Lots happens in two weeks

I have no computer, I have no phone and it's killing me!! My computer has officially died. It's sitting on a conveyer belt somewhere in the HP warehouse getting a new mother board or some other hardware piece, and 9 new keys. While the keys are Carters responsibility, the mother board is just another technological nusance. I'm hoping to get it back in 2 or 3 weeks, fortunately Mom is letting me borrow her computer periodically. My phone is probably sitting in the Memorial City Mall parking lot under a foot of water. With all the rain yesterday, we took the kids to the mall and when we left and tried to load up the boys and the stroller in the rain - my phone was a casualty. It apparently fell out of my bag and was never seen again. This may sound silly, but I feel sick to my stomach about that. It was a Blackberry and while I had insurance on it and can get a replacement, it isn't the cost I'm upset about. It's the information on it that is in the hands of someone else. I can only hope that the rain ruined it. Otherwise the thought of someone else reading my email and personal info is really bothering me.


Enough complaining, on to all the fun stuff we've done in the last two weeks since I've posted.

We had a great Easter and hope you all did as well. Carter really wanted to see the Easter Bunny and wondered why he only dropped off the eggs and baskets and didn't stick around for him to play with him. Here are some pics of that weekend.

Dying his eggs with the kit that Joy brought him earlier that week, along with a Dora DVD. He loves Dora the Explorer right now. For those of you with small kids, you'll know why he runs around the house yelling "Swiper, no swiping" - that's his favorite part of the shows.



Here's another attempt at a family photo. We got all dressed up and the boys matched (again, not that you can tell in the photo). In fact, we all had on our greens and blues. So I wanted a picture. Well I made Mom take one in the church parking lot because I knew there was no way the boys would be awake when we got home, and Brian wouldn't want to stay in his church clothes until after the boys woke up from naps.



My second and third attempt to show off my cute boys in their coordinating Easter outfits.








Great picture of Brian and Cole.



And now I popped in the picture. Too bad Carter was busy hunting for eggs, would have been a good opportunity for another attempt at a family photo ...




Last week Carter had started to get a little off schedule and stop sleeping well. But we went on with business as usual. We had several playdates at the house. Here is Carter sharing his toys with Caroline (10 months old). Overkill ya think?



Jacob, Gwyn, Grant and Carter all stripped down and went swimming in the back yard baby pool. I put the slide next to the pool and made a waterslide, lots of fun. For fear of prosecution of child pornography I will refrain from posting pics of the kids playing. In fact, I don't think I took any. Wasn't sure my friends would want there naked kiddos in my photo album :)


Cole and I have started our Mommy and Me swim classes on Mondays now. He really likes it. I'm so glad he enjoys the water. We plan on spending lots of time in the pool. On Wednesday, Carter took his first of three consecutive float tests. He was fully clothed with tennis shoes and thrown into the middle of the pool. He floated for four minutes. Then when he reached the side, he climbed out. Yea Carter, he passed! He'll do that two more times, increasing the amount of clothing each time. I'm not worried at all - he's a great little floater. I'll post the video once I get my computer back and can edit it for time. What I didn't know at the time was that Carter had an ear infection, hence the lack of good sleep. He's on antibiotics now and doing fantastic. Our pediatrician says he's "allowed" one more infection this season and she's referring us to a pediatric ENT. Let's just hope we don't have to go down that road ...


Well I think that's it for now. Today we are headed to the West Houston airport for a WWII airshow. Should be fun. I'll post pictures eventually ...

Boys will be boys

Carter and Jacob played with the water guns this afternoon. They found holes in the fence and used the dog next door as target practice. Serves it right for poopin' in my front yard.

A face only a mother could love

Carter had serious bed head (if you could only see the back) and a tangerine frozen fruit bar. Check out what the combo creates ...

And Cole was practicing his tummy time. Look at that head/neck control. I put his arms up underneath him and he rolled over. I'm not counting that as a roll yet, but I'm sure that's close.

Big smiles on my belly.

First Ever, Soon to be Annual, Rancho Alvarado Easter Egg Hunt

This Saturday was the First Ever, Soon to be Annual, Rancho Alvarado Egg Hunt. And now that its concluded we can officially call it the "Annual Rancho Alvarado Egg Hunt." We had a blast and so did the wind! Joanna hid over 600 eggs for all the kids to find. Carter rounded up around 30 or so and was distracted by eating the candy while hunting.

Wish I could have gotten Carter to look at the camera, it would have been our first family photo of the four of us. We'll try again this Sunday for Easter.


Nice spittle there Cole. Sometimes I wonder why I feed this child, he spits up all the time. He's a happy spitter though.


A few pics of him hunting...

There's much more to do at Joanna's besides hunt eggs, and Carter loves it all.

Jumping on the trampoline with Daddy. Carter got lots of air :)

Not sure why I dressed the boys in matching outfits for the party, Cole slept the whole time. So when we got home I tried to get a shot. But I could only get Cole to smile - go figure! He really loves his big brother; he is smiling and cooing at him all the time. And he's really tolerant of Carter's obsession with waving his hands.

