Family Pictures, 2009

Please forgive me for the HUGE amount of pictures.

This post is so overdue. About six weeks ago, a friend of mine and her father were kind enough to take some family pictures for us. They were both so unbelievable patient with our children and we couldn't be happier with the shots they got. They are both so generous to have done the photo shoot and edited some of the pictures.

Believe it or not, these are just SOME of my favorites!

Halloween, 2009

Pumpkin carving! As Daddy documented when he got his hands on the camera.....pumpkin carving can only hold young children's interest for so long. This project quickly turned into Mommy carving our pumpkins while we dressed up!

A Healthy Halloween from Gee.......except for the bag of Rollos! (Believe it or not, I was just as excited about the grapefruit and apples. I'm easy to please!)

Here we are just before we hit the neighborhood!









Halloween finally arrived!!!! It was turning into a week-long event and I was getting a little confused by it, but now I remember just how much fun Halloween night really can be.

All of our grandparents came over to help us celebrate too! I just love when Gee, Papaw, Mamaw and Papaw all get together! Caidey and I had quite an entourage as we went from house to house. Yes, I just used the word "entourage". I'm a genius, remember?

Anyway, Spiderman and Horsie ruled the night! We had fun trick-or-treating in the beginning of the evening and then I think we had even more fun just staying at our house and running to the door everytime the doorbell rang from a trick-or-treater. Finally, we went back out really quick toward the end of the evening to see our cool pumpkins in the dark. How did they turn out?!?

ZooBoo!

After being pleasantly surprised at "Christmas at the Zoo" last year, we didn't want to miss "ooBoo" this year.

It was great but man, was it crowded! We had never experienced the zoo quite that crowded!

Carter saw a few other Spidermans but I didn't see any other princess riding a "horsie". I am an original!!!

Crazy Dances

Occasionally Daddy cranks up the music on the TV and we have a dance session right before bed. I think Mommy and Daddy intend to wear us out with all the dancing. That happens sometimes, as you can see with my "relaxa" move of laying on Daddy's back and getting his ear but most of the time it has the opposite effect and we are bouncing off the walls the rest of the night!

During this particular dance session we hear the song "OPP" to which Carter started singing, "You gotta go pee pee!" to. Mommy and Daddy really laughed at that one!

Preparing for Halloween

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You know, a lot of preperation goes into Halloween.

For instance, we had to hang our GHOSTS in the front yard to scare the trick-or-treaters away!!!

Caidey also had to practice wearing her bat hat around the house.

Bathtub Fun

We broke out the crayons in the tub the other night. As you can see, Carter has been practicing his name.

I've gotta be honest, he's not practicing nearly as much as I'd like. When he tries, he does it and I think he does a great job for a three year old. However, getting him to try and practice is like pulling teeth! I keep telling myself this is a boy thing and assure myself that he will eventually learn to write. Here's to hoping!

Didn't he do a great job in the tub?!?

Ms. Caidey, on the other hand, took it upon herself to use the crayons as make up. Apparently she watches me to this often! (I sincerely hope my make up job doesn't resemble hers though!)

Caidey's Field Trip to Russel Farms!

My class took a field trip to Russel Farms. It was a little chilly, but I had my mommy there to make sure I had on my coat and mittens!

Of course one of the highlights for me was just riding the bus. We could have ridden around town and returned to school 20 minutes later and I probably would have been happy!

When we got there though, I had lots of fun looking at the tiny pumpkins and gourds, listening to a story, playing with the eggs from the chicken coup, almost getting stuck in the mud on our hayride, picking out my pumpkin and just playing with my friends!

A Friend's Wedding

This post is from Carter and Caidey's Mommy.

Recently we went to my friend's wedding. It was the first wedding for Carter and Caidey. We just kept promising them there would be dancing. They lit up the dance floor! They were so excited to dance. Even as we walked into the ceremony they asked, "Is this where we get to dance?"

Of course the best part of the dancing happened when Caidey decided she could dance with her Daddy all night long and when Carter did the same with me. Everything else in that room disappeared as I looked down into my baby's hazel eyes and saw them looking lovingly back up at me.

I will cherish these pictures forever. I am sure they will be shared at each of my own kid's weddings someday. I just know that day will be here before I know it and I just pray that I can take every moment in in between.

Field trip to Stucky Farm!

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My class took a field trip to Stucky Farm and Mommy even went with us! We got to ride on the bus. Actually, we had two buses because my class is so big now that we couldn't all fit on one!

Mommy, my friends and I rode on Ms. Crystal's bus. Unfortunately it was raining when we got to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard. We were able to see how they make apple cider, how the bees make honey and learn about corn inside though. We did venture outside to the barn for our apple and apple cider tasting. I like the green apples the best!

