Our Budding Artist

Maddy and Garrett are big time 'project' kids. They are always working on something with crayons, markers, paint, glue- whatever! Garrett saves his money to buy envelopes at the "Dollar Treat" and loves making pictures and letters for people, and putting them in envelopes. Well, we think Carter may be on the same path. (Or maybe he will really love tatoos.) I apologize that there are SO many, but they were too funny to cut any out!

Carter NEVER crawls anymore- NEVER. But when he got busted coloring all over his legs, he crawled off like a little puppy.


"What Mom? What's the problem?"


"Oh THAT? That's nothin'!"


"Check it out, Mom! It is pretty cool."


"Hey Garrett, check THIS out!"


PART TWO

BUSTED by Dad.


Not nearly as ashamed as last time!


"Huh. How did this happen?"


Later that evening Carter was eating a carrot and got into some orange finger paint. He started dipping. We didn't stop to take pictures of that one, but he was quite a sight with blue on his legs, orange marker on his arms, and orange face paint all over his face. Every day is an adventure around here!

Company!

We were so lucky to have Joel's sister, Jenell and her sweet baby, Dakota, with us the past 5 days for a visit. We had a great visit and Dakota and Carter have become great buddies. Pretty sweet. Jenell is an awesome Mama to Dakota, we are so proud of her!

Bumbo Seat time


Dakota's first swing


I was cooking dinner and Jenell was playing with the Bigs. I glanced over to check on Dakota, and I see Carter curled up next to him on the blanket, singing to Dakota! It was the cutest thing ever. I have no idea where Carter got that 3-hole punch, by the way! Yikes!


I love how they are looking right at each other here.


Kisses! More than once Jenell would say, "Why is Dakota's head WET?" And then we'd realize it was from Carter's constant kisses! Thank goodness Jenell is pretty relaxed.

Go Sissy GO!

It's SOCCER season! Soccer isn't Maddy's actual favorite sport, she is more of a ballet kind of gal, but she decided to give it another go this fall. She is lucky to have a great coach, and a bunch of her good buddies are on her team. This was game #2 and it was just a gorgeous Autumn evening here in the Pac NW.

Madeline did great tonight. She hustled, she had a great, LONG, breakaway, and she ALMOST scored a goal- like 3 times! Maybe next time....





Of course Garrett is all about the soccer. He got all dressed up in Maddy's old gear for the event. He can't wait until next fall when HE can play too!







Carter is a little soccer star in training, naturally!

Apple Picking

I sure haven't had much time for blogging lately, it seems. Even my picture taking has slowed down considerably lately! But Friday Garrett had his first field trip, and we joined the other preschoolers at the Apple Orchard. Garrett was all business, of course and picked a lot of apples! Carter was more interested in eating one apple the entire 2 hours we were there, but he sure was happy to be included with the big kids.

Sweet Memories

My sweet husband fixed up our old laptop the other day, and doing so made available tons of our old pictures...most of which I've never bothered to get developed. (I am working on that!)

Anyway, I just had to share a few.


At a couple months before Sissy turned 2. She was so funny that night- she had about 200 eyes on her ALL the time.


Garrett and Grayson at around 17 months.


Sissy and G at the pumpkin patch. They were about 4.5 and 1.5.


The boys were nearly 2 here and Sis was nearly 5.


I love this picture of G in his 'Church Clothes.' This was before the 'Church Clothes revolt,' and about a week before he turned 2.


Good grief my babies are growing so quickly!

Goin Bananas

Have you ever seen a kid eat a banana like this?








Me either.

Busy Busy

TGIF! It has been a busy week as the Gibson Five get back into the swing of things! 2nd grade, preschool, ballet, MOPS, daycare, volunteering, Back to School Night, playgroup, working out...oh MAN am I exhausted! It has been fun though, and I wouldn't trade any of it. Here are a few quick updates:

Garrett: LOVES preschool! Really loves it. And I can tell his teacher 'gets' him which is a big relief! He comes home singing and telling me the poems and all about the stories. The only thing that is, well, a little concerning is that he told me his very best friend in the class is 'Bun.' The bunny puppet. :|

Maddy: LOVES 2nd grade! She is such a good example for Garrett of having a great attitude, being a good friend, and being a hard worker at school. I am so proud of her! I got to work in her classroom this week, and once again I think she has a great teacher and is going to have a wonderful year. Dance started this week for Maddy, and she was thrilled to get going again. Soccer starts next week, so that should be fun too!

Carter: Carter is HILARIOUS. This kid has SO much personality! He and Molly get a lot of 1 on 1 time Monday and Wednesday when the big boys are at school. They play, but they also have some things to work out! Carter has never been a binky baby...except when Molly is around. Then he HAS to have one. Sometimes he is kissing and hugging on Molly, and other times he climbs up on my lap and glares at her. He is saying bunches of words and knows lots of animal sounds. He has also recently discovered dancing...especially when we are in public places. It is absolutely the best. Hopefully someday I can get it on video. And then figure out how to post it here.

So. Life is good. Hopefully I will get back to taking pictures next week...once my head stops spinning!

Garrett's Big Day

I went into Garrett's room this morning and before I even saw the whites of his eyes, he said, "Today I go to preschool!"

Last night we picked out his clothes...he chose this Nike shirt and shorts outfit from Grandma 'Nita. He, of course, requested that I cut the tags out of the shirt (there were 3!), and when I walked back in the house from kissing Maddy and Joel goodbye, he was standing at the door with his backpack on! Too bad school didn't start for almost 2 more hours for him, and we had to do a few things like eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes and socks. Details, right?!?! I am glad to know he is excited because he has been pretty low key about the whole thing and I wasn't sure how he was feeling.







When I dropped him off, he was so happy and completely at ease. He plopped down at the art table and just got to work- cutting and gluing...2 of his favorite things! It was all I could do not to cry, but he gave me hugs and was ready for me to go. He gave Carter and Molly plenty of loves and we were off.





His teacher met him at the door and he was so proud of himself for finding his name without any help! (I knew he could do it, but I was still like, "Phew!")


Then he had to put his name in the chart. It took him a minute to choose just the right spot.


Carter really wanted to stay and play too! (You can see sweet Molly in the stroller in the background. She was so easy and good!)


I'm sure he'll have a great day. Hard to believe he is old enough for me to send him off to preschool! How DID that happen?

We sure love you, Sweet Garrett!

It Started Early

Found this pic while sorting through some old photos. Now I get why Carter loves Pearly! She is one of his earliest memories!

Up to the Highest Heights!

Last week Maddy and Garrett got to go flying with Papa Ed (aka Papa Vroom Vroom!). It was super early in the morning- calm air, very little air traffic- just a beautiful day! Maddy went first. She made it clear that she didn't want anything fancy- no steep turns, nothing. She loved it though, and was grinning ear to ear when it was over.

Ready to GO!


Taxiing


Up, Up, and AWAY!



Garrett watching.


Next it was Garrett's turn! He WANTED to do some tricks. I told him, "Papa will go really fast with you!" Garrett replied, "THAT is NOT a TRICK!"

When he got in the plane and was all buckled in, I heard him ask my dad, "Papa? You got any money in here?"

Papa asked Garrett if he wanted to do a roll- and he did! So they did, and Garrett liked it so much, he requested a SECOND roll!!! They did that one out over the airport so I could see it too. WOW! What a brave little guy I have. Maddy was a little perturbed that Garrett did tricks and she didn't!


Garrett's turn!