April 2009 Archives

Carrie and Brian graciously hosted a high school mini-reunion, helping everyone catch up again.  It's always great to see everyone!  We were easily out-numbered by kids, but they were all well-behaved and had a ball playing together.  Just like we did when we were little!

This evening, our daycare hosted a Sweetheart Dance fund raiser.  We got to semi-dress up and enjoy our favorite little ones boogie and wiggle the night away!



That's one cute Chalupa!



Carter and pals Erin (left) and Emma (right) share a boy!



Our favorite 3's: Erin, Emma, Hannah, Carter and Ava



Good times!



Mommy, Carter and Daddy - all very tired!

Sunday, we tried a trial run of hair curling.  It was a bust, but Mom sent some great tips, so we'll try it again.

Today, we gave makeup a trial run.  Carter loved every minute of the pampering, and she went from 3 to 17!  Lock up your boys, Mom's!



So the eyebrow liner and poor lighting don't do her justice, but ...



How sweet is that little face?!  "Yes, Carter, Mommy will buy you that Lexus!"

Carter and I picked out a fun t-ball set (since she's just missed the BlastBall age this year!), and we broke it out this afternoon to play.

I taught her how to hold the bat (I think she's a lefty like Uncle Corey when it comes to batting!), how to whack at the ball and how to run to "first base," or the porch.  All was good until I blasted the ball into the lot next to us.  She wasn't running after it for anything!

I guess she'll just be offense!



Smiles!



Batter up!  She even got the "bat tap to the plate" thing down!

The forecast seems somewhat stable - here's to hoping the 30's are over. 

Carter and I picked out (simple!) spring flowers for the bed in front of the house Thursday.  She choose purple "Wave" petunias (because "purple's my FAVorite!"). 

However, the sidewalk has settled and sunk.  This means that our builder Chad has to come repair it.  He's going to rip it out and repour.  The trouble with Chad is that you never know when this will happen.  We're still waiting for our curb to be replaced from August 2007! 

With the settle, we needed more dirt.  The church behind us moved around a bunch of soil, so Carter and I took the wheelbarrow around back to utilize the Soil of God.  We leveled out the dirt and planted our "pretties," finding a couple "friends" in the process!



Carter "helped" level dirt.  I raked it to level out, then she took my shovel, heaped a pile on and dumped it on the porch.  As you can imagine, this lasted about 17 seconds before we had to have a "discussion!"



After the dirt was moved and settled, we planted our flowers.  Carter's gardening attire: Hannah Montana boots ("because I don't want my feet dirty") and a hat ("it's really windy outside there!"). 



While planting, we came across a frog (bottom to Carter's left).  She wanted to keep him - I nixed that quickly.



After the frog commotion settled, I tried to take a smily Carter picture, then noticed two geese in the yard.  That ended the serenity! 



We ran inside for ducky bread to share with the birds ... unfortunately for them, Carter liked ducky bread, too!

Andy's been continuing to work on the playground, little by little.

This evening a little trickery was involved.  We invited Andy and Rory over for a delicious dinner ... then lured them into helping move the assembled pieces outback.  As soon as they drove up and saw the garage door open, Rory said, "Turn back!  It's a trap!"

Our neighbors, Scott, Kelly and Zane, have kindly taken the old swing set.  Instead of disassembling it, Scott walked down and he and Andy lugged the thing down the street.  It's was a comical sight!



Note to all: if the Chalupa's are mid-project, don't come over for dinner when we invite you.  "It's a trap!"



Scott and Andy head to Shoning's.  I'm sure the new, unknown neighbors are beginning to wonder about us!

Today was our costume fitting at dance.  All 14 little cuties donned new recital costumes.  They were SO EXCITED and adorable!

I don't think pictures we condoned, so this is all you get until June 19th!



She's pretty excited about her new cutie-patootie costume!

It's been on and off spring at home - beautiful one day then awful the next.  The "beautiful" days usually fall Monday - Friday, with the "awful's" being Saturday and Sunday. 

We broke out bikes and skates and took to the great outdoors.  We picked up trash along our walk, met a neighbor and giggled when Andy nearly wiped out on his skates!



With the construction, it's a bumpy road, but a beautiful sunny day that we couldn't resist!



