25 Days of Summer

Carson's last day of Kindergarten was last Thursday.  He and Grace start their new adventure at Welby Elementary on July 25th.  As I was thinking about this last night, it hit me...today is July 1st.  That gives us 25 days of summer...just like at Christmas we have 25 days of Christmas!  I looked around for summer ideas and came across the cutest idea using tongue depressers, scrapbook paper and mod poge to make little sticks with activities on them (I would post a link, but I just spend 1 1/2 hours looking for the blog and gave up!!).  Knowing myself and my tendancy to over do and not follow through, I decided to forego the sticks and just tell the kids each day what our "25 Days of Summer" activity will be.

Since I thought of this at 11pm and I didn't have much time to plan...and it's Sunday, and we generally just go to church and relax on Sunday, our activity for the day was to meet Sweden, Lisa, London, Shawna, Samantha and Jordan, with Aunt Sue for breakfast.  They just happened to be passing through on their way to Colorado and wanted to meet for breakfast so it worked out perfect!

I realize I cheated a bit on this first day...I usually cheat at least a few times during the countdown, so I don't really care! :)

Tomorrow we'll be painting a flag on our driveway, which I'm actually pretty excited about.

Happy Summer!!!!!

Grace's Preschool Graduation

Last night, we said 'so long' to Miss Amee.  She has been such a positive influence in the introduction to education for both Carson and Grace.  She provides such a welcoming, unintimidating approach to learning.  Not once did either of them EVER not want to go to school - which I believe says a lot about their experience. 

 

We will miss her, but will be back in a few years when Carter is ready!  I can't believe my sweet baby girl is going to start kindergarten in a few, short weeks.  I will soak her up while I can!

Bum prints

After grace finished playing in the sprinklers this afternoon, we were sitting on the back steps while she warmed up and ate a cheeseburger. All of the sudden, she starts pulling down her swimsuit bottoms. "what are you doing?!? Pull up your swimsuit!". Our backyard faces a common area/park. She ignored me. "we don't get naked in the backyard! Pull up your swimsuit!" she ignored me, pulled down her swimsuit and sat on the steps. "look mom, bum prints. Get it, instead of hand prints, it's bum prints!" then pulled up her swimsuit, laughed, and finished her cheeseburger.

A Bitter Sweet Reminder

A couple weeks ago, a kid from Carson's preschool class drowned in his bathtub. Six years old. Carson and Harry weren't exactly 'friends', as a matter of fact, there was a bit of conflict at the beginning of the preschool year. Carson felt that Harry was 'mean' to him. By the end of the year they got along fine and we ran into him on a few occasions outside of preschool. When I heard the news that it was Harry who drowned, my heart sank. It feels different when you knew the child and the mother.

I tell my kids "Don't grow up. I want you to stay little forever!" This is not a true statement. I love my kids at this age. I loved them last year, the years before that. But I really, really want to see who they grow up to be. I love spending my days with them and taking them to parks and playplaces and watching tv with them. I LOVE this age...but...I cannot imagine if this age is where my memories of them stopped. I want them to grow up. I want to help them in school and ground them for not coming home by curfew. I want to drop them off at the movies with friends and hear about their heartaches and celebrate their successes.

My heart hurts for Harry's mom and his friends. I am so grateful for my three beautiful children. I am blessed to be able to spend so much time with them. I love being a mom!!!

New Years Resolutions....2012

I'd like to say that my life is so sweet that I don't NEED any resolutions this year...unfortunately, that is not exactly the case. Though my life IS pretty sweet, there is always room for improvement, right???

Ok, so here are my top 3 (if I write them down, I have to follow through :)

1. Be more patient - my kids and my husband will appreciate this one. I used to be pretty patient, but somehow that has faded away in recent years. I want to get back to that easy going person that is fun to be around.

2. Add more structure to our days - the kids are getting older and need to be able to count on certain things. Bedtime routines don't just naturally happen!

3. Make more time for myself - the hardest of all three!! This also doesn't happen naturally.

Oh, let's add a #4 for good measure...keep up with the blog. It has been fun to read over past posts and remember how much fun our family has had. I love my kids, husband, family and friends! Happy New Year to you all!!!

Carter James Anderson

Yes, I know...I have dropped off the face of the blog. Oh well...time to pick back up and move forward.

First things first...Carter was born on Aug 31, 2011. He was 9 lbs 4 oz. I was induced on my due date, and it's a good thing...he was huge! I went in to be induced at 7am, got my room at 8, pitocin at 8:15, epidural at 9...7 pushes and he was here at 10:10am. Easy-peasy. He was (and still is) BEAUTIFUL! This picture was taken about 20 minutes after he was born.


Here are some things about his first 4 months with us...

-He doesn't cry for no reason. He's either hungry, tired, or needs to be changed.
-He's super slobbery. Sometimes I think he's a St Bernard disguised as a baby.
-He HATES a wet diaper. And he pees a LOT.
-He looks at Grace and Carson like they are super stars.
-Grandpa Anderson was the first to make him smile.
-He has dark hair.
-His eyes are still blue, but they are blue like Carson's were, not like Grace's. So I think they'll probably change.
-He LOVES the bath. He only cried during the first 3 or 4. Now he loves it!
-He hates Walmart. He has cried EVERY time I've taken him.
-He loves when Jake plays guitar. He studies Jake's hands and has been caught playing air guitar.
-He often sleeps with his eyes partially open...like his dad.
-He is a snuggler...and he's warm and chubby

I could go on and on and on....I LOVE HIM! I cannot imagine our family without him. He was the 4th greatest decision of my life.

love.

Wedgies...

Just a quick note...

Jake gave Carson a wedgie this morning, so naturally Carson decided to go around the house giving us ALL wedgies (thanks dad)! When he got to Grace, I braced myself for a fight. Instead, she came up to me and excitedly said "mom, Carson pulled my pants up for me!!!".

I love them!!!