School pictures: 2016

Instead of a Five on Friday - how about five school pictures of my babes?

We got these back (finally) this week and while they are not just amazing, I thought they were pretty cute.  We even got both of their class pictures too- which is fun to have as a keepsake to look back at the friends they were in daycare/preschool with!

My favorite things about them:

- Maddie looks so sweet and innocent - DO NOT let her fool you.  Ha.  But she is very sweet!

- Charlie's goofy teeth smile

- Charlie's hands on his pictures - he was hilarious and showed me 12 times after school on picture day how they wanted him to place his hands - hilarious

- The picture of the two of them of course...because I mean they really look like they like each other, right?

I am struggling if I want to get someone to take some pictures of us while we are still just a family of four (I better make that decision fast, right?) because I really do need some new-ish pics of the kids and got maternity pics with both of my kiddos.  Mainly I just want two good pictures of our kiddos with their real smiles (and not so much forced if possible) and one good picture of our family of 4 for memory purposes - because as we all know, once this babe comes, all new pictures!!  Wahoo!!!

Happy Friday!!  I have been busy organizing this afternoon and getting my paint on in the baby's room for the dresser.  Love checking stuff off the list!  Have a great weekend!

My two littles

So here's the deal.  My kids RARELY dress up aka rarely do we put them in non shorts/t-shirts that they wear to day care.  They are usually in that or just...naked...well the rule is they have to wear underwear in the house and *usually* at least a shirt outside.  Because you, know, we have standards.  

Ha.

So we have gotten them to get used to "dressing up" on Sunday mornings for church.  Charlie has accepted and almost embraced the fact that he wears jeans or nice shorts every week to church.  Thank goodness because seriously I hate fighting so much about clothes.  (I'm even excited to have an infant that doesn't protest everything I pick out!)

This past Sunday they actually kind of matched so gosh darnit...after church I asked them to take a picture.  My little miss was VERY excited to take a picture.  Her brother?  Not so much.  In complete transparency....I told him I would give him a moon pie (I picked them up on my trip to Nashville) if he came over and took pictures with Maddie.

About 20 pictures later (I only could fit 10 into my collage!!)...

 ...I got a keeper for sure.

As for these two?  They are keepers for sure.  We had a great weekend...busy for sure...but one thing is for sure.  These two are developing quite the relationship and I'm loving watching every minute of them.  A brother and sister relationship is something that neither Jimmy or I had growing up...so it's just amazing to watch them interact and love each other so much.  Seriously they make my heart feel things I never thought possible. 

And boy oh boy...I cannot wait for them to add more to this mix!

Maddie’s one year photos

All right my sweet girl is not quite one yet (but only 2 weeks away – how is that possible??), but the first weekend in June (in the midst of crazy schedules), we went off to Wichita to visit Lauren and David and hang out with the Moore family – AND have Ali take Maddie’s one year pictures.  I was nervous about scheduling them a month before she actually turned one because I really wanted her to at least be standing.  And just in true fashion with my children, she wasn’t only standing, but walking.  So even though she was only 11 months…she’ll never know.  Just like Charlie was 13 months+ when we finally did his one year pictures.

Ok a few things you must know about these pictures:

1 – Ali did a FABULOUS job of coordinating this shoot from start to finish.  We talked about outfit ideas and colors and she went above and beyond and send me outfit suggestions for my crew that included links to the clothes online (and that they were on sale), so all I had to do was order them and DONE.  Seriously, I think my least favorite but most stressful thing about having professional photos taken is decided the outfits and actually buying them…

2 – She came prepared.  She had already scoped out the shoot location (and she brought bug spray!) and knew what she was planning to do for all the pictures and to get the best light (and boy she did!).  She even brought a blanket – a blanket in which Maddie stood and peed on within about ten minutes of taking pictures.  OK I’m NOT kidding on this one.  I will post the hilarious picture she got of it – but she rolled with the punches and luckily I had another outfit for her to wear that was just as cute!!

3- Realistic expectations and timing.  It was June and it was hot and there were bugs all over.  This whole thing was done start to finish in just an hour.  She has two (almost 3) kiddos of her own, so I appreciated that she was patient but fast all at the same time.  She has such a great demeanor with the kids and doesn’t make them feel rushed.

4 – UMM – she was like 7 months pregnant when she shot these and she never complained once.  I swear she is the cutest and best pregnant lady.  I love it!

5 – She gives you fabulous results.  I don’t know who doesn’t walk away from a family photography session thinking “well that went GREAT, I just know that she got so many perfect shots.  No, pretty much I think the norm is you end the session and are exhausted from trying to make your kids smile, sit in one place, etc. and you are convinced the photographer got NO good pictures.  But she delivered…again!

Thank you Ali so much for these amazing pictures of Maddie as she is about to turn one and of our family!!!

Look closely - this is where she started peeing!!!

This picture of them - just cracks me up.  I foresee lots of mischief between this two in the years to come.

The cupcake was quite the hit I will say – so I’m interested to see what she does with her smash cake at her birthday party!!  However, since Maddie decided to pee on Ali’s blanket, we didn’t have anything to set the cupcake on but the ground – so in addition to sugar, Maddie also got some dirt.  

What are you going to do?

Seriously cannot believe this sweet girl is going to be one year old.  Where does the time go?  Her personality is just so fun and it comes out so well in these pictures – thank you Ali so much!!  If you are in the KC or Wichita areas – be sure to check her out!

Happy Valentine's Day 2015!

