Saturday, December 29, 2012

North Pole

This was our 3rd annual trip to the North Pole with jammies, Yoo Hoo's, pre-wrapped cookies and Santa! The boys have talked about this day all year and it certainly didn't disappoint (for them). I could take it or leave it but seeing the joy on their little faces makes this train ride special for Chad and I too!






Thursday, December 27, 2012

Pajamas and Parties oh My!

Last week was crazy busy at school with Pajama Day, Christmas parties, performances and a lot of this was happening at the same time for each boy. I don't want to miss a thing for either of them so I tried to run back and forth and keep the camera rolling!

Here's Carter and his teacher, Mrs. Winn on Pajama Day!

Andrew and his best friend, Xavier right before their Christmas performance!

The look of embarrassment!



My sweet boy singing his praises! His love for the Lord and heart for memorizing scripture is so special!

These boys Own me.... my heart lives in them!!!!


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Black Creek Christmas

Chad was on call all weekend so the boys and I went to the "Santa Social" in our neighborhood on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Claus had their usual sunny disposition (insert sarcasm) but my boys didn't take notice. They only wanted to blurt out what they wanted and Carter needed to make sure he wasn't still on the naughty list (this is where he stays!) Lots of sweet friends were there, cookie decorating, ornament crafts and my boys favorite.... throwing rocks down in the pond.


We're missing a ton of sweet friends in this pic











Andrew and his best buddy, Alex!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Family

It had been 6 years since I've been up North to see Chad's family!!!! SIX YEARS! Most of the immediate family have been to see us but some of them have never even met Carter. Needless to say, I was super excited when Chad said we could all go as a family this year for Thanksgiving. Seeing the boys with their cousins, hanging out with my sister in laws and just all being together without Chad having to be at work was amazing and much needed! 

The boys with their Grandma Bonnie..... they love her so much! Chad and I think Andrew looks just like her, definitely where he got the blue eyes from. We stayed at her house the first night and the boys loved chasing her cats around and seeing how many knick knacks they could break!
 Carter's first time to fly on a plane! I told them each to pack their backpack with a toy, book, snack and crayons and they were left on their own. After passing through airport security we found that Carter had instead chosen to pack 2 guns, a light saber, a sword and gummy bears.... just the essentials.

 He loved flying and was excellent on the first plane, poor guy crashed out on the second.

5 of the 8 cousins (Andrea, Tanner and Ashley)

Uncle Randy has some fun toys! Carter thinks he's some sort of super hero! I think he had 2 or 3 of these things and they went super fast!

 Uncle Randy had "guns and camo clothes" everywhere and Carter was bowing down!

 Jumping off the stairs and shooting Randy's deer with a nerf gun!


Then to Uncle Rob's house for the night! He had just bought this hot tub and our boys were literally the first ones EVER in it. Carter says "Uncle Rob, can I pee in your hot tub?!" We spent Thanksgiving here and Rob and his girlfriend Laurie rolled out the red carpet! She made an amazing dinner and they made us feel so welcome, one of the best Thanksgivings in a long time!



Daddy teaching Andrew how to play cards... you have to know how to play to hang with this family!

And this was what I woke up to the next morning!

Carter was a hot mess after day 2! He didn't get any naps,  drank caffeine all day and stayed up until 10 or 12 every night........ Hot Mess!!!!

The last night we stayed at Grandpa Joe and Lynne's. They had great food, drinks, stuff for the kids and all of the family was together under one roof! It was so much fun for me and the kids had free reign of the place all night! Did I mention we were staying in a funeral home?!?!



The kids set up shop in the basement of the funeral home until the big boys came in and took over!


Just filling out some cremation paperwork with cousin Alex.


Alex and Andrew are only 2 days apart!

 Emma and Carter are about 6 months apart

And the ride home..... this time, Carter was stopped by airport security after going off in the scanners. They asked me if he could have any toy cars in his pockets but after searching him found about 15 beer tops, Nice! Did I mention we had left his one and only pair of shoes too, classy right?!?! You know you've been to Wisconsin when your kid comes home barefoot with beer tops in his pockets.... and
I wouldn't have it any other way! Love my Charapata family!