Miles of Smiles

Dawson has really been enjoying his new preschool, and every day he comes skipping over to me with a big smile on his face.

I decided to take some pictures of this adorableness.  He is so excited to see me and he always has so many important stories to share.  It seems like such a small moment, but it puts a smile on my face every time I see him and it's definitely one of the little things I want to remember in the future. 

During his one full week at school (four days) he ran into either his brother or sister every day!  He really likes seeing his siblings at school.

Wow!  His feet aren't even touching the ground!

Hi Buddy!  I'm so excited to see you too!

Not a Morning Person

Ava had a rough time waking up this morning, she spent at least fifteen minutes with her head on the table before she started to eat her breakfast.  She also asked me if she could have a snow day yet.  Sorry kiddo, it's only September! I really hope we don't have any snow days soon!

But no worries, she perked up pretty quickly and ran out the door with a smile on her face. 

Dawson's first day of School!

Today was Dawson's first day of preschool!  He is going to a new school this year, the preschool at Strausser.  He was very excited because he ran into his brother on his first day (Carter was taking something to the office, he is his teacher's minion this week.)

The last two weeks have been an adjustment for him and I.  He really did miss his big brother and sister, and Mom time just wasn't cutting it.  One day he had already asked me three times before eleven am if it was time to get Carter and Ava off the bus yet.  Sorry buddy, but we have almost five more hours!

He was counting down the days until school started, but then last night he got a little nervous.  Angel baby fit into the front pocket of his backpack, and he was good to go!

I just had to take a picture of his new shoes.  I had no plans on buying him a new pair but we made it all the way to Wal-Mart and he told me that he forgot his shoes!  So now he has brand new paw patrol shoes!

About a week ago a neighbor brought over a hand me down John Deere backpack.  Of course he was in love!

Dawson, the newest polar bear!

Here's to a great first year little guy!

(Today he told me, Mom aren't you going to miss your shopping buddy?  Love how his sweet little mind works.)

Birthday Fun!

On the morning of your birthday, you woke up and immediately wanted to open your presents.  Daddy usually sleeps in on Saturday morning, so I had to disappoint you and ask you to wait until he woke up.  But you handled it well, and the moment Daddy stepped foot in the kitchen, we unwrapped presents.

Daddy picked you up a bunch of camping and survival gear: like a survival mirror, mess kit, emergency food, caribeaners and waterproof box.

I took Ava and Dawson to the dollar store and let each of them pick out a gift for Carter.  Dawson picked fake poop and a joke squirt calculator for his brother.  I love this picture, he was so excited for the fake poop!  Ava picked out a dinosaur fossil egg and a zipper bracelet.

Then it was time for your first football game of the season.  You were so excited because for the first time you got jersey number one!

I love watching you play football, boy wowzer is there a lot of down time at this stage of the game.  Each play takes a couple of minutes to set up, and the first half took almost fifty minutes.  Thankfully there is a playground close by for your brother and sister.

Run! Run! Run!

Daddy said he is going to work with you this fall, and try to explain the positions to you a little more.  

We gave you several options for your birthday fun and you really wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese.  

Your little brother loves it there too, but I usually leave with a headache from all the loud noises.

Right now we can give you your tokens and you just go.  

Finally we got you a gillie suit for your birthday.  Hey, where is carter?

Daddy was trying to do a Big Foot re-enactment.

Happy Birthday Dear Carter, Happy Birthday to you!

Happy 8th Birthday!

Eight big years!  It's hard to even imagine a life without you in it.  Of course we loved you instantly and deeply as a baby, but it's wonderful watching you grow and change into this amazing boy.  We are definitely enjoying some of the perks of having an older child:  sleeping in (all the way until 10 o'clock on some summer days!) bathing and caring for yourself and enjoying new adventures every day. 

You are my little adventurer, my little outdoors man.  You love to be outside "surviving" in the woods and playing hunter.  Some of your other interests include the army and playing minecraft.

In the afternoon while I am making dinner, it's your job to take the dog on a walk.  I love it, every time you return with the dog she comes in first while you sing out "Here comes the dog, strong and brave!"

One afternoon Dawson had accidentally smashed his finger in a door, and I was cuddling him while putting a boo boo buddy on it.  He was still crying but you came up to him and sang "there, there buddy bear get a pair of underwear."  Apparently this is a little rhyme you learned at school and tears immediately turned to smiles.  You love to care for people and I often find you practicing slings and wrapping gauze around your brother and sister.

Here is our annual birthday interview:

What is your 

favorite color: blue

favorite toy: nerf guns

favorite movie or TV show: Phineas and Ferb

favorite food: buffalo chicken wings

favorite outfit:  my football jersey

favorite game:  frog rush

favorite art activity:  painting

favorite animal:  cheetah

favorite song:  Kids by MGMT

favorite thing to play outside:  survival

favorite drink:  gatorade

favorite holiday:  Christmas

favorite thing to sleep with:  teddy bear (got it at the golf tournament with Daddy)

What do you want to be when you grow up:  army soldier

What do you like about Ava: she is nice to me

What do you like about Dawson:  he entertains me

What do you like about yourself:  I'm good at surviving  

What do you pray for: the whole entire universe

What do you like to do with Daddy: watch golf and go to golf tournaments

What do you like to do with Mommy: go shopping (ha, I guess I'm usually the one running errands for him!)

What is your favorite book:  Harry Potter

Recently you were reading one of the books from the Magic Treehouse series.  You were so excited and you couldn't put it down.  I love that moment.  I hated that I had to make you pause, especially now that school has started we have other obligations like dinner and a reasonable bedtime.  But I've caught you more and more at night with your light on to get a few minutes of reading in before you relax for the night.

I love your handsome smile that you flash at me.  It looks a lot like this:

I love the very distinctive sense of style that you are developing.  You want sports shorts and shirts all the way.  You love dri-fit shirts and long basketball socks.  I do have to keep an eye on your combinations, sometimes you will wear neon green and gray shorts with a red shirt and neon yellow socks.  

We love you Carter Bean!  

Frozen Party

On Sunday I took Ava to a local salon for a Frozen party benefiting a local family in our neighborhood.  Ava had a blast, it was so much fun!

Elsa and Olaf!  Hugs!

She had her picture taken with them and her hair braided.  They were also spraying hair blue, but Ava didn't want it.

Blue glitter polish too!

She also got her face painted and they even had five minute chair massage for Mommy!  It was fun spending the afternoon with you, Miss Roover!

Camping Pictures from this Weekend

This past weekend we went camping with Grandma and Bo and we got to see our cousins too!

These pictures were just so cute, I couldn't just pick one.

Carter and Abbie were enjoying each other company!

What an adorable little cheese!

She sure made Carter smile!

Very sweet!

We had cupcakes for Carter's birthday.

Carter had a blast playing with his new metal detector.  He was very proud of the "treasure" he found:  a spoon and a tent stake.

We had a blast playing with the canoe and kayak.

Grandma was very brave to take Dawson and Ava out in the kayak, but Carter boy went solo!

He did great!  Look at him trailing us!

A little blurry, but that is because when she gets in her crazy mood she does not sit still!

And this boy is still addicted to hot dogs.  Love him!

One of my favorite pictures!