biRthDaY bOy!

Carter had quite a day of celebration to ring in his 5^th birthday! Damain made chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. They have been one of Carter’s favorite meals since he was little. Nothing like chocolate to start the day off right.

Last night McCall called and asked Carter if she and Brady could take him out to lunch today for his birthday. It was so cute to watch the smile take over his face. I heard her ask Carter if that was ok and he said, “I love you, Miss McCall.” Seriously, could he be any cuter?

McCall and Brady came to take him to lunch singing Happy Birthday with a huge Transformer balloon in tow (the perfect companion to one of his birthday presents- a lightsaber). Lunch was fun and Carter shared his box of ‘Hot Mamas’ (Hot Tamales) for dessert.

We partied a little more this afternoon with a couple of his friends and some mint chocolate chip ice cream cake with a Transformer on top. Landon did not think our little party was fun at all once it was time to open presents. He couldn't figure out why there were none for him to open, so he spent the rest of the time in tears. Carter really wanted a Nintendo DS for his birthday. Sorry Charlie! He got a Leapster game and some soccer gear instead. Happy Birthday!

Carter is one loved little boy,

but he deserves every bit of it!

Why?

His belly laugh

The things he says that melt hearts

His love for ankle socks and 'slippery' shorts

The funny noise he makes when he is excited

He likes salad and eats green peppers like apples

Because his best buddy is his little brother

His cuddles

The way he throws his head back when he laughs hard

How he looks up to his dad

The way he can play trucks for hours

His huge heart

How he is always watching out for everyone else

Because even four and five year olds can see how cool he is

He is all boy

The way he sticks up for his brother and sister

How hard he tries to refrain from spitting and potty talk

His solid frame and bulging five year old muscles

The way he handles opposition- like a broken femur

How much he cares about making the right choices

He keeps his mom happy, laughing, feeling special, and in line

i love you, buddy!

Carter's birthday eve...

I watched Mimi’s little boy for the day. When she dropped him off she had an early birthday present and a homemade cookie cake for Carter. He was so excited and I thought it was so sweet! I am usually not thoughtful enough to remember my friends birthdays, much less their kids!

Eden and Carter had their first soccer practice tonight. They are on different teams, but practice on adjacent fields at the same time. I don’t know how that one worked out so well, but I am not complaining! Eden was stoked as soon as I showed her that I bought pink shin gaurds and a matching pair of pink soccer shorts. The pink must have been the ticket because she ran hard and had fun.

Carter had fun, but it was obvious that he has never played soccer. I think I heard the coaches yell at him at least ten times: “No hands!” Looks like we have some coaching to do.

wHaTcHAdOin'?

I walked around the corner this afternoon

to find my daughter

walking around on all fours

with her backpack on backwards and upside down.

She was alone in the kitchen

just doing her thing.

She got something from her mom after all!

I couldn’t contain my laughter

and of course…ran for my camera.

birthDAY...week?

Today was a bad mommy morning. Landon was completely out of control. He is usually such a laid back kid that I didn’t really know how to handle him when he threw himself on the floor screaming at Walmart. I was so not ready for that, but by the third time I chose to just ignore him and make it to the check out as quickly as I could. Today I officially became THAT mom at the end of her rope with her kids at the store that I have always had sympathy for. I guess my time was bound to come.

He cried all through lunch because, how dare me, I gave him the wrong colored plate and started to help him peel his banana after he had squished it to banana goo in a peel. We gave up on lunch and I had to literally restrain him in bed for quiet time today. At least I got to burn a few calories!

I was hoping that Damian would be able to save me and be at the preschool for me this afternoon, but it didn’t work out. I HAD to wake the bear with crazy hair. I was scared, but we were only ten minutes late and fortunately he only had one meltdown while we were at preschool. Good thing or I would have sold him there!

We got to celebrate Carter’s birthday early today. Carter was very specific with what he wanted: plain donuts with chocolate on top and chocolate donuts with sprinkles. I was laughing when after his specific instructions he chose one of the strawberry sprinkled donuts.

He also asked for Transformers plates and napkins and if I couldn’t find Transformers then his second choice was a Super hero. Indiana Jones was next in line and finally camouflage. I felt obliged to comply because I talked him out of a formal birthday party this year. Donuts and Transformers it was!

He sat at a table full of boys wearing his inflatable crown and being a little comedian. He has the best laugh! Even if you don’t know what he is laughing at you find yourself laughing just listening to him. One of the boys in his class went over to Carter in the middle of donut licking and gave him a high five. On the way back to his seat he stopped in front of Damian and me and said,

“Carter is so awesome!”

Really? $27 dollars?

If I had a lot of money (and lets be honest...cooked regular meals) I would buy Cutco knives. A friend of mine is earning money for law school and I got to be one of the first to hear her sh peal. Wowza. She gave me a knife and a thick piece of rope and asked me to try to cut through the rope in one motion. Yeah whatever. So I thought. Oh no. Sliced through it like butta.

Oh and the vege peeler? Magic. No resistance. Pure magic. I have never paid more than twenty dollars for a single kitchen utensil, nor never thought that I would. Did it. Today $27 for a peeler.

Update: Due to a nightmare (having to do with knives) her mother has had since my friend was little, her mother apparently 'prayed' her into a new job. Best of luck, Melissa. Try to score all the free knives you can before you Cut Cutco!

brand spankin' new!

Damian’s sister had her baby today.

A healthy red headed baby girl!

Congratulations!!!

We can’t wait to run our hands through that hair

and smother her with love and kisses!