To leave this place

It is so bittersweet to leave this place. This place that we have called home for almost 9 years. This place where we were engaged and the place where we brought home our sweet baby Carter. This place where Popsicle's on the porch marked the first day of summer and snowmen outback always noted the very first snowfall. Where little feet were heard running through the loft and a little voice always rejoiced when we returned home from work. Where Sundays were made with country music in the living room and little Monet's were painted on the patio. This place, home, is such a hard thing to leave. But as I packed and cried, and cried and packed, I realized that it is not necessarily the house that made it home. It was little feet hugging tight to tree limbs. It was sitting out back talking and laughing while watching our pond. It was decorating for holidays and being together. And then I realized, it was "us" that made it home and it is "us" that I am taking with me to the next house. Us and all of our stuff that sits so nicely on the shelf. Us and all the things that we love to do on Friday nights...movies, games, popcorn and ice cream. It is "us" that is home. And once all of "us" was packed neatly into nearly 100 boxes the house didn't seem so much like home anymore. It seemed like a place that I had known but didn't really recognize any longer. A place I had loved but knew wasn't mine any longer. So to leave this place was kind of bittersweet. Yes we were leaving walls and flowers and ponds behind. But with us we are taking 9 years of memories and love and laughter and the sound of little feet heard running through the loft. This was a place where love lived and I think I will take that with me!

Never Grow Up

Carter, I always hope that you keep the passion to play without worry, to run through your day only concerned about when you can have your next Popsicle, that your imagination continues to grow as big as my aspirations for you, that you continue to love whole heartedly, that your sense of style always remains uniquely your own, that you are never too big to want to "nuggle" with your momma and that you never grow up too fast!

I heard this song yesterday while you were in preschool and I must have listened to it 100 times...love love love it almost, not really, as much as I love you!

Your little hand wrapped around my finger

and it is so quite in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming

so I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everythings funny

You got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have, honey

If you could stay like that

Oh, Darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, Darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

~ Taylor Swift

A Magical 4th Birthday!

For Carters 4th Birthday we surprised him with a trip to Disney World! So many pictures, so much sun and smiles, and so much fun!

Disney's Electrical Parade is really something to be seen....so many lights and floats!

At the Animal Kingdom we enjoyed a nice little Safari drive!

Then we spent the day behind the scenes at Hollywood Studios. Carter was so excited to see the car stunt show which was pretty incredible to watch. And speaking of incredible...Carter got to meet them as well!

We spent a night watching the fireworks at Epcot!

and celebrated Carter's 4th birthday with dinner at the T-Rex Cafe in Downtown Disney!

Awe, to see trees in bloom was something wonderful...the promise that spring really is just around the corner, or at least 980 miles away!

Above, I was so excited that Carter and I were able to get this cute little picture together until I got home and realized that his eyes were completely glued on her (below)...his first Disney love Mary Poppins!

I have to admit, she is beautiful and I don't blame him one bit for wanting to stare at her and then get all bashful when it was his time to see her!

Above Carter and Woody had a little gun smoke exchange while Jessie signed his autograph book. We also were able to ride the Toy Story Mania ride which was like a big 3D arcade game...very cute and one of our faves!

Carter took a spin on the a few of the classics....the Tea Cups and Dumbo. You just cannot visit Disney riding both of these rides!

Our little man became quite the picture poser while we were there and I took complete advantage every single time!

By the smile on his face I think he liked it even if he did say, " that was completely gross" when Minnie kissed his cheek!

Then it was on to something a little more masculine....PIRATES! Carter was even made an honorary pirate by Capt Jack Sparrow!

Above are a few of Carter's favorite rides in Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Aladdin's Magic Carpets and Thunder Mountain!

and of course you just cannot visit Disney as a 4 year old and not get your picture with all the characters and get their autographs too! I tried my hardest to have him stand with a princess but he insisted, "I am not a girl" so I gave in and was just happy that at least he posed with Mary Poppins since she is his favorite anyway!

And at the end of the trip we were "all ears" as he spent the entire 15 hour drive home recapping every single ride and event...he must have loved it!

Good-bye..until next time!

Happy 4th Buggy Day!

Since this time last year Carter has been asking for a "BUG" birthday party. So for his 4th Buggy Day we went all out with big inflatable bugs, bugs on the cake, bugs to eat, bug games. You name it, we did it!

and his little smile made it all worth it!!

Below Carter and his friends and cousins are doing the Caterpillar Crawl with the sleeping bugs...didn't really think this game was all that exciting but boy was I wrong. They loved it!

Make a wish and blow out your candles little man!!

Fun times

so a few weekends ago Carter tried roller skating for the very first time!

at first it was as if he was walking on legs of jello...either clinging to the wall

or holding tight to daddy's leg.

then it was on to holding hands

and finally on to braving it out on his own....well I mean just a few feet from me to Matt. But he was finally by he end of the hour brave enough to try it on his own and when he did fall he just got back up and tried again and when he fell again he did some funny little foot work and said, "i didn't fall, I am break dancing"! Right Carter, keep telling yourself whatever makes you feel better!

Then the next day, we left it to the pros and went and saw Disney on Ice,Toy Story 3!

It was just as cute as the movie and the kiddos had a really good time being spoiled!

January's Promise

We thank you January for countless days of snuggling on the couch, wearing our PJ's long into the day, movie nights with homemade popcorn and for leaving us with days that seem to be growing longer! You have held true to your promise of long nights, bitterly cold days, and blessed us with just enough snow to have a little fun!

Oh my love, you make my heart smile a mile wide!!

Full of fun

I have to say that this was a Christmas full of family, fun, and laughter! I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than to spend it with those that we love!

This year, Carter was determined to get a bow and arrow set. He asked every single person he talked to for it and he is lucky that the guy in the big red suit came through for him. It came complete with a target as well as a outdoor deer target. It's a little redneck, but if you know Carter than you will know that it suits him just fine. He is a boy that is all about John Deere's, cowboy boots, bumpy roads, and country music. So, the guitar that we bought him was just as fitting!

We always have so much fun when we get together with family and I think the pictures below can speak for themselves. There was plenty of lovin, laughin' and little feet everywhere! and we can always count on Uncle Justin to be the goof of the family! Below he is sporting a dickie, a sweater, the Hang Over t-shirt we bought him, and his name tag! Just a tiny glimpse of the fun we have when we are together!

Mom and dad thought it would be fun to get all the guys and kiddo's marshmallow guns so that we can have marshmallow wars when we go camping this summer. No campground needed here. Just a bag full of mini's and wide open spaces and war was declared!


Next up, some quality time with the Wynberry's. Uncle Travis made the big trip in from Cali and little Granny was able to break free for a few hours and join us from the nursing home. We are so blessed!

So, years ago we bought this bunny suit for Jack as a little Christmas prank from the Christmas Story movie. Jack surprised us all when he actually wore this suit until it just could not fit any longer. The times of watching him run around the yard as a bunny are gone but the legend lives on now as he has passed it on to Carter!

can I just say, step aside Dancing With The Stars. Your show has nothing on these dance moves. By the looks of it we are all destined to be dancers!!

Well, we had a Christmas that was just as funny as these pictures and as great as the memories we created. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!