Saturday, January 16, 2010
Winter Pictures
A few Sundays ago, it was extremely cold, and the frost made the trees spectacular. So I ran home after church, grabbed my camera, and drove the kids around to take pictures of the scenery. After a few minutes, they were really mad they had decided to come with me!! They thought I would only take a few pictures and be done, we ended up driving around for about half an hour!! Memories . . . Here are some of the pictures!!
Water Adventures
Cannon has always been facinated with water. He has loved having a shower, instead of a bath, even as a tiny baby. Strange! If someone is getting in the shower and he is around, he gets very upset if you don't let him shower with you. He even loves having water dumped over his head in the bathtub. He has never cried.... So it shouldn't surprise me when I hear the water running in the bathroom and everyone, except Cannon is accounted for. I guess the toilet water is no longer the desired goal - sink water can be turned on and off, and if you're still small enough, you can use it as your bathtub, oh, and it's warm. This is the scene that I found . . . and couldn't resist capturing the moment and couldn't decide which pictures to share. So you get the full moment, with music. The joys of a pre-toddler. I think this means we are in for REAL BIG TROUBLE!!
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyxY7JgHow
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyxY7JgHow
Friday, January 15, 2010
Carter Christmas Chaos
We have a Christmas Eve tradition, every Christmas Eve, we open one present, which is always pajamas. Grandma Cressall was kind enough to make everyone pajamas, they even coordinated!! The most exciting was Jerrick lost his 2nd tooth. It's not very often that Santa and the Tooth Fairy get to come the same night! The Tooth Fairy even remembered to bring Gunnar money for the tooth that the dentist pulled out a few days earlier. Sometimes she's a little slow in making her rounds. There must be a lot of kids loosing teeth right now!!
We also have a tradition with setting traps. Since, this was our first year in the new room, and both of us had strep throat, the traps ended up being pretty lame. Although when we were setting them up, I thought they were pretty good everything considering. The kids let us know that this year was not up to par - and they expected better traps next year. We put up some motion sensor lights which went off when you got close. We also put up our infamous singing wreath, that is incredibly loud. It must be getting too old, because it only worked occassionally - taking all the fun out of blasting Christmas music when you go by it. We also put buckets with bells on the stairs from the kitchen door, out the stairs. Apparently at that point they weren't worried about being stealth and turned on lights ... honestly, I slept incredibly well that night. Probably thanks to the dose of medicine that I took, trying to keep my throat from not hurting.
The kids woke us up at 7, very generous to let us sleep in!! We opened presents and ate our traditional Christmas breakfast casserole. My favorite, sausage, egg and cheese casserole (and a few more ingredients). Yum! I don't think everyone likes it as much as I do, but since I've made it for Christmas morning since Monica was little, it's a must. If nothing else, but for me!!
The kids seemed very happy with everything that they received. Gunnar even told us, "This is the first year that Santa brought me what I REALLY wanted." Really was emphasized well. Gunnar's present that he 'really' wanted, was the Vulcan Nerf Gun. It has a clip and shoots bullets progressively pelting whoever is in the path. Luckily, they are sponges! They launched an attach on Cannon - I don't think he knew whether to be scared or find it funny. He just stood there frozen. The joys of older brothers!!
Monica's favorite gift was her new straightener. She still tells me (at least once a week) how well it works, it keeps her hair straight ALL day. Jaxon's favorite gift was his new i-pod, along with Guitar Hero. Jerrick, the video game junkie, got a few of those and was very excited! Ryker got a little ride on toy, which Cannon thought he should try and ride (pictures below). One toy that was the surprise hit was a pirate ship that goes in the bathtub. Everyone has enjoyed sinking the ship and attaching the octopus (think 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea). Strange, but very popular. Everyone was super excited to get socks and underwear - okay, not really! But I'm excited not to have to scrounge for socks every Sunday, because any dark colors are eaten by my washer, or crawl under beds. And the best present of all is a brand new room!! It was nice to keep the mess somewhat contained!
We also have a tradition with setting traps. Since, this was our first year in the new room, and both of us had strep throat, the traps ended up being pretty lame. Although when we were setting them up, I thought they were pretty good everything considering. The kids let us know that this year was not up to par - and they expected better traps next year. We put up some motion sensor lights which went off when you got close. We also put up our infamous singing wreath, that is incredibly loud. It must be getting too old, because it only worked occassionally - taking all the fun out of blasting Christmas music when you go by it. We also put buckets with bells on the stairs from the kitchen door, out the stairs. Apparently at that point they weren't worried about being stealth and turned on lights ... honestly, I slept incredibly well that night. Probably thanks to the dose of medicine that I took, trying to keep my throat from not hurting.
The kids woke us up at 7, very generous to let us sleep in!! We opened presents and ate our traditional Christmas breakfast casserole. My favorite, sausage, egg and cheese casserole (and a few more ingredients). Yum! I don't think everyone likes it as much as I do, but since I've made it for Christmas morning since Monica was little, it's a must. If nothing else, but for me!!
The kids seemed very happy with everything that they received. Gunnar even told us, "This is the first year that Santa brought me what I REALLY wanted." Really was emphasized well. Gunnar's present that he 'really' wanted, was the Vulcan Nerf Gun. It has a clip and shoots bullets progressively pelting whoever is in the path. Luckily, they are sponges! They launched an attach on Cannon - I don't think he knew whether to be scared or find it funny. He just stood there frozen. The joys of older brothers!!