If you haven't been following us for very long, you aren't aware that while there aren't many things I go above and beyond for due to pure lack to time/energy/etc., I do always have Halloween and Valentine's Day cards.  And guess what?  It keeps getting more fun and fun by the year with adding these kiddos to the mix.

You see, it started with the dogs in 2011 and has just blown up from there.  2013 was a real winner with my chubby Charlie as cupid.  Check them out!

2014_2013 (my FAV)_2012_2011

This year, I had to think of how to incorporate a toddler boy and a sweet baby girl.  A quick search on Pinterest and I found my inspiration.  Then it was just finding time to get a few materials, set it up and get the kids to smile.

HA.  You think that would be easy?  Oh no.  So, of course, I procrastinated.  I actually bought the materials in a timely manner and my wonderful MIL had bought Maddie the cutest little Valentine's Day outfit that I knew she was going to wear - and guess what?  Charlie just re-wore his Valentine's Day shirt from last year.  Because (A) it still fit and (B) that's how we roll.

I picked up a semi-homemade banner from Wal-Mart, got some red lipstick, drew a sign and there you have it.  Then it was just time to get the kids all dressed and get them ready to smile.

Yeah - that was easier said that done.  So earlier this week, I finally convinced Jimmy to help me and this is what we got.  Some pretty cute and funny pictures of our sweet kiddos.  And a kissing booth.  And a crate that Maddie didn't want to share with her older brother AT ALL.

This is her saying "Get the heck off my crate"

And of course, when he gave it to her - she was very very happy.

And FINALLY showed us her kissing face!!!  Such a little ham she is.  I love her!  And that sweet little boy that was actually a very good sport!!

The next step was to assemble the card.  Normally, I go through costco.com and get the cards delivered right to the store...but that takes about 5 days or so...of course I didn't have time for that, so I used the one hour Walgreens card options again (just like I did for Halloween - seems to be a trend, eh?).  But after a coupon code, they turned out just fine!!  And while I am trying to keep the costs down (so I feel ok with keep doing this), I only sent out a few, but I'm sure our family and just a few friends were happy to get a fun little Carter family tradition in the mail!!

Plans for Valentine's Day this year?  My parents are babysitting during the day and we are going SHOPPING.  I have a list about a mile long for stuff that I want at IKEA, Target, Home Goods and Bed Bath and Beyond and then we are going to grab some lunch at a bar and Jimmy will watch the KU game (so will I!).  A good mix for the day.

Then maybe some Valentine's pizza for dinner and then to watch a niece's basketball game with the family...sounds like a GREAT day!!  Hope you have some fun plans as well!

Ps here is a glimpse of my attempt for our annual before school Valentine's Day picture.  Charlie was NOT having life at this point- such is the hard life of being 2.5??!

And a blast from the past to show you how fast things change!!

Butter, green beans and poop

Odd title, huh?  Well we are a bit odd and since this is a glimpse into our lives- odd titles are where it's at.

Instead of bombarding the instagram/Facebook world with these silly photos I take of my crew- I'm saving it for my blog aka my kid's baby books.  

First: BUTTER

Charlie loves the stuff and ever since thanksgiving, he tries to eat it plain. Worse off, the location of the butter sticks in the fridge is Charlie height.  So I shouldn't have been surprised when I turned around to see Maddie holding on to a stick of butter.  One that her brother "gifted her" then turned right around and decided it was his.

Their first sinking fight...over butter. Oh my.

Second: GREEN BEANS

So far Maddie has had a taste of ceral, oatmeal, sweet potatoes and squash.  I was waiting for thre green stuff, hesitant she wouldn't like. Bam. The girl loved it. And she LOVES holding on to her spoon.  I had to literally pry her sausage fingers off of it!!

Third: POOP

Charlie POOPED in the little potty for the first time on Monday, 12/8/14.  Big big day in the Carter household!  Our little man has been good at peeing in the toilet before bath and when he wakes up (not one time at school....) and last night finally executed #2.  He was so proud of himself and we were so proud of him too!!!

Crazy for him and his accomplishments! (And maybe the fact that I see a glimmer of hope that I can stop paying for diapers for TWO kids)

PS I did take a picture, but I'll spare you that one.  As well as my picture of my foot incision.  Yuck to both of these things.

So there you have it. The most random blog post of all.  

Happy Hump Day friends.

Bathtime fun

While we did try putting Maddie's baby bath in Charlie's big bath tub (in the bathroom they share) a few times - for now, until Maddie learns how to sit...which I'm guessing won't be but a few months or so (CRAZY!)...we do separate bath times.  We usually do them at the same time and I do Maddie's and Jimmy does Charlie's...but lately Maddie has been getting tired earlier, so we are doing hers first and Charlie loves to help out!!  It's so cute!!

Here are some sweet bath time pictures from the other night!

Jimmy is explaining the "neck monsters" that Maddie has under her chin that we have to clean and get out.  As you can see - Charlie is checking out his own neck monsters....

Maddie's all like "oh no you didn't boys...."

And then off they go cleaning sweet Maddie and giving her a bath.

I mean there really might not be anything sweeter than this!  It makes me sad for her to out grow this tub, which will happen so soon.  But so interested to see what Charlie thinks when he gets a buddy to bathe with!!

Siblings are the best.

(*note: all private parts were attempted to be covered in fear of future embarrassment of my sweet daughter.  However, please note I tried to not cover up her amazing thigh rolls.  I love babies.*)