Carter's TWO!!!

I'm the proud mama of a two year old again! I can't believe it. He's amazing and funny and just the best little guy around. He is independent and feisty and just so cute. We love our Carter!

 As soon as we all started singing, Carter put his hands up to his mouth and gasped. (Kind of like Miss America would do after hearing she won.) It was too funny. He's so full of personality. What 2yr old does that? Haha.

 YAY! Carter's two!

One of his favorite toys. A big truck!

Grandma and Aunt Nattie came over to help celebrate and it was a great birthday for my awesome BIG boy. I am grateful to know Carter. I am grateful for his sweet smile and his hilarious and ever rolling laugh. He's truly a treasure to our family.

Color Me Rad!

When I found out about a race that was made strictly to be fun and not serious, where the runners would be completely dyed, sprayed and painted with paint and colored powder, I was IN! I singed up months ago, and finally the race day came. Mom, Nat and cousin Kirstin joined me, for an incredibly fun time. It was a blustery day, and we were cold until we started running, and laughing and smiling. Then we forgot the cold.

Just after the race. We were colorful, but not colorful enough. Haha. The after party was where we added the most color to our white clothes.

 

 Party after the race! We all got a packet of colored cornstarch to throw at the signature count down to end the race. It was so fun. We were all then covered in color. They blared dance music and we all danced -even mom! We let ourselves have fun, and get covered in more and more crazy fun colorfulness.

 I felt young! and more myself. I felt great. I loved the whole experience. I'll do this again, for sure. These crazy, different, FUN things are the sorts of things I want to do more of. They make life a little more interesting and more vivid -literally. I want to be reminded, often, that I am young and fun, and not just a responsible adult with adult worries. I need to feed this happy, energetic, youthful side more. These things make me a better person! I love it!

Yay for Our Runners!

Earlier this year, I signed the boys up for the Tuff Kid race. They did a 200m distance. They really enjoyed themselves, so hen I read about another race, I asked them if they wanted to run again. They did. This time they did 1 mile!

 Cute boys ready to run!

 

 Lined up, stretching and they're off!

 They had a very fast start, and got a little tired too soon. They walked and ran. Joe even ran/walked along with them, while Carter and I waited at the finish line.

 Ben finished strong! He ran in and was happy.

 

 Kade had gotten pretty tired and relied on a little support from Dad to finish. But he was happy and a great racer. We'll do more of these for sure. I love getting them out and getting them involved in new, fun and positive things. I want them to grow up and seek out these types of things to do themselves. I'm glad they are outgoing tough boys who are willing to push themselves. Way to go boys! We're proud of you!

Halloween!

Halloween has got to be one of our favorite holidays. The boys LOVE dressing up and being a whole new person! Well, except for Carter. We got him dressed in the same cute lion costume that both Ben and Kade wore at two. SO cute! But, Carter freaked out, and instantly resisted. As the wonderful parents we are, Joe and I stuffed his flailing self into the outfit. Haha. We figured he calm down once he saw what it was all about, in a mirror, but he didn't. We quickly offered him a bribe -the sucker, but he still cried about the costume for another 5 minutes.

By the time we drove down the street to the church trunk or treat, he was perfectly content and no longer a roaring little lion. I love my little one!

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Kade had a preschool party and was more comfortable with his Batman mask off. But, here he is as Batman. He couldn't wait for his turn to wear this costume! He looked very handsome and very cool in it. I think he looks SO big. I can't believe how grown up he is.

 

 

 

 Ben has wanted to be a vampire since just after Halloween last year. He was SO excited to get to dress up for school and for actual Halloween night. I think his favorite part was having his hair painted. He looks like an entirely different kid! He's not scary, but is a very handsome vampire. He looks great!

The best picture we could get of all three boys together. Joe took the boys trick or treating as always (thank you Joe!), and I manned the candy bowl at our house. It was a fun night! I love these three boys!

No More Meds!

This past week, Carter and I traveled up to Salt Lake City for a follow up neurology appointment. He needed an EEG to see if his brain was having any seizures. It was a great trip, just me and my littlest guy. We shared a treat, drank milk (Carter's favorite thing) and played in the waiting room.

