My boy is three!

Carson celebrated his third birthday two weeks ago, and I still can't believe that we have a three-year-old! It was a pretty low key birthday because we were planning on celebrating the next week at Grandma and Grandpa Kelley's. Last minute I called a few friends and we met at a pizza place for pizza and cake.

If I had to pick just five words to describe Carson they would be:

1. Tenacious 
2. Fearless
3. Determined
4. Tenderhearted
5. Tough

Carson is such a fun kid! He is a non-stop ball of energy and we are so lucky to share in his excitement about anything and everything. It is unbelievable how big this he is. Seriously, he is bigger then most 4-year-olds. I just love his big boy body-all his summer-salts, jumping, climbing, wrestling... boys are the best! Carson's been in speech for the past year and his speech is improving everyday. He constantly surprises me with the things he says. I love that he is getting better and better at communicating. It is wonderful that he starting to finally able to communicate what he is thinking and feeling. It's a whole new world for all of us.

Another exciting change for us is that Carson started pre-school this week! He wasn't scared at all. He walked right in the classroom, hung-up his backpack and sat down ready to learn. He has been begging to go to school and I am so glad it's finally started. He goes twice at week and gets speech services while he is there. Next week he is going to start taking the school bus, which he is THRILLED about.

Diego Backpack

I had grand plans of taking a classic "first day of school" picture. This is as good as it got.

Look at him with his hands folded. Nursery has taught him well =)

Carson has the best laugh (sorry all you other Moms out there, but it's true). He is so fun to tickle and chase. I love to watch him watch movies, especially when he knows a funny part is about to happen. So great. Carson has really turned into my little buddy. He is such a "helper". He loves to help me bake and help Dad with anything that includes tools. I LOVE that he likes to hug, kiss and cuddle. What a lucky Mama, I know. He is a wonderful older brother. He loves to play with and entertain Luke. Luke lights-up whenever his brother enters a room.

Carson, we love you more then words can express and are so happy that you are part of our family! Happy birthday little goose.

Luke Eleven-Month Update

I’m sure getting big! I can climb up the stairs now and I am very proud of myself. Now if I could only climb down… I am getting much more confident in crawling and in pulling myself up onto things. Mom thinks it will still be a while before I start walking. I have discovered the toilet and love it when someone forgets to shut the door to the bathroom and I can stick my hands in the water. I love to play with the toilet paper too. It is so fun to un-roll and eat.

I’ve decided that I really love my Mom and Dad and am not very happy if they are not around. I’ll still go to anyone and am pretty friendly, but I want my Mom to still be in the room. I hate being left at Kids Club at the gym and get very upset. Mom and Dad can’t believe how much I can eat! We had pizza for Carson’s birthday and I ate an entire breadstick and a whole piece of pizza by myself. I not only eat a lot, but I’ll eat anything. Mom is so happy to have a kid that will eat anything.

I love to copy sounds I hear, especially high pitched, loud sounds. I am still a great sleeper, hooray. We flew and traveled a lot this month and I did very well. We drive to Grandma and Grandpa’s house frequently and I am a very good boy in the car (most of the time.) Mom is looking forward to my first birthday because she will be able to give me cow's milk. She is hoping I will drink it so she won't have to nurse forever. I don't know what the big deal is...I am just an easy going, content little boy and am excited to be one soon!

Texas

Port Arthur boardwalk

Steve had an opportunity to help with a massive start-up of a new refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. Once completed it will be the largest oil refinery in North America. Shell brought in employees from all over to help and he was one of them. The start up was supposed to be 6 weeks so the kids and I decided to come for the first two weeks to try to break up the time. The kids did really good on the flight. At the time Steve wasn't sure if he would be able to fly back with us for the weekend, but once we got here he found out he could, THANK GOODNESS! It would have been terrible to do by myself. Actually, they aren't quite ready for him yet so the great news is he gets to come back with us through the end of November. Then, fingers crossed, he'll be done in time for Christmas.

We had a one-bedroom apartment, which wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be, but boy am I grateful for my house now! We would drop Steve off at work so we could have the car and the kids and I explored. There isn't much to explore here...We went to a few parks, shopped a little, went to a few new resturants, nothing too exciting. The gulf coast is very interesting. Port Arthur is on the Louisiana boarder and everyone has thick accents. I stuck out like a sore thumb.  It is lush and there is a lot of water. It is humid though, and tons of mosquitoes. If you want to go outside you have to spray on bug spray. The people weren't as friendly as I thought they would be, which was very surprising. We could easily move here if we wanted, and I sure don't.

**BOWLING WITH THE KIDS FOR THE FIRST TIME 

Carson's victory dance

Luke keeping score

 **THE DUCK PARK (as Carson named it)

We spent a weekend in Austin and met some of our dear Fairfield friends who had recently moved to Midland, Texas. I loved Austin! It was so lush and green with beautiful rivers. The city was very clean and welcoming. Plus there is amazing shopping there. Supposedly they have an amazing live music scene, which is right up my ally. I'd love to go back without kids sometime.

Xander, Zac, Carson (classic Carson picture), and Haven

I think Carson's favorite part of the weekend was riding in their big car!

