July Update - a month late

We kept busy this summer. We thought July would be a slower month, but right before it started I was asked to cook for our mission trip groups that come weekly through July. The actually cooking was quite easy, but going across the street for a few hours a day, three or four days a week with both my boys wore on us all. And we got tired of eating the same foods too. But, it was a change of routine and I like that sometimes. I was able to bake a lot, which is my favorite thing in the kitchen! 

Like last summer, this summer was blazing hot. The boys played outside in the mornings and then we stayed indoors or ran errands in the afternoons. Ben mastered turning the water hose off and on and much mud was made this summer!

Thank you Pinterest for this sidewalk paint idea - cornstarch, water and food coloring!

Goes on with the color and then dries white. Washes off with water.

 Joy

 They were showing me how dirty they got. I was a bit nervous about the food coloring washing out, but it was no problem.

When were weren't outside...
 Nate's trick. He has done this since he was able to walk. Weird. Random. Funny.

Nate's favorite color is...

Some indoor fun.

My boys are already shaving.

More mud.

 Reward for a hard morning of working in the sandbox - pureed oranges made into popsicles.

 We even went to a friend's pool one morning. It took Nate a while to get his nerve to get in. Then, twenty minutes before it was time to go he was jumping and splashing and I had to drag him out. 

 Friends

 There was also a sport court - my boys loved it! They are really into tennis lately. I think it is just because you get to hit something with something else.

 Love that belly!

 Ben and Maren shootin the breeze. We saw Maren almost every day this summer!

Summer Fun

Wow! We have had a very busy summer! I didn't realize it has been so long since I posted. I think I will have to work backwards to get caught up on our past month. 

This past week my mom, sister and niece came for a visit. We stayed on-the-go to keep the kids entertained and it wore us all out in the process. We got a cool front so it was a lovely 75 degrees or so when we left the house in the mornings for our outings with a high of only 95 degrees or so. That may sound hot, but it is a little more than 10 degrees cooler than we have been lately. 

Since we did so much and took so many pictures and videos, I just combined it all for a 5 minute montage. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Grammy

Happy Birthday Grammy!

From Ben, the boy who makes all things into helmets and Nate, the horse!

More Summer

Ben: I want jelly fish for snack.
Amber: We don't eat jelly fish.
Ben: Sea animals do.
Amber: You aren't a sea animal.
Ben: I'm a land animal?

Ben and Nate were using balloons to knock over their blocks. Ben proudly announced, "We have knockers!"

Ryan and I celebrated our birthdays on July 4th. He turned 31 and this was my big 30!

When my mom was in town we got away to Kansas City for an overnight trip without the boys. This picture is not very flattering but it chronicles the night that we went to dinner AND a movie and didn't get back to the hotel until after dark!

In true Carter fashion, we had a very low key celebration for our birthdays with a bring-your-own-everything to the patio and grilled and hung out with friends. It was perfect.

Ben enjoying some italian ice.

 My big boy.

Friends

I told Ryan that I finally am my age. We have always acted like we are older than our 20s and now my age matches my mindset. Bring on the 30s.

Sparklers were not a big hit!

Snakes were!

Delicious, local corn on the cob!

Ben was giving Nate a goodnight love. Nate wasn't feeling it. 

 Zoo! Don't worry - the elephants were only inside while they cleaned their area.

 Gorilla foot!

 Twinkies. Thanks for the Cabela's shirts Mama-D!

 

Who doesn't love chocolate?!

 He looks so grown up! And balloons can entertain my boys for days.

Summer Picture Overload

I have pretty much decided to chronicle our lives in pictures because my kids are just so cute and I know you all prefer their pictures to all my words. So, here we go...our last couple of weeks in pictures and captions.

A missionary and our two female interns volunteered to watch the missionary kids on Tuesday mornings this summer. Nate clearly had a blast the first week because he scarfed down his food and then fell fast asleep in his chair. 

 We took the boys to Krispy Kreme - Nate's first time. Nate had a blast, but only took a few bites of his donut!

 

 We have tried to stay cool by playing in the water!
On this particular day, Ben insisted on choosing those pants even though it was 100 degrees!