When they hooked him up, he did great. I was not surprised. He's a great kid. They gave him more milk, and turned out the light. My job was to keep him still for 30mins, so the scan would read just brain waves and not body movements.

We snuggled together up on the bed and, within minutes, my sweet boy had fallen asleep. Did I say he's a great kid? Haha. The test was smooth and we were out the door. We drove back home to Joe and the boys.

Well, we got the great news today, that his test came back perfect, so we don't have to deal with the seizure medication we've been giving every night for almost the last two years! I love that he's no longer on anything! I love that there's no doubt that he is recovered and fully healthy and just a typical little guy. I am grateful he's here and doing so well. Always a miracle to me.

First Flag Football Games!

Ben was excited to play flag football this year. It's his first time playing sports like this. He's loving it so far and even saw a little action in the first game. One kid will hand off the ball to the "quarterback", then the quarterback will hand off the ball to the kid behind him. That kid will then run and try to get a touchdown. Ben got to be that kid, so he got to run!  The coach told him to run to the side and then head up toward the other end, that way he'd be out of the way of the big group of on coming kids.

 

Ben got the ball and ran to the side......and kept running to the side, forgetting to turn up and head towards the goal.  Hahaha. It was cute. He did great and still felt proud that he was one of few who got to run with the ball that day. Success for our first game. He already says he wants to do it again next year. OKAY!

This was the second game. Go Ben! Lots of running and a little learning, but all fun.

Batman Live!

Months and months ago, grandma learned that Batman Live was coming to Las Vegas. She immediately asked if she could take Ben and Kade. Of course!! It'd be a dream. She bought the tickets and forever have the boys been excited to go! We just returned for SLC for a family event, as well as our Heber Creeper mini vacation and this just kept the good times rolling.

Joe had stayed up North to visit with family longer, and I drove the boys to Las Vegas. We brought grandma a Batman shirt and the boys wore theirs too. Carter got to keep the hat that came along with grandma's shirt. He liked that. Although I didn't go with the boys, only stayed home with Carter, I heard all about it. The boys were thrilled and had the best time ever! Thanks Grandma!

The Heber Creeper!

I had been dying to DO something and GO somewhere, and do some sort of mini family vacation. Ever since I was little, I've always wanted ride on the Heber Creeper. So, when plans were made to be in SLC for a family event, I started to think of how I could squeeze a little bit of a family vacation in as well. I planned to go up the day and a half before we had too, spend the night in Provo. Then we could eat out, and play in the hotel pool. The next morning we'd wake up, head to Heber and ride the train. That's what we did. It worked out perfectly and it was a memorable trip.

The boys were excited for our first time on a real train. (A bonus was, that my best friend's parents live in Heber, and got us discount tickets. It was basically half the cost. Whoohoo!)

 

 

 It was gorgeous scenery. I'll spare all the photos, but it was an amazing ride. The weather was brisk but comfortable. The boys had popcorn, drinks and other treats during the two hour (or so) trip.The best part, to them, was the Hold Up! A "real live" cowboy bandit and cowgirl bandit stopped the train with gun firing and all. They told the kids "not to smile" but gave them chocolate coins as they passed them. The bandits demanded the trains gold....

 "Keep your hands up!" The boys were back and forth on whether or not the whole thing was real or not. It was cute to see their innocent confusion.

 After trying to find gold and failing, the cowgirl robber was captured. Ben and Kade were picked to "watch over her and not let her go." They LOVED that, and idealized the Conductor.

 At the half way point, we stopped at a park and played for 20 minutes. It was great to stretch our legs and let the boys run around. Again, in the beautiful Heber outdoors.

 Getting a little sleepy on the way back to the station. We let the games come out too.

Carter was smitten by the cowgirl's beautiful singing voice and stood watching her sing for quite awhile. It was darling. I am glad there was a way for us to have family trip. We never get to. This was perfect. I enjoyed myself and am glad the boys were able to have this a new experience. So much fun.