carter's last year of preschool...

In all the excitement of his sister starting kindergarten, I can't forget about my little bubby and how much he has grown in the last three years.  This will be Carter's last year at the Indianapolis Hebrew Conregation, and for the most part, we have been so pleased with his (and Katie's) experience there.  Hopefully, this never gets back to the school, lest I/Carter be banned but here are some highlights...

*MS. J wants Katie to go to kindy there.  I explain to her, Andrew explains to her, Eric explains to her, that while yes, we would love for KJ to continue in private school, six thousand dollars just seems like an awful lot to pay, when it's free here!  And she definitely told me that sending Katie to Carmel schools (which are nationally ranked) was like feeding her to the birds....  Wha???  This was one of only many times I wanted to smack her...hard!

*Carter's teacher this year is absolutely hilarious!  No seriously, imagine someone completely transported from the 70's with really large glasses.  Andrew, Eric and I are used to getting "classroom news" via e-mail, but this isn't really an e-mail...it's more like an e-zine.  EVERY single thing that the class will be doing is listed, along with an explanation about how she, as a professional story teller (?????), will be utilizing her skills.  I'm laughing so hard right now I can barely type.  You can't make this stuff up.  What the heck is a professional story teller and I can't imagine it pays well...  Oh well, at least I know what my son will be doing EVERY SINGLE SECOND he is away from me.  Ha Ha!

*Ms. J/MRS. T institute a policy that IF you arrive at the school AFTER 12:20 to pick up your child from morning preschool, you must remain in your car, or get in the carpool lane.  Once in the carpool lane, you are not allowed to get out of your car, but watch as a "liscened carpool specialist" (hey, their words not mine)...opens the door and struggles to put YOUR child in YOUR car.  There are too many problems with this scenario to even discuss...  But, yes, another reason I would like to smack her. 

Okay, I'll stop.  This post was really about Carter....

He was all cute and shy and worried about his first day of school.  It's amazing to me how much he is like his momma.  He wore the cutest outfit ever, you would be able to see it if he wasn't insisting on clinging to my neck like a monkey...but it was from Brady...Kenneth Cole guitar shirt and matching grey madras shorts.  And of course...his new All-Stars, which have caused his affectionate nickname...Harry Hotshoes. 

We're proud of you, Carter.  We're proud of all three years you have spent in preschool.  You have a hunger for learning, and I want to be better at fostering this...because you are different from your sister, and sometimes your momma isn't good at remembering this.  I know that you really really wanted to go to kindergarten this year like your best buddy, your sister, but when you look back at life I hope you have a few glimpses of some really good memories.  These are some of the greatest times of your life...and if it matters at all you get to come home every day and spend time with me and any snack you desire, all while snuggling to your favorite cartoon.  And if you were Katie...you'd still be at school.  See?  Mom sometimes does know best.  I know that I am being purposeful about loving this time with you.

Adorable outfit and a super cool new Star Wars backpack!!
(neither of which you can see...whatever, imagine with me :)

I love you...my little harry hotshoes :)

Happy 35th!

Eric had one request for his 35th birthday.....to eat at The Melting Pot.  I had never been there before...and I was most definitely not dissapointed.  Because no "dinner out" would feel complete without our dinner date partners and dear friends, Dave and Beth, I made reservations for four...and boy did we celebrate. 

The meal was amazing, and I am fairly sure that for the rest of my life I could eat bread dipped in cheese.  Like forever, forever.  We went for the turtle chocolate, which was melted chocolate, caramel, topped with pecans...so so so good.  I think I might have actually caught Beth eating it out of the bowl with a spoon :)

We came back to the house after dinner, feeling so stuffed and a little toasty with the wine we shared...he he.  Dave and Beth have never played Guitar Hero or SingStar...both games we have for Playstation (should I be embarassed for admitting that??)....so we pulled them out and had an absolute blast.  Beth and I were laughing too hard to actually make it through a song, but Eric and Dave were rockin' it!! 

It was a wonderful night.  Happy 35 years to you, Eric.  I hope you had an amazing birthday.  Dave and Beth, thank you for sharing this night with us.  We wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  We love you.

Love her!