Happy Birthday

Today would have been my grandfather's 84th birthday; he was an April Fool's baby. Kinda fitting since he was always a jokester growing up, so I'm told. I certainly know he was good at telling stories about all the pranks he pulled when he was younger. While I wish I could hear him tell me just one more of them, I rest in the fact that he is with the Lord now. And those of us that miss him can tell each other those stories over and over again. I'm sure Carter and Cole will love hearing how their Grandpapa nailed down his friends boots to the floor, or put stinky cheese in someone's phone receiver. I surely did.

So Grandpa, Happy Birthday. We love you.

Carter is a Dolphin!

Carter was promoted from Goldfish to Dolphin today in swim class. Go Carter!!

Ms. Kara has taught Carter to successfully transverse the length of the pool (30 feet) by floating, then flipping and swimming a few strokes (actually little paddles) and then flipping and floating again; then repeating the process. She's actually keeping him in the same class since the Dolphin students are mostly 3 year olds. So she's going to work with him on the Dolphin skills in the current class until he's a little older. She said that in the last week or so it has just clicked to him and he gets it. Today was so much fun to watch. I can't wait to get him in the pool this summer with Brian and I. I wish I had brought my video camera today.

I do have some pictures we've taken lately:

Carter just woke up from a nap and looked so cute with his red cheeks and bed head hair.

Grandmama with her great grandsons.

Cole with a big grin (and a bib, boycan this kid spit)

SURPRISE

For those of you that don't already know, Brian's 40th birthday is this Wednesday. And because of that, I decided (with tons of help from my parents) to throw a surprise party for him. And surprises there were.

Brendon, Stacy and their little boy Brady drove in from Oklahoma to surprise Brian. And Becky flew in from Indiana to surprise Brian AND Brendon. And Matthew and Allison flew in from Denver to surprise all of us (well, except Dad - he knew they were coming). Brian was floored - he didn't have a clue.

Several of our friends and family gathered at Mom and Dad's and awaited Brian's arrival. And wouldn't you know, Brian had a little car trouble. He NEVER has car trouble with his Honda - go figure. But after getting off to a late start, we ended up partying until late in the evening. Well, late for a mom of two :)

Here are some pictures of all that attended. Never did get one of the hosts - they were busy making margaritas and fajitas. Thanks so much Mom and Dad - you made Brian's 40th unforgettable.

Brian walking in - he really was surprised.


Brian with his Mom.



Allison making Cole smile



Uncle Jerry and Aunt Lois with Cole

Brian opening his "gift" of Senior Vitamins from Damon and Carlin. Joke was on them though, he actually thought it was a decent gift!!

The boys with their boys

Cousins: Brady and Cole

Scottie and Kate - she's expecting a little boy in just a few weeks. Add another boy to the bunch ...

Brad and Dana

Grant and Carter played all day together and shared quite nicely. Though it was funny at one time, Carter told Grant to go inside with him. So Grant when inside and then Carter stole the bike back and decided to stay outside. Can you say "Sucker?" Sorry Grant :)

Louiza and Kelly. Kelly is due in September, but doesn't yet know what she's having.

Damon and Carlin Putman. She too is pregnant - and with a boy! Man are little boys popular. Congrats to all my preggo friends.

"Old Friends" - pun not intended. Oh who am I kidding - pun was intended.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Alli. Man was I shocked and excited to see them. They made Carter so happy - they are great playmates. Plus they really helped at the party and did alot of clean up.

Brendon and Stacy

Brady was a little hung over from the night before.



Nan with her three grandsons, it's just too hard to get them all to look at the camera, much less smile :)

Thanks to all of you that came - we had a fantastic time!

Cole is Two Months!

Today is Cole's two month "birthday." Hard to believe, I know. He's starting to fill out and look more like an infant than a newborn. He's a cutie. Every where we go he (and Carter) turn heads. Mom and I took them to the Livestock show again on Thursday. Dad bought us a double stroller, which made it MUCH easier to manuever around with two kids. But it was definitely an eye catcher with those cutie pie boys in it.

Here they are not really smiling because it's the end of a really long day.

And here is Carter on the Pony Ride

I took some pictures of Cole today; I need a good one for his 2 month slot on his First Year Frame. It's hard to make him smile and put the camera in front of your eye to get the shot. But if you keep clicking enough, you'll get the smile. See here:

But you'll also get this ...

We love our friends

I just wanted to post a few pictures I had of Carter playing with his friends over the last couple weeks.

Carter and Awbrey eating the candy that Joanna and I were stuffing into Easter eggs for her "First Ever, Soon to be Annual, Easter Egg Hunt." She's going to hide 600 eggs on her 5 acre property. She's expecting roughly 25 kids - should be fun.

Carter and Jacob hiding in the play house in the backyard. It was upside down and they are peeking through the cracks in the floor.

Carter, Bella and Awbrey via camera phone on the tire swing at the park.

Carter and Cooper "climbing" trees; Jen put them up there.

And I'll close the post with a pic of Cole laughing the other day at Grandma. It was his first real big laugh, coo and smile at once. It was taken with my camera phone as well.

Milk and Cookies

This afternoon (well pretty much the whole day) has been cold and rainy. So when Carter woke up from his nap we snuggled on the couch for some milk and cookies. He was being so cute and I actually could capture it on video. Check it out...