Chalupa Family Blog: May 2009 Archives

A very busy Saturday ....

By Kelly on May 30, 2009 7:31 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Phew! What a day!

First, we met our friend Angie and her mom Marla at Von Maur's to try on flower girl dresses for Carter. Angie knew what she wanted, and Carter looked beautiful in it! Good choices, ladies!

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Our beautiful little flower girl, excited to dress up and participate in Angie's wedding!

We ran to Babies 'R Us to check out baby bedding, and picked up our first BOY purchase - it's a whole 'nother blue-colored world! We grabbed lunch, rested for a bit, then we were off again.

Awww! Itty bitty blue boy stuff! Loving it!!!

This time, back to an Angie event: her bridal shower. Since I couldn't find a sitter (Andy was at the Principal Charity Classic and everyone else was busy), Carter came with me. It was like it was all about her day! Angie, a Carter-fanatic, let her help with gifts and kindly shared her spotlight (only to egg on Carter!). She had a great time, and we loved the shower.

After the shower, we attempted a graduation party for a former 8th grader who's graduating this year (holy cow! I've been doing this long enough to have graduating kids?!), but I can't read a calendar and had my dates screwed up. But, ultimately, it worked out, because Carter and I had time to hang out at the pool for the afternoon.

And we both slept very well!

A Friday with Friends

By Kelly on May 29, 2009 7:16 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Our friends Richard and Lauren and their daughter Olivia (who is slightly older than Carter) drove from Texas to Iowa for a family weeding this weekend. On their adventure, they stopped long enough to hang out, catch up and relax! Carter adores Olivia (despite the fact that they're both strong-minded only children who are used to ruling the roost!), and she had a great time running and playing with her. Zach, Stephanie, Isaac and Ian were also there. There was plenty of baby talk and girl catching up, and Carter, as always!, continues to adore Isaac!

It was a great evening! Thanks Lauren and folks for having us over. Sorry you had to drive so far, but thanks for doing it! We miss y'all!

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Andy 2's niece, Andie Kay. Isn't she a chubby little angle?!

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Olivia and Carter bang away at Olivia's grandmother's beautiful old piano

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Our "little babies:" Carter, Olivia, Ian & Isaac

And the big news is ....

By Kelly on May 26, 2009 3:22 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

WE HAVE THE FIRST (well, first 2nd generation!) CHALUPA BOY!

I'm playing single mom tonight while Andy dines with the rich and powerful at Principal, and I have to buzz Carter to gymnastics. We'll post ultrasound photos later this afternoon.

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Despite previous claims that she'd "kill a baby brother," Carter was actually kind of excited about the prospect of another boy around the house. She liked seeing the ultrasound images and giggled when he'd wiggle. One picture shows him with a thumbs up - our sign for everything good ("Mommy! Barack Obama, thumbs up. Ice cream, thumbs up. Farts, thumbs down!"). She's all about her BABY BROTHER being thumbs UP!

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The latest installment in the Chalupa clan. What a beautiful boy!

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"Thumbs up! I'm a dude!"

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This is the "na na na na na!" pose

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Just hanging out

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Two tiny, soon to be monstrous, feet

A productive, yet boring, day.

By Kelly on May 25, 2009 7:24 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Today, everyone wins! Carter got to watch cartoons all morning. Andy went outside to work on the swing set (yes, STILL working on that swing set!). I cleaned out the pantry and snack cupboard, and swapped them (because we can't have snacks at Carter-level, apparently. She's been waking up before us and stealth-like sneaking downstairs to have candy for breakfast! Now, her only options are red wine vinegar, flour and rolled oats! Score: Mommy - 1, Carter - 93).

This afternoon, Carter and I ventured outside to work in the garden. I weeded while Carter hunted for flags (left from Mid-American). Both my garden and her field of flags looks wonderful!

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From the bottom to top of the hill: green beans, cherry tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeño peppers and flags.

Playing at the Park

By Kelly on May 24, 2009 7:20 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

This morning, we packed up everyone to spend the morning at the park. We brought buckets and shovels to make sand castles and chalk to mark our territory. We even ventured out to a new park (which turned out to not be as fun - we'll never deviate from the norm again!).

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Andy teaching Carter to work the digger.

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He liked it so much, he played, too!

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Carter rides the frog! Yee haw!

Memorial Day Zoo outing

By Kelly on May 23, 2009 8:21 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

As Chalupa tradition goes, our first trip to the Blank Park Zoo is always the weekend of Memorial Day. In our past three outings, it's never rained and we've always had a great time! Today not only lived up to, but surpassed, expectations!

