February 2008 Archives

After a long week, we're back to "normal."

"Normal" being yelling at the table, running around with just a toppy, pull-up and red heals, and making "hoink, hoink" noises and a pig-nose!

At 7am, Carter was back to 98.9 degrees, and a normal 98.7 by 10am.  We got groceries - little known fact: according to Carter, jelly beans are okay for lunch! - and played.  She's still a little moody (she's hollering about her clippy's right now!), but mostly we're good to go!

Take care, be healthy, and for heavens sakes, wash, wash, wash your hands!  The flu stinks!!

Happy & Healthy, eating fruit and the cheese from her grilled cheese sandwich!

This morning (at 3:30am, to be exact!), Carter was up for the second time.  First, at 1:30, she woke up screaming.  I checked on her, and she was completely elseep and competely terrified.  There were, and this is a direct quote, "butterflies in my eyes."  I got up, had drink, snuggled, and tried to get her back to sleep.  She finally fell asleep around 2am.  Again, this whole episode repeated itself at 3:15am.  Andy checked on her, and her heart was racing, and she was very hot.  We threw on clothes and headed to Blank Park Children's ER.  Good times.

Turns out, it's just the flu.  Just the flu!  For every degree the body's temperature rises, the heart increases 20 beats per minute.  Carter was about 102 when the took her temperature.  That's an additional 80 beats per minute for an already quick heart beat (I think it ties back to the tracheamalasia, which is way better, for the record!).  We were back home by 5:30am; Andy dropped us off at home.  Carter and I snuggled, and Andy got medicine.

So, until she's better, it's a job to keep up with work and the Sick Beast.  For a few days, it's Clifford and Say What? and plenty of fluids and TLC.  Next time we post, hopefully we'll be feeling better!

ICE SKATING was today's TRIAD!

Much like her mother, Carter obsesses over the things she's really excited about (did I mention that they probably played the song you're listening to right now at the piano bar last week?!?).  I told her that we could go ice skating today sometime later in the week.  Every day, she's mentioned it.  This weekend, it worsened.  She would say something - "I go ice skating!" "I skate like penguins!" "I excited for ice skating!" - about ice skating just about every 20 minutes!  Seriously!  It was the first thing she mentioned upon waking, the last whisper before going to sleep and every other thought through they day.

After nap, WE WENT ICE SKATING!

Carter did a pretty good job, considering she's only been walking for a year or so!  She pooped us out, having to hold onto her lap after lap.  Lessons begin March 3rd, Monday's at 6pm ... mmmmm .... 

Introducing: CARTER KWAN, the next Olympic hopeful!

This is what Carter loves/killed Andy and I: hunched over laps on the ice!  But the giggle and "I skating!!" made it worth the hunchback!

Chalupa's on Ice!

Maybe not so Olympic yet!  But we'll master that triple sow-cow soon enough!

Mommy and Carter, milliseconds away from a wipe out!

After countless (and pitiful!) losses, my record is now 2 for 2!  I have WON the last 2 Phase 10 games we've played!

Take that, sucka's!

My wonderfully played Phase 10!  Winner!
Andy 2 was not a graceful loser!

I put Carter down for her nap around 12:30, and I figured by 1:00 it was safe to go put her laundry away.  I heard a little noise, and didn't see her in bed when I first entered.  I figured she ducked out of bed and headed to play in the closet.  

Wrong! 

Upon further investigation, I found a foot ...

... attached to one sweet little body and an adorable sleepy-head!

Andy played poker with the boys (and lost, again!), and Rory is in Colorado visiting family.  So that left us Gingers, making fun for ourselves! 

Andy, Carter and I had dinner at BK.  It was mass hysteria!  I'm glad Carter's a girl!  Boys, at least the boys at Burger King, we naughty, loud and annoying!  Carter didn't mind - she had a ball wondering through tubes and running.  We ate supper, she left a smelly surprise odor for friends, and then we retired to Andy's for some American Idol.  I've never been a fan, but I think I'm a believer - or at least an avid viewer! - this season! 

Peek-A-Boo!

She's the QUEEN, and she KNOWS it!

I can't even begin to count the number of times that I say, "GET YOUR HOOD DOWN!" at school.  They sneak iPods and cell phones and it's a sign of disrespect.  But, you can't say no to this little HOODlum!

Don't kid yourself: she's about two years from a cell phone, iPod, and credit card!!

What a shame: Carter hasn't gotten to make a snowman (cause it's never about 5 degrees outside, and there's always "blizzard-like" winds!).  So Andy, being the Daddy of the Year that he is, made one for her while she watched from the kitchen!

BBBbbbrrr!

Yes, our snowman has green golf-ball eyes and trim for arms!  

When we first enrolled Carter in Triad, I dreamed of seeing her one day up on the beams, flipping across the mats, and dancing so gracefully.  I watch the big girls practice, and I think "that's going to be Carter one day."

I didn't ever intend to become "that mom."  You know, the one with the button, who's a complete freak about double front rolls (their SOMERSAULTS for crying out loud!) and 360 degree aerial spins.

Today, I took the first step down that path.  I have a button.  I'm that mom.  It proudly displays this picture, and I pinned it to my purse.  It's adorable, and I've gotten many sweet comments about our little tumbler.  But, it doesn't look good for my future!!

She is one cute little Wiggle Bug!!

With the weather raging and blowing outside, we played indoors today.

Andy read, I watched Dr. Phil, and Carter played dress up.

