Vintage Carter

2 years ago, picking out pumpkins.

Bookshelves

I read about this idea and loved it. Paul and I completed the project this weekend. I love it! As you can see we are studying steam engines this week though FIAR Mike Mulligan.
Looks great Paul, thank you!

A story, by Carter

A big crazy chicken who is following a path to a river and the path breaks and the chicken falls in the water.

Volcanoes

Carter has been quite interested in volcanoes for awhile now. We've read books, talked about them, watched videos on youtube (what a great educations tool, who knew?), and finally made our own! Thanks for my friend Sally for her creativity in the design (are you there Sally?).

This is a disposable plastic wear, upside down, hole cut out of center, film canister placed inside. Covered in play dough (we save it and reuse it every time), then you know the trick....baking soda, colored vingear....the MAGIC happens and volcanoes erupt!!

Fun, fun, fun!

Blog Dump

It's been awhile so here's a couple for Carter and Skye fans out there ;)

2 Videos

First up, Skye. I just love her 'moooowwww' instead of 'no'. And picking her nose, well, that's one to embarss her when she's older ;) I don't think the 'moooww' will last long. I've caught her practicing 'no' when mooow one is watching.



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Second, is teamwork! 'It's a lot of job' says Carter. I call it free labor ;) j/k, kinda! Skye loves to clean, give the girl a wipe and she'll clean for a half an hour. What fun!


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Pictures;
We've been busy canning. To wash the tomatoes I put them in the bathtub. Carter says 'I've never seen anything like that before!'



Yes, it's true. And I've never tasted anything better! My version of winter sunshine.




Finally, the kids and I walked the Mackinac Bridge. Well, sort of. It's the mini Mac and it's at DSC right now.


and another (better) picture from that day. We love this children's museum. It's the best for preschoolers in the greater area.




So, that's what we've been up to. Looking forward to fall. Staring new classes for the kids. Preschool home school, apples, cider, cooler days.....

Carter is 4!!

Wow, he's 4! I wonder what sort of changes we can expect from him? He's so different from a year ago. Yet so much the same.
Curious and wonder surround him. Last night we took him to a magic show and he was the only kid asking 'how did you do that?'
He is very thoughtful, always thinking of others.
A wonderful big brother. He has such a special way with Skye. They crack each other up :)
He get songs stuck in his head (just like Mommy)
He loves books
He surfs the Internet (what Rescue Hero shall I get next)
He'll eat just about anything. And that of which he doesn't like he says 'Mom, I'll like onions when I get older'
He's a fish in the water.
He loves to do 'projects' with mommy and sis
He loves doing errands with Daddy
He loves his friends
He's an active, happy boy of 4. wow. 4.

Here is a slide show of the changes in my little boy in one year.
Last year's show

Carter on fishing

The first is his first impression of what fly fishing might be.

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Next we have him casting. He loved it. He really truly thought he might be able to catch a fish. We did not give him a real worm or hook, for obvious reasons. He's almost 4.

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Finally, I saw him doing this a few times. I thought it was because he was bored, but I found it this is his impression of Daddy's fly fishing.

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Our family vacation

Yes, I'm going to bore you with a slide show of our family vacation up north. We had a great time. We relaxed, rested, napped, swam, fished, played,visited with family, and just flat out had a great time! I love making memories with these kids! We were gone 6 days, 5 nights at Nana's up north cottage with one (rather large) road trip in there too. Videos to come soon!

Making Mud Pies

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My Grandma

and her 5 Great Grands!

Guess what we did today?

MESSY PARTY!!

A bicycle built for 2

Meet 'Butterfly, butterfly'

Several weeks ago the kids and I went to the Butterfly exhibit at Oakland Mall. On the way out we took home to very cute (or creepy, to me) caterpillars. We watched them form their chrysalises and one morning woke to two beautiful (or bug like, to me) butterflies! Well, the cat got one but one survived and Carter named him Butterfly, butterfly (in memory of the lost butterfly). Now if only it wasn't snowing out and we could get this bug out of here, I mean, set the butterfly free!

Big Boy vs. Little Boy

Carter has decided he's now a big boy

Carter: "I haven't been to the movies since I was a little boy"
He saw Charlotte's Web in December sometime, a lifetime ago to a Big Boy. Nothing from when he was a 'little boy" counts anymore.
Carter: "I've never done that"
Mom: "Yes, you have Carter, remember we went there with your friends?"
Carter "Yes, but that was when I was a little boy."

Oh and on Big Boy, it's the only place he wants to eat on the rare occasion we go out. Now Big Boy is OK, but after working there 3 years it's not my favorite place to go. Well, at least kids eat free on Sunday mornings.

We went to Henry Ford Museum today for the 2nd Monday activities. I really don't know what I was thinking all the kids are on break this week and it was a mad house. But we got there early and avoided most of the rush. Carter found a new (to us) area that he especially loved, he called it the MACHINES. I am sad to report that the trains have lost their magic for him, but I'm happy he's found something new to love. Check out the pictures he took "all by myself!" I know they are dark, but they were extremely important to him!!

Better Bedtimes brought to you by

A poster board!! LOL! Really it's nothing different than we've always done, but writing it down (per the suggestion of http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/content/ncsstpsummary.htm) has made life less stressful!!
As those of you with 3 year olds (or BTDT) they can be...well...difficult at times. We were having tantrums for the first time in Carter's life. But THE BEDTIME ROUTINE has made peaceful nights! Whew!!

Happiness is

Picking out your own clothes and getting yourself dressed for the first time!

(yes, that is 4 shirts!)