Another Book by Carter

This book really has a lot of complexity to it...emotion, love, tension, resolution:) What more could you want in a story?

 The Princess and the Dragon

 Once upon a time there was a princess. She was scared.

 She was mad.

But then the princess saw that the dragon was nice. The End.

Carter's August and September 2014 Update

 It has been a very full two months! Carter started Kindergarten, and with soccer, church activities and Cru events, we have been ON. THE. GO. We are still trying to find a good rhythm but in the chaos, we've also had some fun:)

 Playdate at the Muizelaars with Taylor and Rianna's bracelets 

"Hey Mom, do you want to play the MOST FUN GAME EVER? Let's sort Legos by color!!"

 We still have Legos out all over the living room floor most of the time. I have sort of embraced this reality. Carter loves to organize them and also comes up with the coolest creations.  

 I didn't even know that Carter knew who Rapunzel was!

 Carter brought home a packet from school of different drawings that represent all the ways he can listen. This was my favorite:)

 Carter has started to eat like a man. Pizza night-he eats three slices! 

 Tim took Carter on a date the other week and he chose to go to the rock climbing wall int he mall. Tim said he did a pretty good job! 

 I love watching Carter start to learn to read and write words. Here is his attempt at "I am hungry".

 This terrified me! But I had to be calm and encouraging so I didn't freak him out:) I sure didn't want to climb up and get him!!

 Carter's new favorite hobby is to draw Star Wars characters from his Star Wars encyclopedia.  

 Viking students get Pride Awards when they do something respectful, responsible or safe. Carter loves coming home with these! 

 We were working on writing before dinner one night. I asked Carter to write out three words to describe his day and then we sounded out the words. Food in. Food out. All boy!

 Carter got to be the leader in his class one day and came home with this sheet. He was pretty excited!

On the 1st Wednesday of each month parents can come to Carter's school towards the end of the day to read with their kids. Tim got to go this month! 

 Showing off his dance moves at a parade. Totally unaware that I was filming him!

He is a beast on the monkey bars! Future American Ninja Warrior!

Carterisms from the past two months:

-While at the library I asked Carter if he need to go to the bathroom before we left. He yelled back to me across the library: "MOM, MY PE*IS IS ACTUALLY TELLING ME THAT I DON'T NEED TO GO POTTY!" So glad everybody heard that:)

-Carter's kindergarten class is fairly diverse for Grand Forks. When he describes classmates he says things like: "The guy with the peach face." Or, "The guy with the brown face." 

-At Carter's 6 year physical he measured 3'10" and weighed 50 pounds landing in the 76th percentile.

-When we were getting ready to buy supplies for Kindergarten:

Carter: "When do I start school?"

Me: "In two weeks and I'm going to cry so hard."

Carter: "But Mom, I'll still eat breakfast and dinner with you every day. And think about it...you'll just do a park or craft with the brothers. Then it will be lunch and nap. And before you know it, it will be time for me to come home!"

-Carter: "Mom, what are you more into, Star Wars or girly stuff?"

Me: "What do you mean by girly stuff?"

Carter: "Like fairies and sparkly stuff."

Me: "Do I have to choose?"

-I pick you up from school almost everyday with your brothers. When you see us, you usually run and jump into my arms. I love it!

-You say that you don't really like school and that you really wish you could stay home with us every day. But you never complain about going and seem to really enjoy it. Especially guy, recess and lunch!

Remembering Nehemiah

Carter came upstairs the other day after drawing this picture. Then he said, "Mom, why did you ever name a kid with so many letters in his name? Nehemiah is so long and hard to spell!"

I love that they talk about him and think about him and long to meet him someday.

Crosby's April and May 2014 Update

 Funny guy with the Mr. Potato Head glasses on:) 

 You love to look at books!

 I LOVE that smile!!

 It was 45 degrees out but you thought it was perfect weather to shovel in shorts!

 Wearing your food!

 You got into the glue stick one day and made me this piece of art! If you can't tell, this is your favorite shirt right now. You always ask for Captain Americaaaaaaa!  

 You love being in your diaper alone. And daddy's shoes:)  

 You transitioned to a big boy bed this past month!! No problems at all!

Snuggy Snugs with dad.

 Hanging out with Kimmie!

Singing Let It Go in his falsetto!

Crosbyisms from the past 2 months:
-Whenever you count you say "1, 2, 6, 11". We correct you and you just keep doing it your way and laughing.

-You love to tell jokes. Basically you say something that doesn't make sense and then say "Just kidding!!" and laugh hysterically:)

-You have the sweetest dimples on your cheeks when you smile.

