Julia is growing way too fast! She is so snuggly and kissable and sweet and I'm afraid she's going to outgrow it! I sure hope not. She is such a good little baby. We are really enjoying her. I was trying to decide which dress Julia should wear for her pictures so she and Carter posed a lot for me. Problem is, all the dresses were so darn cute on her it was a tough choice.

She's such a patient child. She didn't cry a bit while Carter tried to hold her!

Carter's favorite thing to do--wrestle with Daddy and be tickle-tortured.

This is Carter with the flowers he made me for Mother's day at "big boy school". We sat and watched all the other classes sing some songs, but Carter's class I guess was too young to do it and he was so sad! He kept saying, "Mommy I wanna go up there and sing!" Not shy that one.

Our new addition

Welcome home little Julia! Our little snuggle bug is a great sleeper and sweet as can be. Big brother is such a big helper and is adjusting very well. He loves his baby sister!

So I'm sick of looking at the same old post on our blog whenever I log in to check someone else's. So here's some random pics that are already on facebook, but at least it will give me something new to look at! Now if only I could remember how to flip the pictures...

1,2,3!

Carter wants to be a scout!

It was that time of year again for our cub scouts--Pinewood Derby! Since Jason and I both now have responsibility for Cub Scouts, we took Carter with us thinking he'd run around like crazy...well, he had so much fun watching the cars race and more especially counting down for them to race, it was so cute!

Cheesy, we know. Jason is really proud of his "friendship knot" on his neckerchief...

Future scout!

Can't wait for spring!

I do a little music class once a week with some friends from church and our nursery age children. Here's a few pics of Carter playing at music class. He's always the wildest one..! We use this little sombrero for our Mexican hat dance. It actually sits on the floor and the kids dance around it, but they usually like to try it on, too! This next one is a song that you do with your teddy bear, that's why the kids have animals on their heads!

When he chooses to participate, Carter knows just what to do!

It was deceptively warm looking today...supposed to be in the 50's and it is, but the sun keeps hiding behind the clouds and it is really windy at the park! But ya know, once you've made the effort to get to the park, you have to stay and play a while!

Carter loves the swings, I have to lure him away with the promise of a snack.

Happy birthday Carter!

Contrary to his expression here, Carter had a grand time at his birthday party! He seriously ran, jumped and laughed for 3 hours straight! He is such a delight--so smart and playful and compassionate. He can count to 13 all by himself; he sings and asks me to sing with him constantly; when someone is sad or another kid is crying he walks over very concerned and says, "what's wrong? It's okay." I know it's so cliche, but it's really hard to believe he's already 2. I seriously can hardly remember when he was a baby. I guess that means it's time for another one--we think so, too! Here is the Elmo cake I made...it took forever to frost, but it's kind of fun!

Carter was so funny opening presents, he wanted to play with what he opened right away and it was torture making him open the other presents...that'll change before too long I think!

Carter and Ixchel blowing on noise makers--there was a lot of spit swapping I'm afraid.

Three cheers for Carter, our darling little boy!

I always felt bad for people when their basement flooded...

And then it happened to us! Well the electric breaker or whatever that the sump pump was linked to decided to stop working on a rainy, snow-melty night and we had a wet basement as a result. It was an inch deep in the more sloped parts, but we were really lucky that the basement isn't finished and most of our stuff was on shelves anyway. It was just a pain to roll up and remove the carpet scraps we had down there. Wet carpet is heavy!

It's fun to dress up!

So we had this Murder Mystery dinner game night and some fun friends dressed up with us.  The setting was supposed to be 1936 England at a country mansion.  My grandparents graciously let us use their home which has a "parlor" and the dining room is separated from the kitchen.  The game itself was somewhat of a letdown--it was really complicated and a little risque...but the company was fabulous!  Here are the Howards--Gil was Dr. Malcolm "Mal" Praktiss, and Sandi was an actress, we'll leave out her name...

Jason was a lawyer/golfer nicknamed "Pro" and I was the victim's secretary, a feminist whose initials were "ERA".
These are the Smiths--Tara was a famous novelist nicknamed "Ali" Biye.  Kevin was a mountaineer and the murderer!

The Belnaps--Kellee was a former model, now famous rich wife named "Flo" Wing Brooks, and her husband was a banker "Donny" Brooks.  I'm just glad they all have a sense of humor--that's exactly why we invited them!

Makin Jerky

Grandmother and Grandfather Guffey have come up with a fabulous recipe  for jerky that we've all been hooked on for quite some time.  It is a lot of work to make though, and so this year Dad decided to take over the process--with supervision of course.
Carter thinks this is Curious George...
oh the gore!
Grandfather supervising.
all I have to say is, don't shake hands with any of these people!  It sure was tasty guys!

I'm sorry to any who check on our blog how pitifully rarely anything is posted.  But it feels like too much work to post pictures and all that...so I just avoid it.  Anyway, I thought I'd just add a tidbit here.  I've just been thinking how much I love my little boy.  He is so so precious.  And I know all moms and dads think the same about their little ones and isn't that great?  It is the way it should be.  I love Carter's little giggles, his pure enjoyment of reading with me, his intense scrutiny as he concentrates on building an even higher tower of mega blocks,  the way he so eagerly reaches for his milk that he is bouncing on his tiptoes...  What a pleasure to witness his childish innocence.  I've been feeling somewhat frustrated lately that he doesn't like to stay at the childcare place at the gym while I do a group class, but then again, how can I be upset with him?  I'm not.  He's just used to having me all to himself every day, as he should be, and it's not really fair for me to suddenly drop him off in a strange new place and run away to exercise.  So instead of feeling frustrated today after he only lasted 15 minutes in the playroom before I was summoned to his rescue, I just felt so blessed that he loves me that much.  It is my bliss.

Ode to my husband

Well, I have to blame this on all of you out there who write sweet posts about your spouse and then leave those less dedicated and less creative bloggers like myself looking just a teensy bit bad...  I can't tell you the number of times Jason has hinted, ever so subtly, that so and so writes about her husband, isn't that sweet??  Well I hate having him feel left out, so I must tell everyone who stumbles across our sad little blog page, that I DO love my husband!  He is the most wonderful, faithful, hard-working, and not to mention, the HOTTEST man I know.  I am so blessed that he is in my life.  I can imagine my life without him--and it would be tremendously sad and lacking.  He is so good to me, humoring all my silly ideas and attempts at cooking.  He is such a good Daddy--Carter is a very fortunate boy and so dearly loved.  He is my anchor amidst life's stormy waters.  He is my love.

We are still crazy about each other.

One of the things I like best about Jason is his humility.  He's always looking for enlightenment...not to mention he has a great sense of humor...

What can I say...he lights up my life!

I like to think we're a good team, but really he is the strength, pulling me through the tough times and encouraging me through the rest.  I don't think there's been a day that's gone by in our marriage when he hasn't told me that I'm beautiful.  Now I know I don't always act or look beautiful, but he is like my Johnny Lingo, telling me what he sees because he always believes in me.  I love you honey!

Carter's favorite part--stuffing his mouth with sugar. He loves suckers.

Mommy and Daddy are so weird. But it's fun to be weird sometimes!

Dig that fro daddy!

Carter's not so sure he wants any part in all this...

"Umpkin!"