Things out of the realm of my imagination  before I became a mother:

#3  As a teacher who expects very good behavior in the classroom, I often found myself saying, "My child would never...."  Oh, how humbling it is to be a parent!  Carter is taking swimming lessons with 3 other pre-school age kids.  Yesterday, he wouldn't listen.  He would kick when he shouldn't, he would hang on the rails, he would jump on the steps, and just not pay attention to the teacher.   I could just hang my head in shame.  My child is the bad kid in class.

Obligatory Cute Carter Story

#4 On the way home from swimming lessons, Carter was giving us a list of things that are dangerous. He told us it was dangerous to bite his teacher, his friends, God, and Jesus.

I'm thinking I will have to give Carter's wife a pack of pull ups when he gets married, so he can poo poo.  My child will NEVER poo poo on the potty.  We have offered him anything and everything.  I give up!

Father's Day Weekend Part II

Although, Carter wasn't extremely cooperative, I did get some cute pictures:

 Carter also decided he needed to pick the gorilla's nose:

Father's Day Weekend Part I

 I don't think Kevin has been up to Clemson since I was pregnant with Carter.  He decided to make a trip up there on Saturday.  I told Carter we were going to look for Tiger paws, a cave, and a waterfall. 

We started our day with lunch at Pot Belly Deli.  The Home on the Ranch was just as good as I remembered.

 

After we shopped in downtown Clemson.  then, we headed over to Carillon Gardens where Carter had lots of fun ringing the bell :

From there, we headed over the alumni walk:

We treated Carter to his first ice cream cone and headed north for the highlight of the day.  We took Carter to the Stump House Tunnel and Isaqueena Falls.  He has been talking about caves, so we knew he would enjoy it.  With a flashlight, we made it as far as we were allowed to go in the the tunnel.  After, we headed over the "water faucet."  Carter was thrilled to walk on "Thomas's bridge."

 

We headed up to White water falls, but unfortunately, it really started to rain when we got there.

We definitely had a fun day being "those old people" who visit their alma mater.

It's the Little Things

 

(Old picture from the river a few weeks ago)

After dinner tonight, I decided to take Carter with me to take our recycling.  I promised him if he was good, we would drive by the fire station on the way home.  Carter was very sweet and talked with me the whole way there and back.  While there, he picked up three large rocks and told me he wanted to throw them in the river.  After driving by the fire station (the garage door was open with a fire truck inside!), we headed to the lake by our house where he could throw his rocks.  It amazes me the enjoyment he experiences from something so simple.

Obligatory Cute Carter Story

#3 During the same thunderstorm, Carter looked out the window. He told us he saw the "lightman" who is cleaning.

Obligatory Cute Carter Story

#2 When our night time thunderstorm started, Carter ran into the computer room to tell Kevin and me he was afraid.  We told him to tell the thunder, "Go away.  Don't bother me."  At that point, he replied, "I'm not scared.  I'm just afraid."

My New Obsession:

Pinterest

If you havent checked out pinterest, go now!  It's awesome.

I am turning into an organizing monster in my house.  I think Kevin is scared.  In three days:

• I reorganized our linen storage in our closet
• Organized Carter's books
• Bought large ziploc bags to put Carter's toys together
• Moved and reorganized our kitchen junk drawer
• Thrown away anything I didn't think Carter would miss
• Gotten rid of household items we no longer use
• Reorganized my side of the dresser and got rid of lots of jewelry I never wear

Coming up next will be the garage, pantry and refrigerator. 

If I had an unlimited supply of money and a container store, I would be dangerous!

Not only am I finding a wealth of organizing ideas, I'm finding tons of crafts I would love to do.  Pinterest allows one to organize web links into bulletin boards by category.  Kevin wanted me to name mine "S**t I will never do" and "S**t I will spend lots of money on."  Where is his faith in me?

Things out of the realm of my imagination  before I became a mother:

#2  A person could fall on the driveway and nearly bite their tongue off along with busting their lip and scraping every knuckle.  Thanks goodness the bleeding stopped in time to convince me he didn't need stitches.

SUMMER.......

