Chalupa Family Blog

MoA

2012-02-06T12:29:44Z

Silly Sunday

2012-01-23T15:36:45Z

Today was fairly uneventful, which makes it that much better in my book!

We're trying!

My "Nerdy Birdies" in their Angry Birds shirts (yes, Carter "accessorized" with a big ol' ring and scarf!)

Tea Party! It's hilarious watching a little guy drink from a little cup!

She was a lady during our tea time, saying "please," "thank you," and "Darling"!

They even managed to work in a little work out time, working on their Candlesticks for gymnastics!

Little Reader

2012-01-22T15:01:41Z

Gee ... wonder where he learned this skill?!!

100th Day Day

2012-01-19T15:32:06Z

Carter's 1st grade class celebrated the 100th Day of School by dressing as old people who were 100 years old! Hilarious! She hated every second of it, making her look old and grumpy, which made us laugh even harder!

SHE HATED IT!

Bun + Baby Powder = Gray Hair, which she was greatly unhappy about!

Mrs. Burk's 1st Graders, all 100 years old (Carter's in the middle, with a blue top under her old lady dress)! Super fun!

No more cribs

2012-01-16T23:38:41Z

No more cribs around this house! We've only got Big Girls and Boys now!

Charlie said goodbye to his crib last night. It was based more out necessity than desire, though. He had a moment of naughtiness (surprising, I know): he threw a toy car at Andy, which landed him in a time out in his crib. After a few moments in the crib, we heard "Help!" and peeked in to see him half-in and half-out of the crib, one leg thrown over the side of the crib. So, Andy converted the crib to a big bed!

Update:
Last night, Sunday, was Charlie's first night in his big bed. I expected a battle to stay in bed, but he did great! He cried a little, per usual, when we said good nights (he just does not want to miss any single moment of anything!), but then he was great! Around 8:45pm, there was a thumb. He'd fallen out. By the time I made a beeline to him, he was crying, balled up on the floor with his blankie. Heartbreaking! I calmed him down, snuggled for a bit, then put him back to bed. Andy's turn came at around 12:30am, and my second turn occurred around 5am. When I went to get him, he was about two feet away from the bed by his toy box, trying to get ahold of Tigger. Reason he fell, or "heck, while I'm down here..." I do not know!

Such a happy Big Boy in his big bed!

"Nigh-nigh!" Love, Charlie!

Science Center Sunday

2012-01-15T23:45:35Z

Carter got to play basketball Saturday, so we picked a family activity Charlie could enjoy Sunday: The Science Center!

Carter got some BIG bubbles to float!

Charlie had a blast making "bubbies!" He was not a big fan of the automatic paper towel machine (in the background). Every time someone grabbed a paper towel, it would whirl and make noise, then spit out another paper towel, and he would look all sorts of worried and say, "OH NO!"

Daddy was playing in the tubes, but Charlie just wanted to GO, GO, GO!

The pokey-wall

The perks of being an adorable and inquisitive red head is that you ALWAYS get called on to help at the Science Center for experiments!

Basketball Babe

2012-01-14T23:26:00Z

Carter started "Little Dunkers Basketball," a kindergarten & 1st grade league. She has had a great time! She is much more involved than last year, she is "just okay" with not getting the ball every second of every play, and she's aggressive!

The team, running "drills" with Coach

... it's a little like herding cats, but it's adorable!

Girl's got the ball!

She shoots!

... and rebounds ... and walks the ball back to a spot she's happy with ... and shoots again!

... gets the rebound again ... again walks to a comfortable shooting spot ... again shoots!

SHOOTS and SCORES!

She will "run" the ball down court, literally. She'll get about half-way down court, just running and carrying the ball (TRAVEL!), then she'll remember to dribble. In her defense, at least she DOES dribble; most of the girls just run with the ball!

Guess what I did at school today?!

2012-01-09T15:41:32Z

To meet the standards and benchmarks of the JCSD in regards to our light and sound book (where we cover how the eye intercepts and recognizes light), we dissected an eyeball. Cow eye, to be exact, as it is very similar to a human eye.

Here you go! A heapin' helping of eyeball, right before lunch! Enjoy!

Parts of a cow eyeball. Aren't you glad you read our blog?!

Honey Creek Family Time

2011-12-31T22:13:10Z

Since Andy's been a workaholic lately, he had the brilliant idea for us to spend some quality, family time at Honey Creek Resort and Buccaneer's Bay water park. Like we'd say no!!!

Jumping on the bed! Let the fun begin!

A bed-jumping pro!

Friday evening, we checked in and let Daddy watch the end of the Iowa State game, then it was POOL TIME

Carter's working on her cannonball. It's hard to make a big splash when you're a tiny Sassafrass like she is!

SPLASH DOWN!

It took much convincing, but I finally got Carter to be brave and go down the BIG SLIDE

Carter climbed aboard the turtle to cheese it up

Charlie's new ride - the turtle, and it's HIS, by God! He would monkey up on top of it, sit there, kiss the turtle's nose a few times, then "accidentally" slip off, and repeat. If anyone else tried to play on the turtle, he wigged out!

Carter and Charlie slipping and sliding, together <3

SPLASH DOWN!

Girl was all-weekend brave! She crossed the lillypad play area, using the ropes to get across, all by herself!

Cheesers: Mommy & Carter

Charlie was convinced that if he hid, he wouldn't have to take a nap! Wrong!

While Charlie napped, Carter and I got some delicious ice cream and cake and some Girl's Only time!

Then we hit the arcade. As she passed me on the boat game (which I LET her do), she yelled at me, "SEE YA LATER, SUCKA!!!"

