christmas eve

Tonight we had Charlie's family over for dinner. We were so happy Lisa, Shannon and Vincent got to join us for their first Christmas Eve in Chicago. The boys helped me make buckeyes (peanut butter and chocolate cookies) to bring back the old Ohio family memories! We even left a couple for Santa instead of our traditional Oreo treat that Mommy loves oh so much! Carter wanted to leave Santa hot cocoa but we were worried it wouldn't be warm by the time he got here, so we poured a big mug of cold milk. His picture and note are right beside Santa's treat. The boys are finally snuggled in bed and I can't wait for morning! It'll be so magical and fun to see thier faces once they get downstairs Christmas day!

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Yesterday and today it snowed and snowed and snowed! The boys played outside out back and helped Daddy shovel a bit. They love being out in the snow. Carter kicked a snowball Logan threw and discovered if he rolled and rolled it it'd get bigger and bigger and bigger and eventually turn into the start of a snowman!

...he's making his list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice

carter's five years old

dear santa

Today was a snow day! What better day than the last day before Winter Break to be snowed in, for me that is! Carter cried this morning when he found out Natalie wouldn't be taking him to Mrs. Sheidecker's house for his preschool Christmas party that was cancelled. Really, it was hardly a snow day, by noon the roads were fine so I took the boys to the mall to see Santa. Surprisingly it only took Logan a minute or two once he saw Carter walk up to Santa to want to get out of the stroller and venture to his lap. However, once on his lap he cried -- only for a second or two and not enough to have a "cry face" for the final photo. He grately enjoyed the little candy cane Santa gave him and even told him he wants "choo-choos" when Santa asked if he could come by and bring Logan a present! Carter told him he and his Dad want a hockey game, but Dad hasn't seen it at the store again. Totally forgot to mention the earmuffs he's been wanting Santa to leave for him! "That's ok, Mom, we can just leave a message about the earmuffs in the note with his cookies!" So sweet!

it's a...

GIRL! Yep, I see lots and lots of pink in our future! We are excited to say that we found out at my ultrasound on Thursday night that we are having a girl! It's so crazy and weird knowing (such a different experience than not knowing until the boys were born) I can't even explain it. It's still a little hard to believe! I'm excited to have Charlie help me get a room done for the boys to share and get ready for her to arrive. Carter admitted he was a little disappointed but has warmed up to the idea and couldn't wait to tell everyone at school on Friday. I'm going to work on scanning the pictures taken at my appointment so you can see her pretty little face!

vote

This is probably the only photo of me alone and my growing belly (Carter took the picture, hence the quality!). I know no one has a crystal ball, but it'll be fun to hear what you're all thinking! Post your prediction as a comment and we'll share the news at the end of the week!


Thursday night is my ultrasound...The big question: is it a girl or a boy? We didn't find out with Carter or Logan, so it'll be so different knowing this time!

bulid a bear

Williams-Sonoma had a cooking class presentation featuring their Build a Bear Workshop cakepan. Natalie invited us knowing we'd get to meet Bearemy and taste some cake! Carter was thrilled to give Bearemy a big hug, but Logan was all about keeping his distance and eating cake! I wonder if this is how it will go with Santa next week! Anyway, you've got to check out these cakes. I wish I had more time on my hands and baking talent up my sleeve because it'd be so fun to make one of those bear cakes!

carter's 5th birthday

Carter had a great birthday full of surprises! A new bike, his first pet (meet Batman and Robin below...) and lots of toys and things he "always wanted!" including anther Spiderman party. Thanks for the cupcakes, April!

happy turkey day

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family! We have so much to be grateful for...

happy birthday carter!

newborn

november 21, 2003

1st birthday

2004

2nd birthday

2005

3rd birthday

2006

4th birthday

2007

Dear Carter,

Today you are five years old! I can hardly believe it. You are smart, funny, outgoing, friendly and full of energy. Daddy and I love you so very much and are so happy that you are healthy and so full of life! You continue to surprise us in so many ways everyday and I couldn't imagine life without you. Love you more than you'll ever know.

Love,
Mommy

funny phone conversation

Today Carter was on the phone with Natalie and he says:
C: Guess what I heard on the radio. They said there's going to be a blackberry storm.
N: Really? What's a blackberry?
C: A berry that's black.
N: Oh, yeah?
C: Yeah, it's going to be raining blackberries!

