With Carter starting school last week, our daily pool trips have come to an end.  Even with the gobs of sunscreen I have gone through this summer (5 bottles and 3 face sticks just for the kids) my children are still tan.  The picture does not do it justice.  I will miss having Carter's hair bleached blond by the sun, Vivian's little tan line from her bathing suit and Blake's tan line at his waste.  This doesn't mean the heat is going away anytime soon in Houston...I guess I'm just hoping for fall weather sooner than later.

Carter's First Day of School

The famous back to school shot...except the only thing new he is wearing are his socks.  He insisted that he wear this particular outfit.  About a month ago I tried buying him new shoes, but he wanted to keep his old one's.  This morning when he was putting them on, he said that they are getting a little small and that he might need new one's.  

Brotherly love.  Their long days of fighting and then making up have come to an end...at least during the week.   Blake is enjoying his new reign over all the toys.  

Vivian was so happy this morning.  She didn't stop smiling the whole time we were outside waiting for the bus.  I should mention that we waited over 20 minutes in 90 + degree weather (and humidity).

Still waiting...

Finally the bus came.  He couldn't wait to get on it and ride to school.

Can you see the excitement?  They could have at least washed the bus windows so I could get a clear shot.  

We met him at school just as he was coming off the bus.  He was still just as excited.  

Walking down the hallway to his class.  He'll have to learn to stay in a single file line.  He's just a baby.

My last moment with him.  We were in the classroom all but one minute.  Things are different in a BIG school with over 1,400 students.  We opened the outside door, and the tears started flowing.  I was so proud of myself for waiting.  It was really hard keeping them in for that long.  We only have 37 minutes until we get to go pick him up at the bus stop in 106 degree weather (plus humidity).  I don't think he got to go outside for recess this morning.  When it's over 100 degrees, they have to stay inside.  I'm sure that was his biggest disappointment of the day.

Carter's Meet The Teacher

Friday morning Carter had meet the teacher.  We were all anxious to meet his new Kindergarten teacher and see what his classroom would be like.  There were no disappointments for him.  I on the other hand couldn't believe how small the classrooms were.  At least 1/4 the size of the one I went to Kindergarten in.  The plus part is there are only 20 students in his class.  His school is a open concept school.  The walls in the hallways go all the way up, but once you get into the classrooms the walls don't go all the way up to the ceilings.  If you are tall enough, you can see into the other classrooms.  Not sure how I feel about it yet.  We'll see what happens.  

Walking to the school.  It was hot and muggy so we looked nice and fresh once we got there.  Yeah right!

Stopping for quite sometime while we were all dripping in sweat because he had something in his shoe.  Everything is on "Blake" time.

Blake requested to hold Carter's hand once we got closer to the school.  Here, Carter is showing Blake where he is going to play at recess.

Carter's cool new glasses that he got from his teacher.  He got right into character.

Holding up the famous name tag.  I really can't believe this is all happening.  

Losing It

Would you believe me if I said I TOTALLY lost it on the phone tonight with Carter's Kindergarten teacher?  She called at 9:00 pm tonight to see if I had any questions for her.  I just started crying.  I can't get a handle on myself.  I've been crying about this day for 5 years and now it's actually here.  Luckily, Carter hasn't seen me in action yet, and if all goes well he won't.  Seriously, how am I going to get through this?  He's going to a school with 11 Kindergarten classes.  I think there was that many classes in my whole entire elementary school.

Dresses

Is it bad that I bought two maternity dresses a couple of weeks ago and I'm not even pregnant?

Well, I love them and I think they look great even if you aren't pregnant.  My summer wardrobe consists of lot's of dresses and lot's of skirts.  Plus, I can also wear them when I do get pregnant again.  I like to wear mine with flats or sandals...the heels are way to dressy for this style of dress...in my opinion.

Galveston Island

Saturday we packed up the kids for a day, or half a day, at Galveston Island.  We went for the kids.  You see, the water is brown, the sand it's good and it's really not that pretty.  Kids have a way with seeing past all of that.  They had a wonderful time building sand castles, fishing, jumping the waves and just being kids.

What am I doing with my hand?  Why won't Blake smile for a picture?  Maybe it's because his face is covered in watermelon juice...or not.  Vivian is starting to hyperventilate because she wants back in the water.

This child's hair has turned so blond in a matter of weeks.  He was definitely in his element.

This girl put anything and everything into her mouth that she could find.  "Oh, here's some nasty seaweed with who knows what caught in it.  I had better give it a try and see if it tastes okay."  She also had a great time crawling out to sea time and time again.  I have another fearless water baby on my hands.

The boys running out of the water once they found out there was a dolphin close to shore.  That only kept them out for a split second. 

Me and my girl.  

