Ok, false alarm...

Allright. You know what? I have decided I AM NOT DOING IT. I am not going to let a few weird things change my blog. Sorry for the false alarm on that... but I just hate it when a few bad apples ruin the rest! So enjoy my NOT private blog. :) Hope everyone is doing great!

I said I'd never do it...

So. I was NOT going to go private. It's not my style... I am kind of an out there person. But I have been getting WEIRD comments left, and I guess I figured I'd join in with the rest of the world and go (pause for dramatic effect) PRIVATE. I know. Lame. Anyway, I am going to give it a week or so, so if you'd like to continue getting the meager offerings that I call my blog, PLEASE comment with your email. I will add you, and that will be that. Right? Ugh.

I am a mean mean Mom...

But this note HAS to be posted. It's the cutest/funniest thing I have ever seen. Man. I SO don't miss 4th grade. Not even 2%...

I did mark out the phone number as to help keep it anonymous...

I know, OK? It's after new years, but here's Christmas!

Look, you are going to have to be happy getting to see these pics at all! We had family in town all of Christmas Break, and I didn't want to waste any of our minutes... even to blog. So, hopefully you will forgive me. :) Hope all of you had a wonderful New Year's Eve, and an even better New Year!

The Christmas Eve jammies!!!


Here come the stockings!! I LOVE Harris' face here!!


Here's what they were looking at...


And the aftermath of the stocking explosion... yes, this is just from one... I know, Santa is IMPRESSIVE!

OH! The anticipation of the stair photo!!

Jack's favorite toy... The GEOtrax CARS edition...

All the stuff Harris got, and Santa gets all the credit with a huge pack of gum. Hmm...

Riley's favorite gift... a cell phone. I know, I know. She's OLD.

Our favorite gift... peace on earth... and a Wii game they all play TOGETHER.

Don't you love that the carpet is just LITTERED with stuff? Gift Bags, wrapping paper, toys... oh well. I guess that makes a successful Christmas.

Christmas Sunday

So here are the kids in their Christmas Sunday outfits... Gotta love the Mormon Christmas Sunday pic outside the brick buiding... :)

Jack gave his first talk on Sunday too. He was SO cute, and did a great job! Here's a pic with Daddy as they were practicing in the nursery room right before... And then a couple of Jack just being Jack.

I'm telling you. This kid has more confidence than ANYONE I know. He is SO much fun. He has no boundries... which often makes him DIFFICULT to say the least, but at the end of the day, he's a blast.

We are really looking forward to Christmas this year. Boise is an interesting place to be right now. It's economical situation is SO bad with it's three big companies laying off so many, but it's been a wonderful experience for my kids to give, and to see how much they are really blessed with. The giving tree that we went to this year had children asking for socks. Yup. I know. Socks. So it was a great moment for my kids to see that we are blessed and spoiled, and not to take it for granted. I am grateful for David having a job, for it being a GREAT job, and for his being willing to work so hard so I can stay home. Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you have a great one!!

Christmas Cheer...

Riley started piano this fall. She really has taken to it AMAZINGLY. She is now on Christmas songs, and it's so fun to hear the music in the background. She taught Jack to sing with her on one, and I thought I'd share...
To hear it better scroll down and pause the music player, that way the background music doesn't drown out the beautiful strains of Jack's voice... Merry Christmas!!!!

Jack the Elequent...

I know, I shouldn't laugh at this, but I can't help it...



HAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!!

Babies...

I came across the FUNNIEST AD campaign EVER! It needed to be shown. :)Hope everyone is having a great week!

And here is Harris!

Here he is... a day late... and a smile short? At least we got a smirk. Bear with us as we figure out the awkward smiling thing... lol... At least he's a HANDSOME littler bugger... it's always saved his skin. He is starting to look like a little man. Sigh.

Riley's 5th grade pic...

Oh my heart. Riley is getting so grown up. She came home with her 5th grade picture today. (Harris in true form forgot his... maybe tomorrow...lol) Anyway, as you can see she is turning into quite the little "tween". Wow. Where does the time go???

Virginia, DC, & New York Oh My!!

