April 2010 Archives

World's happiest, sweetest boy - what more can we say?!!



World's Best Big Sissy, explaining the workings of the world to her little brother



LOVE me some greeny beanies!!!



That "O Soup" is for your sister, mister!



Just like Daddy, reading the Sunday paper.



Playing Sorry ... well ... BEING on Sorry!

We met our BFF's at the Za-Ga-Gig circus for some treats, fun shows and good times!  Thanks for coming to hang out, dudes!  Love ya!



Charlie's first circus (Carter's ... 3rd??)



Chalupa Clan



Sharing cotton candy and watching the dancing girls



Hee hee ... I liked the bears riding bicycles! 



INSANITY!  This dude ran, jumped and basically went nuts inside the circle that spun ... where does one learn to do this kinda stuff?!!



Carter couldn't bare to watch the guy on the spinning Circle of Death!



Manly men!



We went from total-smiles, having a blast ...



To OUT COLD!

CREEPIN' CHARLIE!  It's everywhere!  Ahh cha cha!



"Gotta get my ducky ..."



"DUCKY!!!  Here I come!"



"Gotta get moving, throw this leg, wiggle my bum ..."



"ARH!  Too much moving, wiggle and going!" 
Somehow, in his speediness to get his duck, Charlie launched himself clear up on his face!  Hilarious!



"Success at last!"

Marissa (Brian and Anna's oldest daughter, younger sister to Courtney) turned 1 today!  Wow!  I can hardly believe it's been one year already!  Happy, happy birthday, Baby Doll!  We love ya!!!



We stayed at Grandma & Grandpa's Saturday evening, prior to the party.  Charlie and Cousin Owen (4 months) got to play together ...



... and, of course, Charlie tried to eat him.
Love, LOVE Owen's sticky-up hair!  It's too cute!



Carter and Courtney playing together.  They strip the mattress and prop it up on the rocking chair, making it a slide.  Together, they have a weeeeeee of a time!



Daddy's mini-me!



It's a Baby Face-Off ... who will win?



Charlie wins, because he got a kiss from the sweet little birthday girl, Marissa!
I'm thinking Charlie and Marissa will have the same adorable blondish-strawberry hair - too cute!



"Helping" open gifts



This is Carter's card for Marissa that she personalized.  Note: heart, happy face, heart, heart, ghost.  What the heck?!! 



That cupcakey is as big the birthday girl!!!



Charlie got a little taste, too (no wonder he's fat!)

10 days ago, Charlie had an ear infection (but was never really unhappy about it!).  At his check-up today, he had a double ear infection.  Despite having ouchy-ears and the snots (a result of ouchy-ear), he has been in great spirits!  He's mastering sitting up, and continues to be an avid fan of greeny beanies!



Look!  They can share!  Buddies, for now!
After about 30 seconds of letting Charlie have his book, Carter took it ("he wasn't playing with it anymore!).  She slid it closer to her, so Charlie rolled from his tummy to his back, then back to his tummy (complete roll-over) to get closer to Carter and his book.  She slid farther away, he rolled over closer to her!  Then it became a game ...



But at the end of the night, no matter who has the book, they still love each other!



Carter, Charlie, and I, reading the "Be-Boo Book"

We love the zoo!  And how fun to take Charlie for his first zoo adventure!



The swinging bridge - always good times!



Carter showing Charlie the blue poisonous dart frog



"Shhhh, mama!" 



Carter and Charlie under the waterfall



Hanging out by the wallaby's!



Carter "petting" the Koi fish (eww, eww, eww!)

Ankeny Christian Childcare hosts a fund-raiser each year.  This year's theme was a ho-down (where was I to find us all inexpensive clothing for THATI?!!), and, in true Carter-style, she had a blast!



Carter and BFF's Hannah and Ava (would you believe that little Hannah's the oldest of the crew?!!)



Every child in the room, trying to limbo at the same time.  Chaos!



I'm so glad I'm not the parent that got drug into the circle of crazies!



Charlie, sitting up all by himself, taking in the sights!



Carter and I goofing in the car (while Daddy got Panchero's - jerk!)

Rory is officially began his venture as a Pampered Chef consultant.  Today, he hosted his open house to get started.  If you have ever met Rory, you know this is right up his alley.  You don't have to know him well to know that this is his forte.  He lived up to all of my expectations of him and more!  He did such a great job at his open house, cooking, presenting items, involving and entertaining guests.  Way to go Rory Brown!  We're very proud of you!



Rory demonstrating the magic that is the Mandolin (I need this thing!)



Rory's delicious fruit dessert (yes, he's grating orange peel; I didn't really know this was a real thing.  I just thought you got it in the little Tone's seasoning containers!)



Rory did a great job, but if you ask Isaac or Carter, they'll tell you they were most excited about seeing each other!  Can you tell she adores Isaac?!!

Charlie had his 6-month check up today.  He weighs in at a robust 20 pounds, 9 ounces (92 percentile), is 27 inches long (75 percentile), and has a head circumference of  17 3/4 inches (85 percentile).  He is totally healthy and completely adorable!  He's eating well (applesauce and carrots are his favorites), he's rolling from back to tummy, and has gone from tummy to back on occasion, but doesn't a lot.  He's a muscle man: he has one heck of a grasp (usually full of either cat hair, mommy hair or a strand of necklace beads), and he enjoys being balanced in a standing position.  He can keep himself there, but has no balance (you can thank the Chalupa side for his lack of grace ;)  ).  He enjoys tummy time and will push up high onto his arms.  He loves watching the world around him, and he's happiest when there are people around.  Especially people who want to love you him. 



