Happy Sweet 16 Ashlyn!

Ashlyn is my niece...Ryan's sister's little girl. Today she turned 16. Where has the time gone? This is a picture of Ryan and I with her at the Blink 182 concert last fall...isn't she cute!

I still remember "meeting" Ashlyn for the first time. When Ryan and I first started dating he was at Southwest Texas. When he would come home he would stay at his Mom's house. The first time I went to his Mom's house he immediately took me over to see some pictures on the wall. There were 8 of the cutest little girl ever. It was Ashlyn and she was probably 3 in the photos. I was smitten from that point on.

Ashlyn is a good girl...makes good decisions...has good friends...IS a good friend and I am so happy with the relationship that we have. I have to watch myself because she is still young, but I am trying to be the cool Aunt.

Ryan and I tell her that nothing is too scary to call us for. If she is ever in trouble she can call us to help her and it will be between us, but she has to trust us. I don't think I will ever receive a call from her because she is mature and makes good choices.

She took me for a spin in her car tonight...I was so proud. She is a good driver! She got her license and you know she didn't even have to take a driving test? What are these people thinking not making a kid take a drivers test! If you have 7 driving times during your driver's ed then you don't have to pass a driving test. I don't get it.

Time is going by so fast. Before I know it she will be off to college! I just want to snuggle her forever.

Love,

Aunt Carrie

P.S. Hagen was Mr. Sensitive tonight getting his feelings hurt all over the place! What a drama queen! Aunt Kristen helped by giving him a shark puppet and he is now in his bed sleeping with "Bruce" the shark.

Dapper Doo...our love...our dog

I love Dapper. I really do! He is such a sweet dog and very well behaved for a big dog. He is about 85 pounds and is a Black Lab.

He sheds, he drips slobber, he snores, etc. But he has never chewed up any of Hagen's toys, never been on the couch, never been on any furniture, will stay put at the door until we say he can go, and listens well.

I am a nervous wreck when people come over to our house (especially with little kids) and Dapper is not put in a room. I'm afraid him licking the kiddo is going to gross out the parents. Dapper is a "space invader" also so I'm afraid people are going to be irritated by my dog. I get all uptight and usually am told to chill out because he is not bothering anyone.

BUT, Hagen has a love hate relationship with Dapper Doo also. Dapper is about the same height as Hagen so they are always face to face. Dapper's tail knocks him around all the time. Now when we get home from school, I use to have to hold Hagen so that Dapper wouldn't knock him down. Now, I go first and say "back up, back up, back up" over and over again to Dapper until we are all the way in the house.

Yesterday when we got home, Dapper was a WILD.DOG. He was running circles, ready for dinner, excited that Ryan came home the same time we did, etc. So while Dapper was running crazy he ran smack dab into Hagen..knocked him flat on the ground. My blood boiled...I could feel my heart beating almost out of my chest...Ryan saw my face turning purple and said, "Dapper out" and put him in the backyard while I could compose myself and help my banged up son. It pisses me off that he isn't more careful! He could have really hurt Hagen!

Dapper felt bad...you could tell the way he was holding his head low for the night, but he needs to...it's not safe!

This morning when I went to get Hagen up he almost knocked me over with his morning breath. When should he know how to gargle and brush his tongue? He NEEDS to be ready! Good Lord Almighty! He didn't want to go to school today and I asked him why. He said "Stone doesn't love me". What? Yes he does...you are his best friend. Poor baby is afraid his boyfriend doesn't love him. Put your big boy pants on and face the music little one...not everyone is going to be in love with you (I'm not sure why because you are as cute as can be) but to each his/her own.

Last night at dinner Hagen spit...not actual spit came out but made the spitting noise. I told him that was not appropriate and asked why he is spitting. He told me he had a spider in his mouth and he had to spit it out. What? Ryan looked at me all guilty. You see, my hubby dips. He said that Hagen caught him spitting in the yard and Hagen asked him what he was doing. Ryan told him he had a bug in his mouth and had to spit it out...like father like son...nice.

Later skaters,
Carrie

Fort Worth Stockyards!

Yesterday was family day. We decided that we were going to go to the Stockyards and Rodeo!

