Goodnight and Bye

So a month or so ago, Carter added a new deminsion to his bedtime routine.   We always talk about how much we love each other and make a circle with our fingers and then say, ‘night, night; sweet dreams; sleep with the angels.’  Kisses…  Funny little man that that he is - suddenly, the goodnight is not acceptable without the following with Daddy or me standing at the door:  “I got something to tell you,” he says.  We have to say, ‘what is it?’  Reply, “It’s gonna be funny (giggle, giggle)"; {we say, ‘ok’}, "Goodnight and Bye."  We have to reply, ‘goodnight and bye’ and Mommy blows kisses across the room.  Door closed and all is well.  If this doesn’t take place, just as prescribed by our little man, you proceed to have a melt down.

I don’t know how long this will go on because I remember my sweet friend Mary Lindsey writing about her daughter’s nighttime routine and it just suddenly ended as though it had never happened.  This is something we don’t want to forget.  So sweet!

Chinese New Year

We had a very modest celebration for Chinese New Year.  Parker headed up the lantern making and coloring Chinese zodiac pictures for each year of the kids birth.  We ordered food to be delivered so we could just spend time with the kids.  It turned out that the whole idea of having a party was much more fun than the actual event.  :)  I think we are all very tired, Carter is fighting a cold, Parker trying to adjust to the idea that he is growing up a little and Mom & Dad are just low on patience.  We did make it through and actually managed to get the camera out for this little celebration.  We are so very blessed with these three amazing little people who are wonderfully and uniquely created by God!  We are discovering though that it would sometimes be nice if they all came with their very own manual to teach us how to be the best parents we can be with each of them.  Sometimes its so completely tiring but the most incredibly rewarding job ever!!   We love these guys so much!! 

Day Out

We had a gorgeous day so decided to get outside a little.  The kids love to be outdoors and in the woods so Vickery Creek trail was a good place to get a short hike in.   Parker is in his element out there!  He is just so happy and leads the pack.  Grace right behind him has absolutely no fear and tries her best to keep up.  Carter mostly takes his time to take in every sight along the way - every stump, rock, bug...  

Carter saw this piece of a fallen tree leaning up the hillside and 

wanted to climb it so we defeated it together. 

After 'burning all of those calories' :), we had a fun, indulgent dinner out at Five Guys.  The kids all love the fact that we can sit and have peanuts while we wait.  By the end of dinner, Carter & GraceLin we just wiped out and melting.  Straight home to bath and bed and hopes for a late morning sleep!  

Kids who ate the Canary

The two big guys in the house did an amazing job of making dinner tonight and 'kind of' keeping and eye on the little people while I did some school work.  :)  When I was finished and dinner was in the over, John, Parker and I were just having a little conversation that quickly was swept away and never to be returned to because...  I suddenly realized that C & G were way too quiet!  I turned around to find them leaning over a chair in the family room.  When asked what they were up to, they both turned to look at me with such guilty faces - they tried so hard to play it cool and Carter even said, 'what Mom?!' When John asked what he had in his mouth, he just clutched his little hands behind his back even tighter.  Parker, who doesn't want to miss an opportunity to 'bust' them, walked over to find an empty plastic candy cane that, just moments earlier had been full!  John laughed at them and said, 'did you at least share with Gracie?'  While he answered yes, he slyly put his hand over hers and a moment later, she was popping and M&M into her mouth.  I'm certain that had he not been sharing all along though, she would have been the tattle tale!   Carter hesitantly made his way toward us with that hand behind his back and finally revealed the remaining 5 or 6 M&M's.   I'm only sad that I didn't catch this all on video.  Here are a few shots of the aftermath (mostly blurred because the sugar kicked in quickly:)!   They are certainly partners in crime!