David and I got to sneak away for him to work in VA... which means he worked, and I played. :) And play I did! We got to go down and see Kenon & Scott, which was perfect. I forget how much I miss them until I get to see them! We sat up and played and laughed and played and laughed. Then David and I went to see Our Nation's Capital. It was amazing. I have been called "Overly Patriotic", but come on, can you really be too patriotic? Anyway, seeing this beautiful city was so cool. And then off to NYC for me for a day! WOO-HOO! It was so much fun! I took the Amtrak train to Penn Station and then spent the night and then the train back the next night. What a husband for letting me go, and what a Sister-in-law (KIM-THANKS AGAIN!) for watching the kids so we could get away for some much needed Hubby and Wife time. Here are a few pics... :)

Here's the capital...

Here's David and I smooching... TRYING to get the Washington Monument in the background. Oh well... cute pic anyway... :)

On the train to NYC!!!!

I HEART NY Cheesecake!!!!!!

Enough Said. :)

The trip was awesome, but we are glad to be home. Happy October everyone!!

Riley is 11!!!

I am not even sure how this happened. In what seems like only a couple weeks Riley went from looking like this...

To this!!! How did that happen? Sigh. My little girl is 11! She is old enough to BABYSIT! WHAT??? So crazy. She is such a sweet girl, and I am SO lucky to have her. Happy Birthday baby girl!

Here are a few of my favorite Riley pics...

Here's her birthday party this year. We started off with making jewelry...

And then the cupcake bar (can I just tell you, this is THE way to go! It eats up time for the party, is cheap AND the kids love it!!)

And of course blowing out the candle...


Here's a couple shots of Ry this summer with her brothers. She is SUCH a good big sister!!!

And last but not least, her pic for her Birthday dinner, RED ROBIN! What a shocker... huh? :)

Happy Birthday Riley!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!

Ok, this is a friend's little boy, and it is the MOST amazing thing I have ever seen!!! He is CRAZY talented!! I didn't even know he could dance!!! I'm DYING!!! JAKE MATOS!! Well done buddy!!!! When you listen to it make sure you mute the BLOG music player by scrolling down and clicking the pause button. It's on the right hand side of the screen at the bottom.

Carter Family Reunion pics...

Just a few pics from the Carter Family Reunion. PROPS to Chris Nascimento for taking pics and getting GOOD ones of the whole family! NOT a small feat!!! :)

My little family. Cue the ooohs and ahhhs...

We just call Harris "Blue Steel" he has that smoldering thing down pat...

This little man is so stinkin cute.

And again with the blue steel look from Harris. Oh well. It's better than the awkward smile phase I guess...

The enitre clan minus Steven & Rachel and Brandon & Katie (2 oldest nephews & their wives). The nephews SORELY missed you at the Uncles vs. Nephews basketball game guys...

Ry's LAMP!!

So those of you who know me know I am much more a "forget it, let's buy a new one" person than a "let's fix the old one" gal. Well, meet Riley. My loving daughter who has inherited the pack-rat gene from Great Gram. She just can't throw anything away, including these lamp shades. The lamps themselves are ADORABLE. A dusty pink, shabby Chic thing going... BUT. The shades were another story. They are a cute light watermelon/mint green, but against the new sage color of her bedroom, NIGHTMARE. So I made the comment of getting rid of the shades and it was like World War III in our house. Ok. New plan... Mom's gonna get crafty.

BEFORE- The mint green shade...

AFTER! The new ADORABLE pink & white MINKY shade.

HOLY cats! It is so cute! OK, Mom learned something from Child today... Isn't Re-use what my husband does for a living? Maybe I should take a pointer or two from him! Anyway, enjoy the new lamps Ry!!

A few pics...

So here's the downstairs... I don't have any of upstairs yet, it's still a bit crazy up there. I will try and get a few of the kid's rooms soon. :)

Here's the entryway, the kid's pictures line the stairs... it's so CUTE!

Here's the kitchen and the back door out to the giant yard! As you can see, David is taking advantage of the cooler weather out there... :)

And here's the family room...

And the other side of the family room...

The guest Bathroom with SUCH a cool vanity!! This bathroom is my homage to Portland. Sigh. I sure miss it!!

Aren't these prints cool?


And the backyard play structure. It's AWESOME!

More to come at some point... The bonus room is CRAZY stuffed with boxes, so it will be a while I have a feeling... ugh.

IDAHO!!

Here we are!! :) Phew! It's been a LONGGG week! I forgot how much I hate unpacking! I am almost there! Just the random boxes are left, the ones that make you wonder what could be in them, since you are living fine without them!

Anyway, I will post pics ASAP! But I had to post a FUNNY pic that we found at Fred Meyer (think super-Smith's or Target). We were walking down the "Pest Control" aisle due to the AMAZING amount of flies that we have here and David stumbled across this item.

