Big Weekend for Carter

Carter's had a weekend of firsts:

Saturday was his FIRST soccer game where he scored his FIRST goal!  It was so fun to watch him play. And he wore his soccer uniform for the next three days. Literally.  The look on his face after he scored his goal was sooo adorable.  A moment of time I hope to always remember. I was so grateful to be there, normally I work on Saturday mornings, but-my morning clients canceled their sessions, giving me just enough time to be there for his first game and goal.  I feel like I was given a tender mercy.

On Sunday, Carter gave his FIRST talk in church. He was awesome and not shy at all.  He was asked to talk on how Heavenly Father answers our prayers, and I think he learned a thing or two.  The next day, Carter spontaneously prayed 3-4 different times.  In one of those prayers, he prayed for the rain to stop and was very happy when it did an hour later....I think he's a believer. =)  (We recorded his talk after church that day but I am having a really hard time uploading videos to my blog or You Tube...grrr)

August 24th & 25th, 2013

True Pig Tails

Avenly's hair is getting longer...but still not long enough for a true set of pigtails, but I tried anyway!  It didn't last for too long, but it was cute for the 5 minutes it lasted.

August 23, 2013

Just a Day's Work

The day is finally here and Carter's soccer season has officially begun! He had his first soccer practice today and his first soccer game on Saturday. I might be more excited about this then he is, but I really try to hide it. :)

And Miss Avenly...she didn't get a very good nap today so by the end of Carter's practice she was pretty tired, but bedtime was just two hours away, so I made the decision to keep her awake those few hours. During those hours I had planned to have dinner, have family home evening, and mow the lawn and I was determined.

I don't know whether to say Avenly mowed the lawn for her first time tonight, or brag that I mowed .31 acres with one hand because I was carrying Avenly the whole time...seriously. She was sooo tired. She just walked behind me crying so hard. I laid her down to sleep and she screamed and screamed like never before. I fed her dinner. She ate, but that didn't change anything. Finally after I was halfway through, I remembered my baby sling. That would at least help I figured. And for the rest of the ride, she sat, quietly in the sling, finally falling asleep near the end. And yes, it was dark by that point.

After this experience, I think maybe, if I was asked to do it, I could walk across the plains, because I imagine it would be similar --at least as hot and sweaty-- to mowing the lawn with one hand while carrying a 15-month old. Makes me wonder if pioneer women made baby slings?

August 21, 2013

County Fair

I have been wanting to take Carter to a carnival/fair for a few years now to test out his courage on the rides.  We finally made it to the county fair this year.  Our first priority was the rides.  We showed Carter all the rides and let him choose a few to ride on.  He choose 2 merry-go-ride-esque rides (boring). We compromised on the roller coaster and the motorcycle merry-go-ride.  Carter was the only one on the ride and a little shy about looking at us (maybe he realized it was a lame ride...ha ha).  Finally, near the end of the ride, we convinced him to put his hands in the air and we got a glimpse of a smile!

Carter was less shy about the roller coaster ride and totally loved the Children's Tents where he got to see- but would not touch -tarantulas, spiders, and scorpions.  I wouldn't touch them either, so I don't blame him.  And the 3-Little-Monkey's tent has some really fun toys.  Carter was only persuaded away from the sandbox by the vacuum like tubes that sucked balls across the roof of the tent.

Avenly was there too.... =)  She enjoyed the fair from her stroller and had lots of fun cheering Carter on for his first rock climbing experience-which he was awesome at! And when he broke a board with a newly learned karate chop.  I have videos of both but can't seem to get either to load...bummer.

The very best part about going to the county fair was being with Nate, Carter and Avenly.  This summer has kept Nate busier than ever, and I had to weasel my way in to get a Saturday night all together, one of a few this summer, and definitely cherished!

August 17, 2013