Carter had his first soccer game today. He was so excited. He's on the Columbus Crew with other 3 and almost 4 year olds. Man was it hot out there today. The game was at 2pm and it was blazing hot. I considered leaving and driving Cole around the neighborhood in the car so he could get some shade and air conditioning. But he really enjoyed running around exploring.
Here's an action shot of Carter kicking.
Here is the coach telling Carter not to use his hands. He looks like he's paying attention. But as we would find out after the first play, that rule is easily forgotten. He and a boy from the other team were at the goal and when the goalie went to pick it up, so did they. They dove at it like a fumble on a football field, both holding onto it like a jump ball in basketball. The ref is blowing her whistle and neither would let go. Finally, she got them to get up and release the ball. She told them to shake their hands. Both boys looked at each other, put their hands in the air and shook them like the sign language clapping sign. They literally shook their hands. I just wish I had it on video. It was hilarious.
The is the "can it get any hotter look"
Cole huffing and pufffing, he was SO hot.
During the second "quarter" Carter had to sit out and take turns. He stood on the bench the whole time just waiting for his turn. He didn't want to sit out. I'd say he enjoyed himself :)
As you can imagine we are out and about around town all the time. I love my digital SLR camera, but it is so cumbersome to drag along when you have to also control two little boys. So I'm in love with the iPhone that Matthew gave me. It has a much better camera on it than my BlackBerry did. So I have a few pictures of all the fun we've been having lately.
Cole's new favorite thing to do - drive.
I actually didn't take this one, it was saved on my phone and when I imported my pics, it came over. But I'm proud of it anyway. This is the newest Shelton boy - Cody. He was born on the 9th of September. And Nan got to go to Oklahoma for the birth. He is the first Shelton baby (of this generation) with dark hair. And he has lots of it too.
This is Carter sleeping on his floor. He said he didn't want to sleep in his bed. I told him he had to go to bed, so we compromised with the floor. Of course, I moved him after he was asleep.
Carter didn't want to go to school one day. He had a hard time understanding he had a new teacher and not all of his friends were in his new class. He's doing better now. But on this particular day I had to bribe him and distract him. I told him he should spike his hair up and show all his new friends. It worked to get him to school. But by the time we got inside, the hair spray didn't last and his teacher just assumed he was having a bad hair day.
We were running ahead of schedule one day and I drove past Crave cupcakes. Just too irresistable to keep driving. So I treated the boys to the best (and most expensive) cupcake they'll ever have.
Cole doing another one of his favorite things, sliding down the big blocks. Those blocks are one of the best toys we have.
Carter riding the hand pedal train at WonderWild.
Cole yelling at me to come get him down. He can do it, he just prefers to boss me around.
The Jetta finally died. Brian tried to drive it to work a week ago and it just wouldn't accelerate fast enough. We knew this day was coming, as we've dodged the bullet several times. But when the mechanic called and said the turbo needed to be replaced (around $2000) we said, "No way - we're buying a new one." So Brian is thrilled with the purchase. And Purple Heart came today and took the Jetta. We decided to donate it and let them auction it off and get the money, we'll get the tax right off.
After church on Sunday, we took the kids to Itz Pizza. They have games, pizza, movies, all kinds of fun stuff for the kids.
Carter on the Monkey Jump. I kinda wanted to ride it too :)
Cole enjoying his brownie for dessert.
Okay, I think that covers it. I promise to update the blog more frequently. Especially now that they fixed the upload photo feature - it's much easier. Not so daunting.
Oh do we have some fun at our house. The boys are playing real well together and we're using our imaginations more. This is what having siblings is all about :)
Cole finally got to ride in the bike trailer. Carter wasn't happy about sharing it, but we convinced him how big a boy he is since he gets to ride a big boy bike. He's about grown his current bike, so I have a feeling Santa will be bringing him a new one.
These are shirtless ship captains with paddles
Another shirtless driver - he's a train conductor and yes, that is the "steering wheel" I put on the horse nose. Hey, yo do whatchya gotta do.
Carter started preschool on the 1st of September. He now goes 3 days a week (MWF). He wasn't happy about being in a new class (without last years teacher Mrs. Hewitt), but is finally happy to go to school. He is very proud to now be allowed to go on the "big kid playgroud." They have a playground for the 3-5 year olds and last year he was on the two year old playground.
The first day was a busy day. But I managed to get a few photos before we left. Brian went with us to school. He had a long day the day before, he drove down to Zapata County (border town) and didn't get in until after midnight so he went in a little late the next day so he could accompany us to school.
