First Day of Kindergarten

Carter started kindergarten this year! He was not terribly excited about it. He was especially not excited about the dress code- polo shirts!! He kept telling us that he would just be a rule breaker and wear what he wanted, but eventually he came around and adjusted.

He's doing fine academically. They test the kids at the beginning of the year and he tested okay in reading, but high in math. However, keeping him engaged and out of trouble has been really hard. He's not doing anything really bad just stuff like bouncing a crayon on his hand and then it flies and hits the other table- stuff like that. We're hoping he can learn to sit still a little better.

It really has been a hard adjustment for us all. I don't think Scott and I have ever cried and prayed as much as we are right now. We have him at a charter school, but we're not totally sure it's the best fit for him. He does have a fantastic teacher, but he's in a class with 19 boys and 7 girls. So, you can imagine the craziness!! He's such a smart kid. All I ever hear from them is how incredibly intelligent he is. It's just no one can figure out how to get the kid to care about the things a 5-year old should care about. Wish us luck and pray for him to be successful in school.

He has, however, made a ton of friends in school. True to Carter fashion he is loved by everyone and he is so kind to everyone. I've had one or two parents in every class that he's ever been in (and this year has been no different) tell me how happy they are that Carter has befriended his or her child because his or her child has not had many friends. He seems to have a very special ability of finding kids who are left out and including them. I sometimes will point out to him a child who isn't being included and that's all it takes. He goes right over and invites them to play. It honestly makes us so proud. He really has a tender heart and is so compassionate. At the end of day that's all that matter, but it would help if he could pacify us and his teachers and try to follow the rules:):):) Seriously, wish us luck!!

Mud Monsters

Mud Monsters

This is the final part of the river- the lake. Carter and his buddies dug it out and filled it with water and were frequently found taking mud baths.

Notice how long the river is. It wraps completely around our little garden. I couldn't get it all in one picture. 

Work, work, work!!

I'm not sure why all the Rubbermaid lids were necessary, but apparently they played a vital role in the making of this creation;)



Taking a break to just enjoy the mud pit!

I love seeing what their little minds come up with. I'm not sure what they're doing here.

I think one day everything in our backyard is just going to collapse into a giant sinkhole.

This is the rest of the river along the backside of our garden. It's pretty impressive.

Finally ready to get cleaned up!!

I'm so happy Carter loves to play outside and that he can have fun and be a boy.

I love that all the neighbor kids come over and dig in our backyard.

I do sometimes wish I had a beautiful yard, but I know one day I will miss the river running through all my potential flower beds. I'm so thankful my sweet husband lovingly fills in the holes when they get too deep.

And mostly I'm thankful that the motto in our home is that that we're raising a little boy not a lawn!!

Summer 2011

We had a great summer with lots of friends and family. Here's just a few pictures from my phone.

Scott took Carter to buy his first electric guitar. He loves it. He puts in the CD Scott recorded in law school and tries to play along. It's sooooo cute and sooooo loud!!!

Rock climbing for the first time. He was pretty brave.

Carter went off the high dive for the first time all by himself.

Bug boy!! He loves bugs, so we got him a bug vacuum and containers to store them in . 

He's our little scientist.

Mud! Mud! Mud! 

Carter's favorite thing is to build a river in the backyard and we have the water bill to prove it. 

He works so hard and is so proud of his work!