Sunday's are great! 

Our little Cheeser!!  

Wednesday was Mackenzie's 25th birthday (technically, this is her third 25th birthday!!), and we celebrated with style tonight!

We got all dolled up for a night at the Grand Piano Bistro in the East Village.  We had so much fun!  It's the best place ever!  The food was delicious, the drinks were great (all except that Little Debbie treat - no good!), and I couldn't have asked for better company!

Happy birthday, Kenz!  We LOVE you!! 

My super-cute and exceptionally wonderful besties!

The most wonderful girls in the world, all prettied up!

All set for our nite out!  While we headed to the piano bar, Carter had a date with her favorite men!

Simple and sophisticated!  The dualing piano's were lit up by leg lights like the Old Man's from The Christmas Story.  We sang along to everything, from Elton John and Neil Diamond, to the Iowa Beer Song, to Coolio!  So much fun!!!
http://www.thegrandpianobistro.com/joomla/

Hot mama's!

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

She may not always be sweet (like right now!),

But Carter loves you! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

LOVE YOU!!

Sometimes, I don't know what to say.  This is one of those times.

This is all I need for Valentine's Day.  This is what I love.

In case you didn't know (hint, hint) Valentine's day is three days away (I like shiny, silver things).  We put our Valentine's together this evening.  And we had some giggles while doing it! 

I'm sure you can hear her little squeal:  EEEEEE!

Didn't your mother ever tell you that if you made a face like that it'd stick?!?

Saturday, Grant and Collin Bumsted turned 2!  It's 2 x2!  Can you believe everyone is a toddler now?!?  Crazy!

We weren't able to stay for the party, and we forgot our gifts (we aren't always this useless, really!), but we did bum some tasty lunch and friend time with our favorite family!

Happy birthday, guys!  Hope 2 is as much fun as 1!

We love ya!
Love ~ Andy, Kelly & Carter Kay

A lovely lunch gone messy!  Corn and sloppy joes ... they never had a chance!

The Triad of Trouble
Have you ever tried to get toddlers to sit still?!  I have a new-found appreciation for Mackenzie and photographers of the world!

Courtney came to Grandma and Granpa's while we were visiting.  Talk about a crazy house full of Chalupa's!

Do you see the Chalupa-naughty?!?

Andy-horse with a couple cute riders!

Mark it down in some record book: I won Phase 10 this evening!  Last time we played with Rory and Andy, I was stuck on phase 3 (out of 10 phases) for 7 rounds!  In the past, I've been skipped for my "bad attitude" and "just because."  But tonight, I rocked!  I drew wilds, and I effectively lied, and I won!  It was super!  

Phase 10 sucks unless you win!  Now I've got some momentum, and I'm in it to win it!  Bring it on, suckers!!

I know Carter's grown up. It's a sad but true fact.  But when did she get a job?

Shhh ... she's busy.  I think she's doing our taxes.

Woo hoo!  Today's the start of Survivor: Micronesia, season 79,163 or something.

This ranks right up there with Christmas in our circle!

Fans vs. Favorites. 
How do YOU feel about the vote?!?

Remember ... way back when ... I always wanted it to snow so badly?  

Well ... I don't anymore.  It can stop.  I'm done.  No more snow. 

Andy and Carter take a spin on the saucer

Popsicle-Baby!

Carter played ... 

while Andy and I shoveled ... and nearly keeled over!  While digging out the 10 inches of snow we got + the additional 4 - 6 inches delightful Snow Plow Willy dumped in the drive, Andy needed a rest!  Snow sucks!

Here comes the snow!  Tuesday, by 6pm, we had about two inches within an hour!  Go get milk and bread!  It sounds bad!  

Take a cue from cute: bundle up and stay warm!

On the eve of the upcoming storm, think spring and flowers and WARM!

STAY WARM and FLOWERY!

Andy and Rory brought Carter home this morning, and we a big ol' breakfast!  It's funny - you think you want a free afternoon.  All the things you can accomplish, get caught up on, take care of.  But then when you have it, you wonder what she's doing, where she's at, and if she's smiling that smile.  It was a strange evening without Carter, and we were happy to have her home!

While Andy and Rory fixed his laptop and phone, Andy, Carter and I played "Don't Break the Ice," "Candy Land," and "Cribbage."  I lost them all.  

Carter fought the nap.  Surprise, surprise!

But her afternoon was full of giggles, books, smiles, toys, potty-treats and lovin! 

"Don't Break the Ice" ... or Andy, for that matter!

Desperately searching for anything to do, other than nap!

Bear, Carter and Angel-Bear, her extended family!

Tonight, Andy and I went to my school's holiday party ("Christmas" changed to "Valentine's Day"!), and Carter went to Knoxville with Andy, Rory, Rinky and Moda.  And after, they had a slumber party!  Everyone had a ball!

Carter came home with leg warmers and arm bands, very "Footloose!"  And she was even tagged!  Now that's babysitting with style!!  Thanks, guys!!

Carter, circa 1982 and Olivia Newton John          Tagged baby, in case we forget who she is!

Tonight, while Daddy played poker, Carter and I had our own fun at Recess!  We ran, we played, and we giggled!  

Weeeeeeeee!

"Come chase me!" 
No problem!

Cheeser!

She was dying to ride the helicopter, but looked less-then-thrilled to be on it

We rocked Ski-Ball!  Note: the orange ball, way in the air, not gently rolled on the ramp!

Girl's Night!

Our "babies"!