I got up early to get my haircut and then we were off! We left around 10:30 and didn't get home until about 5:30...long day but so fun! Hagen kept saying he was excited to see the "Gong-ies". We have no idea what he was saying. I said, "Donkey's?" He said, "No, Gong-ies". Oh, OK...we'll look for them too!

We got there and it was raining a bit...not too much though. It wasn't too crowded either. THEN, a few hours into it it got more and more crowded and more rain! That's OK though because most of it was covered or inside.

We ate corn dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy and got Hagen a straw cowboy hat and a metal sign that is silhouettes of cowboys on horses for his room. Funny thing Hagen said while eating his cotton candy...it was sticking all over his fingers. He said, "Look at this little fella...he's stickin on my fnger." Those words are not misspelled...that's how he says it. Where does he get these words from?! Fella?

We saw cows, horses, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, pigs, turkeys, rabbits, and more. It was so fun! Now, the poop I could do without. We also saw a Donkey and Hagen got so excited that the Donkey from Shrek was there!

It was nearing 2:00 so we headed towards the arena for the rodeo. It was a LONG line! Hagen and I stayed inside and Ryan went to get tickets. He walked up to the ticket counter and said 2 adults and a 2 year old. She asked him for what day...he said for now. She said the Saturday shows have been sold out for weeks and are sold out. Oops...we had no idea it was sold out!

So we will be checking out the rodeo in Mesquite at sometime...we were bummed we couldn't make it.

We walked into the children's area and there were 2 one week old and 2 2 week old baby goats. it was a photo opportunity. You sit on a bale of hay and they put the goats on yoru lap and take a photo. Hagen was SO excited! Until it was his turn. He sat down and they put the baby goat on his lap. They are the size of a cat...he got scared, started shaking, and it was over...no cute photo. I wanted to take one home...a goat...

We stopped at Chili's and Best Buy on the way home, watched a bit of TV, took showers, and Hagen went to bed quick. While I was tucking Hagen into bed tonight he told me that my pony tail is pretty like his friend Isabelle's at school...Aww, he's already looking for a girl just like Mama! Ryan and I had a dinner of string cheese and Bud Light and played Wii.

The sad thing is that I looked at the clock and it was 10:45 and I told Ryan what time it was...we both locked up the house, turned the lights out, and hurried to bed...we haven't been up that late in a long time! It's sad that we just stop everything to hurry to bed! What dorks!

I had a great day with my boys...even though we all smelled like cow patties at the end of it!

Tata,
Carrie

P.S. Hagen HATES Sugar Snap Peas...even in his beloved ranch dressing. I was shocked! Of all the things he eats he won't eat sugar snap peas??

P.S.S. We told Hagen the other night that if he ate all his dinner he can have some pickles for desert! He said, "No Mama, you don't have pickles on your shirt!"

Ryan is funny...witty if you will.

Ryan and I are watching MTV and a commercial for Jersey Shore came on. I love ALL reality TV and that includes Jersey Shore.

So yes, it is full of ridiculous people and Ryan says, "That guy is so douchey". Uh...Ryan, I think you are alot douchey for saying douchey. Sorry honey...

ALSO the other night I was checking my naked self out and told Ryan that I am getting alot curvy. He said, "I'm getting curvy too!"

We are taking Hagen on a special outing on Saturday to the rodeo in Fort Worth. He doesn't know it yet because he has to take a good nap at school and no fighting. Yes, I said no fighting. It seems that our little tater tot is trying to show that although he is little he is strong. So he is hitting. I picked him up from school yesterday and he said he got in a fight. He said he hit Burke (you know, his loverboy). I asked him if Ms. Wikita put him in time out and he said no he put himself in time out.

Well today when I picked him up he said he didn't fight! But later he said he tackled his friends and was put in time out by Ms. Wikita. I'm kinda proud because he is sticking up for himself and holding his own, but I don't want him to be an angry shorty...you know?

