binki baby

I've been told by many people that Carter is now too old to have a binki. I agree, but I have had a hard time letting him let go of it. It's not that I thought it would be too hard to make the transition,  more because it's the last part of him that screams "I'm still a baby!" I'm just not sure how I feel about this little guy growing up; I want him to stay my baby forever. However, I finally did it...

I gathered up all my courage, held my breath (and my tears) and pulled out the scissors and let Carter have at it! We cut the tips of the binki's, tried them out and then threw them away.

 (putting his finger in the now open hole)

He still asks for his "bink" 3 days later, but I remind him that we cut them up and put them in the garbage and he seems to be okay with it. I know each day will get easier for him just as it will hopefully get easier for me to let him be a BIG BOY.

someone's been naughty at our house; and here he is

Carter found some scissors that Braden had left out after a project and decided to try his hand at Fashion Design. I don't think he has the making of a serious designer but he is doing very well at being put on the naughty list.

At least he was sorry for his handy work. For me, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry.

California 2011 top ten

in no particular order:

1. 13 out of 15 people getting sick at some point of the vacation. {I'm glad mine came after we got home. Still, YUCK!}
 
2. Heidi feeding Ashley baby treats. {Not on purpose might I add.}

3. Making about 30 U-turns while following Dad.
 
4. Zane telling us about his twin girlfriends, Jill and Jill.

5. Driving the MOB Mobile, a black Lincoln Town Car.

6. The boys and I interrupting a marriage proposal while taking a walk.

7. Abi's ever-growing cold sore.

8. Carter falling asleep while riding the Surrey.

9. Getting to take advantage of Heidi's handicap and cutting all the lines at Disneyland!
 
10. Leaving my Phone on the canopy of the stroller when gate-checking it and it still being there when it came back out of the belly of the plane! {LUCKY!}

how many things can you do in a week?

This last week we got to go an an awesome vacation to California. My dad and Heidi are very generous and treat us to a vacation almost every year. This year they took the whole family to California.

We began our trip in San Diego where we visited the San Diego Zoo Wild Kingdom Safari Park.

 Braden and Papa were best buddies.

 What's a trip without a Tantrum by Carter?!

 the "love birds."

 Carter "flew" everywhere the whole trip long.

 Carter growled at the birds to try and scare them away...

 but then one decided to take perch on his head...

 and probably traumatized him for life.

 Cheesy fingers and petting animals don't mix too well.

Our second day in San Diego we went to Lego Land.

They have legos for the kids to play with while the parents stand in line. INGENIOUS!

 Papa and Carter

 Almost the whole gang happily waiting in line.

 Braden got to drive his first car and even got a special drivers license.

 K was a great driver but right at the end she crashed into the curb 

and didn't know how to get unstuck. Very upsetting.

 Airplanes with Papa...

 and the mommy.

 This was Carters favorite ride. He rode it at least 15 times in a row.

 Dane and Zane {aka: the Dog & Pony show} got in on the fun too.

 Kam found his twin at the park.

Our last day in San Diego we headed over to Coronado Island where we:

rode a surrey...

 {Carter fell asleep}

 and played in the sand at the beach.

 {Tay liked eating the sand}

During the last part of our trip we headed north to Anaheim to play at the happiest place on earth, Disney Land!

 Unfortunately Braden didn't get the memo and was pretty grumpy.

 Until we bribed him with a toy of his choice 

{he picked out a blue Lightening McQueen}.

 Oh yeah, much happier!

Mickey Mouse!

 The first day we all went to Disney California Adventure and the second day half of the group went to Knott's Berry Farm while the rest of us went to Disneyland.

Heidi was pretty worn out so she rented a Jazzi!

It was pretty awesome because we got to go in the Handicap line which saved us a lot of waiting time.

 Braden got to meet his most favorite character, Buzz Lightyear.

In fact as soon as he got home he couldn't wait to play with his toy Buzz saying that he "missed him so much!"

 While at Disney we got to eat dinner at Goofy's Kitchen 

and met a few Characters that visited our table.

 {Surprisingly Braden was most excited to see the Princess!}

Dad and Heidi, thanks for a great time with the family! We can't wait to play with you again soon.

carter goes to school

Braden has school 3 days a week. His school requires that you walk your child to the classroom {which is in the basement} each morning and then you can pick them up in the annex when school is over which means I have to take Carter into the school with me to take Brady to class. Over the past couple of months when dropping Braden off Carter will usually get very upset, not because his brother is leaving but because he wants to stay and play. It has now gotten to the point that we {myself and Miss Kim, Braden's teacher} have to bribe him with a sticker to help him be okay with leaving. I decided that since he likes going to school so much that I would let Carter go to the Two's Program they offer at CELC. It's a pay as you go program where the kids get to play, do projects, sing and learn about animals, the world, etc. I take him every-other week on Thursdays and he LOVES it! The first day I took him he was super excited about wearing his own backpack and he had no problems saying goodbye to Mom, although I was just sick thinking about leaving my baby! It's still really strange to be at home with Braden and not have him there {I feel like I'm missing something while he's gone} but he loves it so much that I'm okay!