Posting Frenzy

I've been in a posting frenzy this evening, so you have 4 new posts below, including the last of the posts from our Arkansas trip. The day after we got back from Arkansas, I went to NYC for the week. Now I'm headed to Seattle tomorrow, so I wanted to get these posts up!

This weekend has been absolutely beautiful in Atlanta -- sunny and warm -- and we made the most of it. Yesterday was a 5K, a swimming lesson, a festival, erranding, a birthday party, dinner and theatre for Thomas and I and playtime with Cart Cart for Carter. Today was a playdate/lunch with friends, erranding and a playdate/dinner with different friends. I actually can't believe we fit it all in. I think it's safe to say that all three of us had a great weekend -- and that all three of us are exhausted!

P.S. Sorry to all the Arkansas friends and family that we didn't see while we were stay-cationing there. We missed you, and I promise we'll be back for a more proper visit soon!

Chomp-n-Stomp

On Saturday morning, Thomas ran a 5K at the Chomp-n-Stomp festival. He ran the same race last year (and Carter wore the same sweater). This year, the cop leading the race missed a turn, so the 5K ended up only being about a 4K, but it was still exercise before 9am, so he was happy enough. Later in the day (after a brief swimming lesson interlude), we went back to the festival for chili, where Park, Ashley, Anna and baby Sam joined us for an absolutely beautiful day!

Halloween

We spent Halloween in Hot Springs Village.

Carter wore the lion costume that my mom made, and my brother wore, when Patrick was a kid.

Since Carter was going as a lion, and since my mom has a friend who had costumes to loan us, we decided to dress up as a family (except for Patrick and dad, the grumps :).

Kirstin shows her appreciation for being strongly encouraged to costume...

Instead of going door-to-door, we went to a "trunk-or-treat" event at my mom's church. The cars park and people give away candy out of their trunks.

Magic Springs

Halloween was a beautiful day in Arkansas, so we got to play outside. Mama Helen and I took Carter to Magic Springs, an amusement park in Hot Springs. Carter wore his Super Why costume as his lion costume would have made it too hard to ride the rides.

Carter's favorite ride was the roller coaster, which had some good speed for a kiddie coaster. He did NOT care for the swinging pirate ship ("my tummy hurts!").

Mid-America Museum

Since it rained so much when we were in Arkansas, we had to find indoor activities to keep us occupied. One such adventure was a trip to the Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs. We explored the exhibits and did the flight simulator (which Carter LOVED!).

But I don't know how!!

Carter's latest strategy for getting out of things he doesn't want to do is to claim he doesn't know how to do whatever it is we need him to do. Two cases in point:

At bedtime one night, Thomas tells Carter to lay in his bed. Carter responds by saying "I don't know how to lay in my bed!" and demonstrates by attempting to do a headstand in the bed.

Another day, Carter wants to put on his "running pants", which are actually shorts, and it is too cold to wear them. Thomas tells Carter he can wear the sweatpants that he already has on, "they're great for running!" Carter responds, "I don't know how to run in sweatpants!" and demonstrates by orchestrating an overly dramatic fall, "See!?", he says.

Collateral Damage

Patrick and Kirstin brought their dog, Maddie, with them to Arkansas.

Carter's stuffed animals have seen better days...

When Carter discovered the panda's injuries, he scooped it up in his arms, hugged it and said "It's okay! It's okay!"
We managed to get the crocodile fixed up before he even saw the damage, though it still looks a bit scarred from the experience!

Mama Helen & Daddy Phil's House

As per usual, we brought the rain to Arkansas. Sadly, most of our days have been rainy, limiting our outdoor activities, but we've been making the best of it. And Carter's been appreciating all the TV he gets to watch since we can't play outside.

Enjoying the fire pit on a rare, rain-free evening

Learning how to play toddler games on the iphone

Playing Super Why!

Napping boys

More Cabin Pics

Here are a few more shots from the cabin.

Driving the all-terrain-golf cart

Carter entertains himself while the grown-ups read (worked for, like, a whole 5 minutes)

Triominoes!

Kirstin and her incredible hand of mexican sweat (it's a two of a kind, it's a three of a kind, it's a full house - no! it's four of a kind! take that, Patrick!)

Carter at the Cabin

Carter specifically requested a blog post that contained pictures of "only me. Me ONLY!" So, per his request, here are some shots from the last four days that don't include any other people.

Carter in his new headlamp that his Daddy Phil bought him (pretty sure Daddy Phil actually got it for himself, but Carter will be keeping it...)

Carter fishing in the creek. He would "cast" his stick, but then actually use it as a spear to capture leaves.

Enjoying spaghetti dinner (if you look closely, you can see some discarded spaghetti on the back of his head).

Blowing out the candles on our pumpkins!