January 2009 Archives

This evening, we took Carter to her first hockey game.  The Iowa Chops played the Peoria Riverbandits, and Carter had a really great time!  She enjoyed watching, for the most part, and got the added bonus of sitting a row behind a pal from day care!

The Chops lost, but we had a great time anyway!  Needs more cowbell ...



Bring on the CHOPS!



Carter and I waiting for the second 20 minutes to get underway



Here we go! 



One of many fights.  This was when the crowd, and Carter, was most interested!  That got her cowbell ringing!



Andy, Carter and I waiting on sudden death



Braden and Carter, daycare pals (Braden loves Carter!  He offers her part of, or sometimes ALL if she wants, of his breakfast when they're there together!  And he hugs her goodbye almost every day.  So cute!)

For more of your musical enjoyment, Carter shares two of her favorite tunes/book verses:




Get this girl a tambourine and a microphone!

Carter found her "tuba" she got for her birthday (Damn!  We didn't hide it well enough!!!, and she was a music makin' fool today!




Thank goodness Daddy called for computer time!!!  My ear couldn't stand it :)

Snuggling, red-head style!



Mommy, Carter and Sammy all curled up and snuggly warm!  Red-heads unite!

It's the that time of year when I get the itch to par down our crap, rearrange furniture and clean the joint up!

I went through Carter's toys and put some into storage, donated some to our clinic's children's waiting area and took some to Goodwill.  I then organized everything and created a cute little fun space for Miss Wild Child.

I also got a really great wall decal from Janine for Christmas, and I got that put up in the kitchen.  It looks perfect and I love it!

... now ... the search begins to find the perfect TV stand for the living room.  And maybe a pool table!



Carter's play room, with organization and the computer away from the window's view ("Hi weird strangers.  Yes, we have a kids computer, which probably means we have other really great things that have a higher black-market value.  Come on in and rob us!").



"Enjoy" is my new slogan!  Cute, huh?

Given that this afternoon was "warm," Andy and Carter went outside to brave the Snow Mountain created by Snow Plow Willie in our driveway. 

And, of course, upon coming in they had to have hot choc-o-late and hot apple cider!



Playing in the snowy drive way and climbing Snow Mountain



Cute red cheeks and adorable smiles - how do you resist these two?!

... I don't know how I feel about waking up to this:



Carter took it upon herself to head downstairs to the computer to listen to some Little Einstein's music.  She took all of her goodies (which could have tripped her going down the stairs) to play on her computer (which may be rotting her brain).  And, helpful little soul, helped herself to a breakfast of marshmallows (which will solidify in her tummy!).  Is an extra 20 minutes of sleep worth it???

This morning, Carter and I headed to Marshalltown to meet up with Mackenzie and Natalie and Janinie, Madi and Carter to play, catch up and finally exchange Christmas gifts!



The kiddo's enjoyed running and playing while we talked and giggled ourselves.  This was one of their slide trains, with Carter K, Natalie, Carter J and Madi!



I love 'em all, but I'm SO GLAD I didn't have to ride home with Natalie ;)



We shared gifts with one another, and we all "ohh'ed" and "ahh'ed" over everyone's thought presents!  Thanks guys!



Our motley crew, being "sweet" ...



... and silly ...



... and super-scary ...



.... and sassy ....



... and, finally, pouty and pathetic!  It's a good thing we love this pitful faces!



We promised ice cream after a finished lunch, and no one failed to impress!  Ice cream's all around!



Carter loved her ice cream so much she wore most of it!



As we packed up, there were hugs and lovin' all around!



Our "itty bitty's" all smiles and happiness



3/4 of "The Girls."  Y'all are the best, and we had an awesome day!  Carter and I have been talking about it since we got in the car yesterday!  Thanks, ladies!  Love  ya!

So today marked the start of our compassion resolution.  Carter and I took our $50 to the Dollar Store and to Hy-Vee and we bought as many of the "wish list" things as we could for the Animal Rescue League.  I figure that since I just got paid, it's $50 we aren't missing, and we certainly are fortunate enough to give something back. 

I wanted Carter to really "get it."  So she picked out everything, I was just there to read labels and pay.  We ended up with cans of cat and dog food, bagged food and treats, toys, litter scoops, and paper towels and hand sanitizer for the helpful folks at the ARL.  When all was said and done, we had a big box of food and three bags of goodies for the animals.

Saturday, we dropped off our donations.  The girls at the desk were very happy for the goodies, and they thanked Carter profusely.  We talked about how lucky we were to have all of the things that we do, and how good it feels to help other people and animals who need things.  She was "happy" that "our things" made the animals "feel gooder."

Since we were there, we checked out the cats, and we got to play with a kitty named Ellie.  There was much discussion as to where Ellie would be sleeping tonight!  In the end, Daddy-logic prevailed (for now!) and we'll just have to go visit Ellis at the ARL!



Carter using her shopping talents to help the animals at the ARL



A "big ol' bag" of fleecy blankets, a box of food and bags for paper towels, sanitizer, scoopers, treats and toys to make a kitty or doggy's day!  Job well done, Carter Kay!

The blizzard is coming!  The blizzard is coming!  Let's let school out early!!!  I'm not really sure why we got out early, but I sure appreciated the afternoon to play with Carter! 



Our snow-person.  We're equal opportunity!



Making "fort bricks"



Snuggling with our snow-person



Construction of our snow fort.  My plan: to have our fort already created and stocked with snowballs, and to go back out later to have Daddy help Carter build her fort.  At that point, it's an ambush!!

Carter and Andy have been enjoying the Wii bowling together lately.  So, I decided we should take Carter to bowl, for real.  "Reeeeal bowling!" as Carter calls it!

So first, we practiced:



Her form is fantastic!



