October 2008 Archives

It's Harvest Week, y'all (cause when it was "Halloween Week" years ago, that scarred us.  Now it's all PC and friendly for all ... ).  Like everything else, we went head over heels and had fun participating this week!



Day 1: Crazy hair day!  That was fun getting out in the bath!



Day 2:  Farmer day.  I like the pink socks accenting the flannel!



Day 3:  Hero day.  Carter's hero: Shawn Johnson!  (again with the pink socks!!!)



Wrapping it up: Costume day.  WallE wasn't really practical (A. she couldn't sit, B. she couldn't walk, C. she couldn't pee ... it was just all around not a good idea!).  So she picked this sparkley number out of her dress up inventory.  It's my favorite!

Tonight was begger's night in town.  We only hit our small, quaint little neighborhood, which was good, since our little Begger had a hard time walking in her costume.  Prepare for the big costume unveil . . . . .



Carter's WallE, the Pixar robot!  My first home-made costume, complete with WallE arms and mask (that, yes, we bought!) looks pretty good!  She loved it!



W A L L E !



The real WallE - pretty cute, huh?!



WallE (aka Carter) and I before heading out this evening



Along the way, we picked up Elisa, our neighbor friend.  Melinda, her mom, wasn't feeling well and we thought it would be awful to miss Trick or Treating, so we nabbed us a kitty!



Along the way we crossed paths with Super-Man (aka Zane, another neighborhood pal).  This Super-Man's kryptonit is lolly's - note the handful he scored at Steve & Tracy's!



While Super-Man searched for lolly's and other tasty treats, Elisa and Carter played with Izzy the tiny black puppy (Daddy - Carter wants a puppy!  And so do I!).  The girls loved her, but poor little Izzy was a bit afraid!  Can you blame her?!?

Halloween fever's hit Ankeny!  Tonight was dress-up day at dance.  Carter's got a top-secret costume that's kinda boxy and hard to really maneuver in, so our "back up costume" for dance was a princess (shocked?!?).  Is it any surprise that there were a few princesses!  Our class favorite was the witch!

After dance we zoomed on our broomsticks straight to Creepy Capers, a city-hosted treats and games event.  Carter played "GHOST," a Halloween version of BINGO, ball toss (only with candy), got a tattoo, decorated a cookie and took a spooky trail walk. 

To wrap it all up, Kelly, Shawn, Andy, Rory and Neal came over for Thursday night Survivor, Rory made a delicious dinner and KELLY was sent home!  It really was a perfect evening!




Our Encore dance friends!  How CUTE are these girls?!  I love the witch!



Creepy Capers!  Ooga-booga!



At Creepy Capers, Carter was excited about GHOST (aka BINGO) and she did a super job without any help from me!  So big!



Pin the NOSE on the PUNKIN!  Cute!



Carter's very messy cookie!  It was a horrible idea to have a cookie decorating station with NO napkins! 



The Creepy Crawlers graveyard!  Scary!



Punkin bowling by our Punkin.  Look how excited she is!



Soda ring toss!  Carter won a Mello Yellow that we're so throwing away!



Chilly ooga-boogas!  Carter and I

Nursemaids Elbow, according to WebMD:
   Nursemaid's elbow is a common injury that is seen most often in children between the ages of 1-3   
   years . Usually the child has had an incident in which the extended arm was pulled. Most commonly it
   occurs when a child is falling and the individual holding the hand doesn't let go. Another common
   mechanism is when the child is swinging while being held by the hands.



Yeah, not cool.  Essentially, it's an elbow that's been pulled or popped out of place.

This evening, around 7:15, Andy tried to corral Carter for bath.  She was being a slug, not wanting to go.  He picked her up by her arms, like we've both done a million times before.  I don't know if it was the angle they were both in, her being frail (yeah right!!) or what, but Andy said he heard a pop and she just kinda went limp and clung to Andy.  She complained that her arm was hurting and began to cry.  Now, Carter's a self-proclaimed faker, but it wasn't boo-hoo, fakery.  This was the real deal, and all I could think was that she had a broken arm. 

We called the clinic, and they said bring her in (or don't, whatever).  It took us literally 3 seconds to get dressed!  It was nightmare'ish getting her and her sore arm in the car seat, but we managed.  Dr. Agey at the clinic was very nice, but Carter wasn't having any of it.  Even a bribe with stickers wouldn't get her to move her arm.  He checked her out, then gently took her hand in his and in one careful movement popped her elbow back in place.  She was upset and did cry, but minimally.  She was definately a big girl - much stronger than Andy or I!

All's well now.  She's been loved and cuddled since we got home (around 8:00pm).  She's drowning in apologizes!  Right now, she's sleepily yawning while singing to Turtle.  The evenin's been much more traumtic on the both of us (who are not physically hurt) than her (the injured one!).  She's one tough punkin!

