A New Birthday Tradition

I have a friend who does birthday donuts for her daughter every year and I've loved the idea of it for a while, so I stole the idea from her. I did tell her so it wasn't exactly stealing.
We never eat donuts unless it's something SUPER special, so since Karter's birthday is pretty special we took him to Full Cup. He got to pick out his very own donut. And much to my surprise he didn't go for the sprinkle donut. He went for the plain chocolate glazed one and an apple juice. He picked our table and we all sat down to enjoy our fried sugar filled goodness.
After donuts we took Karter to the Farmers Market to pick out a cantaloupe and a watermelon. (Brandon calls Karter his Watermelon Buddy) Karter picked out our melons and when Brandon put the melons down to pay Karter threw a huge fit thinking we weren't going to get them after all. This kid loves his fruit.
Donuts and Farmers Market will be an annual tradition in the Hayes home. Even Brandon said he thought it was a good tradition to have and we all know B isn't much for traditions.

Tuesday is our favorite day

Tuesday has become our favorite day of the week. Every Tuesday we go to the Library for lapsit. Lapsit is from 10:15-11 a.m. For the first 15-20 minutes we do free play. Karter usually does the puzzles, magnets or cars. He has ventured out to dress up, kitchen play or even blocks. But mainly he does the same thing every time. After free play we sit in our circle and listen to music, read books, bubbles or do parachute play. Karter doesn't usually participate during the songs. He loves to listen to them and he is taking in every single verse and word being sung. But he will not do the hand motions or movements. There's too much of a crowd. After lapsit is over we go check out our books. We usually get 10 books 2 of which HAVE to be Curious George. Karter loves to give the librarian our card and hand her each book. I'm sure they hate this part because it takes for ever. So if the self checkout is available we will use that just so we don't frustrate the poor ladies. After we get to our car Karter usually starts making his song suggestions. He loves to sing AFTER we get in the car or get home but he won't do it there. These songs are his current favorites: 1 little 2 little 3 little bubbles, finger poppin', shake my sillies out and we have to do little mouse little mouse. We do these every day.
On one particular Tuesday, after lapsit, Rachel Soper invited us to go to the Fire Station with her, Luke and Leta. I have been wanting to take Karter but never wanted to go alone. So this was an added bonus for K. He got to see the firemen, firetrucks and hang out with Luke.
Karter loved the firehouse. Mostly he like to run around like a crazy man but he did enjoy sitting in the firetrucks and seeing all of the neat equipment. When we were about ready to leave the firemen handed L, L and K stickers and coloring pages. They also let them take turns shooting water from the hoses. Luke and Leta loved doing that but Karter, Nope he stayed off to the side or tried to run back to the car. He didn't like that part. Karter loved visiting the fire station

Detecting heat. It was a pretty cool toy

Leta wasn't too sure about sitting there for a quick picture

Karter had to do everything Luke did

I love these 3

Karter did not want to spray the water hose. He was perfectly happy with his sticker.

Luke and Leta spraying the water hose

Easter 2011

We were pretty pumped about Easter this year because he's starting to understand a little more, so we talked about the Easter Story a few days in advance to get ready. I'm sure he had no clue what we were saying but he knew we were talking about Jesus just like we do every other day of the week.
We also got to take him egg hunting for the first time. Last year he was too little and his nap happened to fall right at the same time the egg hunt would. This year we had it a little earlier and put him down for nap a bit later. Before Easter Sunday we took Karter to OC's Annual Egg Hunt. We weren't sure Karter would know what to do so we really didn't have high hopes for him bringing home anything. He proved us wrong though. He knew exactly what to do just as if he had done it a million times before. He brought lots of goodies home to share with Mommy and Daddy.
Easter Sunday we woke K up to show him that he had been visited by the Easter Bunny. He loved all of his gifts and thanked the Bunny over and over that morning. He also wasn't too happy about having to leave his gifts at home to go to church. After church we invited both of our families over for lunch. After lunch we set up our egg hunt in the living room. (It had been raining outside for days). First egg hunt was for Karter. He didn't feel like putting his cup down so he insisted Hailey(my cousins daughter) carry his basket around for him while he put his eggs in it. After he was finished hunting, my mom and Brandon hid Hailey and Ava's eggs.
This Easter I sat and reflected on how much love God has for us as his children. I know as a mommy I would never give Karter up to save someone else. I'm selfish. But He is not. Off to OC's Annual Easter Egg Hunt

First egg hunt

He's got it down

We had a Toy Story Craft theme going.

Waking him up to see what the Bunny left him

Daddy and K before church

Mommy and K before church. The only good shot of us but he's picking his nose. That's life with a boy though.

Spotting the goods

He had a personal basket holder. He wouldn't put his cup down.