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Carter and I packed a picnic lunch and headed to the zoo while Andy went through training for the Principal Charity Golf Classic next weekend. The skies were blue and sunny, and Carter was all smiles!

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Playing cheesers outside the monkey house (please curb your monkey comments ;) )

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Carter loved the petting zoo area. She got to feed Koi fish (that smelled awful!!!), goats and THIS guy! The cock-eye smile makes me laugh!!

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She giggled and smiled while feeding the llamas. When I told her it was a llama, she said, "where is his mama? At the shop-o-rama?" referencing our favorite books - the Llama, Llama series.

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But her favorite part, beating our the risqué giraffe exhibit and my favorite, the lions, were the jelly fish. We usually go to the right at the entrance, but I deviated from the our normal pattern and went left, leaving them for last. Obsessive-Compulsive Carter kept asking to see them, even at exhibit #1. So, when we finally got around to the jelly fish, it was heaven!

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After our exciting zoo adventures, a sleepy-Carter and I had a picnic lunch at the park. Even as she was eating - something I swear she could and would do in her sleep - she was yawning and sneaking in "little rests." But there was no turning away from the park! Never!

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So she climbed and played in the sand and ran and ran ....

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.... cautiously climbing and mastering an unfamiliar park ....

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.... and even swinging like a brave little monkey ....

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.... ultimately crashing and burning in the car, approximately a block and a half from the park! Carter, the self-proclaimed "non-napper," took a two hour nap after our adventures! Bring on zoo season!

Start of a 3-day weekend!

By Kelly on May 22, 2009 7:22 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

To kick off our exciting Memorial Day weekend, we dug out the Elmo sprinkler and Carter went to town!

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She wore an itsy-bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini!

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Maybe ... thinking about getting wet ....

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"This is gonna be so much fun!"

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Water bum!

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A wet Snuggle-bunny

By Kelly on May 19, 2009 7:20 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Diva-licious!

By Kelly on May 19, 2009 8:56 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Carter Kay, Diva in Training!

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Too cute for words!!!

Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up

By Kelly on May 16, 2009 12:50 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Kelsey, Mama T, Aunt Hill and the boys came up (and down!) to meet us for Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up. Carter had a BLAST! However, I'm not sure what I'll hold over her head for good behavior now!

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Carter and Grant, with Elmo, at the God-forsaken "crap" stand. There was cotton candy, toys, shirts, light-up toys ... like we stood a chance there!!!

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Lights, camera, action! Collin was very apprehensive of the whole thing (because it was pitch-black when we entered the arena! Dumb for a kids show!!). But Grant and Carter were all over it! Elmo asked the audience what they wanted to be when they grew up. Screams of "doctor!" and "fireman!" came from everywhere. Not Carter! She yelled, at top volume, "I WANNA BE A GIRAFFE!!!"

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Your tongue should never be a similar color to that of your eyes! She loved her treat: cotton candy, of course!

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After the shows, the kids kept saying, "That was so fun!" and "I love Elmo!" They had a great time!

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Carter, Grant and Collin, three very happy and sugared-up kiddos who had a fantastic time!!! Thanks for coming with us, boys (and entourage! We love ya!)!

Baby update: week 16

By Kelly on May 12, 2009 8:35 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

I had my 4 month baby check-up today. I was hoping for an ultra sound (cause I like pictures!), but didn't complain over not getting one. They checked my weight (all's good! Air popped pop corn and caffeine-free soda are go's! Doctor's orders!) and blood pressure, and I'm great. They picked and poked at my tiny-tummy and the Baby is measuring where and at the size he/she should at this point. Then we got to hear his/her itty-bitty heart beat. It was about 150 beats per minute, strong, steady and wonderful to hear!

Andy 2 was talking to Carter about her Baby last week. Their conversation went something like this:
A: "Carter, do you want a Baby sister or Baby brother?"
C: "A sister."
A: "What are you going to do if you get a brother?"
C: "I'm not having a brother."
A: "But what if you get a brother?"
At this point, Carter ponders. Her gaze goes to the ceiling and she pensively taps her chin.
C: "If I have a brother ... I think I will kill it."
Andy, Andy, Rory and I did the very best we could to contain our giggles! She has no idea what "kill" means, but I don't think we should tempt her!

Hairs cut

By Kelly on May 12, 2009 8:54 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Carter got a much-needed hair cut this afternoon! She was a shaggy mess! She was a big girl the entire time!

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Silly face, cute face!

Martha Stewart-Chalupa

By Kelly on May 11, 2009 8:33 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Just call me Martha Chalupa!

Andy tilled the garden last week, and - with Carter's "assistance" - I planted. By assistance, I mean immediately after I'd plant seeds, she'd attempt to dig them back up!