Skating and biking home.  Yes, Carter's a great peddler but a horrid steerer, and she tends to fly right at the curbs! 

We had our OB appointment this morning, and all is well.  We heard the heartbeat, which continues to be steady, strong and healthy.  This time, however, the ultra sound monitor revealed a wiggler!  This kid is already dancing to the beat or his or her own drum, Chalupa style (get THAT picture in your head!). 

The doctor said things are fine and all looks good.  We go back May 11th for our monthly check up, and then the last week of May for "the big appointment," where we'll get to determine if it's Girl Chalupa or Boy Chalupa. 

Carter is excited!  We showed her the ultra sound photo and asked her what it was.  She knew within a few second, and told us it was the baby in my tummy.  We talked about it, and she said she loved the baby.  Aww!  She's also excited to get to "see" her brother or sister later in May.



Our little Wiggler!  Teeny and tiny, but already groovin!

Let me refresh everyone's memory:
     In the fall of 2005, at our old house, we began to demo the deck (because it was a rickety piece of crap!).  Andy and some pals took it down one Saturday afternoon.  Then, it just sat there.  Empty.  Not being touched for months.  It was "too cold," "too wet," "too rainy" during the spring, and then it was "too hot," "too muggy" or we were "too busy" to work on it during the summer.  Keep in mind I was pregnant then, too, and not always (or EVER, it seemed like!) in the best of moods.  Basically, a "small project," rebuilding a deck, took way longer than it should have.

Two weeks ago, I bought all the pieces for Carter's playground.

Andy has PTO to burn.  If he doesn't use it, he looses it (which he says "isn't an option.").  He has assured me that this project will get done soon, by May'ish.

"Yeah, right!"  I thought!  To get this thing going, I'm going to have to pull off some major pregnant tears.

I was wrong.

Last weekend he cut nearly all of the wood.  Yesterday, he finished cutting and began assembling (HE EVEN SWEPT THE FLOOR!).  And today, he put pieces together.  We have what you can clearly tell is a playground, coming together (much quicker than I ever imagined!) in our garage.

This means: I was wrong.  Andy was right, and I apologize.  He rocks.

However, I will not give him back him back his "Burn After Reading" DVD until Friday.  I don't want to watch it now.  I want to watch it Friday.  Even if I don't  decide to watch it then, he isn't getting it until Friday.  But he does rock for getting a jump on the playground! 



Andy, in the man-garage doing manly things

Boy!  That Beagle gets around!



"Look, Mommy!" Carter said as we walked up the sidewalk after getting home.



"THE EASTER BEAGLE WAS HERE!"



He even left a basket of candy - GASP! - inside!  He also brought some books and Barbie's!  It's like he knew what Carter would love!



One very cute and sweet Snuggle Bunny!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Saturday we headed to Duane and Linda's for some family time.  We hung out and watched (way more) golf (than I ever could have wanted!), and Carter put on her center-stage show for us!  She made chocolate pudding in the pretend kitchen and made animals out of build-a-blocks and Cooties that she destroyed, with evil giggles!

Sunday we all chipped in to make a delicious Easter meal.  It was eclectic, but tasty, and we were all together, which is what matters.  After lunch, Carter and Courtney (with Uncle Brian and Uncle Kevin's help!) colored eggs.  The Easter Beagle hit the Farm, too, and the girls were on a mad rampage to find eggs!  They shared Easter baskets and had a great time!



Corey's ceremonial cutting of the ham.  Such a big boy!



Carter Kay, Andy and Courtney Clara

 

Carter and Courtney diving into eggs



Even Uncle Kevin helped out!



Okay, so Uncle Kevin was really into it himself!  Of the four boys, the comments have always been that Carter is most like her Uncle Kevin - obviously!



Uncle Kevin assists in giving Carter a blue hand.  Thanks, Kev!



Andy and Anna help the Easter Beagle in his efforts



Two very impatient girls, ready to find some eggs!



And one very excited Uncle Kevin is ready to help!



And they're off!  They both went wild, running in different directions to find eggs, eggs, eggs!



Spotted: one pink egg near the basketball hoop.  Courtney spotted it first, but Carter's got longer legs!



EGGS!!!



They may have battled over eggs, but they still love each other!



Easter pile on Andy!  And they all love it!



The Great Egg Hunt! 