This evening (after a depressing Weight Watchers meeting) Andy, Rory, Andy, Carter and I carved our punkins.  Carter was all about helping this year, knives and all!  We had to talk about safe distances, but otherwise she was a great help!  She's a pro at getting all the punkin guts out!  Unfortunately, the trend does seem to be true: Andy's punkins are just "special."  We've got a "special" punkin, a happy punkin, a punkin with eyebrows but only three teeth, and a punkin who's eaten too much junk!



Carter's "big ol', big ol' punkin"

\

Just like a doctor in surgery, she's elbow-deep in punkin guts!



Y U C K !  I'm so glad she's old enough to do this herself now!



Andy and his "special" creation, Andy working on his puking punkin, Rory contemplating and giggling over punkin eyebrows, and Carter, still working out the guts.



Carter and I working on our happy punkin



TA DA!  The punkin and its owner like look alike, don't ya think?!?



The "family" and their punkins!  Andy 2's is on the far left, mine and Carter's is left on the top step, Rory's is on the first step, and Andy's is on the right.  Creative and unique, just like I expected!

For the past week or so, we've had a "guest" in our garage.  I didn't pay much attention to the black streak of lightening when I saw it in the yard last week.  I assumed it was outside, and that it was a rat, and didn't think much more of it. 

Then, Andy heard tiny meows outside.  The garage was closed, so when knew the "guest" was a kitten.

I fed it for a few days, hoping to be able to catch it.  I admit - I fully intended to feed it, tame it, keep it, and love it forever!  I even named it - Wheat Chex, because we thought he was brownish black, and - like the wheat chex in the Chex Mix - nobody (but me!) wanted him.  Andy had other ideas.  His intention was to feed it, lure it into the cage and take it the the Animal Rescue League to find a rightful owner. 

While Carter and I went grocery shopping this morning, Andy attempted the great capture.  Wheat Chex had been curling up in the baby carrier that was stored in the shelves of the garage, and he was none too pleased at the prospect of his capture.  He took a couple rough and successful swipes and bites at Andy, but ended up in the carrier.  Due to the wild cat bites and no current tetanus shots, Andy went to the Urgent Care Clinic for a shot and antibotics (wussy!).  Carter and I took him to the ARL.  Carter, in her true craziness, could hear the cats at the center, and as we waited played her best Kitty Carter, on all four's, meowing and purring around the center.  People thought she was cute; I thought she was nuts!  As for Wheat Chex, he refused to leave the carrier, so that was our donation item to the ARL for the day.  He's super-cute, so I'm sure he'll find a great home!  Too bad it couldn't have been out home!



"Come adopt me!"  He's wild as all get out, but he's gorgeous!  Bye Wheat Chex ;(

This evening, Carter was escorted to Night Eyes at the Blank Park Zoo with her favorite non-family sitters, Angie and Von.  As she dressed up like a pink princess to beg for candy, Andy, Andy and I had a tasty dinner at Chip's (LOVE the chips!) and then went bowling.  It was fun to just act like a silly kid and not worry about anything.

I, of course, lost.  There were no STEEE-RIKEs for me .. but I did get a couple of spares.  It was the French-rolled jeans!



Andy and I and our French-rolled jeans.  It gave me luck!



Nothing beats a silly night out!



I SUCK!!!  But, I had fun!

In the past week, I've had some great websites forwarded to me.  One is Yearbook Yourself (www.yearbookyourself.com), which puts faces on dated hair-do's and outfits.  The other is Make Me Super (www.makemesuper.com), which, as you guessed it, turns ordinary people into superheroes.  Make Me Super even has a catchy little video. 

Here are my favorites from Yearbook Yourself:



Beatnik Andy, circa 1974



Kelly and the crimper, circa 1982



Carter and her big hair, circa 1978



Carter and her even bigger hair, circa 1988



And, the BEST, Carter looking JUST LIKE GRANDMA, circa 1960-something\

And our super hero alter ego's from Make Me Super:



Super Andy



Super Kelly



Super Carter

Check our your you at:
www.yearbookyourself.com
www.makemesuper.com

HILARIOUS!!!

This morning, we headed to Cambridge to Center Grove Orchard to pick apples and pumpkins for the season.  Carter was in a mood, but slowly worked herself out of it once we got there.  Who could resist the fun?!?



Carter and I in our farm gear



Carter sits upon a throne of pumpkins.  Green ones - weird huh?  They had a ton of variety!



While Daddy and Rory paid for our hayrack stickers, Andy, Carter and I found a snack to brighten her mood.  Caramel apples always hit the spot!



All smiles now!  We boarded the hay-rack and headed to the corn maze



Smile!



Our traditional "corny" photo - ahh cha cha!



The crew working through the maze. 



