After a shining dentist appointment today, Carter got a treat: a cow tattoo. Let's hope this is her one and only tat!
Wouldn't it be cool if her belly button moo'ed?!?
January 2008 Archives
The big news at school today was:
Two brothers have been arrested and charged in connection with a fire that was started in the administrative office of Johnston Middle School, police said. Police arrested Hezekiah Smith, 14, of Johnston, who was charged with second degree arson and second degree burglary. His brother, Joseph Smith, 16, also of Johnston, was charged with interference. Officials said the two allegedly broke out the window to the principal’s office about 2 a.m. on the east side of the school and started the fire inside. Paper documents and files were found in a large pile in the middle of the floor where the fire had been started. Fire officials said the fire was contained to the one office and was extinguished quickly. Police say Hezekiah was a former student of Johnston Middle School and he is currently being held in a Polk County juvenile detention center awaiting his initial court appearance. Joseph was taken to the Johnston Police Department where he was cited and released. Police arrested the two in a Johnston residence at 2 p.m. Sunday. The exact damage estimate on the fire has not yet been determined and the fire remains under investigation.
-- Des Moines Register
It's the strangest feeling not knowing why something happened, and it was odd at school today. The fire-starters weren't my students (now or in the past), but all of my kids knew them. They wanted to know why he did it and what would happen to him. All answers I don't know. I don't understand what in the world would push a young child to something like this. It's an unsettling, awful feeling.
Sometimes, all you need is a nice, snuggly-warm bed, a good book, and someone to love you!
I <3 these two!!
Days like today are the best!
We got together for Game Night this evening, and even the babies (who aren't babies anymore!) got into the swing!
We had a yummy chili supper (complete with PB&J for Rory, carrots for Andy, and school-lunch cinnamon rolls for Andy), talked and caught up. Carter and Isaac ran around the house for awhile, then settled into the Dora puzzle, then Play Dough, which Andy 2 liked nearly as much as the kids! When the bambino's went to sleep, we played Sequence, aka "Bingo with Profanity" and Phase 10, aka "I Hate This Stupid Game!"
Game Night is the BEST!
Isaac tries to puzzle, while Carter vies for his attention!
Play Dough. Andy 2 was totally into the Play Dough, taking some from Carter and Isaac!
Like mother, like daughter!
Great ... the attitude's my fault!!!
It's cute that she's as into puzzles as she is. Lining up pieces, finding matching parts, putting it all together. Such a great problem solver! It's totally cute that she tried to get out of picking up by being cute! So sweet!
Sweetness in a box! When she saw this, she actually said, "Looooook at me!! I'm being cuuuute!!!"
January 23, 2008: we've reached another milestone in our little life! Today was Carter's first full day of being totally dry and using the potty! YEAH!
That's our girl!!!
Educational fact: girls are generally prefer artistic and linguistic tasks, while boys prefer math-based and problem-solving tasks.
Carter must be the exception. She loves to sing and dance, but also loves puzzles!
This is why she's a smarty!
So, this morning, after a dusting of new snow and blowing of old, I departed for work. With my breakfast muffin in one hand, I pulled out, not thinking of the looming snow bank in the drive way. I realized the drift too late: I was lodged in our driveway. With heels and a wind chill of -12, I tried to scoop myself out. With no luck. Andy came back home to save the day! My prince charming!
I am SO OVER winter!
All odd-humor aside, she really does have a level head! Ahh cha cha!
Our level-headed sweetness
I've been a Y member for 6 years now (I know, you can totally tell I work out, right?!), and today they had their annual membership party. This year it was a carnival, complete with bounce houses! Andy, Andy, Rory, Carter and I went to play, and we lasted for about twenty minutes. Carter was bouncing in the bounce house - another mom behind us actually commented before we got in: "I'm glad that he'll be jumping with other little children." (the boy in front of us was about 3, and he was smaller than Carter) - and smacked heads with one of the other two jumpers. The other boy was fine, but you'd have thought he'd murdered Carter's family! I was the only adult to have to go into the bounce house to get her! We hugged and loved, but the only calming thing was that popcorn! Can you blame her?!? After she'd calmed down, we got a butterfly and then went for Chinese (my new favorite: HONEY CHICKEN! So good!)
