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.

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.

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

John and Family

John has been blessed to have a lot of family visit him in his first week of life. I missed getting shots of a few family members with John, but here are the ones that I got.

Christmas 2010

Christmas morning before the chaos. As Patrick said:

Respect this mantle! Eight hand sewn, sequined stockings anywhere from 5 months to 45 years old. All hung (with care) on the same mantle for the first time ever.

Carter's big present this year was a desk, complete with office supplies. When he saw the clip magnets on his hutch, the first thing he did was RUN to his room and get a picture of Mama Helen and Daddy Phil to clip on his desk!

Carter helps Eavan with her Santa gifts

Everyone enjoyed their gifts!



Even if Eavan mostly wanted to chew hers...

Carter liked to help everyone unwrap their presents

Right around the time we went over to celebrate with the other Fowlkes family, it started to SNOW!

Just look at this hefty accumulation we had the next day!

The Fowlkes

The out-laws!