SO, the dilemma is to go to the rodeo or not. We will end up going but I want it to be a reward for behaving good. I keep telling him that we are going on a special outing...he asks where and I say a surprise. All night tonight he was asking what the surprise is. "Can't tell you Hagen...it's a surprise!" He keeps saying he is ready to go on his special outing. He went to Home Depot with Ryan tonight because EVERY LIGHTBULB in our house burnt out at the same damn time and he made sure to tell Ryan that Home Depot was NOT his special outing!

This week at school they are learning healthy habits. They are talking about healthy foods (what Hagen eats), unhealthy foods (what Mama eats), and exercise. Tomorrow we have to bring his favorite fruit to share with his friends. So after school we went to Market Street and I let him pick out his favorite fruit! He picked strawberries, then blueberries, then blackberries, then raspberries, then watermelon...the little seedless ones. I grabbed some blueberries and he took the watermelon. He was SO excited!

We got home and put the watermelon on the counter for me to cut up later. Hagen was excited to show Daddy and he reached up to grab it and it rolled off the counter and split...glad I got the blueberries!

XO,
Carrie

Hello world!

Tonight we went to our 2nd session of little gym! Hagen is quite the character...he is definitely not shy and displayed really good listening skills while watching the teacher. He is really good at the balance beam and loves the bubbles! He did sock a girl in the face while popping the bubbles. It was totally on accident but I couldn't help but feel that I have a bully on my hands!

Daddy came too so it was the 3 of us getting our toddler workout on!

I do have an announcement...our little pee wee of a boy (2 years and 8 months old) is now 26 pounds! Woo Hoo! Still little but getting bigger! He lets us know all the time that he wants to do things himself...he says it with a long drawn out Texas twang "I wanna do it mySEAAALLFF". Cute!

The other night Ryan and Hagen were playing with blocks making Mama a princess castle. Ryan finds it funny to put things in the back of Hagen's pants...like a block. Hagen turned to him the other night and said, "Don't put that in my pants...it's germy"! Oh, OK...

I picked Hagen up from school last week and his teacher had to tell me a story. She had a funny conversation with Hagen...it went like this:
Hagen: "Miss Angie, what is your Mama's name?"
Miss Angie: "Michelle, what is your Mama's name Hagen?"
Hagen: "Princess"
Miss Angie: "I thought your Mama's name is Carrie?"
Hagen: "No, it's princess"

That's right baby, Mama's name is princess...and "curry".

We had a fun weekend and hung out. Saturday night we went to Cheesecake Factory with my parents and brother (the little one...the nice one) and his family. We had a wonderful dinner and my little boy even ordered his own food...cheeseburger and fruit. We then rode on the carousel and did a little shopping. On Sunday the Cowboy's were playing at 1:00 so I did my best to keep Hagen and I away from Ryan so that he could watch the game. He deserved it...I was out most of the week before for the funeral and Ryan was at home nursing Hagen back to health...he had RSV so had to cancel his trip last minute to join me in KC for the funeral to stay home with Hagen.

Hagen and I went to the grocery store, Lowe's, car wash, etc. On Monday morning I told Hagen to tell his teacher what he got to do this past weekend (thinking he would say something about the carousel) and he said "I went to the car wash!" I guess it IS the little things in life!!

While putting Hagen to bed tonight I was smoothing his hair while singing "you are my sunshine" and he stopped me and said, "Mama, stop petting me!". Totally ruined my moment...

One last thing...Ryan was not home for dinner tonight so Hagen and I ate dinner together. We had baked talapia, brown rice, and spinach salad. He loved it! Weirdo! I was shocked that he was eating it all like it was the best meal ever so I texted a picture to my Mom and Merrilee to show how crazy it was! Hagen told me to put my phone down and eat my dinner...you are right Hagen...that is rude and I'm sorry. I make him turn the TV off while we eat so that we can talk and there I am on my phone. I felt about 2 inches tall at that moment.

Nite nite all,
Carrie

Grandpa's funeral

I've been worrying about not posting for awhile, but needed to think about how to word things first before coming on here and having Diarrhea of the mouth!

Grandpa's funeral was wonderful. It was perfect. It was great in the fact that the extended family was able to come together to focus on the situation and getting along. There have been hurt feelings, etc. in the past that had us all worrying about how people were going to behave. There was alot of hugging, talking, enjoying each other's company...it could not have gone better.