I love his school. I'm so fortunate it's as close as it is. People drive 20+ minutes just to go there, and we only drive 3. Happy Mommy! Cole and I are spending nice quality time together while Carter is in school. We're working on talking, though he pretty much likes to point and grunt still. He understands everything you say, he just can't seem to put his lips together and tell me he's thinking. He'll get there one day. I'm not in a hurry for him to grow up, that's for sure. Here he is playing with some blocks. He squeezed them together like a circle and looks through them.
This was the summer of the wedding and road trip. In June we went to Colorado to see Ross & Christy get married and then visit Matt & Alli. Then in late August we went to Indiana to see Nan & Pee Pa and then stopped in St. Louis for the weekend for Erica and Jake's wedding. We were lucky that these out of town weddings were near long distance families. Two trips for the price of one.
One of the most favorite things the kids did in Indiana was play in the backyard with the dogs. I love this picture, but you have to know the circumstances as to why I took it. Brian was throwing his golf discs across the yard and Otis got one and wouldn't return it. Keith, Brian and both kids were chasing him around the yard. It was hilarious. And here is Carter with his hands on hips, so frustrated that Otis kept running away.
I was corn shucking and Cole kept taking my corn. It wasn't cooked, but he loved that Indiana sweet corn. Can't say I blame him.
Carter coming down the stairs in Pee Pa's snow shoveling shoes. Wrong size, wrong season Carter - but still cute as ever.
Leftover pizza makes great breakfast on the patio
Carter was Pee Pa's shadow while we were there, particularly as it relates to yard work.
We went to the zoo while we were in Indy, but I didn't take the camera in. We didn't bring the stroller with us and so I didn't have a place to hold my stuff - or the boys for that matter. But man did that actually work out for the better. School had already started up there and the zoo was empty. The boys just ran everywhere. They were worn out. Carter had a blast. He fed a giraffe, petted a shark, rode a train, rode the carousel. And Cole just loved the freedom of going wehere ever he wanted.
After Indiana we drove a few hours down to St. Louis. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't take a single picture while we were there. I carried that camera around thinking I was going to take a photo, but never did. But after looking at the almost 700 photos that the photographer took, I guess they didn't need me:) Though I do regret not getting a least one of the four of us since we were all clean and cute. It was a gorgeous wedding and Erica stunning. The reception was a great party, but weddings just aren't for kids :)
On August 7th we went out to Spring to Uncle Jerry & Aunt Lois's house for some awesome barbeque to celebrate Scottie's 30th birthday. Cole and Carter got to play with their cousin Evan (such a cutie) and several other extended family members.
As usual, Carter insists on blowing out any and all candles on any cake he sees. Fortunately, Scottie obliged :)
Grandmama with Evan
Cole was so tired later that day he fell asleep in his high chair eating dinner. Poor guy!
I know, I know - it's been over 6 weeks since my last post. As every day passes more photos, stories, Carterisms, and such are created and the daunting task of posting those things becomes even more daunting. So I'm finally sitting down and blogging about what's been going on in the last (almost) 2 months. Instead of putting them all in one post, I'll do a series of posts with just a few pictures in each. That will make it a little easier for me :)
ICE CREAM! On Thursday, Mom and I took the boys to Brenham to take the Blue Bell Creamery tour. It was really neat to see how they make the ice cream. It was how I imagined it, but to see an active assembly line was impressive. Their ice cream sandwich machine makes 120 sandwiches a minute. The tour lasted about 30-40 minutes and at the end we got a big scoop of any kind of ice cream we wanted. Instead of a scoop, I got Cole a popsicle. It was huge. I was bummed that I wasn't allowed to take my camera along. But at the end I pulled out my phone and took a shot of the boys in their paper hats eating their treats. Cole wanted his AND Carter's. Super sweet. The boys AND the ice cream, that is.
After the tour we went across the street to the Blue Bell Aquatic Center. What a great family recreation area. They have a beach entry pool with a decent amount of shade. A Banana Split slide, floating Popsicle obstacle course, Ice Cream cone water fall. They boys loved it. This picture is of me chasing Cole in the pool, his favorite thing.
The video is of the boys (and a random girl) sliding down the sundae slide.
The entire way home Carter kept saying "I don't want to take a nap in the car OR at home." He just repeated it over and over again. He did eventually fall asleep and then came home and tried not to fall asleep again on the couch. See picture to find out if that mantra worked.
Some funny things he said this week -
While getting ready Thursday morning for the ice cream trip, Brian asked Carter if he was going to take Puppy with him (that's his snuggle puppy he sleeps with). Carter's response "No I'm not because my hands will be busy with ice cream."
While riding in the car the other day Carter, out of nowhere, tells us "I want a guys night."
Me - Ha, Carter, do you even know what a guys night is?
Carter - yes, it's when you leave and I stay with Daddy.
I then told Brian I was happy to accomodate that request at any time.
