MIA

We haven't had much time for blogging lately! There is so much to do before and after moving. We have been exhausted for a few weeks now but we are so excited to be in our new home.Nate found a glove in the garage and decided he needed it to "help" move some things

out of the old house. It's not as easy as it looks to assemble a bed while Nate runs circles around you and steals your tools. Robert was a good sport.

Home Sweet Home. Thanks to all our real helpers who helped us get settled!

Happy 7th Carter!

Wait...7? Shouldn't she be this old with chubby cheeks and a love of all things Dora? I can't believe I have a 7 year old! Carter was so kind to let us buy a house on her birthday and handle all the craziness that goes along with it. We did fit in a few pictures and fun ways to celebrate though.Per Carter's request, we started off the day with breakfast in bed (with a makeshift breakfast tray, we had to make it work with what was unpacked, oh well). She thought that was pretty special.She also brought these beauties to her class...skunk cupcakes. Is there anything more Carter?
Then after school, she got to see her new house for the first time and decided it would be okay if we move there. Finished off the night with dinner and a movie and she had a pretty fun day. We'll have a little party for her sometime next week when things settle down a bit.
There is so much to love about this girl. She is super creative and is always making up a new song, dance, craft, play, whatever. She loves to perform, as well. She is a reading superstar and loves school. I love her "I don't care what other people think" attitude and hope it stays around through the junior high-ish years. She is excited about being baptized next year and has to wear the new CTR ring that she got from her primary teachers everyday. Here's to a great 7th year Cartergirl! We love you!

Robert went to Wal-Mart for paper and ziplocs...

and came back with a puppy. He is sooooooo cute that I couldn't even be mad. We decided to gift him to Carter as an early birthday present. She named him Golden and he is 6 weeks old.
I think it is safe to say that we are smitten :)

Best Day Ever

Carter thought yesterday was the coolest. She asked me if she could get her own library card. Since she has read every chapter book that is not packed up in our house, we went to the library. She was very excited to fill out the form and check out books with her brand new, very own card. If you want to see it sometime, just ask. She is more than happy to pull it out of her wallet to show you :) The first book checked out? Ramona Quimby, Age 8. She is a big fan of the Ramona books.

Christmas Eve

I am finally posting something! We had a great Christmas break with family and traveling and now we are glad to be back home. Before my camera died Christmas Eve, I got a few shots of everyone at my Parent's house. Amy and Carter
Becky and Cade

Gabby serenading Jack with some made-up Christmas carols

Mom watching the grandkids play

Everyone ready for Christmas dinner, so much fun to be together!

Christmas Cuties

Merry Christmas!!

Carter couldn't handle that I was editing these pictures and not using the mustaches. So here's for Carter:

A debut

Carter got to perform in her very first play with the children's theater last week. She was in "It's a Small World" as an American Expert. She had a line and a couple songs she got to be part of. She loved it! She has been creating/directing/acting in her own plays at home. Quite entertaining!

8 great years!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Growing up

This picture makes me feel like my kids are growing up too quick. Carter is almost 7, Gabs just turned 4 and Nate is almost 2. Carter told me the other day that Nate is too old to be a baby but too young to be out of diapers. It's true! He's not a baby anymore!

Just Dance

Nate loooooves to play games on the Wii (or the "Weed" as Gabby says). His favorite is Just Dance and he does pretty good at busting a move. Please excuse the pics of the shirtless, dancing baby...it's just how we roll at our house.

Ja-Ja & Mamy

After our last visits to Mesa, Nate cannot stop talking about Ja-Ja and Mamy (Jack and Amy). He still talks a lot of nonsense, jabber talk but I will hear Jack and Amy pop up in his conversations randomly :) Playing with cousins in the backyard
Jack's a little jealous of Nate's sucker and Nate's trying to act like he doesn't notice

A quick smile from Jack

Kisses from Auntie Amy

Halloween '10

We had a bunch of wild animals join us this year for Halloween: a little lion
a gorgeous giraffe

a magnificent monkey

and their zoo keepers. We only went trick-or-treating down one street and still had full buckets!

Sister, Sister

Gabby was showing me how she can buckle her car seat: "You snap this one here and this one here, there! I'm safe and snout!"

Carter came home from school yesterday and gave me a big hug: "I just missed you and I was a little homesick today." About 20 minutes later..."Okay, I'm a little schoolsick now."

You never know what these two will say!

Binky addict

Painting Pumpkins '10

Gotta keep up the tradition of painting pumpkins for Halloween! It is a fun FHE activity! They each enjoyed picking out the perfect pumpkin and going to town with the paint.

Hippie Day

Twins

These two planned their own outfits for twin day at school. This is Carter's first spirit week (must have missed it moving schools last year?), she has been having fun with it!

Sleep or swim?

All's fair

I was surprised to learn that Carter had a day off of school yesterday for the county fair. Really. They call it Fair Day and they had a parade yesterday and everything. Living in a small town has it's perks every now and again :) The girls saw lots of friends and Nate was content with his otter pop he got during the parade.