My Grandpa was a fireman for 20+ years and at the funeral, there were lots of firemen and even the color guard at his grave site. It was just awesome.

Grandpa had a great life, was a hard worker, and his legacy will live on through all the memories at the lake.

NOW...this is the part that I had to take a few days on how to post it without going absolutely insane.

Most don't know this but I have an older brother that lives maybe 10 minutes from me that I haven't seen or talked to in about 2 1/2 years. He has only met my sweet baby a couple of times, his wife (she devil) has only met Hagen once, he has 3 BEAUTIFUL babies...a 7 year old girl Madeline, and 6 year old identical twin boys Shane and Reid.

I'm not sure what happened, but they have cut themselves out of our family. They haven't spoken to my parents in about 3 years, then cut me out, and my little brother is barely hanging on.

They have known that Grandpa was not doing well for about a year if not longer. My Dad called to say that Grandpa had passed and he said that he and his wife would be coming to the funeral and leaving right afterwards.

A part of me was hoping that this would be a reconciliation...not a time to discuss what went wrong, but maybe a time to think about how precious life is and to just move forward.

Well, about 10 minutes until the funeral was to start I saw her...standing by the door by herself, arms folded in front of her. I knew how uncomfortable she must have been so I walked up to her to hug her and say it was nice to see her. She put her hands up to block my hug and said DON'T.TOUCH.ME. and walked away...all of this was in front of 3 of my Grandfather's Friends. I started crying and my uncle took me outside. I couldn't breathe...never cried that hard.

I got myself together and then saw my brother. I made eye contact with him and said hi and started walking towards him and he put his hands up and said, No...and walked away. I lost it...went to the bathroom and had to pull myself together because I was about to walk into my Grandpa's funeral where I was the token family member to stand up and talk.

It was a perfect funeral (if I can say that)...tons of people, Father Gauthier officiated the ceremony and he was friends with my Grandpa since the '60's, my speech went well, and there was so much love in the air.

BUT, I could not get over how horrible my brother and sister in law were. Why come? Why bother? Do you know that neither one of them even came up and gave my mom a hug after her father just passed?! How SICK! I'm disgusted with them...I'm beyond hurt...how dare they come and show up and do such a thing.

I am SO sorry I had to vent...this would have been much worse if I hadn't taken a few days to think about what to write...this is a family journal so I had to mention it.

XO,
Carrie

Annoying gift idea for the man in your life!

OK, so I've been working tonight at home with my little man running around like a caged animal and my big man every bit as annoying!

There is a gadget that is the main culprit...it would be a remote controlled helicopter. It is great for distracting Mom when she is working late on a Friday night, it hovers just over her head while she is confirming interviews with people she is trying to recruit, it is hard to steer so it could even crash into the laptop while she is sending important emails to potential employees!

Go get one...they sell them at Brookstone and it is the best man toy there is...Ryan loves it...I hate it...Hagen runs from it because he has a helicopter magnet embedded in his head obviously.

You are welcome,
Carrie

P.S. I am going to be out for at least 3 days next week so that is why I am working late...I am by no means an overachiever that I look like right now.

Isn't he Lovely...Isn't he wonderful...

OK...what is Hagen's deal lately? I mean, "I love my comfy sweater" is just enough right there. But there is something else that he likes. My makeup! My lovelies out there with girls that thought that boys would never be into such things...you are wrong. This morning he sat right next to me bobbing his head to the radio playing while I straightened my hair putting on his make-up. I was ready and said, "Let's go." and he said "wait Mama...I have to put lips on".

He puts powder on his hair, my powder eyeliner on his forehead, chap stick on his cheeks and mouth and teeth, and puts the lash curler to his eyes. THEN...then he admires himself in the mirror. It's so cute! Love that baby...

One more thing, Hagen loves his big boy bed! I go up and check on him before I go to bed to cover him up and make sure he is all settled. he is actually staying with his head in the right place AND under the covers! Of course I have them tightly tucked into the sides like a blanket straight jacket, so good luck wiggling around TOO much. Still waits for me to get him in the morning and doesn't escape!