Ha! BlackBerry Storm! He got a Hotwheels alarm clock/radio from Gayle and had been listening to it and must have heard the commercial!

circus surprise

Elephants, tigers, and horses, oh my! Trapeze, motorcycles, acrobats, wow! The boys loved the circus! We had so much fun - it was amazing! I think Logan liked all the animals best. He really got into the show after intermission and was cheering and clapping and loving every minute of it. Sat through the whole thing, which is more than we can say for a movie or even two episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Carter on the other hand was excited right away. There was so much to see at times, you didn't know what to keep your eyes on at some points! Tonight at bedtime he wanted to spend some time looking through the program.

uneventful weekends

are so nice! We've got a lot going on this week and in the weekends to come and we were able to just spend Saturday running errands and Sunday visiting Grandma, Gramps, Aunties and cousins. I like not having to be anywhere or do anything specific. This week: last night of Parent-Teacher Conferences, baby doctor appointment, half-day babysitter on Wednesday so Mommy got the day off, haircut night, Family Movie night at school, and then THE CIRCUS on Saturday. I hope I'm not too worn out for the best part of the week...

the circus is in town!

Ladies and gentleman, children of all ages...The circus is in town and the South Famliy's got tickets for the 15th to The Greatest Show on Earth! It's a surprise for the boys (so, shhhhh! don't tell!) and we all know how excited Carter will be...Do you recall a story featuring a Desitin-covered four-year-old we all know and love???

trick-or-treat! happy halloween

Happy Halloween!

My camera wasn't ready with all that we've been up to lately, so I've got to get pictures from a couple of my neighbors...We had a fun night though! So fun that Logan is sleeping with his treat bag as I type!

It was hilarious - first he just wanted to hold it while I brushed his teeth. Then during our bedtime stories it sat in his lap and finally as I set it on his dresser, he insisted it go in his crib with him! I kept his door open and heard crinkles of wrappers and went in there a few times to remind him not to open any, he just wanted to hold onto them! After he was asleep for a bit, I went in and put the bag back on his dresser because I didn't want the early bird munching on chocolate at the wee hours of the morning!

Logan wasn't the only one who enjoyed going up to houses for candy - Carter was thrilled about what he got at just about every house! Never saw him so excited! The weather was beautiful, so we stayed out pretty late. After all that walking around the neighborhood we went over to Tom & April's and had pizza with the Hampton's. Bedtime came around 9 and boy oh boy was I tired! Thank goodness for the extra hour of sleep the following Sunday with changing the clocks!

carving pumpkins

Last night we had Jacob and Braden over for pumpkin carving. Actually, I should say we had Tom and April over since their boys were more into the toys in the family room than their pumpkins for some of the time! No, really, we had fun. Carter gets so excited over everything we see and do this Halloween - whether it's walk the seasonal aisle at Target, visit a Halloween store, buy mums, going to the Indian Festival and pumpkin farm, "booing" our neighbors, picking out his costume (which he plays in almost everyday), raking the leaves, you name it! But back to carving, the two big boys drew their faces and Mommys helped them carve away as they poked out the parts. Daddys worked on the little boys' faces. They really turned out cute. Both Carter and Logan liked scooping out the stringy pulp and seeds. Logan liked poking at his pumpkin with the carving tools too!

logan's, carter's, jacob's, & braden's glowing jack-o-lanterns

costume party at grandma's

Last Sunday we had little costume party at Grandma's with all the cousins. We had lots of fun snacking and playing games. First we wrapped the little ones as mummies! Logan was, of course, a bit apprehensive at first, but once he saw me wrapping Evan and watched Austin wrap up Carter he was willing to try it. Later we played Halloween Pictionary and Hot Pumpkin to some silly Halloween music. They all had so much fun! I found a cool recipe for turning oranges into little jack-o-lanterns filled with orange creme sherbert for dessert. Turned out to be more of a craft for the Aunties, but the kids loved eating the actual snack. They turned out so cute!

carter and logan

little pumpkin boy evan

evan mummy

logan mummy (yes, it's me wearing butterfly wings)

carter mummy (the winner! good wrapping, austin!)

jack-o-lantern oranges

yummmmy!