 We walked to a friend's house to partake in their lemonade stand. Ben was a natural! He immediately started trying to take money and pour the lemonade. He wanted a cut!

Mama-D (my mom) came to visit! She came to watch the boys while Ryan and I both worked during our Candidate Assessment Program (World Impact's week-long interview/assessment for potential missionaries).

We didn't just work though - we found some time for fun. 

Botanica - feeding the humongous goldfish.

 Found a ladybug.

 Craft time - in the AC!

 Both boys made a caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly! Did I mention it was hot?

This picture has a great story. Notice Nate's hands. He is trying to push Ben off. Ben got off and sat in front of Nate to tell him who's boss. Nate retaliated by trying to push Ben off. Ben jumped off the front and Nate fell flat on his face. Ryan and I call that "natural consequences!" Brothers!

 Do you see us way up high?

 Nate was hot and tired.

 Nate was not loving it and Ben was waiting for a butterfly to land on his hand.

 A happy moment.

 HOT - we were getting cranky.

Even though we were well hydrated and only outside from 9:30am-11am, Ben must have gotten overheated. He emptied the contents of his stomach on the drive home. It was awful. He didn't keep anything down the majority of the day and ran a fever. We were a bit worried, but he woke up bouncy and happy the next day and has been since. 

 So, we went to the local peach orchard to pick our own peaches! We had a blast. The morning was lovely, the shade was perfect and the peaches were delicious. The local owner told us to sample as we picked and we did! Nate ate at least four peaches and Ben was thrilled to pick. I hope this is an annual event.

 Reach

 Delicious

 Nate didn't want to take the picture.

Peach pickin'

Our doctor recommended putting Nate on a dairy-free diet to possibly help with his eczema. We noticed an immediate change for the better! We noticed the change when I gave him a yogurt a few days after we started the dairy-free diet. I didn't mean to, just habit. His skin immediately flared up and we new! So, now Nate enjoys his soy yogurt - so much so that he usually puts the yogurt cup on his nose and mouth and sucks out what he can't get with his spoon. He also has been getting about six teeth these last few weeks. Whew. Why do my kids do this? All their teeth at once? It means he gave up his morning nap and is only sleeping exactly 90 minutes during his afternoon nap time (what is so special about 90 minutes?) which means Ben is napping longer than Nate! Oh well.
Nate is also talking like crazy! Lots of words! It is so much fun watching and listening to the boys talking to each other. They have full conversations. Ben seems to understand Nate's little gibberish and words and they have a blast together.

When my mom comes to town she lets Ben use some of her make-up. Crazy! Ben loves it! And loves looking at himself with it on - mostly concealer, especially on his lips.

 

My boys love the water!

 July 2010 - July 2012

When watching a friend's kid we might have watched Dora while eating a pancake. It's a hard life!

My sweet boys loving Dora tha Explora.

Cheese

8 Years

Eight years ago we began our "happily ever after!" There have been a few highs, a few lows, a master's degree, a big move, two amazing sons and the promise of much, much more joy ahead! We love all of you that have supported us along the way!

Family Camp

Each summer, our Christ the Victor Churches gather at Morning Star Ranch for Family Camp! We have one English-speaking church, two Spanish-speaking churches and the families from Club4.12, our English-speaking youth program. This year we had 80 people laughing, learning and growing together as the family of God. While it is a lot of work for our family personally in preparing for camp and teaching sessions, it is also a lot of fun to get away for the weekend and play! I enjoyed myself more than I thought to take pictures for the most part, so I don't have as many as I normally would, but here is a sample and then a video that I put together for the ministry. 

Ben looked a bit over-protected since he chose to wear the swim wings and ride in Nate's boat.

 Nate was NOT a fan. The water was cold and crowded and he let us know he wanted no part in it.

 He came over to tell me about his Daddy putting him in the water. He was very serious!

 He finally ended up like this as we watched the loud pool raucous.

 We took a little stroll that ended up being too long for my napless little ones. At one point I was pushing the stroller and Ben was on my back. Not wise planning! And the sun was beating down on us. Live and learn!

Helping Daddy run powerpoint and sound.

Watch the video here.

We are so grateful for our church family! Even though some don't speak our language nor do we speak theirs, there is an unspoken bond that unities us together in Christ!