It's a"maze"ing we didn't get lost!



Carter checked out the massive pumpkin patch.  She liked this one because it was "a big ol', big ol', big ol' punkin!"



Rory, Andy, Andy and Carter (with her "flower") riding over to the "jumping pillow," the first in Iowa



This thing is crazy!  Think trampoline, but more fun!  My jumps would cause a ripple effect, making Carter bounce without really bouncing.  This was the case for everyone!  A determined jumper could knock us all of balance, and when you fell, you'd just keep being bounced!  It was hilarious!





Picking gourds



The Family: Carter, Andy, Andy, Rory and I



Carter's ready to pick apples!  It was difficult for her because the good apples were all so high, but we searched and she found a couple she could pick.  She was upset (because it was 1:30 and she hadn't had a nap) that she couldn't just eat the apples.  So dinner this evening will consist of freshly picked apples and Grandma's apple dip!  Yummy!



Carter spies an eye-level apple



She didn't pick the crab apples, but she was sure starting to act like one!  The orchard was beautiful, and, even with the occasional pout, Carter had a ball!



Her prize red apple!  She's so proud she found a "really red!" apple of her own!



Andy expertly reaches for the best apples atop the trees



Apple-pickers Rory and Andy



Apple-picking Chalupa's: Andy, Carter and Kelly

THIS is why little girls don't get to wear make-up:



The pink really brings out her ... craziness?!?

Today we're headed to Center Grove Orchard to pick our pumpkins and apples, walk the corn maze and enjoy the hay-rack ride.  Don't be afraid of Halloween - this will prepare you for the frights to come:



OOGA-BOOGA!!!  Carter's all about "punkins" and "ooga-booga eyes" this year!!

What a super-fun day!  And now I'm super-tired!

Grandma and Poppy came up this morning to drop off the snow-blower and a rocking horse for Carter (as I type, she's lugging it around downstairs.  I just heard, "Daddy, you get it!  I need to get my cowboy hat!").  They stayed for the morning and for lunch, which I'm still full from!

After the not-gonna-happen nap, we met Rory, Andy, Rinky and Moda at "Bark-tober Fest," a dog's day party!  Doggies dressed in costumes or just came out with owners to enjoy the breezy, sunny fun day.  Carter liked seeing all the dogs, especially the ones dressed up, but grew tired of it quickly (after all, it wasn't about her for a change ;) ).

So we left early and headed to the Carter park ("No, mama, I don't want to go to the dog park!  I want to go to my park!" she huffily told me in the car!).  It was a park on the southeast side of town, totally new to us, and she had a ball.  To wrap up our outing, we shared a cherry black forest ice cream cone at Cold Stone Creamery!  Yummy!

Then we got groceries, where she got junk she didn't need and treats for the family!  And, after this post, we're going to start our "slumber party" that she earned for good behavior at day care.  We downloaded The Jungle Book 2, we're making popcorn with M&M's, having juice boxes, and watching the movies in our jammies on the couch. 

What a SUPER SATURDAY!!!



Bark-tober Fest 2008: Costume Parade.  I liked the little doggy dressed as a fortune cookie (the dog, however, didn't even like himself!!), but Andy, Rory and Carter liked the little pirate doggy.  The doggy doctor won crowd favorite!



Rinky and Rory and Moda and Andy - woo woo, boys (and girl!)!



Carter's conquest: the park near Target



"You can't get me!"  Well ... I probably could, but I like her thinking I can't!



Woo hoo!



It's been a fun day, but I'm tired!



Kicking back with our ice cream, ready to shop and have our slumber party!

Friday's rock my socks, because we (try in all best efforts) to get together with Andy and Rory for game night.  Cards, Nintendo Monopoly, Euchre  ... or Operation!



Game night must be genetic, because Carter loves it, too!  She and Andy attempt to remove this poor guy's tummy bubbles without causing him too much damage!  I love their similar facial expressions!

Whatever side you're on, Rock the Vote. 

I'm sure it's fairly easy to tell which direction we're leaning in!  Carter proudly wore her "Little Democrat" shirt today.  When I picked her up, she also showed it to Emma's mom, Angie.  She said, "Look!  This is my little 'democrap' shirt!"  She's so proud to be a little "democrap!"  When Angie asked her who she would vote for, if she could, without skipping a beat, she answered, "Brockobama" with her little democrap smile!  How can you not just crack up over that?!



Democrap or Republican, whatever - be sure to vote!  If you're not registered, check out Rock the Vote.com.  If CARTER has an opinion, YOU should too!

A common, reoccurring dream of Andy's was that he'd be climbing up the grain bins at home.  He'd be so high he couldn't see the ground.  Then he'd fall, and wake up with that awful falling feeling.

He also said this one's very vivid: a gorilla would chase him around the house.  "It was very freaky."  And kinda weird.

