Cousins Reunion!

Well the long awaited visit from Scott and Annie finally came! We had a busy fun week filled to the brim with activity! I can't believe Annie survived with a needy 7 -week-old. She was amazing. The cousins totally enjoyed themselves. They played themselves right out. We had some lovely visits, shopping trips, a lunch with Lydia, visit to Dads where we saw Grandma Roonie and Aunt Sandy who entertained us with bubbles and fed us watermelon!

We started with tacos as soon as Annie and Scott drove into town.

Clara meets Uncle Scott who promptly calms her with a soothing melody/music lesson.

All the grand kids except for newborn David.! This was during Brittani's birthday barbeque! Thanks Laura for taking the picture for us! Love it. You look beautiful Britt!

I loved this. When I first saw them they were both in the fence facing each other playing.

Breakfast on the veranda? We'll on the back porch anyway. I highly recomend it. It's less messy!

Derek and Emma had some good bonding time riding bikes. Derek was a bit dismayed at first because it was a girls bike but I finally convinced him to ride it by pointing out that there was alot of black too so it was for boys and girls. He looked a little dubious but decided to give in to the need for entertainment in a house filled to the brim with girls and pink ponies, dolls, etc.

We were so sad when it was time for them to hit the road. Kelli expressed it well here. It is a bummer. She was unamused which apparently amused Grace. I love Kelli's exuberance for life. She just makes me smile!

I loved everyone's expressions as they were trying to get out of here. Derek doing well, Becca enjoying the excitement and hecticness of it all, Kelli unhappy because she knew what was really happening, David getting ready to spit up and cry. Scott and Annie both deserved an award for patience under pressure!

This was what we saw as they drove away. Waaaaaaaaa!

Grace just sat on the yard and stared down the street for a little bit as if she hoped they might be coming back.

The Last Best Place!

We had a fabulous visit to our family in the "Last Best Place" after my class reunion. Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jim graciously put us up in their guest room. Grandma Roonie and Grandpa Keith helped to entertain and wine and dine us! Thanks so much for having us! We had some nice visits with Grandpa Kahle too. We had a good play in the park and a visit in his yard where Grace and Emma danced and made noisy music for us! That sure helped us with the visit!

My cool cousin has his own new restaurant! He treated us to a fabulous meal Saturday night when we went through town. We got to sit in a big booth in the front window. (I guess he wasn't as embarrassed by our raggle taggle traveling family as I thought he would be!) The food was absolutely delicious!!! Thanks so much Brett.

Clara met her second cousin "Lilly" , Brett and Abbi's little girl. These two cuties were born on the same day. Isn't that cool! First cousins babies born the same day. What are the odds! Lilly was very beautiful and sweet. The girls have been waiting to ride in a Grandma's real live golf cart. They had a fun time riding in her cute little yellow one. Next time they'll have to play a round of golf!

The girls got a complimentary ride in the convertible with Auntie Sandy and Uncle Jim. (just one block but very cool)

The girls love going Grandma's and playing with her toys and poker chips in the basement! We had a few great meals with her! Thanks Grandma and Keith! Brenna, Kendal, Conner, and Grace entertained us with a impressive tumbling routine. Melissa tested out Clara. We think she needs one just like her!Grandpa Kahle was giving us his convertible so John drove home and I stayed for a little longer visit.

Bye, Bye, Livingston!

We stopped in Rexburg so I had to have a picture in front of my old apartment. I lived in 308, 309 and 310. Do you think I would have dreamed I might be back here almost 20 years later with a 5, 3, and 6 month old. I think I might have been a little shocked at that thought!

We stopped half way and stayed in a motel and swam. It was great fun. The next day we stopped and saw Brittani and got to go to the temple open house in Twin. It was really a neat experience, so very peaceful and beautiful inside. I was so glad Brittani got us to go. Clara was kind of intense and ate the program and almost choked.

20th Reunion..... it just can't be!

We attended my 2oth high school reunion in August. It was really surprisingly pleasant. We met and ate Friday night, rode a last minute float in a parade Sat. morning, and met for picnic in a camp ground on Sat. afternoon. I loved seeing the people I did. It was nice to chat and get to know people. I found it amusing that it was fun and easy to tell my 6th grade crush that I had had the big bad crush on him back then. We got to see our band teacher too. He was the kind of teacher you see in the movies, having life's lessons discussions with us in junior high band, putting up with us being complete dingbats for a few years, really doing fun things with us in high school and marching band later. Here are a few pictures for posterity. This is Clara and I on the field where I used to run track and practice marching band moves and watch football games.

Grace is pictured here standing under the windows from my first grade classroom and above them are the windows from a room I was in for 6th grade (where I had the terrible crush!)

Here we are on the steps to my junior high. I think I am glad I am done with that phase of life...
A family picture on bouncy play ground thing that I remember riding in about 1st grade. Do you think I could have pictured this scene? Shocking! I just can't believe it! I feel very blessed with my life.
Grace and Emma trying out my favorite play ground activity. This monkey bar "thingy" kept me busy for maybe a year or two. I would line up and try to get around it every recess in 1st grade.
My house from about 4th grade through college! I thought it was about twice this size.

We owe the Griffins BIG time! Thanks so much to them for putting us up for the night and ESPECIALLY for babysitting my three bundles of energy Friday night so I could go to my class reunion. Oh, and the fashion advice was greatly appreciated too! We loved seeing you guys. Such a wonderful, fun, cute family! (Clara was testing out being in the Griffin family here).

Emma's Big Preschool Day

Emma started preschool a couple weeks ago. She was very excited but rather unamused when it was over and she had not been to an actual school. She said "But that was just a home." We are doing a shared preschool deal with three friends where we each take a turn each month having preschool at our house. This is Emma hugging Grace goodbye on her first day.

Crawling Lessons

John has been spending some quality time bonding with Miss Clara. He has been giving her Crawling lessons. This was her introductory lesson which involved much stress and crying on poor Clara's part. She was tired as it was past her bedtime. The next day, however, Clara was a new girl. Never to be content again to sit on a lap or lay around being calm. She now is in constant motion, rolling, scooting, working on crawling, vaulting off laps as if to say, "I think I'll just go for a walk now." I told John he was in big trouble as Clara is going to be handful to keep track of now! She's having fun though and occasionally has a booster lesson to fine tune a skill or to build up a weak muscle. John actually made her do sit ups off the side of his knee during sacrament meeting. It wouldn't have been too bad except for the piercing yells Clara was emiting with effort of the work out. She was pretty mad because it was such hard work.

Emma's Do it Yourself Do.....

It is with a heavy heart, I must report on recent happenings in the Carter household. Miss Emma, accompanied by Miss Sydney participated in self beautification activities. Due to a rather unpleasant attitude about these activities, I have been unable to face the job of reporting this for quite some time. Upon visiting the hair dressers, hoping to aquire a new and cute hair do however short, we found that the damage was, "the worst job" our hair dresser had seen. Any further attempt to cut and repair the damage would only accentuate the damage. We were instructed to glue Emma's hair into tiny pig tails until further efforts could be made to shape what was left of it. It was trimmed slightly to at least even the two sides of her hair which did help a bit, surprisingly. Lesson learned: scissors = danger and sadness for mom's. Also, self improvement activities must be monitered by another person no matter how beautiful you feel it is.

Krypto the Super Dog!

A few weeks ago Emma and Grace watched a new show with a super dog named Krypto in it. I believe it was the next day when Emma came up to me and with reverence said, "Mom,... I'm Krypto the Super Dog." She tied a blankie around her neck and has been working to save the day every since. (she flies really well which causes a swishing sound).