Friends for many years...
looking forward to many more...

Rockin' it!

Eric...showing how it's done!

Okay, a little over the top, babe.  You're not actually a rockstar.

rabbit trail:  check out my new painting!  My dear friend Anne, who is an amazing artist, painted it just for our living room, drawing all the colors together.  I'm in love with it!

oh, dear...now things are just getting wild.

and now...eric's playing the air guitar.
(and yes, that is a lighter in the bottom of the picture...beth thought it was only appropriate :) 

needless to say...we had a lot of fun.

I've always loved a cute boy in a hat ;)

katie's picnic

I love imagination land.  Love it.  I adore getting to be the bystander to my kid's worlds of wonder, and honestly do try to stay out their way and watch what they can create.  They are so fun to watch!  And hilarious!

Today KJ used her princess story book map, and various odds and ends from her play kitchen and set up an entire picnic for her toys on the ottoman of the couch.  c.u.t.e.  And she laid on the couch and talked to them (before she realized I was taking pictures, and then she wanted to use the camera..)  Man, why can't I be a gnome and hide where they can't see me? 

what a menu!
I'm jealous ;)

nothing better.

There's nothing better than being an aunt.  There's nothing better than watching our children love and grow up together.  How lucky they are to have each other, and how lucky we are to have them.

We made these! (it still amazes me).

I love you, my beautiful sister who has shared all of these memories with me.

just carter time.

For all of the ridiculous blubbering I have done over Katie starting kindergarten...(okay, it was actually kind of traumatic for me....sorry), it has actually brought some positives.  First of all my Katie is a complete routine kind of girl, which her momma is quite often not.  Kindergarten is all kinds of routine.  Also, and quite selfishly I suppose, it makes her tired.  Seriously, she's a ball of energy...could sleep for five hours.  Now?  Out like a light.  Love it. 

Because of the change in her routine, our routine at home has been changed up during the day as well.  Carter is still only going to preschool for three and a half hours three mornings a week.  That means that for the first time in his life, I am home alone with him, without his sister for a block of time.  It makes me a little bit sad that nearly without fail every single day that we get home he asks if KJ is there, like somehow, she isn't at school, and everyday I have to say no.  But my heart is filled with their love for each other...and the bond they have.

My little man has so much personality.  He is much more reserved than his sister (scratch that while throwing fits), and tends to be more shy, but he is funny and silly and happy and just wonderfully lovely.  And honestly, a really good kid...most of the time.  I'm lucky.  So so so so so very lucky.

Today, Carter and I colored, all by ourselves, while we talked about his day at school, and how when he finished his picture HE wanted to get the sticky tape so he could put it on his wall, because he is BIG now....thanks, bubbers for reminding me...  My children are so different and I hope that I am doing all I can to encourage the strengths in both of them.  I'm excited to see all that my little boy is going to become. 

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes,

even if it's just in your own eyes.
Walter M. Schirra, Sr.

larry the lobster.

disclaimer #1:  This should be on my sister's blog...but she has apparently taken a blogging hiatus.  The story must be told, so I'm telling it for both of us.  Consider this, if you will, a most combined effort.

disclaimer #2: All photos included in this post were either taken by mark or britty on their bomb-ass oops, I mean really awesome Canon, that is continually making me want to upgrade.  I digress. 

disclaimer #3: I am only using the word disclaimer because I have always wanted to...doesn't it just sound cool?

And so it begins...

It was a dark and stormy evening...

Ha, just kidding.  For real though, one of the amazing things about moving to the northside, is that I get to be WAY closer to my younger sister for the first time ever, since I moved out to go to college.  It has been extremely amazing to watch a whole new relationship grow between us.  I love it.  I love her. 

