March Through May of the Carter Crew

Well, I finally got the pictures off my phone and am able to upload to the computer (wow, its amazing all the time this new technology saved me;)
1) I am posting chronologically beginning in March
2) I will put up as many pictures for each "event" as I would have had I posted these all separately- so get ready for lots of pictures:) (not all great exposure since they were on my phone, sorry:)
3) Once again- I am sorry to those of you who keep up with us through these pics and I have jipped you out of seeing our life over these past 3 months: Isla's growth and change since being a 7 month old to our now very mobile, talkative, wrestling 10 month old:) Oak potty-trained and riding his bike fast "like Dash"- and so very much a gentleman taking care of his mom and sister always-and hilarious in his talkativeness- "almost 3 year old"s sure do pick "it all up". Alan working his buns off and being the best Dad and Husband ever! And me, just trying to keep up and have fun!
Thanks for your grace!! We have had a blessed, busy, fun, crazy, wonderful past three months- thanks for sharing in it with us!

March began with warm days (now, of course we still had bouts of snow and cold through April and May, but we enjoyed being able to start more outside play right away in March) Easter Celebration- We had a neighbor egg hunt on Friday evening (after I had vein sugery all morning:), family time on Easter Sunday morning, and then another fun egg hunt with Grammy, Grampy, Uncle Tim, and Aunt Libbie on Sunday afternoon Spring Break-Quick trip to Chicago (Oh how we love our Chi-town) First swim of the season- warm enough for Michiganders when the sun is out even if the water is still 50 degress coming out of the hose:) Spring Schedule- "Monday Playgrounds" and "Friday Hikes"

Saturday outing to Meijer Gardens with Daddy

Isla's first "taste" and touch of sand Oak "riding" his tricycle alone for the first time- after practicing since last Fall, it finally clicked for him how to pedal on his own- and since then he has been off. No parent handle, no help if he tips over...his own words are "momma, I am a big boy now, I don't need your help." Yep, you guessed it, some tears from momma were shed...I did reply that even big boys need help sometimes- we all do, and that it is okay to ask for it. Of course, the depth of this comment was lost on my two year old:) Where does the time go, literally, where does it go? We are so proud of our ever-growing, ever-changing, amazing son!!

Play Day with Buddy, Asa...digging, bubbles, riding...and ending with a cut up head, sorry Asa:)

Papa and Granna Carter visited in Mid-May for 6 days...and as usual, I forget to take pictures for most of their visit-sorry:). I did catch a few when we went to the zoo and this one with Granna and Isla is beautiful!

A real brown bear- the animals came alive to Oak this year at the zoo, as he has spent most of the last year obsessed with any growling animal, lions, tigers, bears, dragons, monsters, etc.

Too cute in this too big helmet from Grammy

Lazy summer afternoons- its almost mandatory, as soon as naps are over, all the kids file out of their respective houses in their swimsuits and hit one of the backyard pools- and it has been wonderful-since we have been in the 90's for two weeks (too hot for Michigan in May:)

First 2010 trip to Millenium Park Isla officially started crawling at about 8 months and has been off like a shot since then- she loves to walk with our hands now and is trying to move around from furniture to furniture, she loves to wrestle with Daddy and Oak after dinner, she thinks Oak is the funniest person and will laugh at what he does for no reason at all, she is babbling a lot (dada, mamama, ooooo-and of course lots of screeching and growling- her trademarks:), she still has the sweetest smile that lights up the room (and my heart every day:) We are so thankful for this amazing baby girl and the privilege to have her as our daughter!!

Fun family trip to Home Dept on Memorial Day:) Lots of home improvements around here lately- and of course those lead to more fix-ups that we have to get done:)

So Sorry...

Meijer Gardens on Saturday, May 1...butterflies, blooming tulips and flowers, tree forts, and a real water Great Lakes play time:)

Okay, I know I have been bad before about getting photos up- but I think this is longest I have gone- over 2 months...I am so sorry!!! I have been taking lots of pictures, but with my camera on my phone and now have discovered I don't have an easy way to upload them to my computer- so it will be a slow process of emailing them all to myself to be able to save them to the computer and then upload them here (technology saves us so much time, right??:)


In reality a lot has happened in the last two months, so many fun, new things in our family...Easter, spring has been beautiful, outdoor play is in full bloom, Oak has been potty trained since first week in March, Isla is crawling all over and trying to walk some, too (with our hands of course:) for a month now...and babbling all the time....just so much!


So, I am really sorry that we have not shared our March and April 2010 lives with you yet...but we will soon!!
Thanks for understanding and loving us still:)!

Mid-Winter Break

Old Mission Peninsula Lighthouse

Traverse City Children's Museum

Isla in her first swimsuit...Alan got chills she looked so cute...don't you just want to squeeze those adorable chubby legs?

Oak warmed up to swimming again after about 5 minutes (since he hadn't swam since last September) and wanted to jump to Daddy over and over again

Alan got a 4 day weekend at the end of February, so with no extra money, we decided we needed some fresh air and to get out of town...we found a very affordable, clean, nice, with a pool hotel in Traverse City, northern MI...one of the best year-around tourist towns on Lake Michigan...and took off for 3 nights. It was such a nice respite as a family...we enjoyed the travel, the beauty of the northern snow, winter on Lake MI (the water was still a beautiful turquoise and blue even though it was 10 degrees out), wineries and vineyards (some of the best in the U.S. on the 45th Parallel), swimming in the pool (Oak couldn't get enough of it), good food, fun shops, and an overall friendly place. Alan now has added "own a cherry farm or vineyard on Mission Peninsula" to his list of things to do before he dies:) It truly is a great area, and we had so much fun as a family just getting away for a little bit!

6 month old Isla BooBoo

Yes, more nicknames abound, as our little chunk-a-munk (sorry, Suzy, to steal that from you, but it is so fitting for Isla right now:) grows and changes. She is over 6 months old now and has been rolling around, sitting up to play with toys, trying rice cereal, and giving lots of gooey, open-mouthed kisses...oh, I almost forgot, she cut her first two teeth yesterday and today (amidst beginning our real effort at potty training Oak...fun times at the Carter house this week;)

Here she is with her big, beautiful smiles and all...we love you, Isla BooBoo!!

New Year- Happy 2010

Can you believe we are in 2010...I remember 2000 like it was yesterday...wow!!
We have started our new winter 2010 routine and schedule this week, and it is going well...things are busy again...but, we are trying to prioritize our time and have fun while we do everything (even while changing the 14th diaper of the day:)
This week, Oak is continuing to show his growth and ever-changing mind...in his artwork and puzzles, games, and play...also in taking more responsibility for certian duties...we love our son and are so proud of him and amazed at the little boy he is becoming!
Isla decided as her new year present to us to start to roll over and sit up- she has done both this week several times...and I wish there was a way to show you her amazing smile and giggles, I can never catch on camera...I know what it means to smile with your eyes now, our girl does it. We love her so much and can't believe how wonderfully we have been blessed!
Both kiddos light up our days...I have caught them several times this week making each other laugh so hard by doing silly things...precious moments... I know Isla looks kinda goofy here, but between trying to sit up for the first time and the crazy cloth diaper...so funny, she started to lean and slowly went left a few seconds after this picture:)

Sweet, sweet, precious Baby girl
Making play-dough pizza "for everyone come over tonight for party Oak's house" in his exact words!!