Movies & Ice Cream

This afternoon Carter & I went with the cousins to see "Monsters vs Aliens" at the movies. It was a cute movie & Carter did really well. I think I've realized though, that he is still a little too young to take to the theaters. About half way through he asked if it was over & when we were going to go home. Maybe we'll wait another year before we do that again.

This evening we made our way to Leatherby's to enjoy some delicious ice cream!! Carter picked the clown sundae with strawberry ice cream-yum!

I decided to go a different route from my usual Paul's Royal Raspberry Fudge & I got the Black & Tan.

Sydney, Drew & Carter checking out the different ice cream flavors.

Carter has had so much fun playing with Drew this week. It's been nice having a boy his age around. Well we found out a few days ago that he will get to play with him even more often. Jeff just accepted a job in El Dorado Hills so they are moving back home...... in 2 1/2 weeks!!! At least Jeff & the kids are. Kristen started her last quarter of nursing school today so she will stay in WA until June & Jeff will move with the kids. They will stay at my parents & Haley & Sydney will go to Riverview, where all of us kids went to school. So cool! We are so happy they are moving back!

Carter's 1st Miniature Golf Fun

We finally had no plans on a Saturday & we were wondering what we should do with our day. We came up with the idea to go miniature golfing at Golfland. Carter has never been miniature golfing so we were hoping he would enjoy it. Thanks to Erin & Courtney we were able to leave Claire with them. It made it so much easier to golf without her wanting to walk all over the place!

It was so nice outside I think everyone in California decided to go today!!! We had to wait at each hole for 1-2 groups in front of us to finish. But it was so much fun!!! Carter got a couple hole in ones & he loved it!! We will definitely have to go again!

Daddy helping Carter-he's getting the hang of it!


The boys were smart & wore shorts; I wish I would have. I think we all got a little sun burned.

After golfing we decided to ride the go-karts. I didn't know how Carter was going to like it, but he ended up LOVING it!!! He rode along with me & Daddy was in his own kart. It was fun racing him, although Daddy lapped us at least once! I had a blast with Carter in my kart. He thought we were going so fast & when we would go around the corners we would both yell, just like on a roller coaster! He wanted to ride again, but we will have to go back another time.

Thanks to our Entertainment Book we got buy 1 get 1 free on both, so it was not too expensive!

Tonight we enjoyed delicious bbq'd hamburgers at Grandma & Grandpa's & then to finish off Carter's birthday week, I took him & Grandma to Baskin Robbins to get his free ice cream scoop.

What a fun week it has been!

Here Turkey, Turkey, Turkey

Claire, chasing the turkeys down the street!

What A Difference A Few Days Make.....

Cory's favorite are the tulips on the left with the 2 different colors.

Our flowers have just opened up like crazy since I last blogged about them a week ago! I guess they love the sun!

Carter's Thomas Birthday Party

Carter had his Thomas birthday party with his friends today. He had a lot of fun & it turned out really nice. He has such good friends & they play really well together. I wanted his party to be pretty low key, since I wasn't planning on even having a party this year. Carter really wanted a Thomas party, so of course I caved in!! The weather was PERFECT so we ended up doing everything outside, which was really nice!

Carter-waiting for his friends to arrive

The decor in the dining room..which I didn't really need to do since we stayed outside the whole time! Oh well!!

Here was the invitation. Cory made them & they turned out so cute! I had found a site online where this lady had an invitation that you could download & change the information to fit your party. It was $4.00, so I was going to do that. I showed Cory & he said "I'm not paying her $4.00 for that. I can make one that's better." And of course, he did! It took him all of 15 minutes to make it too!

Here is the cake I made for him. I saw a couple of ideas online & combined them. It didn't turn out exactly how I planned, but it was still cute. I think my favorite thing on the cake are the chocolate rocks that are under the railroad ties. They are so cool. You can buy them in bulk at Winco!

The goodie bags. Carter helped me put the stickers on the front & fill them up. Cory made little tags with the kids names on them, which looked like little tickets.

The kiddos eating lunch. Perfect 4 year old food: mini corn dogs, bagel bites, blue finger jello, string cheese, strawberries, grapes & capri sun. Oh yum!!

We played pin the #1 on Thomas. Carter went first & got the #1 exactly in the right spot. I wondered if he could possibly see & he said no. So at the end we did it again & he still got it right on. Hmmmm, maybe he was practicing before the party?

We played "Pass the Thomas." Music was playing & we passed the Thomas around the circle. When the music stopped whoever had Thomas in their hand was the winner.

Opening gifts; the kids favorite part. He got some great stuff. I think I'll post it here so that I can enter it in his baby book later.

4 Thomas books, Road Rippers (motorized car with sounds, lights & actions), Lincoln Logs, Lady (Thomas train) & Travel with Thomas coloring book, Byron & Duke (Thomas trains), a train shirt & pack of gum.

Thanks guys!!!

His party has only been over for a few hours & he & Daddy have already built his Lincoln Log fort!