Back in the room, it was nap time, not only for just Charlie, but Andy, too. He came down with some yucky head congestion and felt icky, just in time for our family adventure.

Buccaneer Carter

Buccaneer Mommy

Buccaneer Charlie

New Year's Eve, 10:28pm, the scene in room 128: Carter, propped up on her arms watching The Big Bang Theory, Charlie, hanging on the side of his pack and play, trying anything and everything to get out, and old Andy and I, just wanting to get some sleep! Happy New Year's all!

Christmas: it's time for the Pals!

2011-12-27T21:08:03Z

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without out best friends!

Our Pals: Collin, Madi, Grant, Nora, Carter J, Carter Kay, and Charlie

Bring on the craziness! Scarves, travel boxes, pillows, soaps and bracelets, along with ABC memory jars and 52 things I love about you - Homemade Christmas was an absolute hit!

Madi and Carter Kay, loving their scarves

Nora B, loving her Hawkeye blankie!

Carter playing with her travel box chalkboard, writing "I love Grant," complete with a picture of her and him in wedding wear! YIKES!

Carter J, running interference between the soon-to-be-married's

Our Bonnie & Clyde, Charlie and Nora in their get-away trike!

THIS is the note Kelsey found, undoubtedly written by Carter for Grant. DOUBLE YIKES!!!

Adventure, part 1: All seven children, under the supervision of Kelsey, Janine, Shane and I, at El Durado. These guys were gems!

Adventure, part 2: "We Bought a Zoo" at the theater. Grant, loudly, questioned what "He's a dick!" meant, and Carter sobbed when the son and father fought, but it was a great time with everyone!

We took our zoo to "We Bought a Zoo," and they were champs! LOVE you GUYS!!!

Christmas: Headed Home ...

2011-12-25T20:53:14Z

Christmas morning, after Santa's gift wrap flew and we had bellies full of Christmas ham, we loaded the car and truck and headed back home. First stop: Grandma and Poppy's for some good ol' spoiling!

Sweet babies at Grandma and Poppy's, ready to rock!

A little flapper gift ribbon action for Carter

Charlie lugged this gift, nearly as big as him, around for about five minutes before opening it

Carter helped Grandma while Charlie "helped" Poppy open gifts

Then we headed to Grandpa's for Chalupa Family dinner.

Card sharks, Charlie and Owen

My favorite dudes

Whatcha got, Marissa?!

Courtney unwraps her Hollywood Barbie

Owen tearing up his wrapping paper

Charlie's awesome tractor

And, wrapping up Christmas Day, we stayed at the casino. We were in our jammies and ready to get some much-needed sleep around 9pm. Andy and Corey hit the blackjack table, which I tried to get Carter and Charlie to sleep (Amber did likewise in the room next door). They goofed for half an hour, then Carter decided to remove herself from the chaos and sleep on the floor, leaving me to wrangle Charlie! She was out by 9:30. and he finally fell asleep around 10:15. He had a rough night, but casino breakfast of bacon and muffins, and Andy winning $30 made it a little better!

Me, Charlie and Carter, craziness in room 413!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T20:27:42Z

"SO EXCITED" doesn't even begin to cover Carter and Charlie (and Andy and I!) this week!

Wednesday we got to open our "Early Gifts" of Santa jammies!

Jammies!

Christmas "Ebe" morning, the kids and I hit Play Place to run off some energy! The coolest part of the happy meal: the mustache in the box! Carter-mustache

Mama-mustache

Charlie-mustache!

Christmas Eve dinner - our family tradition of Christmas Ham. Nobody makes a better ham than Andy!

Christmas angels!

Merry Christmas, love the Chalupa's

The tree and gifts drove Carter batty all day long!

The prettiest present with a beautiful bow!

This gift refused to be wrapped and bow'ed!

Charlie's "wear" gift of new shirts, which he promptly gave back to me and said, "No please!"

Me and Charlie

Charlie's Cars match game

Bag head!

Me and Andy, my partner in Christmas crime

Carter, Charlie and I, tossing out the reindeer food before bed

Santa's chocolate chip cookies and reindeer sugar cookies and milk - YUMMY!

Charlie and Carter, in Santa jammies with his treats left. Tired, happy, sleepy and ready for bed ... kinda ....

Christmas gifts, magic and excitement

Exhausted Carter

Exhausted Charlie

Santa CAME!!!

He did come! They were good! Wonders never cease to amaze :)

Christmas Morning, EXCITED!

Crib Life babies, "Just what I always wanted! How did Santa know?!"

Santa left Charlie a super-cool new scooter, that he super-loves!

Santa was a champ and did a great job, but it was Andy that purchased the popcorn maker and all the fatty fixin's for the theater room. We tested it out, and it is delicious!

"She took the midnight train, going anywhere ..."

2011-12-20T20:25:30Z

Who knew Carter was a Journey fan?!!

Carter, rockin the Journey!

Santa's Sugar Cookies

2011-12-20T19:58:34Z

While we had breakfast with Santa a couple weeks ago, Santa made a special request: Sugar Cookies. And Carter absolutely would not disappoint!

Chalupa Cookie Makers

Little Chefs!

Who knew sugar cookies could be so messy?! Col. Sanders needed a bath after baking!

The Ankeny Press Citizen is very fond of Carter Kay! And she had her list all ready for Santa!

Santa calls (and emails!)

2011-12-20T14:58:43Z

Carter got a special phone call while in dance. I pulled her out into the hallway to talk with Santa. Then the rest of her tumbling class came out to watch. Santa also said a big HI to them, too!

Santa calling!

Santa even sent a video email to each of the kids (and ones to Andy, who was naughty and me, who was nice, of course!). They loved them!