Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Outside Fun


Since the weather has remained unseasonably warm, we have remained outside much of the time. Aidan and Emma have really learned how to play well together and have even become friends lately. They make up games and play make believe a lot, especially when they are outside and have use of their jungle gym/club house.

Parker in his swing. His hair gets a little crazy when he's been swinging for a while :)

Aidan and Emma playing baseball together!

This is one of my favorite pictures. As long as we have lived in this house, four years now, I have hated our concrete wall. But recently, I thought since we had this blank canvas outside, why not use it. It's the biggest and best easel the kids could ask for, and clean up is a breeze--just hose it down. Although, the pictures are still on the wall. We just keep adding to them in any free space we have.

My little Park-in-ator! This is where you will most likely find Parker if we are outside. He doesn't like crawling on the grass, so I spread out the blanket and he enjoys crawling all around it, playing with toys, and watching his brother and sister run around.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Halloween

Even though we were all sick with one thing or another, we still managed to have some Halloween fun! We took the kids to my in-laws ward party, where there was dinner, games, a costume fashion show, and trunk-or-treating. The kids made out like bandits, and have been eating their candy non-stop since Saturday.

Emma lying on the floor after falling off the costume "cat walk." I couldn't help but laugh. She looked so funny on the ground from behind I just had to get a picture.

Matthew threw together a last minute clown costume...Parker didn't like the hair so much.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Five


Five years ago today Matthew and I got married. And even though I woke up this morning to find the sink still full of the dishes Matthew promised to do before bed last night, I am still glad he's my husband.

Monday, October 19, 2009

California Trip




















About a month ago, we loaded the kids and all of our stuff, into the van and headed to California for the weekend. We were going for the Carpenter Family Reunion that was to be held at DisneyLand and the beach. I was really, really apprehensive about spending 7-8 hours in the car with my almost four year old, two year old, and ten month old. The drive there wasn't as good as the drive back home proved to be, but considering their ages and that we don't have a DVD player in our van, I thought it went pretty well. We caravan-ed with my in-laws and made it to our hotel around 8:30 or 9:00 pm. The next morning, Friday, we headed to DisneyLand with our double stroller and three kids, bracing ourselves for tantrums, exhausted outbursts, and sibling squabbles...BUT, to my utter and complete amazement, we went the entire TWELVE hours we were there with not so much as a disagreeable peep from ANY of them. Parker was AMAZING. He vacillated back and forth between me and Matthew (and the grandparents) holding him in his snuggly to hanging out in the stroller. He napped when he was tired, and was in a happy mood all day. Aidan and Emma got a long great and listened to everything we said. Emma caught a nap too, unlike Aidan who was the energizer bunny--with no desire to slow down at all. We rode everything we could that was kid friendly. Aidan even went on splash mountain with his uncle, just barely meeting the height requirement. We spent time with other family members and by ourselves, and it was so far, the best family outing we've had to date. Needless to say the kids passed right out when we got back to the hotel.

The next day we spent at the beach and the church for some more family reunion fun. Aidan and Parker loved the ocean. Emma, not so much. She was content to play with her uncle Benjamin in the sand. We had such a great time as a family in California and I am still in shock, a month later, how well our kids did. And those of you who know my kids well (especially my oldest) a weekend without discipline or a time out is a miracle :)

Friday, September 11, 2009

Catch Up













































Lots has been going on around here the last couple of weeks. Some of the more noteworthy events are (going in order of the pictures):

1. Parker had his first milkshake, strawberry, and LOVED it!

2. Emma has discovered her love of all things artsy and craftsy.

3. Aidan started pre-school!!!!

4. My sister-in-law, Melanie and her husband Scott, welcomed their second child, Seamus Alexander Mcleod into the world!

And, in between all the big and little events, there were baths, visits with Grammy-Ann, fun outside, and naps!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Angel Baby




My sweet Parker napping in his playpen. Does it get any better than this?

Saturday, August 8, 2009

The Usual














































































There is not much new going on at the Carpenter house lately, just the usual craziness that exists with three kids, three and under. Matthew has been arming himself with the camera this past week, and here is what he captured.

*Side note: The reason for Emma's semi-nakedness, is that we are currently potty training her. And, for the sake of my sanity, I leave her in just her pull-up.