Carter is in the "why" phase. He asks at least 500 questions a day and 450 of them are "Why ..." Just so you know, the other 50 are "Can I have a popsicle." Anyhow. He'll ask "why ..." even if he already knows the answer. So this morning when I he asked where Daddy was I asked him "Where do you think he is?" His response, "In Oklahoma with his girlfriends." He meant guy friends - Brian is in OK with some old Navy buddies :)
Another why question came yesterday when he asked me why we were going to Bella's house.
Me - Bella wants to play with you
Carter - why does she want to play with me?
Me - I don't know, why do you think she wants to play with you?
Carter - because I'm fun?
Anytime I'm looking for something Carter always responds, I'll find it - I'm Superman. He doesn't have a clue who Superman is, but apparently he thinks he has a super power of finding things.
Well I'M not, but Cole is. Or so he thinks he is at least. In the last month (that I haven't been posting anything) he's really turning into such a cute little toddler. He sits up at the counter on a barstool with Carter for most meals now. He's likes to get his food on a plate and a use silverware. But man does he make a mess doing it. Fortunately I know how to mop a floor. Here he is on his first official "counter lunch".
With the summer comes sno cone season. Here is Carter on the counter with a homemade one.
With all the teeth coming in, popsicles seem to be Cole's only relief. And I'll admit, it's always a great bribe!
Here is Cole, up at the counter again, with his first whole breakfast taco. Shortly after learning how to eat one, he then learned how to dip it in queso - definitely his father's son.
Here is Carter watching the Robbie Seay Band at our church's firework display on July 4th. I posted this so you could see him doing what he loves to do - jumping. Any time he gets excited he jumps up and down like a pogo stick. He's jumping so much here, his hair is sticking straight up. He's gonna have great calf muscles.
This is at the Build A Bear Workshop. Mom took Carter there a couple weeks ago. Great idea mom. He loved it. Here he is watching his bear get stuffed. He spent at least an hour in there picking out which bear he wanted, finding clothes and accessories, and even naming him and receiving a birth certificate.
This was his favorite part though, after the stuffing you give them an air bath. Carter brushed and brushed as the air blew all the extra stuffing away.
Carter and Joey walking out of the store.
And in the car on the way home. Of course Carter had to show off his loot. I think this is when Mom was wishing she'd have made one for Cole. Though I'm glad she didn't, after 3 outfits and some accessories (including sunglasses) she'd be out even more cash.
Cole trying to put the sunglasses on.
We found a new play center close to the house that is perfect for kids under 5. Lots of imagination play. One of the sections has police and fireman outfits for dress up as well as a 5 foot fire pole. Here is a picture of him sliding down (with lots of help from me).
On Cole's 18 month "birthday", I took him to get his hair cut. When we were in Colorado I noticed that the way his hair curled in the back, would no longer curl up or under. And that he basically had a mullet. So something had to be done. I had them cut off his "humidity curls" as I call them. Here are some before shots.
Giving the stylist a high five, while actually watching the video playing in front of him. He sat perfectly still and did a wonderful job.
After we were done, he wanted back in the chair so he could finish watching his video.
We have been so busy this summer. I can't believe school starts in 4 weeks. I started the summer wondering how I was going to keep the boys entertained all summer. We aren't having that problem. One day last week Carter was tired, but refused to admit it. I told him he didn't have to take a nap, but that he did need some quiet time. So he could read his books on the floor. 30 minutes later I found he had taken a pillow off the bed and fallen asleep. I subsequently covered him up. Mother's know best.
Last Friday I took the boys to the big dog show in town. Here is Carter with a Great Dane. It was almost as tall as him. Charlie, the dog, was super sweet. He has one brown eye and one blue eye. Just precious. This is one of the few pictures I took. I made the mistake of taking a picture of a little dog during one of the agility trials. I was scolded by a judge saying that my flash photography would blind a dog. I put the camera away after that.
The boys got out some of Carter's boots. Cole had such a hard time walking in the cowboy boots. It looked like he had just gotten off a horse, rather appropriate though :)
I took some videos of Cole playing back in June but hadn't found the time to upload them. Here he is putting together a puzzle.
This is a clip of him singing "Ashes, Ashes, We all fall down!" Cole doesn't have very many words, though he can mumble the words to Ring Around the Rosie, which is cute.
And this is actually some footage I took while trying to get him to talk to me. He just babbles all the time. The word he says the most now is "Thank You." It's super cute. You give him anything and he most always says Thank You back. This is a video of babbling, I need get a video of him saying thank you - I'll work on that.
One of Carter's new favorite things to do is type on the computer. Or what he calls "Spell the Letters." I took this a few weeks ago and now he can spell it without me typing it first.
I chuckle watching this video because Carter doesn't know how to use a slip and slide. I showed him (not on video of course!) and he still couldn't figure it out.
