnazzy FlyShooter. It's like an old-fashioned pop gun, but it shoots this super-fast fly-swatter looking disk thing, and it squashed flies, leaving no messy fly guts!
So FlyShooting is now our new favorite hobby! Carter will yell and point, and Andy or I will get our shooter and kill us a fly .. or two .. or about three dozen!
THE BEST $4.00 I'VE EVER SPENT!!
Today, Sammy transitioned to the new house!
He wailed and howled in the car ride over, and bolted upstairs to a familiar bed. He stayed under our old bed, in the guest room, from 10am until about 5pm. He emerged to the upstairs hallway, and got half-way down the steps. When Carter approached and giggled, he bolted! Andy took him on a potty break around 9pm.
Hopefully, all goes well! So far, so good!
Wild Cat on the prowl!
Monday, Courtney Clara - our favorite (and only!) niece/crazy/cousin - turns one!
Her birthday party was this afternoon, so we took a much-need and enjoyed break to go visit and celebrate!
It was babies-galore! Courtney seemed to have fun, but a couple of tricky candles nearly had her out of wind! She received some cute gifts, and she was already figuring out and enjoying our home-made match game with Omaha Zoo animals from our summer trip!
Happy birthday, Sweet Girl! We hope you have a wonderful birthday! And we hope your next 365 days are as exciting and fun-filled as the past 365 have been!
We love ya!
Balloons! Balloons!
"Crazies" Courtney and Carter, both Terrible 2's now!
Courtney blows the candles on her Dora cake out! Again and again!
Carter found Baby Alex's carrier and helped herself to cozy!
Uncle Kevin - the uncle Carter most resembles at this point! - spins and winds her all up! Birds of a feather stick together, I guess!
A little curly piggy-topped birthday girl peeks out over a curly birthday ribbon from Carter Kay!
Don't you wish everything made you half as happy as our gift for Courtney does?? I don't think she even really knew what it was at this point, but she loves it!
Babies of all sizes pitch in to help unwrap and celebrate with Courtney!
HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, CRAZY! WE LOVE YA!!
Things That Suck:
Getting up in the new house (that didn't suck) and realizing it was 59 degrees (that sucked!) and cold! The tile was not pleasant to warm, sleepy toes!
Sweeping construction dust, for about the eighty-fifth time! Boo!
The U-Haul, with it's short-person doorway. And the new hitch on the truck, that stuck out about a mile and a half. We had a few unpleasant meetings through the day.
The "Butter-byes" (house flies) that pestered, perturbed, and terrified Carter all day! She would literally stop and scream and tear-up at the sight of one!
Box after box after box! They seemed to never stop!
The unloading of the box after box after box! I know it's a big house, but goodness, do we really need all these "treasures"?!?
Not having cable! I am distraught and angry over having no cable!
One thing that rocked my sox was the Baked Oatmeal Andy and Rory made! YUM! So good! It was a highlight of my day! Thanks, boys!
The house is beautiful and wonderful, despite having a couple things for Chad (our builder) to revisit. Really, despite it sucking to move, the transition went very smoothly. Carter's settling in, and we are functionally living - we're able to eat and sleep and we have plenty to do in unpacking!
And we couldn't have asked for better help in moving! Linda hauled boxes like a champ, Andy and Rory spent "an hour packing crap" that we didn't (yeah, sorry about that!!!), Kelsey was the go-to girl: "tell me what to do!" and Mackenzie can clean windows and talk sassy with the best of them! We'd still be lugging boxes, and probably screaming at one another, if we hadn't had such great help! Thank you SO VERY MUCH, guys!
When we're all settled in, everyone is coming over for dinner! So be hungry .. soon!
Let the moving begin!
Even Carter got to help! And she was actually helpful!
Yeah, let's move her, too!
Our final family photo at the "old house"
Kelsey and Rory and Andy lug the freezer to the garage while Linda come for load #782,497,446! Not that any of us were counting by this point!
Is this really necessary?!?
Once the stuff was here, the put together, install and unpacking began .. and continues!
Maybe it's because there isn't much around. Maybe it's because it's magical. But whatever it is, this place has the most beautiful sunrises!
.. maybe it's so beautiful because I rarely see it!
The warm pond made the chilly air foggy and mystically awesome! We got frost!
Home Sweet Home
She's not a sunrise, but she's definitely our sunshine!
This is what I came home to Friday afternoon!
God bless Two Men and a Truck!
These guys are my favorite people right now!!
Grandma Linda came up to help watch Carter and do house things. Together, they played until 10:30pm!
A final look at our first home. The home we were married in, and the home we brought our baby home to. The "house" that we made "home" by filling it with love, silliness, and smiles.
