Dirt vs Junk

I just had the following exchange with Carson:

Me: Look, you have some dirt on your leg.
Carson: NO! It's not dirt.
Me: Well then what is it?
Carson: It's just a whole (pause) bunch (pause) of (pause) JUNK! Not dirt I said!

Glad we got that cleared up. Whew! In the future I'll be sure to not confuse dirt and junk.

Father/Son/Papa Campout

For the past two years Matt has taken Carson to the ward Father/Son campout and luckily they have had Papa join them too! Carson is still talking about his camping trip and about the fish he caught. From what I understand, Carson LOVED the worms and HATED the lifejacket.

Dad and Carson with "Carson" the fish. What an original name for a fish!

Carson & Papa

Getting ready to head out!

I'm sure this is the first of many future fishing trips!

Grandma Renie & Papa Jack's House

When we arrived at Matt's grandparents house in Utah lots of family were there for a BBQ. We don't get to see our Utah family often enough and had lots of fun visiting and catching up. Carson was thrilled with the mountains just out the back door! He immediately insisted we buy him some better "rock climbing shoes" so we did that the next day and he was in heaven!
Carson with some of his 2nd cousins-

Jaxon, Savannah, Quinn and Carson

Superior, AZ

I'm not even sure when exactly these pictures were taken. Matt had to go to work in Globe one day and took Carson along. I remember Carson being really excited to go with his dad. They stopped in Superior to check out the train and mine. A day with his dad AND trains!? Now that's a good day!

6 Months = Rice Cereal

I tried to give Blake rice cereal this morning. I couldn't stop laughing. He had no clue what to do witht he spoon and ended up with more on his face. I guess that's how these things go the first time around. Don't worry buddy, we'll keep practicing!

Getting a little taste.

I think I could like this stuff!

I really like this stuff! Bring it on.

Blake - 6 Months

Blake is 6 months old! We took these pictures on his 1/2 birthday before Matt took Carson to the Father/Son campout. Blake stayed behind with me. It was lots of fun to be able to spend some one on one time with him. He is such a sweet and happy baby! He only cries when he's tired or hungry. He has been rolling like crazy. We go into the doctor next week and will see how he is progressing along. I couldn't pick a favorite picture, so I am just adding all of them!

What a life!

This kid leads a rough life. Look at the treatment he got when getting his haircut earlier this week. He has been getting his hair cut at a salon for pretty much his whole life, but he has never had his hair washed like this! He was making the funniest face and thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.

As long as he has a Tootsie Pop he is good to go!

Utah!

So we went to Utah for a few days and this is the only picture I have to show for it!? What!? Matt has some on his camera so I'll work on getting those uploaded. We had a great time! We headed to St. George and met up with Natalie and Brian (sister and BIL) to see Brian Regan the comedian. Funny! My cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. Carson and Blake were great travelers which was quite a relief!

The funny story behind this picture....we went to breakfast on Saturday morning in St. George. Carson was acting his usual 3 1/2 year old self. Matt was ready to do anything to keep him quiet/happy which included going along with Carson's request to each sugar packets. Yes, Matt was giving Carson sugar packets! Matt even showed him how to make them last longer by licking and dipping his finger in it rather than throwing back the whole packet at once. I think this is going to win Matt some "#1 Dad Award" or something!

Blakey-Bean

Fresh from the tub and looking cute - as always.

This boy loves his tongue and to make funny noises. He sounds like a racecar.

Our young Jedi or Sith?

A few months ago Matt introduced Carson to Star Wars. A young Jedi was born! Actually, not a Jedi, but a Sith. Is that what the bad guys are called? He has me wrap his blanket around his head and calls himself Darth Maul or Darth Vader.

Photo Updates

I always wish there were a reason as to why it takes me so long to update our blog. I don't. So, here are some random pictures from my camera.

BYU Roomates - Diane, Allison & Me. We lived together Fall 2000. It was so fun to get together and catch up. It always amazes me that so much time can pass, but you put old friends/roommates together and it's like you just saw each other yesterday. I have lots of fond and funny memories with these two girls.
My Carson is growing up. Here he is chatting away with Grandma Gail while on the bluetooth.

Is it really 104 degrees already? Unfortunately, yes! I bought this pool for $29.99 and it has proved to quite possibly be the best $29.99 ever spent. Carson loves it and loves to have friends over to cool off. Come on over. Sit awhile. Have a popsicle or two for that matter.

