Our baby's three today

As of 10:07 this morning, Carter is officially 3 years old. It's funny how there are days that I feel I barely survive until bedtime...and yet three years have gone by in a blink. As I've been sorting through the boys' pictures in an attempt to get organized, I remember taking certain pictures of them, but I'm not sure I actually remember them being babies. Such is the Mommy Brain Syndrome.

Because Grandpa Jim works on the slope when we had planned Carter's birthday party, we had another birthday party on Sunday so Grandpa could celebrate too. (Tragic for Carter...two parties. Logan's already asking if he'll have two parties for his birthday!)

Two of Carter's favorite things...frosting and marshmallows...on cupcakes made to look like popcorn.

Complete with the "buttered" look.

I don't have the talent that my sister-in-law, Doreen, has when it comes to cake decorating, but they turned out pretty cute. They were a lot of work, so I'm glad I didn't decide to make 24 of them for the bigger party.

I made the mistake of asking Carter what color candles he wanted. He picked three PINK ones...Daddy threw them away afterwards so they couldn't be reused.

Helping Daddy dig out all the pieces.

Drilling with the tool set from Mommy, Daddy and Logan.

Making BEAUTIFUL, LOUD music with Grandpa and Logan.

Fair Time!

The State Fair was in Ninilchik this past weekend and we had decided we would take the boys if the weather cooperated. After raining for the first two days, the sun peeked out Saturday afternoon just as Ryan got home from work, so we decided to head down there. The boys were pretty excited to go to the "parade" (as they keep calling it), especially since that means they get to watch a movie in the car for the long ride.

The first event as we arrived were the pig races...complete with betting and interviews with the "athletes." Ryan actually turned to me at one point and said "We're skipping the Olympics for THIS??"

Next on the schedule...Dinner. Being the good parents that we are, cotton candy and pizza seemed like a good choice. Grandpa Jim was very disappointed he missed the opportunity to sugar up the boys without getting into trouble.

After checking out all the ducks, chickens, goats and cows, it was time for a horse ride. Suprisingly, even Carter wanted to go. We did talk him out of riding the big horse, though.

Both the boys got to ride "Gidget."There really aren't any rides at this fair, but there were a few other things for the boys to do. Logan seemed to think he wanted to climb the rock wall, but when we told him he could pick just one thing, he opted for the inflatable obstacle course. He does continue to tell us he'll do the rock wall when he's five.

Almost to the finish.

Waiting for Carter to get ready.
Hopping off, ready to go again!
Lastly...dessert...kettle corn he got from a cute little girl the boys were sitting by.

Baby Fever

Nope - I'm not pregnant (nor am I trying to become so)...

But, we just had a visit from our Christmas-day nephew, Speed for two weeks at the end of July. The boys sure loved being around him. They were especially excited to dig out their old baby toys to bring over to Grandma Rita's house so the poor, deprived kid had something to play with. Carter was a bit smothering; Logan could've really cared less that Speed was there. Speedy reminds me a lot of Logan - how he just sits and studies everything that's going on around him. Pretty mellow (with the exception of the one time Carter hit him...then he milked it for all it was worth from Grandma!).

Proud cousin, Carter "holdeeen duh babeee"

On top of that - we just found out we are going to have another niece in December...hopefully not sooner. That will bring our grand total to 4 nieces and 4 nephews (half by blood, half by marriage). The more the merrier! So, today I went shopping! I managed to get only one PINK outfit...I know her mommy didn't want Caitlyn always dressed in pink, so I tried to spread the wealth over the color spectrum. After four and a half years of baseball, frogs and monster trucks, it's nice to look at a few butterflies, hearts and flowers.

Lastly, Logan finished up his first season of soccer. He managed to kick the ball 4 times this entire season (once on purpose). Apparently he lacks his father's athletic aggression. It was common for the ball to come right to him and he'd just back up and let the other kids have it. On the very last day, we were cheering "Logan, kick the ball". He turned and yelled back "I can't find the ball." WHAP! Right in the chest. Gotta love the irony.

Captain Morgan audition with his team

Pretty typical sightings at each game this year...Logan doing just about anything BUT playing soccer!

Life...this is only a test

I remember when Ryan and I were awaiting the arrival of Logan. Each week seemed like a year. It felt like waiting for Christmas as a kid again..."it" was never going to get here.


BLINK!