Tata,
Carrie

P.S. I washed a diaper last night...obviously a wet one as it was all folded and secure like I do with his morning diapers. He is in charge of putting his dirty PJ's in the hamper and his diaper in the diaper pail...I guess this one got in the wrong bin!

My Grandpa Fulton

Tonight Hagen and I went to my Mom's house. Ryan and my Dad were traveling so we thought we would make some Tuna Casserole (total comfort food) and just veg.

It obviously happened for a reason as we never really do things like this.

I was making dinner and ran out to my car real quick and came back and Mom was sitting on the chair and said, "He's gone...".

My Grandpa has been in poor health for awhile now. He has gotten to the point that his skin is so thin that it can not even uphold the stitches to keep a feeding tube in. It came out for the final time on Monday. We thought we had around 10 days (remembering how much time we had with other loved ones that have passed). He was so weak that it was only 2...

I remember so many great things about my Grandpa. He was a Man's Man...hard working...not afraid to get dirty... When my Grandma passed away about 6 years ago I think a piece of my Grandpa died with her. He just was never the same. Within the past couple of years it was almost like he was trying to die...I like to think it is because he was dying of a broken heart and he just couldn't wait to be reunited with his love.

Mom and I told old stories about Grandpa, cried, discussed some important things, etc. all over a couple of glasses of wine. I miss the old Grandpa that I remember...I miss him alot. He was not the same person and I am happy that he is with Grandma. It is so much harder for those left behind.

Here's to you Grandpa...love you so much!
Carrie

Big boy bed!

Tonight is Hagen's first night in his twin bed. He was so excited! I was freaking out because I got a bed rail at Target...just one. I got it to work, but was worried about the gap between his bed and the wall...it was about a 6 inch gap and my string bean of a kid could slip in that hole never to be found again! I got a BRILLIANT idea. You know those thick bumper pads for cribs? Those big round ones? The ones that I spent a small fortune on even though people were telling me you won't use them because they are unsafe? The ones I actually never did use? Well, they just happen to match perfectly and fit right into the hole! Problem solved. AND it matches his bed too! SCORE! We kept with the cowboy print in his room...love it...it's kinda old school cowboy.

I have some arranging to do of the stuff that is on his walls still.

I attached three pictures...I don't know how to organize them. The first one is the first night he spent in his crib, the second one is the first night he spent in his toddler bed, and then the third is the one from tonight...first night in a big bed! Go Hagen!!

Sweet Dreams,

Mama

The Little Gym

Hagen's little buddy in his class, Stone, has been going to little gym for awhile. He loves it so we decided to put Hagen in it as well! It's a parent/tot class so either Ryan or myself participate with him. I was the chosen one for the 1st time since Ryan had to pack to go out of town AND take down Hagen's toddler bed to prepare for the delivery of his twin bed.

Hagen was SO excited...he wasn't sure what he was excited about but I told him we are going on a special outing to the gym!

We go in and take our shoes off and Hagen's socks. Holy toenails batman! WHY haven't I noticed that my sons toenails were that long?! It was embarrassing but not as embarrassed as it would have been if I had to take my socks off. I still have a few specs of my summer polish on...I like to watch it disappear when my toenails grow...so it is on the very tips of my nails! Awesome...

So we go in and start the 45 experience. Hagen was dancing, running, hopping, and having a great time. Stone...not so much. He was so tired and a bit crabby...we are all entitled to have our day of crankiness.

Hagen did the balance beam and was gripping it with his toes...so cute. He did barrel rolls, jump and land on your feet, trotting, parachute, etc. It was so fun! What is sad is that Mama was out of breath running in a circle during the "warm-up" exercise. We are talking about 1 minute and I was jogging...and out of breath...how pathetic!

So the obnoxiously long toenails? Yep, one got bent back and was bleeding underneath a bit. He didn't seem to notice, but I did and felt so bad!

There was a little girl in the class that was about 1 1/2 and a new walker...she was ADORABLE! You know my feelings towards babies and wanting another. I could not take my eyes off of her! So much so that when I was supposed to be spotting my son while he was hanging from the monkey bar I wasn't paying attention and he fell off. No harm...he bounced back up and did it again. I felt really cool...and of course there were others there to "judge" me with their stares.

