Monday Carter Edition #50~Do I love you this much?

Monday Carter woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She was cantankerous and cranky from the start and to be honest I wasn't equipped to deal. What can I say, some days you have the patience some days you don't. I wish I was the "perfect mom" and could say that I never lose my temper, get short, or find myself frustrated over the "little" things...but, that would be lying and I try to avoid that if at all possible (unless you're my sister and ask me if the Arby's to go cup in the car is mine. In which case I will lie and I emphatically deny ownership. I will even go as far as to blame its presence on my husband, when in fact I had really scarfed it as I drove to the airport to pick her up. What can I say I'm preggo and sometimes there is nothing like roast beef and nacho cheese). Anyway, before we headed out the door for pre-school she had already received a few spankings, and I may or may not have said, "YOU are driving me bananas!" (I know, I know, I'm a horrible mom). So we were running late and doing our best to get over a bad start to the day...


Sometimes rain puddle jumping can be good for things like that...

And, if you're really lucky you might even find yourself giggling in spite of a bad morning...

I wish I could report that the whole day was a complete success. But, to be honest I'm spread a little thin and unfortunately that sometimes means Carter doesn't get the best of me. But, she is quite possibly the most forgiving little thing I have ever met. She showered me with kisses, hugs, and a little game of, "Do I love you this much?" before she headed to bed. I'm one lucky mama. Hopefully we'll both roll out on the other side of the bed tomorrow...

Party in the U.S.A. (or at least our house)

For Carter's most recent birthday Aunt Kimmi gave her something she's been wanting for a while now...

Granted we're not exactly sure why, because she has never seen the movie or watched the show. Anyway, her dadddy hasn't been too sure about his feelings on the famed Hannah Montana, but Aunt Kim decided to go ahead and make her little niece smile...

Oh yeah, every little rock star needs a hot pink microphone! She was all set and ready to give performing a go...



That was her first day with the CD and she's gotten a few more Miley lyrics down since then...

Without embarrassing myself too much let's just say that we spend quite a bit of time "nodding our heads...and moving our hips" together. But, I don't look nearly as cute as she does!

And, on another note, a quick CONGRATS to my dad and the Abilene Cooper Cougars who are District Champs! Pops looks pretty nice in a pink mic too...

but, considering how successful you are we're thinking you probably shouldn't quit your day job! Way to go DAD!

VOTE for Us!!! (pretty please, with sugar and a cherry on top)

I woke up this morning and was happy to have a little "sunshine" to brighten my day! Carter's room is entry #22 on the Apartment Therapy site Ohdeedoh's Small Kid's BIG Color room contest (I wrote about entering a few posts back!) So, for the next 48 hours anyone who would like to can give us a THUMBS UP (which will encourage them to make us one of the finalist). I'm not above begging so would you please pretty please head over and check it out?? If your little heart desires and you would like to give us your vote that would be just peachy!! Just click the following link...

Carter's Punch of Color~OhDeeDoh

Many thanks!

Monday Carter Edition #49~Little Chick

Monday Carter spent her weekend like most other children...on a sugar high! Like a lot of other moms I started about a month ago with the, "What is my little cutie going to dress up as?" thoughts. I wanted her input and after discussing it at length she decided she wanted to be a puppy. I did a little research and found that Old Navy actually had a fairly cute (and really affordable, as in way less than Pottery Barn) puppy costume. So off we went....over the river, through the woods and off the island toward civilization. And, while we're on the topic of civilization I am pretty sure that no one else's kids request that you take their photo with the mannequins at Old Navy right?

Yeah, I was pretty sure that was just me. Apparently Old Navy is such a "special" place that we needed to document being there with photos...

Carter may not quite know what to do with herself when there is literally an Old Navy on every corner, what a sheltered life she has led for the past three years!

So anyway, back to the costume hunt. We arrived and found the puppy but we also ran across something Carter thought was much, MUCH better. Let me just say that in the day of fairy princesses and cheerleaders I was already quite surprised she had decided to be a puppy. Imagine the shock when she changed her mind and could not be talked out of being a....

And not once was she anything but thrilled to be going as a little chick!! I loved it. Our first round of trick or treat was actually about a week ago. I worked a table for our squadron and Nate took Carter around to gather the goods...

I never get tired of how cute these two look together (a big thanks to Roxi to for the perfect trick or treat "feed sack")...

Later that week we decided (last minute) to attend Nate's squadron costume party, so I had less than 24 hours to throw us some costumes together. We decided to go as the "Swine Flu". Carter was obviously our "swine"...

Then the BIG night of trick or treating arrived! Carter was super excited...

and super cute I might add...

She tried to fly the coop...

"Come back here little chick!"

We started the night off with one of our favorite houses in Oak Harbor. Knock, Knock, Kenny and Molly...

Trick or Treat...

Treat of course!!

We were then ready to hit our neighborhood, it's chilly up here y'all!

I'm not sure there is a whole lot more exciting when you're 4 than having people give you lots of candy!

What?? You don't believe me?? Just look at that face!

The night sure is fun, especially when you have your best guy to escort you around...

We'll leave you with one last smile...

Little Chick...over and out!

Watching My Baby Sleep

Watching my baby sleep.




Is like watching a part of me breathe outside my body.




It is the gift of seeing peace.




Her rest is mine and yet I am awake.




The sweet arch of her lip and crease of her chin




four years and they are unchanged.




Is it possible an angel rests beside me?




Can she really be mine?




To be trusted with such things...




It can only mean this...




I am truly loved by someone.




Author of my story.




The gift of immeasurably more.




My heart is yours...




and I fall more in love




with every breath that she takes.

Small and orange and round and lovely...

Yesterday I got to head out on a field trip with Carter's Pre-Scool class. They were off to a quaint little working pumpkin farm. I was a little curious to see how 16 three and four year old's would behave on the loose, but their teacher runs a tight ship and they were perfect little angels. The tour began with a look at a few of the animals on the farm. Turkey's (aka someones Thanksgiving dinner)...

My little munchkin's personal fave the cats and their kittens...

She was particularly fond of this little black kitten who seemed to follow her around the rest of the day...

which made her smile...

On to the next animals...

I whole herd of these guys (I felt a little like The Pioneer Woman as I was taking this pic)...

Nothing like watching a cow eat a pumpkin, now that's something you don't see everyday...

It was then time to head out in search of the perfect pumpkin...

It didn't take her long...

Small and orange and round and lovely the pumpkin from the patch was looking (hummed to the tune of The Girl From Ipanema)...

These kids were so well behaved they even managed to get a group photo...

That was until a certain little black kitten got the attention of a certain little girl...

She was a lost cause at that point...

What a wonderful day with my little punkin'!

Monday Carter Edition #48~Gray Day

Gray day...everything is gray. I watch but nothing moves today. ~Dr. Seuss

Today was gray. It's definitely fall again here on Whidbey Island. The wind threatens to blow you away and the rain makes things just a bit more complicated. No matter how gray the day Monday Carter and her smile tend to brighten things up a bit (so gray my flash was going off at 9 o'clock this morning)...

She was also exercising her imagination and came home for the third or fourth time in the last week telling me about her "brother Marcus". Apparently she has decided that a boy in her class named Marcus is her brother. I asked her how he felt about this and she said he told her, "I am not your brother." This gave me quite a laugh. I can just see her insisting that he is, which probably leaves him feeling a bit confused.

In other news my Christmas Card Designs are officially up for grabs over at SCOOP. And I also just posted the winner of my giveaway! Feel free to meander over and browse...I am offering the designs at $25 as opposed to the normal price of $30 for anyone who orders in the next two weeks. So, if you like a little bargain this one's for you!