We've got jalapano and green bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, onions, pickling cucumbers (YES, we really planted pickles!) and lettuce.

Now ... could things hurry up and grow?! I can't WAIT for garden tomatoes!

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Tates and carrots and peas - oh my!

Happy Mother's Day, mama's!

By Kelly on May 10, 2009 8:22 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

What a wonderful weekend we had!

In my own celebration, I got to go flower shopping with my family. Andy and Carter helped me pick out our favorites to brighten up the outdoors, and they lovingly helped me plant.

Friday night, amid thunderstorms and bouts of hail, we headed home to Grandma and Poppy's. Carter was her usual self, putting on her cute show and schmoozing her fans!

Saturday evening we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's, with an outstanding surprise: Linda was much better! She looked better and she was more "grandma-like!" We played Phase 10, which I lost (I think it's family tradition!), and Sunday it was Chalupa-overload! Cousin Courtney introduced us to our new niece/cousin Marissa Mae (who's SO TINY!), and she and Carter ran and played.

AND, I got to sleep in!

It was the best Mother's Day weekend I could have asked for! A happy family, healthy kids and our itty-bitty baby #2. It was perfect! Happy Mother's Day to our mom's and mom-friends. You're the best and we love ya!

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Carter, Courtney and cookies - a perfect day!

Berry Dessert

By Kelly on May 7, 2009 8:30 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Carter, my personal assistant, helped me make dessert this afternoon. It was really only layers of 'Nilla wafers, vanilla pudding and strawberries topped with whipped cream, but to her, you'd have thought it was heaven in a dessert glass!

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Chef Bucket-head!

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She's mildly interested in helping. She's TOTALLY INTO tasting!!

Circus

By Kelly on May 3, 2009 4:59 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

"NO, Mommy! It's NOT the Circus Mirgusis," like the Dr. Suess book. It's the Za Ga Zig Shriner's circus, and it's becoming our family tradition.

We started our circus fun with popcorn and a cat show. Then came one of Carter's favorites: the acrobats doing flips and aerial somersaults. At that point, she'd had about all she could handle of not having a glowing light stick, so Andy went to get her one. After that, she saw little to none of the other acts! The second half brought silly clowns and a woman being shot out of a cannon, our favorite. But how is that legal and safe now-a-days?!?

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Andy and Carter watching "The Big Show"

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The cat show

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Carter's super-neat (and totally annoying!) light stick! It was in our faces and she smacked the guy in front of us once! Nerd!

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Carter and I

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Daddy sharing cotton candy with Carter! Yummy!

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The fam!

Picture day

By Kelly on May 2, 2009 4:53 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

This morning was picture day for dance. Since I can't curl hair to save my life (why would I need to have this skill?!?), I took Carter to Great Clips to have them curl her piggy's (Mom sent me tips, but even those didn't work. But now I know the Great Clips secret, and with that and Kelly Shoning's help, I think I can do it again for recital!).

After curled piggy's, we came home to hooch up. With make-up, Carter went from our sweet little tom-boy to a 16 year old harlet! Red lipstick and mascara paired with her day-glow pink costume, and she was ready to roll!

Even all dolled up, she's still the little Cheeser we love!

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All smiles in her "big girl" costume and "mommy make-up!"

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Strike a pose!

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We did a quick change in the truck, and she insisted upon wearing her hat, reinforcing her tom-boy image!

Gardening and yard fun

By Kelly on May 1, 2009 4:46 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Since today was nice (for a change!), we all took advantage and did our outdoor things. Andy worked on the play set (hopefully Monday it'll be done! Hopefully!), and Carter and I planted my early Mother's Day flowers. We had a few huffy moments, but over all she really was a big help!

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Putting up the guard pieces so our Monkey won't jump where she shouldn't!

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Carter's first steps in the "club house" part of the play set! She loved it!

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When she'd finished "helping" Daddy, Carter came to help me with flowers. While I got planters ready, she weeded the lot next to us, being sure to bring me the weeds!

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Our flowers included Salvala to attract butterflies near the patio window, yellow Gerber daisies for the front porch and two tomato plants because I can't wait for garden tomatoes!

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The sun sets on another fun and cute day with Carter Kay!

May 2009 Archives

A very busy Saturday ....

A Friday with Friends

And the big news is ....

A productive, yet boring, day.

Playing at the Park

Memorial Day Zoo outing

Start of a 3-day weekend!

Diva-licious!

Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up

Baby update: week 16

Hairs cut

Martha Stewart-Chalupa

Happy Mother's Day, mama's!

Berry Dessert

Circus

Picture day

Gardening and yard fun

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