Matt cracks me up. He was out working in the yard and the next thing I knew he was cutting up and old shirt to make a sweatband. That's hot. Ha. He made one for Carson too. Carson thought they looked like pirates hence the "aargh" pose.

Salvador

This is our neighbor, Salvador. He and Carson are great buddies. Salvador has lived behind us since we brought Carson home and hasn't missed an event or holiday to give Carson a gift. Matt took this picture about two weeks ago. I got it printed and framed so we could give it to Salvador as a gift. He loved it. I can always count on Salvador to come over and say hi to Carson whenever we pull in or out of our driveway. "Hell-o. Car-son. Son of a car." We get a kick out of it.

His little voice

This picture was posted on our blog late 2007 or early 2008. I love looking back at photos although it makes me realize how quickly life goes by and my little boy isn't so little anymore. I've had a message on our machine for at least a year or more and I never deleted it because Carson's little voice was my absolute favorite. He called with the help of Grandma Gail. He repeated whatever she told him to say and it went like this...

Hi Mom.

Me. Carson.

A papa's.

Love you. Bye.

Translation: Hi Mom. This is Carson. I'm at Grandma and Papa's. Love you. Bye.

I walked into our room last night and our message machine had a "0" displayed. No message. No saved messages. Carson's little voice was gone. I cried. Matt felt terrible. I know, a silly thing to be cying over. I'm teary eyed thinking about it. It was just a little piece of him from when he was "little" and he's not so little anymore. Years from now we will sit around with our kids, their spouses and their own kids reminiscing and Carson's darling little voice is something I will always remember.

Copy. Paste. I think not.

People tell us all the time that our boys are carbon copies of each other. I think you can definitely tell they are brothers but have their own look. You decide. Here is a picture of Carson at 6 months (is the octopus outfit) and Blake at 5 months (in the patchwork outfit).

Happy 29th Birthday M. Jack!

Today Matt turns the big 29! He is working late, so we'll take dinner, dessert and gifts to his office.

Opening one of his gifts on Saturday night. Matt and I cannot wait until any actual holiday or event to give each other presents. I caved on Saturday and let him open this leather messanger bag. It's for church so it was only fitting that he open it a day early and give it some use right!?
I love you Matt!

Just Hangin' Out

When I ask Carson, "What's Blake doing?" his usual response is "he's just hangin' out." I guess that's what five month olds do. He has been enjoying his exersaucer the past few days.

He must really be concentrating. Look at that tongue.

Good Morning

It has become the morning routine to have the boys snuggle in bed with us around 7 a.m. which is fun. I generally feed Blake his morning bottle while he lays between me and Matt. Carson wanders in and wants to lay with us too of course. Looking at these pictures makes me realize how content I am being the only girl in our little family. I love my boys and am so thankful for each of them!

Blake turned 5 months this week! Where has the time gone?

Playing?

Is that playing I see between my two boys!? Seriously!? This morning marked a very special day. Carson was actually laughing, talking and playing with Blake. Granted Blake still doesn't do much, but Carson was laughing while Blake tried to hold his hand. This is the most interaction I've ever seen between the two of them. These are the first pictures of them together where Carson has not been bribed to sit closer to his brother.

Happy Birthday!

My friend Jen and I tried to put together a fun BBQ for our husband's birthdays. It ended up that only the birthday boys could attend. :) Lindsay, Tatum and Carson were enjoying their ice cream cones and looked so darling all together. Don't you love Carson's Batman shirt. He knows he's not allowed to wear it out of our house. He puts it on the second we get back from anywhere!

Binky or No Binky?

That is the question! I was semi traumatized by Blake's love of his binky when he first came into the world. I know it's really not a big deal, but for some reason I had such mixed emotions about it. Carson never took a binky and managed fine. He could calm himself down without me having to locate a binky for his mouth. Then Blake comes along. He loved his binky but couldn't manage to keep it in his mouth! I would go in several times at night to put the "plug" back in only to be back in his room a few minutes later to do the same thing. Naps were no different. I was going nuts. About a month of two ago he stop taking his binky at naps and I found that he loved sucking on his pointer finger. Blake is by no means a fussy baby, but when he does cry you simply have to put his hand to his mouth and he finds his favorite finger to suck on. I know, I know....people say at least I can get rid of a binky and not a finger, but this is less traumatizing to me for now.