Family Pics

Well, in a rush to get Christmas cards sent out this year (since I've never gotten my act together the other 2 Christmases we've been married), we hired a sister of a friend to shoot some quick family shots, and they turned out so great!! It was FREEZING, and poor Carter wasn't his normal smiley self- I guess I don't blame him. But here's some of our favs... and some are just plain silly-- One kid makes it so hard for everyone to look at the camera AND smile, I can't imagine how pictures are like with a big family!

Thanksgiving! (a little late)

We headed down to Phoenix (Chandler to be exact) for Thanksgiving with Aaron's family this year. So fun!! We gained a few pounds, but had fun doing it! Carter was a great little boy, he loves company so that was great to be able to pass him off for others to play with (he gets very bored with just me all the time).

 Me, Aaron, and his stepdad Steve went on a bike ride.. It was so pretty out in the desert!

 That person is me 

 Me and Steve

 The Air-Bear looking studly

 Cutie faces at Aaron's Aunt Debbie's house

Carter actually ended up falling asleep on her bedroom floor that night, halfway under the bed!

 Grandpa Dave got him and Carter matching Broncos jerseys (he's a huge fan)- it was so cute!!

 Aunt Debbie lighting the candles on Grandpa Jay's birthday cake. He's the sweetest 85-year old man you'd ever meet!

 Took a little walk to the park before the Thanksgiving feast

 Carter looks a little terrified here, but he actually loves the slide!

 Aaron's brother Ryan works for Microsoft and introduced us all to the latest- the Xbox Kinect. It's so rad!! We asked for one for Christmas (and already got it hehe)

 Grandpa Dave carving the turkey

 Carter was very spoiled by Grandma Belinda's delicious cooking.. he does NOT eat such gourmet food here at home =)

 Loves mashed potatoes A LOT

 Oh my goodness, I LOVE this picture. This is Carter's little second cousin, Brady who is a few months older than Carter. One afternoon, Carter was to be going down for a nap in the pack-n-play (in the closet!) Brady was missing, and we found him in with Carter, playing! They were so sneaky and it shows by their little grins under their binkies. Such cute little buddies.

 Sportin the jersey again

Go Tim Tebow

 Aaron's Dad got us tickets to the ASU vs. UCLA football game (both Aaron's parents went to UCLA). The game was really fun, and GREAT weather compared to what the rest of the country was doing.

There's Tarrah (Ryan's gf), Dave, Aaron, me and Ryan

 Aaron's other Grandpa, Roger sent a little tractor for the 2 little grandsons to play with.. Carter loved it

 Beautiful pic of the desert... Aaron found this cactus humorous..... boys are so perverted

 We had flown out to Arizona, but drove back to Utah with Aaron. This is in the gas station right after Carter's toilet incident. He was SO anxious to get outta the car, we didn't care that he was all over the ground, and mauling all the winnie the pooh bears

 And then again at Subway....

 Aaron with his cousin Natalie, and the boys =)

 One afternoon, Aaron's aunt Debbie volunteered to take Carter for the day so he could play with Brady at the Train park. Here's Brady with his daddy Ed, and Carter with Aunt Debbie. So cute

 Natalie with Carter on the merry-go-round

 Apparently Carter held on for dear life while sticking his bum out hehe

 Ed (Natalie's husband) competed in an IRONMAN the day before we got there!! Yeah, SO impressive!

 And a few more pics from Grandma's house. We love family!!

 

gas station + toilet + Vegas + Carter= no bueno

Seriously I don't get it. Must be the age.. or the fact that he's a curious boy.. On our way home from AZ yesterday (and pics are coming soon) we stopped at a gas station in Vegas and I went to change Carter in the bathroom. I badly needed to wash my hands afterwards, lets just say, and I set him down to stand in the bathroom while I did so, keeping my eyes on him because I knew he would bolt straight for the toilet. (we have to close all our bathroom doors at home). I tell him no- as if he would listen, and before I could get to him, he had his hand in the toilet, and as I picked him up, he puts his hand in his mouth. So sick. Exiting the bathroom, I see Aaron and tell him what happened while Carter laughs at the story. Such a sneaky baby I've got here! On a good note, he's otherwise the happiest, funnest baby I could ask for =)

SIckies

What a week. I must have some killer immune system, because between my two boys I've got, I've somehow escaped any and all sickness that they've gotten lately. Aaron was sick 2 weeks ago, lasted a week. Then Carter got something else, the stomach flu, (which he just had a month ago) and I think he is finally over it today. This is after barfing in Ikea yesterday, and everyday, in every room of our house since Sunday.

Undoubtedly this was after a bath, after he barfed.

Making matters worse, Aaron is out of town again so it's just been me and Carter.. and baby Einstein DVD. I had no idea babies could get obsessed with something, but alas Carter is ridiculously attached to his baby Einstein. I've had it on repeat, playing nonstop since Monday. And Carter's been crying all the time, and watching his movie is the only time he'll stop. Usually I'm having to hold him, and watch the dang thing 30 times in a row.
But man I love being a mom! ;) And hey maybe when everything's said and done, Carter will have become some sort of baby genius, all while being sick!

Have you ever been 5 pounds from your weight goal, and you're on a roll going to the gym everyday, things are looking good, and then bam your kid gets sick, you can't go to the gym, you sit around all day, and scarf your face? Cuz let me tell you a little something. I don't work out to lose weight. I work out to not GAIN weight. I like food, and I don't like to feel hungry. Diets are not my thing. So I pretty much have to work out everyday just to not get fat. Needless to say, I'll be avoiding the scale, til after Thanksgiving!

Anyhow, since my baby's been sleeping a lot (I've been trying to get him to at least), I've been pretty bored. SOOO the husband's gone, the baby's sick, what else do I have to do but decorate?! I did indeed put up our Christmas tree and some decorations. And I set up my Christmas radio on Pandora, bought some peppermint ice cream, and suddenly life is looking pretty bright!

 Still needing a tree skirt.. where in the world do you buy those without spending a fortune??

On another good note: My dad and little brother Luke are coming to town for the weekend for the BYU game... very excited about that.
The BIJOU MARKET is going on this weekend also in Provo, you KNOW I'll be hitting that up!
AND my cousin Bennett and my bestie Jenna (who happens to be his wife) had their baby today!! Yay for them!!

And heading to Arizona for Thanksgiving, and meeting up with Aaron at his mom's house... it will be a much needed break!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!