Ella's First Tooth!

Well, yet again, Ella has done something that makes me feel like she is just growing up way too fast. I feel like it's something new everyday! Without me even realizing she was about to, the little stinker cut her first tooth this weekend! Eric and I were away celebrating our 5 year anniversary, and Carter and Ella were staying with their Grandma and Grandpa. We picked them up Sunday afternoon, and on Sunday evening, I noticed a little something in her mouth. When I was able to get a closer look, there it was!! I'm pretty sure it had come in the day before, just by how much of it was already showing. So I'm marking it down.... first tooth just shy of 8 months on 6/9/12. Big girl!! She has been drooly and gnawing on things like crazy for a while now, but she had recently started chomping down while nursing (ouch!). I thought it was just a phase.... but now I know why! Other than those things, she has been totally happy and hasn't had sleep problems or anything, so she handled the first one like a champ!! Carter cut his first tooth on his 11 month birthday, so I was thinking it may be a few more months for Ella. Anyway, I'm hoping to get a picture of it soon, but until then, I just had to put it in writing so one day when I'm old and senile, I will be able to look back and see that she cut her first tooth on our 5 year anniversary! :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Things have been crazy around here, and I have lots of updating to do to the blog! Check back soon for more on our 5 year anniversary weekend, Ella at 8 months, and exciting house news!!

Lately

I can't believe its June!! May really came and went fast..... and I have a feeling this summer is going to do just the same.

We had a pretty low key Memorial Day since Eric was working out of town. Carter enjoyed some quality time with his Nana and Grandad and went swimming with his cousin Hayden. Ella is now officially ALL over the place. Crawling, pulling up on whatever she can get her hands on, chasing her brother everywhere, much to his dismay, and snatching his toys!! I swear, now that she is so busy, keeping them separated and not getting into each other's toys is a full time job!! Carter starts his private swim lessons next week. I'm excited (and nervous) to see how he does in the water with his teacher! And Eric and I are both looking forward to celebrating 5 years of marriage next weekend with a little weekend getaway!

Anyway, just thought I'd do a quick update. Here are a few recent pictures of the kiddos around the house the last few weeks!

Ella crawled under the table one day.....

 Carter followed her under there and they had a little pow wow.

 Looooong morning at the pool, and this boy was tired!

 Silly girl doing more exploring underneath tables and such.

 Bathtime fun! 

 Ella is loving the finger foods these days!

This was her first full meal of foods.... no purees! 

 Carter pulling Ella around in a laundry basket.... she thought this was pretty funny! 

 Of course, he had to get in too.....

 Oh, it's just hilarious!

 Pestering his sis....

 Wait, who's pestering who now?

 Hard to tell.... but....

 I think Ella wins!! 

Pool Time!

Well, we survived our first pool visit of the season!

 And I could not have done it with out Carter's puddle jumper and Ella's new spring float! 

 I wasn't sure how Ella would like this float, or if it would even work well for a baby her size, but as you can see, she thoroughly enjoyed it! She just lounged back, relaxed, and was so happy to watch the others and play with her bumble bee! 

 And Carter is loving his freedom to move around the pool all by himself! 

 Mason and Connor came to swim with us, and we had the whole pool to ourselves! So nice!! 

 The babies loved playing and splashing around on the wide, shallow step. 

 So fun! 

 She loved it all! 

Taking two small kids to the pool is tough, but with the right tools, and friends that come to play, it's perfect! 

Great Wolf Lodge

This weekend, we left Ella with Nana and Grandad, and took Carter for an overnight trip to Great Wolf Lodge. We went with the Tye family, and Carter had so much fun with Mason! I'm so glad he had a little playmate there with him.... they both had an absolute blast!  

The boys with their Dads in the wave pool.

 This pictures cracks me up....  Carter squirting himself and Mason aiming at the Mommies. Such boys.

Fun with the water squirters

 Carter & Mason walking around in the raft... they thought they were so big!

 Fun in the waves! 

I was so proud of Carter for going down the water slides!! Such a brave boy!

 Carter & Mason.... just look how happy they are! 

Fun in the outside pool with Daddy.

 These two were some seriously tired boys, and they both passed out on the couch when we went back to Nana's to get Ella. 

 What a fun way to spend the weekend. Looking forward to next time!! 

Carter's School

I haven't really mentioned anything on the blog about Carter and his school since January when he first started..... mostly because there wasn't much to report. He has always loved his school, his classmates, and his teachers, loves going, and always seems to have a great time.

Today was the last day for him in Class G, so I thought I'd post some pictures of what Carter has been up to at school this semester.

On Thursday, May 10th, Carter and I (and Ella, too!) attended his class' Mother's Day Tea. It was sooooo cute!! We had fruit, muffins, and cake, along with tea and lemonade. I'm pretty sure Ms. Lynn had all of us Moms crying after her little speech about how much she loves each and every one of our kiddos. So special.  Each child made a few special gifts for their Mothers, including a tote bag with their hand prints and a booklet of pictures from their school year. Since I don't have pictures of my own from Carter at school, I'm going to post some pictures of the picture booklet they made for me. I love seeing my big boy in his school environment!

First Day..... such a baby face! 

 Carter holding the flag for the pledge, and having snack at his Valentine's Party

 Holding the flag again, and Carter and Daddy at donuts with Dads

 Wearing the armor in chapel, and cheesing it up BIG time

 Saying the pledge, and wearing his police hat on the day the Prosper PD came

 Sweet boy looking so big! 

And a sweet little letter from his teachers. 

I'm so, so sad that I do not have one picture of Carter with his sweet teachers. :(

 Also, Carter and his class with Ms. Sarah (Romp teacher)

 and Carter and his class with Ms. Julie (chapel teacher)

And here is a questionnaire Carter filled out for me for Mother's Day..... this made me laugh!

Then, last Thursday we headed up to his school for Splash Day! Carter had lots of fun playing in the water with his classmates. 

Carter and his friend John going through the car wash.

 He thought this pirate duck was so funny! 

 Loving the shamu and sprinkler ball! 

 Ella came too, and she enjoyed watching all the action from her stroller! 

 So much fun! 

 And they finished with a snow cone. 

 Mmmmmmm.

We were so very happy with everything relating to Carter's school experience this year. All the teachers, classmates, parents, and everything else have just been such a blessing for Carter, and we couldn't have asked for anything more. Looking forward to more of this wonderful school next school year, as Carter will be attending on both Tuesdays and Thursdays in the fall!!