Monica's favorite gift was her new straightener. She still tells me (at least once a week) how well it works, it keeps her hair straight ALL day. Jaxon's favorite gift was his new i-pod, along with Guitar Hero. Jerrick, the video game junkie, got a few of those and was very excited! Ryker got a little ride on toy, which Cannon thought he should try and ride (pictures below). One toy that was the surprise hit was a pirate ship that goes in the bathtub. Everyone has enjoyed sinking the ship and attaching the octopus (think 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea). Strange, but very popular. Everyone was super excited to get socks and underwear - okay, not really! But I'm excited not to have to scrounge for socks every Sunday, because any dark colors are eaten by my washer, or crawl under beds. And the best present of all is a brand new room!! It was nice to keep the mess somewhat contained!
Random Thoughts
There is nothing more fun than kids on Christmas morning... or Christmas Eve for that matter. Christmas Eve was all about hanging out at home. It's sad, but my daughter told me that she really wanted to spend some time together (at home), baking cookies, hanging out and watching movies. It feels like it's been forever since we've spent any substantial time just relaxing together. So, that's what we did! We made cookies (well, I made cookies, the kids helped frost) then we hung out in our brand new living room - well, the garage made over into a living room. We're officially moved in and we are LOVING IT! Jared put so much heart and soul into it and it turned out beautiful.
Moving the furniture wasn't the high point . . . our couch weighs an enormous amount and my husband thinks that I'm really strong. So, not! With lots of huffing and puffing, no, I didn't blow the house down, but I did help move furniture and the prized mountain lion. Which was quite the ordeal, due to the fact it is very tall, we had to basically squat and walk to get it out the door. I slipped on the stairs on the deck, well, almost slipped, but enough to send my husband into panic mode. Ultimately, I hope this lets him know, I am NOT a furniture mover. That title is proudly held by my mother who can move any piece of furniture with amazing ease, at least those are my memories of the times we moved the furniture around for a new look. This is also the reason I never move furniture, well, occasionally to vacuum, but not often. Don't tell the dust bunnies, they might want to take up residence!!
It feels like it has been forever since I've updated anything. Things have been absolutely crazy everywhere. Both Jared and I had strep throat - twice. Well, I think Jared never got over his, which is why I got it again.... maybe it came from huffing and puffing in the cold weather... just a thought! Things have been crazy at work and home. I feel like no matter where I am, there is just not enough time to do what I would like to do. Although, I am proud to say that for Jared's birthday I gave him the ultimate present. I cleaned every bathroom! Now, for some of you, this may not be an unusual thing. Here in the Carter household, Jared is the official, have to come up with a better title, bathroom cleaner. Now, don't think that he was totally cheated. Although clean bathrooms for a birthday present would make me happy! He did get tickets to Great White/Dokken (and was able to get backstage passes), pants, guitar hero game, and new white shirts for work. That was definitely the most exciting! Okay, not really!! Got a little side tracked - so, I call Jared to tell him happy birthday - since he's working. Hate the whole birthday after a holiday . . . probably too late to change that. Anyway, he says to me, "I didn't think you even remembered how to clean a toilet." Ha! I actually do!! Shocking, yes, since it's probably been at least 5 years, seriously!
Now that I've rambled on and on, this post will get buried with all the new posts that I'm going to add with pictures. So those of you that have finished reading ALL of this! Thank you! Hopefully it's brought a smile or two!!
Moving the furniture wasn't the high point . . . our couch weighs an enormous amount and my husband thinks that I'm really strong. So, not! With lots of huffing and puffing, no, I didn't blow the house down, but I did help move furniture and the prized mountain lion. Which was quite the ordeal, due to the fact it is very tall, we had to basically squat and walk to get it out the door. I slipped on the stairs on the deck, well, almost slipped, but enough to send my husband into panic mode. Ultimately, I hope this lets him know, I am NOT a furniture mover. That title is proudly held by my mother who can move any piece of furniture with amazing ease, at least those are my memories of the times we moved the furniture around for a new look. This is also the reason I never move furniture, well, occasionally to vacuum, but not often. Don't tell the dust bunnies, they might want to take up residence!!
It feels like it has been forever since I've updated anything. Things have been absolutely crazy everywhere. Both Jared and I had strep throat - twice. Well, I think Jared never got over his, which is why I got it again.... maybe it came from huffing and puffing in the cold weather... just a thought! Things have been crazy at work and home. I feel like no matter where I am, there is just not enough time to do what I would like to do. Although, I am proud to say that for Jared's birthday I gave him the ultimate present. I cleaned every bathroom! Now, for some of you, this may not be an unusual thing. Here in the Carter household, Jared is the official, have to come up with a better title, bathroom cleaner. Now, don't think that he was totally cheated. Although clean bathrooms for a birthday present would make me happy! He did get tickets to Great White/Dokken (and was able to get backstage passes), pants, guitar hero game, and new white shirts for work. That was definitely the most exciting! Okay, not really!! Got a little side tracked - so, I call Jared to tell him happy birthday - since he's working. Hate the whole birthday after a holiday . . . probably too late to change that. Anyway, he says to me, "I didn't think you even remembered how to clean a toilet." Ha! I actually do!! Shocking, yes, since it's probably been at least 5 years, seriously!
Now that I've rambled on and on, this post will get buried with all the new posts that I'm going to add with pictures. So those of you that have finished reading ALL of this! Thank you! Hopefully it's brought a smile or two!!
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