Popcorn! Yummmy!
Even with a butterfly, Carter was still quite annoyed by the whole adventure. Only Jell-O squares and Andy 2's ice cream at the Chinese place made her happy!
For the past three days, Carter has peed or pooped at the daycare, in the BIG POTTY, at least once! Her reward is a treat at school (a Skittle or M&M; she prefers the yellow ones and is bummed that they're all gone now!) and a show at home. Today's treat: snuggling in mommy and daddy's bed to watch Curious George!
Today, potty treats. Tomorrow, pull up's!!
Eventually Cars-spetti will get to be a cleaner meal ... right??
Naked sketti night! Nothing's better!
Carter sings the blues! Okay ... not the blues, but just about everything else! And she's oh so sweet!
I'm sure you'll be surprised to know that our favorite red-headed smarty has a great memory! Among 50 matching bus, she could find pairs right side up, and she could find pairs from about a dozen cards upside, like traditional Memory!
So smart!
"Bug right THERE!"
Thoughtful concentration, with the Chalupa tongue!
Today, as I went into the daycare to pick up Carter, another two's parent said, "I really liked Carter's mustache!" and giggled. I figured milk, maybe marker. No, I entered to this face: a kitty! So, we dug around at home to spice up her feline face!
From purrr to pirate!
While I made supper, this ruckus was going on in my living room!
Carter and Andy played the Elmo game, and picked out colors and items .. and yelled and played! This is what makes my day!
We started with paint, and ended with marker, with a little messy added along the way! Always good times!
"Paintin' the sun, Mommy!"
Yellow is the color of happy!
Such intense concentration!
"I all done!"
This evening, Carter and I made suppie ("hot gogs" and greeny beanies, of course!), then sat down for some super-fun V Smart "Button" game time! Woo hoo!
Cheese!
Hitting buttons and learning to spell! Who knew video games could be so great?!
Day by day, we grow more alike!
Hands on hips, disgruntled face, that's all Mommy!
It's back! We've found the time, and extra money, to start Triad Gymnastics again! YEAH! We've talked about it for days, and Carter was very excited. We played on the obstacle course, fumbled the cartwheels, jumped, ran, balanced and played! It was so great, she didn't want to leave. But the promise to chicken nuggets provided to be too much to resist.
Our gymnast, who may be color blind - check out those hot socks! Thanks, Daddy!
Green eggs and ham references, bear hugs and loves, silly chatter ... this is what Carter does to avoid sleeping!
What better way to start a relaxed Sunday morning that by dressing up?!?
"Look mommy, I a princess!"
Angel baby, on her tippy-toes, ready to run, with that wild look in her eyes. Irony at it's best!
Not-so-Baby Bee
How Playboy Bunnies get their start???
Grrr!
In case you missed it, we are not a "calm" home. There are gymnastic sessions, movie dates, classes, work, all sorts of things going on all of the time around here.
So, why should our home be any different?!
The playroom needed a little zesting up ... and I think it was certainly accomplished today!
Before: nice, but blah!
With my yellow-pink-purple inspiration and Kelsey's circular precision, we polky'ed it up!
Our final project: a playroom fit for my princess! The magnet board fills in that icky blank rectangular area, and her princess chair will fill the corner.
LOVE IT! Thanks Kelsey!
After four sittings and attempts, Daddy and Carter finally got Dora put back together!
Carter, the puzzle junkie!
Tired of boring old "hot gogs" and grapes, we ventured out on a limb and tried Spaghetti O's again (used to love 'em, got tired of 'em, hated 'em). WHAT a delicious MESS!
"SKETTY, Mommy! SKETTY!"
Carter and Daddy played puzzles and horsey. She was wound, and he was exhausted!
There's nothing cuter than a Daddy and his daughter!
Happy, Quaky New Year's!
Ducks all-around! From the Lucky Ducky's game to this Lucky Ducky!