I think this is the type of exercise that is right up my alley! I may be really good at little gym!

Tata,
Carrie

My kid is a weirdo...

Hagen...you seem to shock us every now and again, but today you have really outdone yourself!

When I picked you up from school today I asked "how was your day? What did you do?" You answered with "nothing".

This is what you always say...but I know better. Ms. Wikita (his new teacher that I am not too sure about) said that he was quite the character today. At circle time today it was express yourself! It is when each child can go up in front of the class when their name is called and dance, sing, whatever they want!

My child had on a puma tracksuit and I debated this morning whether or not to put a t-shirt on underneath because he gets pretty hot. I decided not to...mistake.

It was Hagen's turn. So he gets up, unzips his jacket, takes it off and starts dancing. Hagen...they are going to think your Mama (or Daddy) is a stripper! I am the farthest thing from a stripper...no dance skills...if you see me dancing it means I have been drinking enough to kill an elephant.

Hagen's new favorite song is from the Old Navy commercial. It goes like this:
1..2..3..4..
Not gonna wear it anymore
I love my comfy sweater, I love my comfy sweater
How cute are these boots, how cute are these boots
Forget those pearly dresses, forget those pearly dresses
and talk to the boot!

Yes, my SON loves that song. Ryan and I like to think that he just likes the little girls dancing in it?! Maybe? Yes, that has to be it.

So if that doesn't make my son out to be a weirdo then how about this...he loves spinach salad! Ryan and I usually have a spinach salad with our dinner. Hagen has raw carrot sticks and ranch, Edamame, canned green beans, or something like that. But a few nights ago Hagen wanted some of Ryan's spinach. He ate most of it! Tonight I made Hagen his own salad in his own bowl. He loved it! He didn't love the cucumber that I snuck in it, but ate the majority of it. I think it is mainly the Lite Italian dressing on it. So proud.

2 more nite nites in his toddler bed and he will then be sleeping in his new twin bed! Ahh...can't wait...

One more thing...so sad...took off the childproof locks on our cabinets in the kitchen. We never really needed them as he rarely got in them if at all. We never had to put a baby gate on the stairs either! Wasn't interested.

Off to watch The Bachelor!!

Tata,
Carrie

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday! He is 61 today. We were planning on having a family dinner, but he had to go out on a well yesterday so we celebrated without him. Happy Birthday Dad! You are the best ever and I am so proud of you! Cheers to many more!

I will now change the subject and quote the movie Ice Age when the dinosaur says "My stomach HATTTEEEEESSSS me!". I have had a steady diet of sugar and cream cheese for a few weeks now and I have GOT to stop! My stomach is so messed up...I'm dying...it is miserable.

Tonight I am throwing away any dip, leftovers, cookies, chocolate, etc that is left in the fridge. I've had enough...I'm so sick of it all!

Hagen has become Mr. Sensitive. He gets his feeling hurt so bad! If he does something and we tell him it is not right or to stop he pouts and starts hitting himself. It isn't like a bratty pout...it is more like a "you really hurt my feelings" pout. We can totally tell a difference. Tonight while we were at Adam's house for dinner he was playing with a dinosaur flashlight and he whipped around fast and bonked Noah in the head. Noah stood there still for a minute and then realized that it did indeed hurt and started crying. Hagen was just standing there looking at him and then started crying too. He felt bad...I could tell. I was telling him that it was an accident and we needed to say sorry. He didn't want to...but then he just changed his mind, hugged Noah and said sorry. Atta Boy Hagen.

Boring post...sorry...

Tata,
Carrie

Why haven't we done this more often or at all?

My brother and sister in law live about 2 miles from us. They have a little boy Noah that is 1 year younger and Hagen and Noah play so well together!

We have never babysat for each other! Why? Mainly because we are both so boring...we don't get out much...it's not in the budget, but mainly because we are homebodies.

Today I was talking with Ryan and we decided that we would offer to watch Noah for a few hours so that they could go to a movie they have been wanting to see.

