Halloween Activities

We had a lot of Halloween activities this year.

It started off with the school's carnival.

When I was there he was hanging out at the fishing booth catching many treasures!

The little guys were on the front playground where bobbing for ducks was Charlie's favorite activity. 

The next big event was the annual field trip to a pumpkin patch on a farm. This year I got to go with Luke's class. My first field trip experience. We had a lot of fun!

The boys were a pirate and Frankenstein this year.  When Charlie started walking we called him Little Frankenstein because he walked around with his arms out in front of him, so of course he had to be Frankenstein for Halloween!

I couldn't get a good pumpkin picture this year. Our pumpkins got moldy pretty quickly and Charlie wouldn't sit down because he kept going after the pumpkins. 

Trick or treating lasted a little longer than last year. We started off having to knock on the doors for Luke, but by the end he was going up to houses by himself.  We made it to about 10 houses and Luke was so excited about getting so much candy! 

Charlie thought it was so much fun to walk around in the neighborhood holding on to some candy and everyone kept trying to give him more. Luke got to stay up late helping me hand out candy and he thought that was great. 

From Caterpillar to Penguin

Charlie is 14 months old and it's time for him to move to the next class. Today is his first full day as a penguin. He's been transitioning to the class for a couple of weeks, but it's still going to be a big adjustment.

There are lots of new things in store for him. Like only one nap a day. He likes to take three.  And he's going to have to sleep on a nap mat instead of in a crib. He also likes to be held a lot, but I don't think there'll be much of that going on. 

There are also a lot more opportunities for him to get in to trouble. Last night he ate some soap and today he tried to eat a magnet.  The penguins get to go out on the playground, so I expect he'll be eating some rocks.  The teachers are going to have to keep an eye on this one!

I can't wait to find out how it all went. I think we're in for an extra early bedtime for a while. 

Time for Shoes

We got Charlie his first pair of shoes a few weeks ago, but it's been so hot he hasn't had a chance to wear them.  Since it was so cool this weekend we spent alot of time outside and he finally got a chance to test them out.

They didn't slow him down at all, not even while navigating the rocks at the playground. It did slow us down when he tried to eat the rocks.

Luke likes to call him "Little Frankenstein" when he walks.

Hoo Hoo

Today is Luke's first day in the Owl classroom. This is the last class he'll be in before he goes to Kindergarten next year.

We're very proud of him and amazed at all the things he knows already. Like all the states and even where they are on the map! I don't think I knew that until I was much older (what do you say Mama and Daddy?). I think his favorite state is Maine because he talks about it most.  He always asks "who do we know that lives in Maine?"

This class will be getting him ready for Kindergarten and he's going to have homework assignments because apparently, Kindergartners these days have homework!  Wow.

First Birthday

Charlie's first birthday was last week.  He took some steps and his first tooth finally started to come in so it was a big week for our little baby!

 

 On his birthday we went to Jason's Deli then we had some mini bundt cakes.

He wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first.

Then he started to poke it.

 

I think he liked it.

 

 We even got Luke to eat a cupcake! That only took 4 years :)

 

 

 

  

Charlie's now a whopping 17 lbs. 14 oz., which for a one year old has taken him off the weight chart. So, next time you see this little guy be sure to slip him something with some calories. 

 

Now that he's one, I think I can probably stop logging every feeding, nap and diaper. Just for reference though, 12 months = about 2900 diapers and 131 days of sleep!

Vacation

We had a great time in Port Aransas this year.  

 Charlie loved the sand and waves right away. 

 Father and son sand goatees

 

Luke was more of a fan of the pool and the shark mouth.

 He also liked walking on the boardwalk to the beach.

 

 Playing in the sand can wipe you out.

 

Long Holiday Weekend

This is how we spent alot of our extended 4th of July holiday weekend - trying to keep this little guy from going up the stairs.

We tried to get out of the house as much as we could. One day we went to Mt. Bonnell.

 

  It was probably not the best day to go since Luke's allergies were terrible that day. 

  

and here's a little video of Charlie having breakfast 

Luke's 4th Birthday

We had Luke's birthday at a gymnastics place this year. He was so excited about his birthday and for weeks kept asking if it was his birthday yet.

 

 

Charlie got in on the action too

 

 

 

 We put sprinkles on the cupcakes so it would be like the one he ate at Gramps' and Grandma Terry's so we were sure he would eat one....

 

   but he didn't. Maybe at his 5th birthday party.

I loved the look on Vincent's face in this picture.
 

He was pretty excited about the bike we got him. He remembered riding his friend Ellie's at her birthday party and told us he knew how to ride it.

 

 

* Most of my party pics didn't turn out very well so thanks to some of the other moms for sharing theirs with me!

Pool Time

We took our first trip of the year to the pool recently.

 
Sitting in the grass was a new experience for Charlie.

 
Yes, they are wearing matching bathing suits. I don't usually get them matching clothes, but I couldn't decide who should get the cute crab suit.

Charlie loved being in the water and just floated around the pool with us. He was the only one who wasn't shocked by the cold when he first got in.

Mother's Day

Here's the Mother's Day card Luke made for me. If you can't read it, it says "Thank you for taking me to restaurants".  That about sums up the past year.

Charlie gave me a basil plant. According to Luke, "you can eat it, but it's not good." He knows because he tried a leaf on the way home. Maybe the basil plant will encourage me to cook more.

Although Charlie doesn't look very happy in this particular shot, he was doing quite well with Luke holding him.