Just call us the Lucky Strikes!


Practice does make perfect!  Let's hope she doesn't do her princess twirls at the lanes!



It's GO time!  The 6 pound ball, the size 10 shoes - all the makings of a mini-pro!



That's heafy!!!



Daddy bowled a spare - good job!  High 5's all around!



Waiting in the wings - Go Daddy!



Carter's up.  We got the little ramp and her tiny ball ... she was set!



In the end, she didn't fare too badly!  Andy was working on some new technique, and I just naturally suck!  Carter's first score of 90 was really good!  She struggled to listen to directions, but everything was new, cool and exciting, so I expected as much.  We'll try again soon!



The mini-pro, in her champion glory!



The Lucky Strike Chalupa's - it's been a winner of an outing!


Our first bowling experience!  Woo hoo!

Of the many job requirements a mother has, "doctor" ranks right up at the top!



This is Carter's duck.  Well, it's not really hers, it's day care's, but I guess she has a claim on it.  Today, she brought it home because it's "broken."  The bow fell off and the poor duck has an open chest cavity.  I tried sewing him up, but the material is too slicky, so I doctored him just as I doctored up Turtle: with a little super glue fix-it-all and some clippies!  Dr. Mama! 

Melinda Richter and her girls, Elisa and Allyson, came over this evening to play before leaving for California for a couple weeks.  Carter adores both girls, especially Elisa (they're in "gymnasties" together).  So we played, had some pizza, and played some more.  Towards the end of the evening, we were in the play room.  Melinda and I were talking about something, and I noticed Ally (who's itty bitty - 20 months old, I think) in the corner.  I wasn't sure what she was doing, so I learned around Carter to see her coloring with green Expo marker on our polka dots.  Carter was upset.  Melinda was super-upset.  I, with my 2009 attitude, took it all in stride!  I deserve a "Cool Cucumber" award! 

The Richter's headed home, super apologetic (NO WORRIES!!!) and I cleaned up the latest addition to the play room.  It's artistic, right?!?



Elisa and Carter, our cute little princesses!



The infamous "Wall Incident" that will not soon be forgotten!  Really, it's just paintbn and competely not a big deal!

Carter enjoys painting.  A lot!  She received a couple painting sets for Christmas, and we got the Princess Paints out this afternoon ... and pretty much finished them up, too!



One day, her paintings will be on display in the Lourve, and I'm going to have these!!



... and maybe ... when her pieces are being held on display in world-famous museums,  this masterpiece will finally be dry!!

As part of our New Year's Resolutions, I'm pushing veggies for dinner.  Carter's not been a fan of this.  If it's not "MAC and CHEESE!!!" or "Car 'sghetti's," she's not really interested.  So, to make the meal part, or at least meat and veggies, a little happier, I've also been pushing dessert!  So, really, this mess is my fault!



My most favorite, cute, adorable and super-mess Fudgesicle Mug!  Don't worry - the treats are low-fat and sugar free.  I'm not robbing Peter (pushing veggies) to pay Paul (desserts). 

We began to break out the Christmas games this weekend!  While I went grocery shopping in the freezing Tundra known as Ankeny, Carter and Andy played "Bonopoly" in the snuggly-warm house.



Carter paying up her property taxes ...



That's how I feel when I'm forced to pay up, too! 

As 2009 brings all sorts of new opportunities and adventures, it also brings resolutions.  My resolution this year is to be very vocal about my resolutions so that I will be held accountable for them!  So, in March, when you see me chowing down on Twinkies and booze, remind me of my 2009 resolutions, which are:

1) Get back to being a healthy role model.  If that brings weight loss, fabulous.  I always make this resolution "I will lose X pounds by X date," get frustrated, quit and end up worse in the long run!  So this year I'm going to be a better eater (HEALTHIER eater, I should say.  There's certainly nothing wrong with my eating!), a healthier cook and better food role model for Carter and be more active.  I have a Y membership for a reason, right?

2) Along the lines of the Y (and "donating" my membership money instead of actually using it!!), I'm going to do more to give back to our community.  I'm a believer in Karma (you reap what you sew, you get what you give), and to some extend (like .06% of my crazy-brain) I think maybe my recent stint of crappy luck could be attributed to my lack of compassion.  On payday, I'm going to pay my bills and add to Carter's piggy bank, as usual, then take out $50 to give to or provide things for some outlet in our community.  Blankets and towels for the Animal Rescue League (who we got our Sammy from), basic necessities for the children receiving supports and items from the Youth Emergency Services Shelter (who have helped out a couple of my past 8th graders), or canned goods for the Food Bank of Iowa (who helps families that I deal with in everyday life).  We're trying to teach Carter that life isn't always about "I want" and "me, me, me," so we really need to be practicing what we preach.

3) To spend more quality time with my family.  Meaning, if Carter wants Hullablue, that's what we play.  If Andy wants to explain the workings of his BluRay to me, that's what we do.  Again, it's not just about me, me, me (despite my best efforts to make it so!).

4) Worry less about time and just enjoy!  To remember to take a second and watch the sunrise instead of worrying the I might not get to school by 7:30 (contract time is 7:45, but it stresses me out!).  To worry less about catching some crappy rerun on Fox and focus on tucking into bed or loving on my family.  To be silly in public and not care what complete strangers think.  To enjoy being us!

So, those are my resolutions.  Andy doesn't make resolutions, he says, but I'm making his for him: He's going to track down that guy who leaves me flowers, thank him and make sure he continues to do so!  And Carter's resolution is to lessen her "Play-house Dis-a-ney" computer time and remember to wipe and flush (yeah, gross, I know!). 

What about you guys?  What are you going to do in '09? 
Good luck with it and best wishes!!!