We headed to Grandma and Poppy's Friday night.  Carter was all over, watching cartoons with Poppy, playing with her baby, and coloring in her "journal" (WHERE does she come up with this?!).  Saturday we colored eggs, which she enjoyed.  She was pretty interested in mixing the colors to see what she'd get!  She loved her Easter basket, and she had a great time playing in the yard with Grandma and Poppy.



Cheeser McCheesy, posing for the camera!



Poppy and Carter coloring a blue egg



Smarty Pants, trying to figure out what mixed colors will create and making a mess! 



Snuggle Bunny with one pink egg!

Carter and I ventured to Des Moines to see the "Easter Beagle."  She was so excited on the drive there, but when she saw him, she froze up and wasn't having anything to do with him!  So I bribed her (I gave her a quarter for the candy machine IF she sat with him and let me take a picture!), and then all was good!

Whether you're with Snuggle Bunnies or Shy Bunnies (like Carter?!?) this weekend, have a happy and safe Easter!



The "Easter Beagle" doesn't look so doggish, does he?!    :)

Okay, confession time, Jerry Springer style:

When Mom asks about Weight Watchers, I haven't been going.  When Rory asks why, I make up lies
     (I'm running out of excuses!  Ummm .... I had to wash my hair?)

When Mackenzie had her birthday party, it wasn't Andy who didn't want to go
     (I didn't think I could cover my tracks with "Jack and Coke" minus the "Jack" all night!)

When Carrie thought an email titled "Babies, Babies, Babies"  might be to tell her exciting news, it wasn't
     (But it could have been)

When I had to take Carter to the allergist repeatedly to monitor her egg allergy progress, I was really going to see Dr. Hoight
     (My doctor, to draw blood, compare levels and check out our status)

When Kelsey asks how things are going, I say "no new news"
     There's news:

Our confession:  We are pregnant.  11 weeks, 4 days, or 12 weeks on Easter.  We'll have ourselves a Halloween baby, due October 25, 2009.

Things just feel different this time around.  I've felt like I did with Carter: tired all of the time!  I haven't gone Fun-Onions crazy yet, which is a good thing.  We've been eating well, in lieu of going to Weight Watchers, and I've gained about three pounds so far. 

At week five (the last week of February), I went to our family doctor for blood work on Friday and then again Monday.  All of my pregnancy determining levels were elevated, which was good.  At week seven (mid-March), we went for our first ultra-sound.  We heard one tiny little heart, beating at 140 beats per second.  We have our official OB work up this Monday.  But so far, so good, so keep praying for the best!



BIG SISTERS ROCK!  Andy, Carter and I have talked about The Baby and what this means for her.  We'd like her to be as involved as possible, so we asked her what she'd like to name The Baby.  Her first choice: Princess!



Chalupa #2, also known as "Tad," short for Tadpole right now.  In the big black circle, Tad's the itty, bitty little shape along the right wall (this was actual size at week 7).  This is the ultra sound taken at 7 weeks (March 10, 2009), so Tad's a little bigger now.  More to come after Monday's appointment.



Not much of a Baby-Bump yet, but I'm still on the look out for cute preggo clothes at discount!

When we were teenagers, barely so, we all had crazy, insane crushes on the boys from New Kids on the Block.  We were all SURE we were going to marry one or the other, and I was no exception.  I was fanatic!  I had a New Kids phone, sleeping bag and pillow and pink bedroom walls covered in posters.

So, when the New Kids on the Block - who are actually in their late 30's now! - came to Des Moines last night, there was no way we were missing it!

Cheesy, yes.  But we knew that going into it, and it was the best concert ever!  They played ALL of our old favorites and some of their new songs (which are just okay), and Mackenzie even touched Joey McIntyre (if you could only have heard her!!!).  It was hands down one of the BEST concerts we've ever been to!

Once a New Kids fan, ALWAYS a New Kids fan!!!



15 years ago, but still fanatic as ever!



Dreamy, right?!



I can't TELL YOU how excited we were!  We're dorks!



Jonathon, Donnie, Jordan, Joey and Danny



Do it with me: SIGH!



The "Kids" decided to walk down the aisle from the back stage back to the front stage.  If Joey looks terrified, he should: Mackenzie tried to maul him!!



AHHH!  It's NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!!!