So..anyway, one night we're all hanging out and we decide we are going to make an incredible meal.  Like super amazing fantastic, all the best foods in the world meal. 
Our Menu:
Crab Encrusted Filet Mignon
Lobster with Steamed Butter
Steamed Asparagus with Homemade Hollandaise Sauce
Sauteed Baby Portobello Mushrooms
Crusty French Bread

yum, yum, yum, yum, yum

However, as joyful as this night was...and it was REALLY amazing, something terrible and tragic happened this evening.  Larry the Lobster unfortunately met an untimely death.  No for real, for some reason that I have no idea, Britty and Mark decided it was a good idea to get the LIVE lobster?  Really?  Cause the one right there, you know, that just has the meat, looks JUST FINE to me.  Mark wouldn't have it.  So we selected Larry the Lobster from the tank (actually Britty did this, I was hiding two aisles over holding back shrieks of "I'm really freaking out right now.").  Luckily, Larry the Lobster did survive the way home.  And I actually got brave enough to hold the bag that contained Larry.  (and if you think THAT is exciting, just wait!!!!)

This was such a fun night...we cooked, and we danced our way around each other in the kitchen, talking, laughing, drinking....preparing to adore every minute of life.  And we had so much fun doing it. 

I daresay Britty's pictures tell the story far better than mine can.

yes, people, it is true, at this point I am actually HOLDING larry.  Oh dear.

I am TOTALLY freaking out right now. 
This dude was thrashing like none other. 
Poor Larry didn't want to die. 

I am trying SO HARD to smile ...but really I just want Mark to take Larry away from me again.
F.R.E.A.K.Y.

And thus, Larry must die. 
I was really glad to get this part over.

happy

um yeah, so pretty much what this picture shows is that we don't do things half-way

this is one of the many things I love about Britty and Mark's place. 
yeah, we might eat on the floor.
but we do it in style...

i love them.

And in case you've ever wondered what actually happens when you consume above said menu, here is pictorial proof....

just a few more reasons to love summer...

Because what could be sweeter to these ears then the laughter of children....giggling over life...just life.  I love their sweet voices, and sometimes I even try to eavsdrop on purpose...just to hear how their little minds work.  Their smiles make ME happy.

I love my kids.
(and their friends :)

the many faces of carter....

Oh, I love him.  He is just so cute, and so snuggly, and most of the time is a true momma's boy.  He can also be rather whiny, selfish and other cute four year old things :)

He wanted more pudding.  I said no.  He tried all the tricks in the book...

this would be the whiny face...
"but momma...."

this is the "I'll try to be cute and half smile face"

and now he is no longer speaking to me or looking at me
this would be the sad, manipulative face.

and finally....we have "seriously, mom, for the love...quit taking pictures of me
and give me more pudding."

He didn't get more pudding.
But I got lots of smiles :)

katie's first day of school

The alarm went off far too early this morning, but I was excited, excited to see the excitement in your eyes.  Because if you really looked in mine you saw fear, pride and sadness all mixed together.  And I promised myself I wouldn't cry. 

She looked beautiful

And she was beautiful.  Beautiful and excited...  Oh, how I wished all good things for you this day.  I wished you would have someone to walk you from the bus to your classroom, someone to help you with your backpack and your lunch box, someone to tell you to finish your lunch...  I wanted to climb into that backpack of yours and go with you.  Really really bad.  But I didn't. 

Your brother was a little bit sad this morning, and that made me sad, too.  He's going to miss his partner in crime, his playmate, his hand to hold at preschool.  And I know that you will miss him too.  I overheard the two of you talking in the backseat the other day...you told him you would miss him...but that it would be okay because you would draw him a picture.  And you did draw a picture, just for him. 

This was your day.  And Daddy and Mommy & Eric and Bubby were all there to see you wait for the bus with your neighborhood friends.  I wanted to hold you and never put you down.  When that yellow bus came, I wanted to wave it away and say, maybe tomorrow I will be ready, but not today.

But when it came, that big yellow loud bus, your eyes lit up with excitement and awe...and maybe just a little bit of trepidation...you held my hand for one second longer, and then you ran.  You ran and you never looked back.  You were off.  Off to start this great adventure of life.
  I stood and waved at you long after that bus drove away. 

And then I went inside and cried.

At 2:45 sharp Eric and I stood at the end of our driveway, waiting for you....  And you, my sweet girl, gave your momma the best gift ever.  You got to the door of the bus, looked straight for me and once you found my eyes, yours lit up and you smiled and ran straight to me, arms oustretched.  All felt right in the world. 

Let's see how tomorrow goes...

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.
(joyce maynard)