Sweet Stuff

Thursday was so nice this week.  I did a bunch of housework and Carter actually had the actual amount of screen time we'd previously agreed on.  We did puzzles together, even though he told me that Daddy was a lot better at puzzles than I.  And instead of nap time, we made cupcakes- as per Little Guy's request.

"Carter, can you do the eggs?  By yourself?"
"Well, sure Mom.  I do eggs all the time!"

He really wanted NO help.


Very imperfect picture.  Very perfect emotion.


Those sweet hands.

P.S.  I really like this kid.

Car Conversations

I haven't been blogging because I'm having a difficult time with photos and my computer.  Hopefully I will have time to get organized soon and be back.  For now, here's a few funny stories for your entertainment . . . and my memory.

Overheard in the car today:
Molly:  Are you coming to my birthday party? (In January 2011)

Carter:  Well, if I'm invited.

Molly:  You are!

Carter:  I might be busy.

********************

Me:  Carter, are you going to go to dance with Abby and Molly tomorrow?

Carter:  No, MOM!

Me:  Why not?  You love to dance!

Carter:  Because, I told you!  I don't want anyone to see my awesome moves!

********************

Molly:  I want to marry my brother!

Me:  Well, usually you have to marry someone not in your family.  How about Garrett?

Molly:  Or James!

Carter:  NO!  I WANT TO MARRY JAMES!

Me:  Um  .  .  .

Molly:  I want to marry James, Carter!  You can't marry him, you're a boy.  He'll want to marry a girl!

Carter:  I could dress up like a girl!  I could pretend!  Then I could marry James!

(Lots of laughing.)

Molly:  Yeah, I'll marry James.

Me:  What about Garrett?  (Teasing her, but Garrett really really really loves Molly a lot.)

Molly:  Fine.  Garrett.

Carter:  YES!  Then I get James!

Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt

We've had some pretty crazy weather the past few weeks around here. The few days before Easter we had crazy storms, rain, tons of wind, and even hail!

And so, the weather was just lovely for our 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt.  (That's sarcasm.)  Thankfully Judy and Dave let us huddle in their garage.

Despite the rain (and wind!), the kids were all thrilled!

It was so nasty out that I eventually had to just put my big camera away and just use my phone!

Such a fun tradition we have!  Hopefully next year we'll get a break from the rain!

Farm Field Trip

Yesterday, The Bigs didn't have school, and Carter's preschool had a field trip, so we all loaded up and headed out to a local farm.  It was such a gorgeous day, and wonderful to be outside surrounded by green and blue with good friends.

There were goats to be milked (we watched), eggs to be collected, and tractors to be climbed on.

 

Letting the goats from the barn pen to the field- we had to make a human fence chain, and then we got to chase them to make sure they got in the correct pasture.  It was quite exciting!

Sweet baby chicks.

My sweet boy holding a chick, with a little help.

There were swarms of kids on this bulldozer.  Carter watched and watched and then, when they cleared out, he attempted.  "I can do it!  Don't help me!"

Oh, he was so proud.  So, so proud.  So big. 

After exploring all the animal and garden parts of the farm, we walked with another family up to the pond.

Boys and sticks.

Ah, the pond.  Bliss.

I loved growing up on a farm, but of course as a teenager I didn't love being so far from my friends and having so many chores.  Always a fence to fix or weeds to cut, or a project.  (You know, kind of like being a grown up- city OR country!)  Yesterday, watching my babies unsteadily climb a small pile of hay, it hit me like a brick that my kids are 100% city kids.  And I didn't love that.  My kids don't even know how to climb hay!  How can that be?



Anyway, it was a gorgeous day and we spent the drive back to McMinnville talking about 'choices' and 'tradeoffs' and how different- good and bad- our lives would be if we lived in the country instead of in town.  How it's fun and romantic and lovely to visit a farm for a couple of hours on a spring morning, but how it's so different when you have to do chores every single day.  EVERY day.  How driving into town two or three times a day just isn't an option and things like dance and maybe soccer would just have to go.

"But I really want a dog," Garrett says.  "I really want a dog."  And somehow I can picture him as a farm boy, with a dog.  On a sunny spring day.

Yes, our lives would be so different, but on a sunny spring day, it still makes me a little wistful.

Proud

Roots and wings and all of that.  Man, I love this kid.

Happy Easter!

Our babies on Easter morning.  (Love Carter's hair!)

Garrett is always hilarious in fancy pictures.  Always.

Yes, this is the best we could come up with!  Typical!

After church we headed to our favorite Easter brunch spot, with our favorite Easter Brunch Company.  Traditions!

Happy Easter!

Two Years Ago Today: April 4

Arrival in Venice

Long, long day of travel to get there, but we got to Venice.  After long rests and a grocery run, guess what we did?

Went out to find GELATO, of course!

(Read more about getting to Venice here, here, here, and here!)

Carter's Big Day: Part 2

Or:  What Exactly Four Looks Like

Rarely like this:

Sometimes like this:

Often like this:

Exactly four is pretty fun.