Christmas 2011

Finally the Christmas post. This Christmas was like much like the other holidays we've had since Karter's been born, CRAZY. We started the holiday season with our annual Christmas card. We drive by this really cute old school house on our way home all the time. I knew we had to take family pictures there eventually so we decided we'd do it for our cards and they were a hit. I think they were our best card yet.

Also this year I had read on Pinterest(a popular website were you post crafts, recipes, the latest fashion or fun things to do with your kids) about Elf on the Shelf. I had to get this little guy for KJ. We decided on Charlie for our Elf's name. Charlie got into a bit of mischief but mostly he moved around the house waiting for Karter to spot him each day. Karter got a big kick out of hunting him down each morning.

We went to Welch to have Christmas with the Hayes'. Let me just say this is my favorite part of Christmas. I LOVE going to Welch. I love Brandon's family so much. They are the kindest, most generous, most loving group of people you will ever meet. EVER! Karter really enjoyed going out there this year. He got to ride Granddads tractor which was the highlight of the trip for him. Ever since we've been home he has asked to go to Keet and Mewamees house and see Granddad and Memes house. Also I have to add that this was Karters first Long road trip since he's been potty trained and he did AWESOME! Not a single accident. I must say it is so convenient to have a boy when it comes to this. Just pull over and open the door and let 'em go. He didn't even get out of the car.

Aunt Bridgey came home from Houston for an extended stay. This was the first time Karter actually got to "know" his aunt Bridgey and he loved her. We were able to see her a lot while she was here. We had her over for supper, she came over for Christmas with her dad, we went to the Science museum for an afternoon and had Christmas with Debbie. We loved having her here and wished she was home so we could see her more often.

Christmas morning was really nice at home. Karter really got into it this year and frankly so did we. Karter must have been a good boy because this year he got a ton of gifts. I will admit it was mostly because of me. With this summers heat keeping us inside most of the time, I insisted Karter get a closet full of new toys. He didn't mind one bit.

Halloween

October is always a busy month for us. We go non stop from the 1st to the 31st. We started out with pumpkin painting. Karter loved painting his "pumpey", he made sure to get it just right.

We tried going to Storybook Forrest with the Sopers but it was raining so they closed down for the night. The Sopers and us decided to go to OC's trick-or-treating. Let me tell you that is some good trick-or-treating. A few days later we were able to take KJ to storybook forrest for some trick-or-treating, a hayride, games and a hotdog/marshmallow roast.

Lastly we went trick-or-treating with the Sopers again in the same neighborhood we went to last year. Karter really liked trick-or-treating this year. He, Luke and Leta had tons of goodies for us ;)

July 2011

With this summer being the hottest on record, we found ourselves spending a great deal of time inside just trying to stay cool. However July 4th we did get outside for a bit. We spent most of the holiday with our good friends The Soper's. We had them over for supper and fireworks then went to the 4th of July Parade in Edmond. It was a lot of fun to see the kids interact. Karter is in love with Luke, Leta is in love with Karter and they all followed each other around like little ducklings. It was pretty cute. 4th of July evening we went to UCO for the big firework show. Karter kept saying "I go see big booms." He did really well but he did ask us to go home before the show had ended because he wanted to go Nigh, NighWatching Mickey Mouse. An all time favorite this summer
We ate LOTS of smoothies this summer to stay cool
I added this photo just because he's so handsome
Karter's first Movie. He is now a "cop corn" addict
We went to see Cars 2. The movie was okay, the experience was awesome
Leta Loves Karter
Karter Loves Leta he just doesn't know it yet
KJ's first sparkler
Watching the 3-wheelers
I love this picture
Karter does not like to be crowded. He didn't move from this spot
He is big into showing his muscles

He wanted my attention so he grabbed my face to tell me something
I love this boy

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.

Snow and Valentines

It's been a long time since my last blog post and I'm sure I have lost my one follower but I did have a good excuse for not updating. Since we live "in the country" (that's what most internet providers think) we had a pretty sorry internet connection using the only internet provider that would even try to give us service. Well after waiting 4 almost 5 long years for COX to get to us they finally did. So we cancelled our "high speed internet" with @link and waited for COX. So now we have real high speed internet and I'm able to sit here and give updates to I'm sure no one but myself.

In the first part of February we had a good sized snow storm hit OK. I'm sure I'm the only one to say this but I hope this trend continues. For the last 2 years we can actually say it snowed here. I loved every minute of it. The first day it hit it was too cold and windy to go out. In fact it was dangerous to be out there for any amount of time. So we waited until the sun came out and for the wind to stop. B got to stay home from work for 3 days due to the conditions. 3 days off work plus the 2 day weekend, we were spoiled. Karter loved watching the snow fall from the front door but as soon as we were out in it he loved it even more. He did have to "warm" up to the idea of it but he quickly did. He didn't want to walk around in the pretty fluffy snow because it was so deep so we let him walk around in the street where it was much more compacted. We enjoyed sledding, painting the snow, making snowballs, making snowmen, shoveling the driveway and watching the kids across the street ski and snowboard off their driveway.

For Valentines Day Karter and Daddy made me flowers. Brandon cut out all 4 flowers and traced Karter's hand print on each one. He used some of my old scrapbooking stickers and decorated them up. Karter colored on a few of them. Then they put on each flower We Love You. B made stems and attached the flowers to them. He pulled out a vase I had put away and had them sitting on the bar along side a VS gift card. It was a great surprise.
Karter and I went to a cupcake shop in town called Cupcakes to Go Go. Everyone had been talking about how wonderful the cupcakes were. So we bought 3 different cupcakes for all of us to share for our special day. Karter had a chocolate chocolate cupcake, B had a peanut butter cup cupcake and I had a red velvet cupcake. I honestly wasn't impressed but it was a nice treat since we don't have cupcakes a lot.
For Brandon gift I made him some chocolate covered strawberries and bought him a pair of tennis shoes. Two of his favorite things. He didn't NEED the shoes at all but they were on sale and he somehow convinced me that he needed a new pair of all black shox's. Getting ready to go outside

All ready to play in the snow

Walking in the street

Snow Painting

Our first family snowman. He's pretty pathetic. I'll invest more time in finding snowman items next time. Carrots didn't do the trick

B and K made me Flowers with K's hand prints on them and stickers. Also B got me a much needed VS Gift card

Brandon's Valentines gift from me. Homemade Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Karter making Valentines cookies. He got "Mess" on his hands then he wanted down and to get a bath. We did not teach this whole Mess thing to him.

I picked up 3 cupcakes from Cupcakes to Go Go for Valentines day. K enjoyed the frosting off of his until he realized he was a MESS.