Now he's 4 1/2. Carter's almost 3. What happened? Logan's third birthday came and flipped a switch in our little bundle of joy and suddenly the topic of discipline is an every day conversation. Now that Carter is almost 3, he has also turned the page. I remember my cousin Mike telling me "Two is nothing...three and four are worse." I believe him! Although Carter's birthday is a month away, he is definitely THREE!

While some parents count down the days until their kids are old enough to be out of the house, I almost have anxiety at times that I only have a few years left when my little guys still think I'm very cool (and smart) and I have a strong influence on the choices they make. And so I go to bed every night and feel guilty over something that I didn't do right throughout the day, I peek in on them in bed and wonder why I forget how precious they are at times and swear to do better tomorrow. Tomorrow comes, the fighting over toys and whining over what color cup their milk is poured into begins and my short little fuse blows...Here we go again. And thus, we begin the cycle all over.

And so I am once again reading different books on discipline. As one author put it "We educate ourselves in high school and our careers, we take a test to drive a car...but when it comes to raising our children, we just wing it." Seems a bit backwards in the ol' priorioty list to me. So, I'm always looking for more information. I have probably read 5-6 books on discipline and I'm part way through another. I've read from both extremes, from "the fluffy" to "the dictator" techniques..and I seem to take away something from all of them.

Here's a list of "My highly recommendeds":

1. Bringing up Boys by Dr. James Dobson (I hear he's writing a "Bringing up Girls" right now)
2. Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson
3. Kid Cooperation by Elizabeth Pantley
4. Have a New Kid by Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman
5. How to Raise Respectful Kids in a Disrespectful World by Jill Rigby (haven't finished yet)

I haven't agreed with everything any one of these authors have written, but I have gotten something out of all of them that we've started using at home. And, if something doesn't work, it's always nice to get a fresh idea. It's also a bit humbling when I have a particular "issue" with one of the boys and a book begins to describe a kid just like mine...and then the author goes on to describe a behavior pattern of one of the parents that makes a kid act a certain way (and it's usually ME they're describing)...it's amazing how I can be overly aware of some of my faults...and completely blind to others. Funny thing is, I usually do a "trial run" of changing my behavior and my kiddos seem to change also. Hmmm...maybe I DON'T know it all!

My prayer is that my children don't stray too far as they go on with their little lives, that their mistakes aren't too painful and that they know they have parents and a God who love them unconditionally...and when I stand before God and he looks at how I raised my children...I really hope he grades me on a curve!

Rising Gas Prices

Regular unleaded is now $4.75 in Alaska...which seems a little ironic, considering this lovely state gets so much revenue from OIL!!! It irks me a bit when I read a news article that states "average gas prices approaching $4 a gallon". So either they're leaving Alaska out or somebody's selling gas for $3 a gallon to end up with a $4 average.

So, in honor of alternative fuel methods, our boys earned their battery-operated jeep a few weeks ago. This pic and video are of the first night they drove it. Logan's actually much better now. He knows to drive on the right-hand side of the road and he's getting pretty good at backing out of the garage. He used to drive in low gear and then stop to put it into high gear...now he just shifts on the fly. If he could actually keep his foot on the gas pedal without getting distracted, I could go jogging with them. I think it goes about 5 mph! Carter's perfectly content being the passenger at all times, which works out well, considering his older brother has a bit of a control freak nature about him (wonder where he gets that from).

If prices keep rising, maybe Ryan will get one for commuting to work!

Anniversary Celebration

When we got married, we didn't take a honeymoon. So after 10 years, we decided to celebrate our anniversary in the same fashion :) No big date, no trip, no celebration (although we did go to dinner with our folks).

Ryan got off work a little early that day and we took the boys to Captain Cook Park. They sort of ate a picnic lunch and spent the rest of the time throwing rocks in the water. Ryan and I actually had uninterrupted conversation...and our children were awake! A miracle, indeed.

Looking for treasure under the log.

An endless supply of rocks and water...heaven for little boys!

Flower children.

10 years of wedded bliss

10 years ago today,

in the little town of Dent, MN,

two young college grads made a vow to each other:

to love, honor and cherish each other

'til death do us part.

I won't speak for Ryan,

but I love my husband more today than the day I married him.

And although I'm not sure I fully understood the

seriousness of marital vows at the time,

I understand them now.

I am truly blessed to have a husband

that is completely devoted

to his wife and little boys.

Here's to a lifetime together!