-You have become very picky about what you will wear. You only like 3 shirts (Captain America and your guitar shirts). And now that it is summer you ask for your Hawkeye shorts every day. When they aren't clean you say "Awwwwwww"

-You ask us to blow you kisses every night before bed and day before nap.

-You want us to read the same book over and over again. These past couple months your favorite books were the Dora books you picked out from the library.

-You love your blue striped socks. You call them your "new socks" even though they are hand-me-downs from Carter.

-When you don't like something you say "that's disgusting"

-I asked you to not close the door and you started screaming..."I cannnnn do it. I'm batmaaaan." Oh boy.

-I asked you if you wanted a big push on the swing. You replied, "Yes! Big like an old man!"

-You are having a hard time with words with an "r". Bread is blead. Britta is Blitta. Brothers is blothers. You also add an "o" to many words. Squirrel is squirlo. Grill is grillo. You say Jack and Jillo. I love it!

Carter's December 2013 and January 2014 Update

 Looking back over pictures from the past two months I have so many of Carter's art and lego creations. He loves to create and spends hours at our craft table each day! 

 His Spider-Man plane

A rocket blasting off into the stars

 Some of the characters from Jake and the Neverland Pirates (the boys FAVORITE show from the past couple of months).

 A picture he drew as a present for Jesus on His birthday. Although he became quite frustrated when he realized that he couldn't surprise Jesus because He knows everything!

 I love how he will wrestle with Crosby and know to be a little bit gentle with him. I love that he has a cute cowlick:) 

 Some of his lego creations...Dora and Swiper, a clown and The Incredible Hulk! 

 More coloring...He is such a "between the lines" kind of a guy. I don't know who he got that from:) 

We had a winter retreat with the college students a couple of weeks ago. It came time to pack up and clean and Carter couldn't wait to help vacuum with all the college students. Why haven't I enlisted his help at home yet??!!

Carterisms from the past two months:

-Carter: "Mom, please don't break my lego monster while I'm at school."

Me: "Okay honey."

Carter: "Well, actually I haven't built it yet."

-Our boys are involved in Awana at our church (Wednesday night Bible time). We have a church dinner beforehand and Carter was in line with the Awana director. He told Carter that kids can go first to which Carter replied:

"I'm not a kid. I'm 5. I'm a man."

-Me: "Great job eating Carter!"

Carter: "Thanks, I'm a growing man."

-Carter: "I have to go potty."

Me: "How bad?"

Carter: "Not bad. I never have to go bad. Well, unless I have diarrhea!"

-He will often complain that the milk he is drinking is "soggy"! (Me means it is getting warm).

-Carter woke up one morning and in his groggy state he said to me...

"I've got it! I have a name for our baby. James. It doesn't start with a "C" and it's a real name!!"

(The boys really wanted to name the baby Scooby or Spider-boy or Bruce Wayne or some other superhero or cartoon name. We kept telling them that wasn't what we had in mind and that we were also trying to veer away from "C" names. We ended up choosing James as the middle name for our baby and Carter was so proud!)

Carter's September 2013 Update

Carter is at his first non-family birthday party today. It feels like there are new "firsts" for him every week! He continues to love school. He sets his clothes out the night before and is giddy each morning. When I pick him up he runs and jumps into my arms though so he is still okay with coming back home:)

 Carty is a pretty coordinated and athletic guy. Here he is doing "tricks" off of a park bench. I did warn him on how bad it would hurt if he clipped a foot on the arm rest but it didn't slow him down much. 

 Carter continues to surprise us with his love for coloring and art projects. His pictures are getting more detailed and creative. I don't have enough room around the house to put everything on display!

 Soccer!

We signed Carter up for his first organized sport this fall...soccer. He practiced wearing his shin guards around the house and gets very excited for practice and games.

One of his buddies from pre-school is on his team! Aren't they cute??! And just in case you think he is Mr. Intensity, he still is silly and knows how to have a good time:)

 Goal!

Carterisms from the past month:

-When picking him up from school: "That guy over there was my bully last week but now he is my friend."

-In reference to the ice berg lettuce I served one night: "What is this? Yuck! Can I have spinach instead please? Spinach is the best food ever. It's my favorite food. I like it even better than pasta. Well, ok, not that much!"

-Tim told the boys that his high school football team was going to be on television one night. He then told them that their mascot is the Ponies. Carter's response: "Ponies? Really? Ponies are for girls, not football!!"

-I asked Carter if he is making friends at school: "I have some buddies but no friends. Friends are people that you know their names and have them over for play dates. These are just my buddies."

-Carter: "Can we go out for dinner sometime?"

Me: "Sure. It's a lot more expensive though to eat out than eating at home so we don't do it often but sometime we can. Where do you want to go?"

Carter: (His eyes get big in excitement) "McDonalds! Or a cafe! Or someplace where they have a feast!"