Good bye, 1610 NW 9th Street. We hope you make the next owners as happy as you did us!
Carter's empty room
And our empty room
A half-packed kitchen, complete with a confused toddler!
The office - we came in using the computer on the floor, and we'll be going out using the floor, too!
The living room - cords, cords, cords!
Carter, and Beear, say good-bye
Carter's never really been "attached" to any particular toy. Her meany-mommy has packed most of her toys, so she's left with her scruffy old Pooh Bear.
Which she loves!
"Sit down," she told Beeear. He's so compliant
"I love you, too!" She affectionately told him
Beeear hugs and kisses
When you've resorted to playing with pillow cases, it's really time to get moved!
Carter?
CARTER?!?
Hi Cheeser-Baby!
He might act like he hates her, but deep down, Sammy really loves Carter!
Kitty kisses
Smile, Gingers!
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I guess it depends on how you look at it, this will probably be the last "update"
With packing and moving, important family things, and it being homecoming week at school, it will be a crazy-hectic week! It'll be Friday, the start of the move, before we know it!
So here is what's been completed up to this point. We'll play the week by ear, but we'll have tons of moving photos. Promise!
My "Elphaba" bathroom. It looks "scary" green, but it's really not! It's actually quite fantastic in person! Come see!
Today, we got carpet. Lots of carpet!
And Carter and I ran and ran! It was great! I taught her the "course" around the pantry and hall closets and she loves it!
Note: that Frankenstein-looking guy in the cozy is Andy, still hurting from his pulled muscle Saturday.
Carter is super-excited over all this house business!!
Two weeks ago, I loved the pink-and-purple walls. A week ago I loved the trim and closet, and this week I LOVE it all put together with the carpet! And I LOVE, LOVE Carter, in her "corner!"
Her very own bathroom! No sharing! It really is "Mine! Mine! Mine!"
The fam, ready to "rock and roll" and make it our home, not just a pretty house
You can't beat these sunsets!!
While Andy decided on tiling for the basement bathroom, Carter and I played dress-up.
We love dress up!
Grrrr, baby!
Batty Baby!
Ahoy Baby!
Next week is Spirit Week, so in preparation, I was gathering "supplies" and "props" for our daily themed days. I was trying on my costume for Thursday, and choosing items for Wednesday's Crazy Day, but I needed some help ..
She'd make sure a firecrack flapper girl! I also plan to wear the gold scarf as a head band, with my blue eyeshadow! I'm betting she works it better than me!
Ready to sign autographs!
Carter works her struts and poses!
Her 2-going-on-16 pose and her Smoochies! pose
Seriously, what beats food, friends and Poker?!? NOTHING!
Andy and Rory came over for dinner (the Enchilada Soup with Avocado was yummy!) and shared vacation stories while we all got caught up. Andy showed Carter some fun new tricks that are loud and provoking, and after she went to bed, we played Poker. Andy and Rory are newbies (not that I'm a pro, by any means!), but Andy still managed to win two of the three games we played.
Next time, it's for Purl!
WINNER!
You got to know when to hold 'em ..
Rory was first out, followed quickly by me, so he became our dealer, flopping a stunning hand of 3, 6, 6
I did not win. Ever. I am a Poker loser.
Define "normal" for me, please?
I'm pretty sure our happy home does not fit that criteria!
Carter loves my red heels so much that I found her her own pair. You can just tell she's going to be a cute little diva when she's a teen!
At Target, Carter wanted "tandy," but I convinced her that these Halloween teeth would be more fun! They were, at least or Andy and I!
.. but, tonight, we had to pick out more lights!
Had you asked me three months ago what I was most excited for, I'd have told you to pick out things - like paint colors, carpet and lights.
Now, I'm so tired of choosing! Just grab some boxes and let's go!
TOO MANY CHOICES!!
Carter did much better than Andy and I - we are in lighting overload!
Part of our 8th grade curriculum includes team-building and citizenship skills. To give the kids a chance to bond and form friendships outside of their usual circle, we take everyone to Boone's YMCA Leadership Camp for the day. We leave civilization at 8:30am and return around 10pm. They work hard and are tired the next day (which is super for us!)
The downgrade: we had to hike these 145 steps up the hill and then continue on the 45-degree inclined-path for a quarter of a mile. Then we all had to get back down! No good!
The view from the top! I'd love for Carter to have an educational opportunity like this some day! It was very cool!
Sammy might not like it, but Carter loves petting and playing with him!
So far, so good ..
.. until he starts to love up to her .. then it's game over!