6-month likes:
*  Being with people.  His favorite Chalupa is Carter!
*  Greeny beanies
*  Getting extra bottles!
*  Being "roughed up:" tickles, tummy raspberries, and kissy's
*  ABC duck
*  Blankies
*  Bath time
*  His exersaucer

6-month dislikes:
*  Not having all the attention (huh ... sound familiar?!)
*  Going to bed
*  Cold (temperature, hands, rain, he hates it all!)
*  Going an entire day in the same outfit
*  Going an entire day wearing pants

Happy 6-month birthday, Little Bear!  We LOVE you so very much!

Charlie's still working on his teeth.  He shows the same signs Carter did: drooly, diaper rash, attempting to eat everything.  He continues to love new foods, but favors applesauce and carrots best (well, second best, after lollipops, of course!).  He's working on sitting up, and can for a few seconds, but then topples over.



Working the tongue, ready for CARROTS!



Charlie loves mommy.  Charlie ADORES daddy!



Manly men, doing manly things



Carter and her "little orange shovie" helped dig up old weeds and plant new seeds



Charlie smacking his lips over the idea of patio tomatoes!  Yummers!



Surprise, surprise!  She couldn't resist getting messy!



And getting him messy, too!



DIRTY TOES!



Mr. Sweet Smiles, being generally adorable



Near mastering of the sit ...

We spent a wonderful weekend at home with the people we love so much.  We stayed with Grandma and Poppy Friday and Saturday.  Carter colored eggs like it was going out of style!  It's fun to watch her mix colors and light up over the "pretty eggies!"  Saturday and Sunday we stayed with Grandma and Grandma, and colored eggies, hunted eggs and had Easter dinner with everyone.  We had a wonderful weekend, full of dye and love!



Happy Carter, getting into the ZONE



Little BUNNY



Look at the look on Carter's face!  For real, she loves Easter!



Charlie got his own eggie, which was pretty mauled by the time we were done!



"EGGIES!!!!!"



Charlie got 4 tasty treats in his Easter basket, which we had to break into!



Carter and Courtney pick out the "icky white" jelly beans (they're coconut and despised at the Chalupa house!)



We laid paper on the table to keep it dye-free.  Uncle Kevin and Charlie mangled it (surprised?!)



One flat of beautifully colored eggs, colored by two beautiful little girls!



"THE EAR-EGG," a Chalupa moment never to be forgotten.  Uncle Kevin "hides" a quarter in Carter's ear.  Only Uncle Kevin can get it out.  Well, Uncle Kevin hid an egg in his ear (he hid it in his collar, and Katie snatched it).  Carter was very intrigued, and had to go check it out.  Magically, Uncle Kevin pulled the egg out of his ear (again, with the help of his lovely assistant!).  Courtney and Carter were grossed out.  Then, Kevin peeled it and ate it.  The girls were horrified! 



Check out their faces: Courtney's giving the Ear-Egg the old hairy eyeball, and Carter can't stand to look at it!  Hilarious!



Finally, in egg dyeing tradition, they had to mix the colors into a big ol' mess



Charlie didn't get to help because he nearly spilled the blue dye all over at Grandma and Poppy's (his brilliant mom wanted to show him the container close up - smart!)



Egg Hunt: GO!



Carter's basket of goodies



Marissa found an eggie by the deer



Charlie didn't find any eggies, but he kept everyone in check with Daddy



Eggie hunters: Courtney, Marissa, Carter and Charlie



Marissa's goodie basket



Charlie liked his bag best!



Easter shades!



That Easter Bunny!  He even made it to Ankeny!  And he knew Carter wanted the "Digging for Dinosaurs" game.  Smart mammal!


The Easter Bunny also left Charlie a surprise - a bottle and a soft sheep!

Have a wonderful Easter!  Eat too many deviled eggs and be sure to have at least one dyed finger!



Happy Easter, love Carter, Charlie & the Easter Bunny



Spring pictures



Our cute little Snuggle Bunny and Little Bear!

We met up with our best buddies at the Ramada for some swimming and giggling, and of course, bed-jumping!!



Here's how hotel adventures with the friends go:
Check in, bring in stuff.
Moms get settled, kids run wild, back and forth in adjoining rooms.
Swim suits are drug out and put on.
Bed jumping ensues until we go to the pool.
Carter loves every second of it!



The brood, minus Charlie (he's super-excited for the next adventure!): Grant, Carter J, Carter Kay, Madi, Nora and Grant



Carter's pool bubbles



Carter likes the water, but on her own terms.  However, at previous outings, she's been "scared" of some rides or water slides or various things wherever we are doing.  Once she does whatever's "spooking" her out, she loves it!  But convincing her to do whatever she thinks she doesn't want to do is becoming hard and harder (she's stubborn, like her father).  So when Collin was brave enough to go down the big water slide, I was convinced to get Carter down, too.  We got her to go up, "just to watch Colly."  I took my turn, and with Kelsey's help, grabbed her and took her down with me.  She hollered for the first few seconds, but calmed and even giggled a bit in the middle.  She was totally safe and never once got water in her face.  We hit the bottom pool and she looked at me with her silly-sweet face and said, "WOAH, mama, that was fast!"  I asked if she wanted to go again, and she was pretty set in her "NO."



Carter J, Madi and Carter Kay, splashing feet



L-O-V-E these guys!



Butt-stoppers on the small water fountains!



Call it a night -
Grant, who's totally interested in hitting the pirate ship again
Colly, who's eyeing the little ship slide
Carter J, who's run for so long he's exhausted and a little grouchy
Madi, who's such a happy camper all the time
and Carter Kay, who's happy to be rid of the big slide



Our TIRED TROOP: Madi, Carter, Collin and Grant

LOVE YA Adventure Club!  We're exhausted, but our hearts are full!  Until next time!