Carter blowing out his candles.

What a fun day that was. Thanks to all of Carter's friends for coming & making him feel so special!

It's Getting Warm In Here....

This is what my thermostat currently reads right now:

but I'm not complaining!

Congrats!!!

Tim & Jen welcomed their baby girl today. Here are her stats:

Makena Jewel Valko

March 26, 2009

4:03am

7lb. 8oz.

21"

Congratulations!!! We can't wait to meet her!

Field Trip To Fish Hatchery

This morning we went on a Field Trip to the Fish Hatchery with Carter's pre-school class. The kids had fun & I even learned some new things. We go every year, but this time we had a guide that told us some stuff I didn't know. Like, there is a little pond area next to the river & a beaver has been chewing on the trees; in fact one has fallen over. Also, there are some rock piles in the middle of the river that we were put there intentionally. I guess the salmon like to lay their eggs on certain kinds of rocks, so they put some out there for them. Cool huh?

Most of my pictures are of Claire! She wanted to do everything the big kids were doing, so I was just following her around all morning.

Carter (and Claire) sitting with his class.
Claire in the famous egg

Just wants to be like the other kids!

Carter playing outside in the little play area

Claire Is Ready For School

Another Carter Classic

Tonight we were having dinner at my parents house. Carter started eating his dinner before the prayer.

He said "Ouch. It's hot."

Courtney told him "That's because we haven't said the prayer."

So Carter said the prayer. Then my mom put the basket of hot bread on the table. Carter picked up a piece, took a bite & said "Do we need to have prayer again?"

We asked why? He said "Because the bread is hot."

So funny!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Carter Boy!!

Happy 4th Birthday Carter!! We hope you have a fantastic day & a great year. You are such a happy boy & so fun to be around. You have a tender heart & are very loving.

Some of your favorite things to do:

play with your Thomas trains

play with your friends; you always want to go to somebody's house or have someone come over

go to pre-school

play in the backyard

go to the park; no matter when we go, you always make new friends there

watch Thomas dvd's. You never seem to watch the movies now; you always have the remote in your hand and you are playing the games or watching the bonus features on the dvd.

We love you so much & are so blessed to have you in our family!

Your past birthday recaps:

1st Birthday-2006


2nd Birthday-2007

3rd Birthday-2008

Bubbles

Last night at Carter's birthday party he received a CARS bubble wand that makes huge bubbles. We tried it out tonight & it was so fun!!! It took a few minutes to get the hang of how to make some good bubbles, but once we got it down the kids loved it! Thanks Uncle Jeff & Aunt Julie!

I love their little heads looking up into the sky. And little Claire in the corner...so cute!!

Lullaby

This evening Carter & Drew were playing on the piano at Grandma's house. I heard Carter pretending to play a song and he was singing:

"Lullaby, Lullaby, my little one. Lullaby my child so dear."

I went & asked him where he knew that song from. He said it's from the music he listens to when he goes to sleep in his bed. YES!!! He does listen to that music. I'm so glad that he is listening to it & remembering the words.

Busted!!

Yesterday, before Carter's nap, I was reading him "The Berenstain Bears Get The Gimmies."

The book is a little on the long side, so I was trying to make it quicker.

On one of the pages I read:

"But, Mama. They have gummy gumballs! My favorite!"

"And chewy chompers! My favorite"

"Now, hush!" said Mama.

As soon as I finished that part Carter said, "No Mommy. You're supposed to say:"

"But, Mama." whined Sister. "They have gummy gumballs! My favorite!"

"And chewy chompers! My favorite!" whined brother.

"Now, hush!" said Mama.

HOW did he know that I skipped the "whined Sister & whined Brother" part???

Ducks

After Carter got out of pre-school today all of the cousins met us at the park to feed the ducks.

Then we went to the playground to play. Claire loves to see the ducks whenever we drop Carter off. It's always a struggle to get her in the car because she wants to stop & look.

Hello everyone!
I'm just so cute!

Carter, Sydney & Drew feeding the ducks

Faith & Claire getting close! Don't give Claire any bread for the ducks, she just eats it herself!

Claire counting at the tree while playing hide and seek.

Hello?!??

Will he ever respond when I am talking to him again?

Instead of a nap this afternoon I let him play his Leapster quietly in his room. Maybe he'll just fall asleep on his own?

Family Birthday Celebration

Tonight we had a family birthday party for Carter & Kimberly. It's so fun that they share their birthday together! All of the family got together for dinner, cake & ice cream & gifts!

Carter & Drew with his gifts
Kimberly, excited to open her presents!

Miss Claire with her short bangs....she looks like a different child to me!

A Thomas DVD!!

Cars game for the Leapster

All right....cash!!!

His new Leapster 2!! He can't wait to try it out!

Great-Grandma Altop, Carter & Grandma Wallace

Grandpa Wallace & Carter

Carter & Great-Grandpa Altop

So many great gifts!!! Thank you everyone!