Mommy, Carter and Mr. Bear
Busy, busy, busy those Wick crewmen are!
The pantry shelves are up, and it's trimmed out
We have a door (leading downstairs) that looks awesome in the kitchen!!
I swear .. she becomes more like Uncle Kevin daily! (HEAVEN HELP US!!)
The front door has been trimmed
Carter has a vanity in her bathroom
And she has shelves and doors to her closet! "Mommy! Daddy! Looooooky!"
Our closet has shelves, and, yes, we've established boundaries. Andy's section is the 1/2 bar on the left, and mine are the two full bars to the right!
We have a monstrous vanity and mirrors, and we'll pick out lights Wednesday evening. The countertops and tile floor are super fantastic!
Carter's playroom has also been trimmed - it makes the great paint color look fabulous!
Carpet shopping .. just another thing we don't see eye to eye on!
I liked the shag-like, mulit-colored thread types (like the ones Carter's playing with), and Andy likes the inexpensive type!
"Loooook!"
"Heafy!"
So we narrowed it down to these four (in front of Andy), but I'm going to keeping you guessing and make you wait to see it (mostly because I'm not totally sure on what we ended up with!)
"Bas-set!"
Chalupa Sandwich!
So, grand total, we spent a butt-load today on appliances and furniture .. but literally came home with a nickel. The nickel I gave Carter at the Cazador to keep her from screaming.
Povery sucks, but our appliances and furniture are awesome!
We peruse the fridge section Carter chooses this gas range!
We ended up with this stove - it has a warmer and a melting feature (FYI: our current stove has a "melter" feature .. ME!) We also went with this fridge, but in the stainless steel. I can't wait for crushed ice! Woo hoo!
After two hours at Sears, we went to the furniture store, American, to purchase our living room furniture. After much debacle and debate, we went with one love seat (that will share a wall with the cozy's window) and two chairs (that will flank the window). Andy hates the pillows. Crazy!
We went to the house to check out my (exquisite!!) paint jobs. The laundry room needs some ceiling touch up (like always) and so will Carter's room. She loved her pink and purple paradise! And the step ladder - naughty!
Our game plan this morning: play, play, play, wear her out (good luck!!), lunch, nap, and go buy appliances and furniture. She'll love that ..
No wonder she's a Cheesy-Chatterbox - look at that trap!
CHEEESER!
It's Cap Fingers! Did you notice what colors she picked?? Daddy was so proud!
She's all over this microphone thingy! She likes to count and do her ABC's (well, the Q,R, S, T, U, V, Z part!) in it
What a cutie-patootie!
Hattie's for everyone!
Andy called me a "yuppie" because I pitched such a fit over our paint, or lack thereof.
It's not "yuppie." It's our dream house, what we've been working for years towards, and I want every part of it to be perfect.
And this is making progress!
This is a little girl's room! I painted three walls pink and the remaining wall purple, and it'll look beyond adorable with some flower stamps after we've got our furniture in place!
How's that for "Granny Apple?" I call it "Perfect Green!!" The yellow ("Torch Light") goes through the kitchen, dinette, and cozy, and this fabulous green will go in this room (the laundry) and the adjacent bathroom. Did you notice that sunset back there???
This is worth it all - look at that sunset! No street lights, no honking horns, just a few Chalupa's
And I never wanted nothin' more ..
Carter and I spent some quality time at the park, after a Target run for Jelly Bean's (and some other junk). What a perfect afternoon!
We put on our silly shoes, and danced in the car! Boogy, boogy!
It's a Diggery-Baby!
Such a Big Girl, climbing the big stairs!
Stairs are one thing, but it always blows my mind that she can climb the walls and stuff like this
HI!
Jelly Bean time! YEAH!
"Rock and Roll" doesn't even cover what these guys have done!
It looks like a house!
They tiled the bathrooms (this one will be "Granny Apple" shortly!) and hung the cabinets in the laundry
The kitchen is nearly done, except our appliances (we'll tackle that Sunday!) The paint and electrical are done in the living room
Paint and electrical in our room: DONE! And the paint and tiling in our bathroom is also complete!
It's been a crazy week around here. House stuff, school resuming, everything's been off schedule! Unfortunately, that means our Carter updates haven't been up to par.
So, for those of you going into shock from withdrawl, my weekend goal is to provide you a Carter over-dose!
Enjoy your addiction! We certainly do!!
After we'd all gotten up this morning, we did some cleaning. Carter and I put away the cooler from her birthday party .. finally!
Then we played dress - well, sorta. She refused to wear clothes, opting instead for her "hattie" and wings!
You know she knows that she's too cute!
"Butter-By!"