They brought Noah over around 4:30 and Hagen was still napping. I will tell you that it is the HAPPIEST Hagen has woken up from a nap in a long time! He is a grump at first when he wakes up...takes after Mama for sure. He had the BIGGEST smile on his face when he came downstairs! They played trucks, played in the backyard, played guitar, danced, ate dinner, took a bath, and ran them selves ragged by the time Adam and Rebecca came to get him at 8:00.

We had a blast and honestly, it was nice to have a playmate for Hagen over to entertain him. I sat back and waited for the optimal photo op and just enjoyed watching them have a good time.

Hagen was a bit bossy at times and we often heard "No sir Noah...that's not good".

At dinner Ryan wanted me to take a picture of Noah with a beer by his plate. I was not aware of the beer being OPEN until Noah grabbed it for a drink. It spilled down his shirt. "Adam, sorry about the smell of stale beer on your kids shirt...we weren't watching them and they got in the fridge. We'll watch better next time!"

During bath time it was another story. They were splashing up a storm! I tried to settle it down but soon gave up. Noah is on Antibiotics and it messes with his stomach if you know what I mean. I had put a yellow and red color tablet in the water so it looked a bit orange. BAD MOVE.

Ryan and I were bathing the kids and letting them play and then Ryan noticed little bits in the water...not much but we knew right away what it was...reah! Ugh! GROSS!!

Ryan hopped in the shower and I threw both boys in with him. It was hilarious watching him try to juggle 2 slippery toddlers in our small shower.

So again to Adam: If your kid gets parvo it is from his own body...or hand/foot/mouth...or fecal poisoning...your kids fault.

They paid us with a piece of red velvet cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. That's all I needed...and a good photo which you can see I got.

Nite nite,

Carrie

Getting things back to normal around here!

It is time to get this house back to order! I don't really have all THAT much to decorate with so it doesn't take me too long to take it down. Hagen has been asking "are you taking down the holidays?" or "Are you cleaning the holidays?" and "Where the holidays go?".

Ryan was taking down the lights outside and Hagen was helping (that means he was standing on the cast iron chair on our porch ringing the door bell over and over and over. Lovely. The funny thing is that when Hagen and Ryan are doing work outside the first thing Hagen does is get Ryan a beer and get himself a water or a juice box. Even if they just let Dapper out real quick and are coming right back in Hagen goes to get their refreshments!

Speaking of refreshments, Hagen and his ladies that we hung out for New Year's Eve were enjoying some Sparking Cider. It was funny to hear all the kids ask for more BEER. They thought it was beer. How white trash can we get! Hagen...just like his Mama.

If Dapper doesn't stop licking my carpet I'm going to poke him in the eyeball. I'm not sure if there is some leftover Christmas goodness in the carpet or what but he is DRIVING ME NUTS. Yesterday Hagen said, "Dapper Doo...stop licking the carpick!"

One last thing...Hagen is officially moving out of his toddler bed on Wednesday. Yesterday Papa met me to pick out his bed. I'm kinda sad that he is moving up, but so excited too! I got some vintage cowboy sheets when he was less than a year old because I LOVED them. So for his bed I got a black bed, a trundle that is like a drawer, and a nightstand. I found a fleecy red blanket for his bed and ordered a darker denim comforter thing...but it isn't as thick as a comforter...more like a coverlet.

It will be so cute and I will post a picture of his first night in his big bed! He has been in his toddler bed for about a year and still doesn't get out of it. He just yells and screams for us to come save him. I'm shocked that he doesn't get out...he's a pretty smart little boy and I am kinda worried that he hasn't figured this one out yet.

I promise, ONE more thing...Hagen and his whining is just about to do me in. I've had it. BUT, we have found a trick. He goes to the "crying or whining room" and is free to come out whenever he is done! If he is crying or whining we say, "go to the CW room and just come out when you are ready to not C or W anymore!" He trots off to our bedroom and comes trotting back out withing a minute or so. He has spent alot of time in there lately. I swear he sounds like a little girl the way he whines!

We are off to a great start here in the Darney Hizzy...nice to have such a long weekend with New Year's Day being on a Friday!

Tata,
Carrie