Jennie and I

It was so wonderful to spend time with the Lovells. They are truly the nic est people I know. There kids LOVE Carson. You don't find big kids that are so willing and happy to play with little kids very often. Carson was in heaven being the center of attention. We went to the zoo, swam in the hotel pool, played at the park, ate out a lot. Nothing too exciting, it was just fun being together.


**AUSTIN ZOO

Jennie loving Luke

Carson LOVES his buddy Zac

**Playing at a Local Park

Filling up his shoes for the better good... (see below)

The better good being covering the slide with bark chips

In all I'm glad we decided to come with Steve, but I am so glad to be home. I missed the stability of our daily routine and my kids' behaviors and sleeping sure showed that too! Not knowing anyone here, and not having many people to talk to made me miss my friends. It was great going to Bunco last night and seeing everyone. Now all I am wishing for is that the kids will get off of Texas time and back to California time. Yesterday Carson woke up at 4:20 am and this morning it was 4:40...Needless to say Steve and I are exhausted!

Luke Ten-Month Update

 Standing at the top of the stairs. 

I am finally crawling! I love being able to get around. I am a pretty slow, cautious crawler though. I've also started pulling myself up on furniture and standing. I’m not sure how to get down once I’m standing and my legs start to shake and it scares me. I yell for Mom and she always comes to my rescue. My second tooth came in just a few days ago. I love eating big kid food and am excited to see what else I can eat with more teeth. I will drink water out of a sippy cup now. Mom has tried to have me drink milk a few times, but I don’t like it…I love to go to the park and eat the bark. Now that I can crawl I am finding way more things to eat off the ground.

Mom’s only complaint is the hair pulling. I will pull and suck on Mom’s (and anyone else’s hair) any chance I get. Mom’s head hurts and her hair isn’t looking too great either, but I can’t help it. What can I say, I love hair. Hopefully I’ll grow out of it soon. I continue to be a great sleeper. Mom and Dad are very grateful for that. I have to get my two naps a day or I’m a very grumpy boy!  I’ve started taking showers and think they are really fun. Mom puts the plug in the tub and lets it fill up so I can play. I’m getting very gutsy in the water. I love to hear my own voice echo in the shower. 

Halloween part II

Ready, set, let's trick or treat!!

The night after Halloween we checked out all the pumpkins at Craig Gillespie's house. Every year dozens of people carve, carve, carve to put on this amazing display for us to enjoy.

Halloween part I

Our Halloween festivities started at the church Trunk or Treat Friday night. I was one of the people in charge, so it was a little stressful for me, but the evening was a great success. Luke was so sick that after 15 minutes there Steve took him home (which added to my stress, but what can you do?) Carson had wanted to be Buzz Lightyear for months, so I found a costume at the Goodwill, score I know, then out of the blue he changed his mind. He got a Halloween Go Diego, Go book from the library where Diego was a bat and decided he wanted to be a bat, ugh... Not just any type of bat, but the exact bat from the book. See picture:

So I go the the fabric store and do my best to replicate. It is a pretty stupid costume anyway, and my rendition didn't turn out great. Right before the Trunk or Treat he tried it on and realized it wasn't great and after a little bribing with candy he decided to go back to Buzz. I know he is glad he did because he felt so cool that night. He are a few pictures I snapped before. I didn't get any of Steve though. He went disco and looked amazing. Imagine the tightest pants you've ever seen on a guy, or maybe don't. =)

Don't you love this face? "That's right, I'm Buzz. Try to contain yourself."

Luke, the cutest little chunky monkey you've ever seen!

Poor Luke, you can tell he doesn't feel great. The costume stayed on all of 2 minutes.

 Carson had the time of his life at the Trunk or Treat. I love this age because they don't remember Halloween last year and don't fully realize what they are in for. When all the sudden it clicks that all these people are JUST GIVING AWAY CANDY! I think he thought he'd died and gone to Heaven. It's so great re-living my life through the eyes of a two-year-old.  Because the night was so crazy I wasn't able to take any pictures. Here are a few my friends took. 

Ty, O.G. and Carson

Me (as Lucy) and Carrie holding Jillian (Jenny Wesley)

Today Carson had a little party that his Speech pathologist practice threw at an ice cream parlor. This is the best picture I could get of him and his speech teacher Nicole. We love Nicole. You might ask yourself is his costume different? Well, yes. My darling cousin Andrea mailed me her son's old Buzz costume on Saturday, which is way cooler then the one I had. Complete with gloves, wings and a head cap. Hopefully I can get him to put it all on tonight so I can get a picture. Anyway, I'm sure that is more than you wanted to know. Happy trick or treating tonight! 

Lake Berryessa

We spent a beautiful day on Saturday at Berryessa with the Gorings. Mike and Steve skied the course, while the boys, Diane, and I stayed nice and dry in the boat. I don't get into water that cold, and wouldn't let Carson get in either, mean Mom I know. Carson loved helping out with the rope and driving the boat. Every time Steve or Mike fell Carson was very concerned and would yell "you okay Dad/Mike?" So funny. Luke was a very good boy and couldn't help falling asleep every time the boat moved. We are so lucky to live 45 min away from this amazing lake! Not the best pictures, but I thought I'd post them anyway.