The possibilities are endless and so is my to-do list:

• Finally clean the grout
• Really scrub the laundry room
• Clean and organize the garage
• Sew
• Craft
• Run at least 20 miles each week
• Try out a group class at the gym
• Keep Carter out of school several days to do special activities
• Plan a baby shower for a friend 
• Go to the beach
• Plan and go on a small family vacation

Today was my first day off after a horrible eventful trip to Disney World with 64 6th graders.  Put it this way, we came home with 2 less than we left with.  I'm glad I wasn't the parent who had to drive 16 hours round trip to pick up my child who got in trouble.  The trip couldn't end soon enough. I was very happy to get home to my family.  I was also very happy for Carter to go to school today, so I could finally relax.  I did get a lot of errands run.  Most importantly, I am caught up on all the Real Housewives shows.

Obligatory Cute Carter Story

#1  Apparently Carter decided he wanted to play barber at school.  He would sit his friends in a chair, snap out a cape to cover them, and use a plastic banana to "cut" their hair.  He did this for a few days.

Things out of the realm of my imagination  before I became a mother:

#1  Sitting in the bath tub without glasses or contacts on and Carter shows me his fingers saying, "Look Mommy."  Without hesitation, I go to grab the boogers, quickly realizing it's poop!

I can't believe my little boy is 3!  It sounds so much older than 2.  He is growing up so quickly.   He has been successfully wearing underwear for over week now.  Just ask him, he will be more than happy to show you.  

His vocabulary is expanding:

• When I got home from running, he told me I was disgusting.
• When I threw him on the bed to play, he said, "That was great fun."
• He can tell me he is disappointed in me.
• He showed us the doctor's "stethoscope" at his well visit.
• When we talk about him growing up, he tells me, he is "breaking mommy's heart."

He just never ceases to amaze me and is so much fun.  I always thought I would  mourn the loss of the baby years.  As much as I loved him being a baby, each age is a new and fun 
adventure. 

 We had  Carter's 2nd celebration at the Columbia JCC.  It was the best deal I could find.  They have a wonderful playground, and the kids had a great time playing together.  After they each made a little puppet.  Then, they enjoyed pizza and cake.  Carter was thrilled to finally "go to his birthday."  He has been a little confused with birthday, birthday cake, and birthday party.

Pulling Austin in the wagon

Aaron showing his mom his craft

Carter was thrilled with the toys on the cake

Blowing out his candle

Carter's big birthday gift.

I did not plan to have a birthday party for Carter this year, but somehow, we ended up with two. Here's our pictures from celebration #1 on Carter's actual birthday.

After his buddy Aaron's birthday, Carter began requesting a Yo Gabba Gabba cake. I was finally able to talk him into having a firetruck birthday instead. Right before his birthday, his requests for a Yo Gabba Gabba Brobee cake increased. I wanted my little boy's birthday to be special, so I told Kevin I would figure out how to make one for him. I was extremely impressed with the outcome:

(Anyone who knows me will doubt I made it, but I did!)

We had Carter's classmate Austin over for hot dogs and cake. The boys had a great time playing together:

(It took a lot to get them to share the 4- wheeler. Each had a tantrum involving kicking off shoes)

It was finally time to sing to Carter: and blow out his candles:
The boys each enjoyed an eyeball:

The second half of our trip took us to visit our North Carolina family. Grandma and Grandpa had lots of fun toys for Carter.

The highlight of our trip was a visit to Grandpa's house. He has tons of fun things to play with. Carter road the moped with Grandpa:

and took his cousins for a fun ride on the golf cart.

Carter really enjoyed hanging out with his House/Hagwood cousins.

Our trip wound down with helping Aunt Maranda make an herb garden.

The Ansleys arrived on the 26th, so we continued our Christmas celebration. Zach was very anxious to open his gifts, but we made him wait. He entertained himself by playing with the little kids.

They tried out Gammy's new twin beds:

Played with Easter eggs (what else would be more appropriate at Christmastime?)

And patiently waiting:


Carter enjoyed his Christmas with his Louisiana family and was rather exhausted by all the festivities:

SNOW DAY