Carter's First "Friends" Birthday Party

I know, I'm a lame Mom.  This is my child's fifth year of living and his first official birthday party.  What can I say, he has a summer birthday and people leave for months on end during the summers here in Texas.  Wait, we've only been here a little over a year.  Oh well, I have no excuse.  To say Carter was excited for this party would be a HUGE understatement.  He woke up extra early the morning of, just in case I forgot.  I actually thought I was going to get away without having one...it stresses me out to no end planning a child's party.  Maybe that is why I never have them.  I look at all of these other cool parties put on by fabulous mothers and know that I can't come close to competing.  My husband likes to keep things simple...he's a no fuss guy.  So what if you don't have matching decorations and the coolest games and the best food and the most amazing party favors.  We left it up to Carter to decide exactly what he wanted at the party.  Isn't that how it should be?  Here is the run down:

He wanted his three boy friends from pre-school to come. Check.  (Wasn't I lucky that he didn't request 15 kids?  After the party he said "So, when is my girl party?" )

Science Exeperiments.  Check.  (We did seven.)

Chocolate Cupcakes with Sprinkles.  Check.

Hot Dogs with Doritos and Watermelon.  Check.

Play with Toys.  Check.

Party Favors consisted of two of his favorite things: a headlamp and Kit Kat candy bars.  Check.

So, I got to work finding simple, yet fun science experiments that would entertain five year olds.  They were so easy and the kids really enjoyed them.  After the experiments, the boys gave Carter their presents and they all went to town playing with them.  After some fun play time with toys, it was time to eat, sing and have birthday cupcakes.

Carter's first birthday cupcake on his actual birthday.  He wanted ice cream in it, so this is what I found.  I just had to throw this picture in there since I missed it on a previous post.

Watching the water experiment.  

We let each of the boys do the experiments.  

Hot and cold water.  You add food coloring to each and see which glass the dye spreads in fastest.  

Of course we did the baking soda and vinegar experiment.  What little child doesn't love to see an "explosion"?

Just before the ripping of wrapping paper.  

Playing with the new toys.

Lunch.  Definitely not something I would choose, but he was very happy with it. He even ate two.  That's my boy!

The cupcakes.

Our happy five year old being sung to by his family and friends.  He said that it was the best day EVER!

I loved how easy this party was...from the invitations (emailed) to the food.  Sometimes it's nice to not have to fuss over all the details...although, I do like all the details.  Boys are just so easy to please...now let's hope Vivian is the same way.  

Vivian's Tooth

We went through a traumatizing tooth experience with Vivian two weeks ago.  About two weeks beforehand, her top tooth had broken through the skin but you would never be able to tell until you felt it with your finger or looked in at her gum.  When she woke up from her afternoon nap two weeks ago, she opened her mouth and I got a glimpse of something.  I looked in her mouth and this is what I found.  I was shocked.  At first I thought it was her tooth stuck inside the gum, but how could her tooth come down like that in a matter of a few hours.  Well, two and a half hours later, it had come down even more.  Cody came home from work and I showed him. We didn't know what to think of it, so we emailed pictures to my cousin who is a dentist and a dentist in our ward.  They both said the roots to the tooth were most likely dead.  I was devastated.  I didn't want my baby to be toothless there until she was 8!  I felt the "tooth" and it was wiggly and flexible.  Something wasn't right.  The next morning, the color of the gum had changed to a dark/bloody looking purple.  Four hours later is was creamy white.  While she was in the bath that Saturday nigh, I felt inside her mouth and lifted up the flap of skin and low and behold, there was a tooth under it.  It was a baby tooth miracle.  My baby wasn't going to be toothless after all.  Sunday morning she woke up and the flap was gone.  I was relieved to say the least.  The dentists came to the conclusion that is was either a harmless cyst or the sac that baby teeth are in before they come out.  This was definitely a learning process for us.  She was a good sport through the whole thing.  We are all just glad that it's over and hope it doesn't happen again.

After I first discovered the "tooth".

Two and a half hours later.  It came down even more.  It's hard to tell in the blurry pictures.

The next day after the "tooth" had turned creamy white.  By this point, she was more than done with us looking in hour mouth.  With lifted up the flap of skin and there was her tooth.  

Please excuse the baby boogers.

Holding down the flap to get a better look at it.

Favorite Moments From Last Week

Holding my baby just out of the bath.  She laid in my arms for a good 10 minutes and just smiled at me.  Seriously, that was lucky for an almost 10 month old.  I'm wearing no make-up, my hair is hanging in my face and I'm hotter than hot (temperature wise). My baby didn't care, and either did I.

I'm glad that I was able to catch these moments.

Carter and Blake hugging because they were so excited that Carter got Toy Story 2 for his birthday.

The boys counting the money in their banks on a rainy day.  They were seeing if they had enough to get back to Nana's house.  I don't think the nearly $24 is going to cut it.

Blake packing his backpack for the hundredth time since being home from WA.  After getting up in the morning and after every nap he packs his blanket in there along with a few other things.  He's still doing it...