It's deer and squirrel repellent... Ok. I can see the need for it, especially where we lived in Utah, the deer were EVERYWHERE. BUT. Have you ever seen a deer with that FREAKY looking face?? What on EARTH is wrong with it???? LOL! I SWEAR, I didn't manipulate it at all. You have to see it in person...

I will post pics SOON! I promise! :)

The time has come...

So I don't have a ton to post... other than the packers/movers come TOMORROW! I know. It has snuck up fast. I am scared/happy/stressed/excited/sad... can you be all those things at once? But EXCITED is probably the biggest part of that, so that's good. We will upload pics of the new abode ASAP, so give me a couple weeks, and I should have all new pics. Until then I must leave you with the BEST PIC OF ALL TIME. It's my niece at the midnight showing of "Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince". She is Professor Trelawney. And yes, it's her real hair. SOOO Awesome!! :)

Happy Birthday David!!

Oh what to say about the man we all know and love. I have blogged in the past the things that I love about him, the things that make him my best friend, etc. Maybe his birthday ramblings will need to be some of both. There will be mush, so avoid it if you need to... But here we go... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAGEN! (and for those of you who are paying close attention, yes, his birthday was yesterday, but it was a crazy day, so today it is... deal with it.)

TOP THIRTY SIX THINGS I LOVE ABOUT DAVID CARTER

1. He is devastatingly handsome, Obviously...

(The day he asked me to marry him 1995)

2. He loves his kids more that I thought a man could. He's SO good to them and makes them feel good about themselves. Two INCREDIBLY important needs for Fathership in my opinion.

3. He loves my family almost as much as I do.

(My Gram's 91st B-Day)

4. He is SO SO funny. He seems very Chandler-like (friends reference) in personality, meaning he's funny but some times he has no social filter. He has and will again laugh at you if you do things such as leave your zipper down, trip, get hit in the face with a volleyball, etc. The laughing OFTEN accompanies the taunting point.

5. He lets me sleep in every weekend.

6. He has kind parents who love him and our little family. My kids are SO lucky to have all 4 Grandmas & Grandpas.

7. He lets me tickle him. Sometimes.

8. He's my best friend.

(David & I in Park City 2007)

9. He's been known to cry in movies where the little girl grows up and
A. gets married
B. Goes to Prom
C. Has a baby
or D. All of the above
For this reason, Father of the Bride is a movie that has been banned from the house.

(Riley and Daddy at Karin's wedding 2006)

10. He Spoils me ROTTEN.

11. He not only likes me going on girl's nights, but will sometimes plan them.

12. He is a good sport about my purse obsession. It's a problem. First step is admitting it, right?

13. He makes me a better person.

14. He thinks I am the best baker in the world.

15. He knows how to fix things around the house, but MORE importantly he knows when to give up on said project and hand it over to a professional.

16. He makes me laugh everyday.

(Our Wedding August 19, 1995)

17. He continues to let me have dogs that are not so bright, but STINKIN cute!

18. He supports me continually.

19. He makes me feel as if I am still the 19 year old he married. (I know, 19!! Cradle-robber!!)

(Our Engagment photo, circa 1995)

20. Did I mention he lets me sleep in EVERY weekend??

21. He loves the Portland Trailblazers ALMOST as much as I do...

22. He is kind.

23. He's the hardest worker for his family that I have ever met.

24. He'd be my phone-a-friend on "who wants to be a millionaire" because he knows EVERYTHING!

25. He makes cute babies!

(the kids on 4th of July this year)

26. He listens to me, even when I am spouting crazy.

27. He thinks I am funny.

28. He's the perfect mix of a man and a woman. He likes sports, cars, and all the important boy stuff, AND he likes to shop! Could it get better??

29. He loves me. No questions asked. Always.

30. He takes us to Disneyworld/Land even though he HATES it!

(Disneyworld 2008 with Kasey in tow)

31. He's CRAZY smart without being condescending.

32. He's a good friend.

33. He will ask me to dance at random times, even if there's no music and when he does, he always asks "So, what Stake are you from?" (Mormon reference)

34. I mentioned the whole lets-me-sleep-in-every-weekend-thing, right?

35. He is right about 99.5% of the time, but doesn't rub it in.

36. He's always there when I need him.

Happy 36th Birthday Dagen! Here's to at least 70 more! :)