First Day of Second Grade

Hard to believe school has already started here!

Spring Break in Arkansas

Carter and I spent a part of his spring break in Arkansas visiting Mama Helen and Daddy Phil. Carter wanted to learn how to fish. 

Practicing casting in the backyard

Playing with the worms!

Mama's requested activity...

Gnome garden that Mama Helen and Carter built

Gnome garden (also known as a fairy garden) closeup

Waitin' for the fish

(finally) Caught one! (and just one)

Yahtzee! Good for practicing math. And... creativity.

Mama Helen and Mimi Vist

Mama Helen and Mimi made a visit to us in January. They arrived just in time to help us deal with the aftermath of our robbery, so, in a sense, the timing was perfect. We were so happy to have the help and the distraction - and also, of course, to see them!

I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few:

Carter and Mimi were the big winners, as usual

On top of the building Thomas is working on

Thanksgiving at the Beach

Thank you to mom and dad who invited us to spend thanksgiving with them at Fort Myers beach where they had rented a condo. Dad flew to Atlanta and drove down with me and the boys on the Saturday before thanksgiving (mom was there a week ahead of us with her sister and mom). Thomas flew down on Wednesday afternoon and we drove home as a family. I was sick, so that wasn't ideal (also not ideal: I gave the sickness to my parents who have been enjoying it ever since), but it was gorgeous and the boys had a good time.

Creating our own taxonomy for shells

Totally awesome hamster ball in water thing

Carter's road food of choice (except for the last hour) was Subway, for which we were all grateful.
John had a deconstructed sandwich.

John didn't love the sand, but it also didn't bother him too much. He kept putting handfuls in his mouth. 

Amazing sand sculpture competition down the road from where we were staying

Our sand castle with a monster nest at the entrance. The monster guards the castle. 

There was much putt putt.

Halloween

We were lucky to have Mama Helen visiting over Halloween. She continues to be Carter's costume supplier. Last year, Carter decided on November 1 that he wanted to be Captain America this year. And he stuck to that plan all year long! John used Sammy's hand-me-down Mickey Mouse costume. But everyone thought he was a ladybug. 

Check out Thomas' costume. He wore that to work all day. 

Carter and Mama Helen made a pumpkin cake using two bundt cakes. 

For the second year, we did trick-or-treating with some of Carter's buddies from school

More from Mama Helen's Visit

Carter had "Mama Helen Camp" his last week and a half before camp started. They went to movies, museums, (McDonalds), and just generally had a grand time. 

First Day First Grade

Hard to believe it, but today was the first day of school!

Mama Helen has been here in the week leading up to the first day of first grade

Carter: Stop taking pictures already!

Me: Ha, ha! You can't stop me!

Trip to North Georgia

My mom has been in town for the last week and a half. It's been great having her here, and we wish she could stay!

We wrapped up her visit with a trip to north Georgia this weekend. We visited Helen, Hiawassee and Dahlonega, and several places in between.

Headed up to the top of Brasstown Bald

I can't remember the last time this kid snuggled up and went to sleep on me!

At Anna Ruby Falls

Carter was on a mission to find icicles

On the observation deck at Brasstown Bald - the  highest point in Georgia

Fun World! Carter's first time on roller skates. It was an adventure!

Skee ball on wheels

The beer garden in Helen's Bavarian village

Thanksgiving

This year, we spent a full week in Arkansas for Thanksgiving, thanks, in part, to Thomas not having to be in Atlanta to work on the Nutcracker this year. We had a pretty lazy week. We ate good food (everyone), played bad golf (Thomas), practiced swimming (Carter) and generally got in a lot of low-key family time.

We had a few days of rain, followed by a few beautiful days

Decompressing after a rough day on the golf course

We took a trip to Garvin Gardens to see their lights

Carter loved "driving" the train-o-lights, but I got a better picture of him with a peacock

My baby can play triominoes! I can't believe it. He's actually pretty good.

Carter made ice cream pie with Mama Helen, and we celebrated his half-birthday with a candle.

Dad-on-the-couch 2.0. The Kindle edition.

John didn't sleep through everything this holiday. But he did let me eat thanksgiving dinner in peace. And then let me nap with him!

During the rainy days, Carter and I made place cards for everyone.

Mom attempts to serve as Thomas gets a photo op with the canned cranberry sauce (ridges intact)

Mimi got to meet her newest great-grandbaby