So... I'm Carrie

Happy Birthday Sweet Sid.

We celebrated Sidney's second birthday over the weekend.  We had a nice little celebration with family and friends.  There were cupcakes and cookie monsters.  what more could a two year old ask for???

these amazing cupcakes were made by my friend Chrissy

I know it's cliche, but I really can't believe how fast these 2 years have come and gone.  WOW.  

Sidney is such a sweet little girl.  She loves to give me hugs and sit in my lap and snuggle while I read her books.  She loves to draw and color and build with blocks.  She's determined.  She loves music, and loves it L O U D.  She loves her babies just as much as she loves playing cars with Carter.  She loves pink.  She's quiet and observant.  She's fearless.  She loves changing her clothes and picking her outfits.  Sidney is simply amazing.

We love you sweet girl.

Happy New Year

a little late.  This year has already proved to hold quite a bit of excitement in just 11 days.  We've had some ups, some downs, some lazies, some busys.  But one thing is for sure, I've been reminded of my blessings.  

this years resolutions.

• continue exercising regularly
• clean up a little bit everyday so it doesn't stack up until the weekend.
• cultivate stronger relationships with my family
• focus on spending individual time with both Sidney and Carter.
• listen.
• love harder.

The older I get, the more I feel like I am becoming my authentic self.  Parenthood has given me a new perspective and I am learning that my kids are a direct reflection of me.  When they are funny, or smart, or sassy, or disrespectful, all of this in some way is a reflection of me.  It is becoming abundantly clear that it is my job to help shape these little guys into responsible, respectful adults.  this is a big job, with a lot of weight.  I feel up to the challenge.  I feel blessed to have been chosen and trusted to be the one to teach these two.  They simply amaze me each and every day.

Sorry for going all Oprah on you.

SANTA CAME!

We had a LOT of fun watching the Christmas Magic unfold this year.  Neither of the kids asked for anything REALLY big.  Carter asked for a Jeff Corvette car from Cars 2 and a Cars 2 book.  Sidney asked for a CAKE and presents.  

Santa managed to drop this in the yard for Sidney

I hear it was QUITE the effort.  He put a picture of the playhouse and Chocolate the Elf in the Tree for the kids to find.  It didn't take Carter long to spot it.  and he put together pretty quick that the picture was taken in our backyard.  

The kids got everything they asked for and then some!

The ONE thing Sidney asked for OVER and OVER again anytime anyone asked her what she wanted for Christmas was a cake.  ?????  well... Santa came through.

 

here we go.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.  well, it has for a while actually, i'm just behind. 

I bought these little trees on clearance after Christmas last year and kind of forgot about them.  The kids were excited when we pulled out the decorations that they could decorate their own trees for their rooms.  

Jason got decorations on the house.

and we got our tree up.  we are real tree people.

and this little one is fascinated by all of this.  and much to my surprise, she pretty much follows the look but don't touch rule.  girls are SO different.

we had a Christmas lunch at the kids school.

Carter making a few last requests.  Sid ran and hid, as did ALL the other kids in her class.  

then it was time to be entertained by the beautiful music stylings of a great group of five year olds.

and my favorite little guy was chosen to be the BIG guy for his good behavior.  I am SO proud of him.  this new school is exactly what he needed.

 

 

Elf-ing.

I have been toiling away the past few weeks.  Administrative assistant by day, Elf by night.  It's hard work making sure all the to do lists get checked off.  

Chocolate, our Elf showed up again for the second year.  the kids were really happy to see him return and have been excited each day to see what he's up to.

he strung a garland in the ficus

hung out on the chandelier in the play room

zip lined from the mantle to the tree

Read Rudolph a christmas book while enjoying a snack of milk and marshmallows.

and took a nice relaxing bath.

I am tired y'all.  I keep thinking "I think I can, I think I can"  I love the magic of Christmas and watching my kids enjoying this very exciting time is truly magical.  They literally vibrate with excitement!  I am SO amped to see their faces this weekend.  Jason said to me last night, Christmas is going to be SO fun this year.  He's right.

i'll be lane frost, you be j b mauney.

here's one of many reasons my kids make me smile on a daily basis.

tonight Carter was teaching Sidney all about how to be a bull rider.  

first of all, attire is everything. luckily, we happen to have 2 pairs of chaps.

He told her he would be Lane Frost, she could be JB Mauney.

he explained the importance of stretching.

then it was time to get on the bull (or princess jumpy ball thing)

Sid's turn

and of course we had to learn how to fall off!

these kids make everyday a million times better.  

34.

What I failed to mention is that I celebrated a birthday too.  34.  Hard to believe - I feel like I'm early twentites.  well, except the kids make me feel old.  

Jason asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I had a bit of a hard time coming up with anything... I've got just about everything I've ever wanted.  

Happy Birthday Carter!

Today Carter is 5 years old.  F I V E.  where, oh where did that chunk of time go?

This year was full of challenges and changes.  Carter is a very smart little boy.  He loves his sister so much.  He is my sidekick.  He loves to help Jason with the yard.  He is so very active and loves soccer and baseball.  Since he's started school in August he has mastered writing all of his letters and can spell and write his name all by himself.  He loves all kinds of art.  He loves Cars 2.  He almost always has a hot wheel or car at arms lenght.  He loves corn dogs.  He's really really funny.  

We took him and Sidney to ride the Polar Express over the weekend.  We had a lot of fun!  

 

This picture I love.  Sid has her eye on Santa (she was terrified of him!) 

We tried explaining that this dude is no one to be afraid of.  She wasn't convinced.

We had a lot of fun and Carter was just as excited about the train ride as he was about being able to spend the night in a hotel!  

 

Fun at Gram and Poppy's

I know what you're thinking... a post 2 days in a row... WUUUUUTTTTT????  i know, right!!!! go me!

The kids and I went out to Gram and Poppy's on Sunday while Jason was at his soccer game.  We haven't been out in a few weeks and it was fun to see all the baby goats playing and running around.

Here's a slew of pictures.

Sid and Gram.

My kids love dirt.  Gram and Poppy have got this really cool dirt digger that Carter spent tons of time on.  Here Sid is giving it a go.

Sidney is still not too sure about those goats.

They love feeding the goats!

Sidney has a thing for this bench.  she LOVES it!

Even Lulu - the neighbors dog - likes coming over to Gram and Poppys.

she may even want to move in....

here's some weird goat eye for you.

I really love that my kids get into all this farm stuff.  And really, what's not to love!  

Halloween 2011

As I sit here tonight after I just dealt with an hour long fit from Carter, which I can only assume is the result of a late night trick or treating last night, I have to say, I love Halloween more and more each year.  

The kids school had a Fall Festival on Friday.  They had lots of fun seeing their friends and playing games and winning prizes and candy.  

Carter and I carved a pumpkin, I let him choose what we carved and he chose angry birds.  shocker.

Made the kiddos some halloween treats

And then we went trick or treating.  Carter totally got it this year.  He and Parker zoomed from house to house and then sweetly waited on Sidney to catch up.  She did better than I thought she would.  She pretty much kept up with the boys.  She loved it!  

Carter wore his Police Uniform again and Sidney went as Snow White.  I didn't want her wearing this outfit to the fall festival because she's, well, she's a lot like me.  we tend to ruin light colored clothing in record speed.  so... I saved this outfit for Monday since I had the Kitty Cat costume that my friend Kim gave her.

she was really cute.  she thought she was super fancy since i put the tiniest bit of blush and lipstick on her.  she kept telling her daddy to look at her makeup and kept looking in the mirror.  

girls are so fun.