I dream that my teeth fall out.  At school during conversations, they'll just start to causally fall out of my mouth.  Or I'll be at a restaurant with friends, and I'll open my mouth and out they'll all fall.  I've checked - it's related to stress.  Creepy, I know.

Andy and Rory babysat Carter while Andy and I went to see Frost Nixon at the Civic Center.  When we got home, we kissed her goodnight.  Andy asked her something, and in her sleep she answered, "one."  He said two, and she whispered, totally esleep, "three."  I did the same, and she counted, out competely cold, "one ... two ... three four ......"

Wonder what Dr. Freud would say about that?!?



Dreaming of numbers?!!  How funny is that?!

This weekend (10/4 to boot!), Amy Pint and Jon Kort were married in Fairbank, Iowa.  Get it: PINT to KORT!  Ahh cha cha!

Andy, Rory, Andy, Carter and I took the "Barbie Dream Wagon," aka their new Cross Country station wagon, to Fairbank Saturday morning.  It was a long drive with a couple restless gingers and an antsy three year old!  We made it to town just in time to scarf down lunch, make a quick change, and hit construction.  We literally just walked in before Amy walked down the aisle!

It was a gorgeous church and a beautiful ceremony.  After what seems like forever, Amy's a Kort now!  Doesn't it just seem like Jon's been around forever?

After the ceremony, we retreated to the hotel for some R and R and Facebook pull tabs (if you aren't familiar, become familiar!  They're super!).  Then we headed to the reception.  The food was tasty, the company stellar, and the dance was a blast!  We all headed back to the hotel around 9:30, exhausted and ready to catch Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live (if you didn't see it, check it out at http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/vp-debate-open-palin-biden/727421/.  It's HILARIOUS!). 



A car-trip tradition: PULL TABS!  After spending $10, we only won $3.  Economic hard times for all ...



Carter had her first iPod experience, which actually was awesome for everyone!  SHE got to listen to "Roll Over" about 72 consecutive times and WE didn't have to listen to it at all!  Everyone wins! 



Amy and Jon exchanged vows and were ready to kiss!  Congrats!



Back at the hotel, Andy and Carter get a little excess energy out while Rory prepares for a nap, Andy checks his email and I enjoy CABLE!!!



Rory, Andy and Carter at the reception



Mrs. and Mr. Kort, the happy newlyweds!



As usual, Carter found a gaggle of pals! 



Another boy "falls" for Carter's charm!



Carter and I - at least one of us was happy!



She's a DANCING QUEEN!  Carter couldn't wait for her turn to dance!  She can certainly cut a rug!!!



My favorite red-headed Andy



How sweet are these two?!



Andy was happy to take picture after picture if it mean he didn't have to dance!



Andy, Andy and Rory slowly beginning to wind down after a long day



The Chalupa clan



Sunday's drive home found us at a detour to Parkersburg, site of the Level 5 tornado in May.  It was amazing to see to progress made, but so much left to do.  



The good and bad of Parkersburg.  It's such a humbling feeling.  After being a part of Amy and Jon's wedding, surrounded by wonderful friends all weekend, knowing our homes were comfortable and safe back in Ankeny, it was insightful to see this and remember that we're so lucky to have what we do and be where we all are today.

Carter and I got into the feel of Halloween with costume options the other day, and this afternoon we began decorating.  She was a huge help putting up the lights she picked out.  Our little tree will look OOGA-BOOG spooky!



Look out for spooky cats ....



.... and punkins galore!



Carter picked out orange and purple lights to spook-ify our tree!  Look how much she's grown - she's more than half the height of the tree!

We put up a few Halloween decorations this week, and now Carter wants to pick out her costume.  We checked out a few at Target, but we didn't like any.  I think we've got an idea, but it may take some creativity ... and duct tape ...



Bat-Carter



Too sweet to be a "wicked" witch



Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby is a cute one!



And my favorite little Cheeser Punky!  What a great face!

Carter helped me decorate sugar cookies for our "Harvest Holiday" food day at school today.  She's a gem, but not always the most helpful!



Tasty frosting and spooky sprinkles!  We had an assembly line: I frosted and Carter sprinkled ...



... but I guess I forgot to teach her moderation (like I'd be able to teach anyone moderation!) and she dumped our jar of sprinkles on one cookie.  Poor drowned little cookie!



I said, "Wait!"  Not in an angry tone, just a little loud because her sprinkle avalanche surprised me!  She instantly pouted and looked like I'd broken her computer!  Sad, but cute! 



The mega-mess!  We salvaged what we could, and some very lucky person got a super-sprinkled cookie!



After a few sprinkle-sneaks and a taste of frosting, I was Carter's "best friend" again!  Like they say, "The way to a child's heart is through frosting!"