Carson's Birthday Party

Carson has said since last year that he wanted to have a skating party for his birthday this year. We decided to have it on his actual birthday. It was a Thursday, but it meant the skating rink was not crowded at all. There were probably only about 10 other people there. He invited a lot of kids from his class this year. It is the first time he has wanted to do that. We also had our life group come because it was at the time we should have been at life group. You can rent little walker type things for kids who are learning to skate. It worked really well for Macie and a few of the other little girls who were there.
This picture is completely blurry. But, it has several of the kids from his class. Of course, they all live in our neighborhood too. I love that Carson has gotten close to kids in his class this year. And, we are very excited that most of them will be looping up with their teacher next year (that post is coming) These boys have been invited to every one of Carson's birthday parties. I don't think they have missed one. They both like in our little section of the neighborhood. But, Eli is moving in about 10 days. Carson making a wish. Brandee made his cake too.

January 16th

I never blogged about January 16th. It was a very special day for out family. First of all, it was Macie's 4th birthday. Here she is at church with Grandpa John that morning.



We also dedicated Ellie at church that morning. Because we attend a Baptist church, we dedicate our babies. We are making a commitment to raise our kids in church and teach them about Jesus so they can come to accept Him as Savior.



It was also they day that Carson was baptized. When Carson was in Kindergarten, he told us that he had asked Jesus into his heart. We have talked to him about his decision a lot. Carson did a class at church for kids who are new believers or who have questions about faith. We were convinced that he was ready. He understand what it means to put your faith in Jesus. He was ready to make the public profession of faith.



I am just going to post a bunch of pictures from the service. We had many people there to support us that day. In addition to our family, the Macdonalds and the Morrows came to church with us. It as also very special to have our long time church family. We really appreciated to families who had moved churches or out of town who came to support us that day.







Our family before the service.





These are from the dedication part of the service. Carson was ready to go upstairs for his baptism. We didn't dress him in a white gown!











I really love the last two of the kids praying. It was such a precious day.

Wii had fun

Yesterday Carson was officially 7 1/2. He is a stickler for dates, so he will not say he is 1/2 until September 8th. In order to celebrate, I thought I would go back and make a post about his birthday back in March.

First this is at school when I took treats for his class. This was also the day before he lost his first tooth!



On his birthday, he had swim team and then baseball practice. We went to eat Mexican between the two. They sang Happy Birthday and brought him dessert.



His birthday party was the next day. He wanted to have a Mario party. So the kids played Wii.



Several of the kids went outside to play. But, these three stuck with the games the entire time.



I made cupcakes. The are suppose to be the mushrooms from the Mario game.



With the candles.



Apparently, at 7, the kids sing really loud. Carson did not love it.



Carson always closes his eyes before he makes a wish and blows out his candles. (And in most of his birthday pictures Connor is standing behind him)



And then blowing out the candles.



He had a fun day even if it takes me 6 months for me to talk about it.

Summer Swim Team

One of our favorite summer activities is our neighborhood swim team. I am so glad that we got it up and running. The kids love it and it is fun for the parents. We all get to meet new people and be part of our community.



Carson moved up to the 8 and under division this summer. Macie also got to participate. They can not officially compete until they turn 5, but she got to practice and swim in a few meets.



Since Carson swam all year, he got off to a good start. He got 5 first place ribbons in his first meet. He had to swim butterfly and breast stroke a lot because he knew how to do them. They are not at all his best strokes. As the other kids got use to it, he did not get as many first place finishes. But, he kept improving his time. Every event he swam was in the fastest heat. Even though he did not get a lot of first place finishes, he would have if he had been swimming in all of the other heats!



Back stroke is his favorite. We think if he continues to swim he will be really good at it. Right now, he is a lot smaller than the kids he competes against. Many of them outweigh him by 25 pounds!



Carson finished out the year at the district swim meet. At this point we just had to sign him up and pick his events. He did the 25 free style and 25 back. He placed 6th in back stroke out of 20. We were really proud of him.



Macie liked to pretend that she could not swim. She had several of out young coaches convinced she needed help getting across the pool. Her first meet was a little rough.



She thought she was only swimming back stroke. But, when we got the meet they had found a lane for her and put her in free style. The only problem was she was swimming against the boys. She was not having anything to do with being on the boys team!



They ended up adding a heat of girls. I moved her into that heat. But, the damage was done! She was crying and saying she did not want to do it. I of course made her. She got across with a little help from a coach.



When it was time for back stroke, she did great. Of course, I was on the other end of the pool holding a nerds rope. I promised her she could have it when she finished the race!



The rest of the season she never had a problem. Our biggest concern was she was not placing 6th. She really wanted the pink ribbon. But, you have to finish last to get it! (She was not swimming in the fast heats) The very last meet she was put in a relay with all 4 year old girls. She was very excited that her team finished last and she got her pink ribbon!



I think the kids would tell you the best thing about swim team is hanging out with friends and eating a lot of junk. Really what more could a kid want?



We finished the season 4-1 or 5-0. We lost the last meet by one point. But, there was a question about one kid (who happen to be swimming against Carson). He should have been disqualified but was not when counting the points. So, they went back and looked at it and gave us the win. We now get to move up a division next summer. We will be there swimming as fast as we can!

(The pictures are just randomly placed. If I ever want to get caught up, I have to make it easy on myself!)

Tennis Camp

Last week, Carson participated in 2 camps. He went to tennis camp from 9-12 and then to a Twilight Camp with cubs scouts from 6-9 PM. He had a fun week and had a much better attitude than I thought he would. He was up until about 10:30 every night. Even though he was tired, he loved every minute.

I did not go to any of Twilight camp. We carpooled with parents who had to be there and the couple times we were there, Jeff drove. But, tennis was in our neighborhood. I was able to get a few pictures. Carson loves tennis, but he does not get to do it very much because of other things he does during the year.

Here are just a few random shots.











His camp ended up really small. He had the sweet college girl coaching him. She loved him and told me several times how polite and nice he is. I was proud of him. He really wants to do camp again next week, but it is his last week before school starts back!

Seven

Today is Carson's 7th birthday. We are having a party this weekend with some of our neighbors, so I will get a bigger post together. But I couldn't let the day end without saying happy birthday to my first born. He is the one who made me a mom and made me believe that toddlers were easy. It is hard to believe how quickly he is growing up.



This is one of my all time favorite pictures of Carson. I took it in January when we had the big snow.

A sneak peek..

We have been at the beach for a week. We had an incredible week with awesome weather. September is the time to go. Here are some pictures I took of the kids one morning bright and early.
There are not as many of Ellie since she can not sit alone. It makes getting pictures in the sand a little more challenging. But, I was pleased with what I got trying to get 3 kids to cooperate! (I found sponge curlers at the CVS while we were there. Macie had to have her hair curled the night before.)

C and E

Lots of people think Ellie looks just like Carson. I have yet to get a good picture of the two of them together. So, I gave up and I am posting these. What do you think?

I can see it most in the first and last-even though Ellie is not happy in #3.

And just because this picture is so darn sweet, I am including it too. But, I also want to know if you like the first of second one better of these two.