We had so much fun even if we couldn't take our hayride out to the pumpkin patch!

Random October pics

Cute pictures of Papaw and me. Love you, Papaw!



Sleeping Carter


Carter at his Halloween party at school with some of his friends.

These really are random, but cute pictures that I wanted to throw in here!

Pumpkin Patch '09

Bounce,
bounce,
bounce!
Smiles from the pumpkin train!
On top of the world.
"Yook what I have....!"

Family in the fall.
"I want this one."
"Ooooh, these two!"
"This one. This is my pumpkin."


Taking a little rest......
Play time with Daddy!

Caidey, Teddy, Charlie and Carter


Sheer joy




Best friends!
Man, we've been slacking!

It's been awhile since I've hopped on here and blogged. Sorry!!!! We have been busy, as you'll see from the next twenty or so posts!

We only made it to one pumpkin patch this year, but it was a great morning! We went with our friends, the Epstein's, to Stony Creek. It was one of the first really cool mornings of the season, but we were really comfortable after we just put on mittens and hats. Trust me, they all soon came off anyway as the morning went on.

As you can see, I had a blast playing on the new jumping pillow with Charlie, we all enjoyed the straw mound, the hayride, picking out our pumpkins, the pumpkin train and riding the horsies. Riding the horsies was Caidey's favorite part of all. Mommy says she had a look of "sheer joy" on her face. Check out the pictures above, what do you think?

Visiting with Daddy's Family

Uncle Brad was in town this past weekend and not only did we get to see him, but we also got together with Mamaw, Papaw, Uncle Brian, Noah and Ethan!

It is hard work keeping up with those three boys! I am the only local Swart girl though, I will have to figure out a way!

Daddy and Uncle Brad got out Grandpa Hunter's instruments and had a little jam session. This was my favorite part, I loved to dance to their music! Carter even helped out as he helped Daddy by playing on Mamaw's old guitar from when she was little.

We're hopeful that Uncle Brad will be back for Thanksgiving.....and bring Hunter and Kai? :-)

Gray Bros. Cafeteria

Looking so grown up. Mommy used to walk along these beams when she was a little girl!


Apparently Caidey was on the menu!







It was a long tradition in Mommy's family to meet her Grammy and Papaw at Gray Bros. Cafeteria. It is located about 2 hours from their house and about an hour from where Mommy grew up, so over the years, this just became the meeting place.

Since her Grammy and Papaw are no longer living but rather looking down on us from Heaven, we rarely get to enjoy this memorable place. In fact, this was only my second trip and it was Caidey's first.

Since Uncle Josh is going to school down in Evansville, this still seemed like a great spot to meet and enjoy a great meal.

We had lots of fun taking our tray down the cafeteria line and picking out our food but it was great just to be with family. We sure do love our Uncle Josh, check out our smiles!!!

My BIG GIRL room!!!!

These are before and after shots..........



















I graduated from crib to toddler bed just a few short months ago and now I have graduated from toddler bed to BIG GIRL bed!!!

This required quite the transformation of my room. I was very proud of Mommy, she didn't even shed a tear! I think she understood that I was just getting too cramped in my little bed with my pillow and all the stuffed animals I feel I need to sleep with nightly.

We started by taking out my rocking chair, then my changing table and finally my crib. Of course Carter and I jumped on it in the middle of the room for awhile though!

Once the furniture was completely moved out, it was time to bring in the BIG GIRL bed that Mommy had been working on for me. She spent time over the summer refinishing her old bedroom furniture so I could have it. It looks so beautiful, like a princess's bedroom! She painted it all white and now it has new handles and knobs on it. Of course the knobs are pink!

Anyway, we moved my bed in and Daddy decided which corner would work best. From there everything else fell into place. The bookshelf dresser fit perfectly on a small wall and my vanity dresser also fit right in. I don't know if it's all the white furniture in a room with the bottom half painted white, but it almost seems like I have more room in my room now with my BIG GIRL bed than I did with my crib!

As you can see, I was so happy to get settled into the new bed. My first order of business was to put my animals to sleep in it!

Eventually, things were all moved in and Carter and I took over. We love jumping off my new step-stool and playing in the totes.

As you can see though, all the excitement tuckered me out!

Is that a spider?!?!?

Oh no, Mommy will FREAK!

Oh, wait, it's just SpiderMAN!

As you can see, I am going to be Spiderman for Halloween and Caidey is going to be a pink unicorn although she calls it "Horsie".

We can't wait for Halloween but we have lots of festivities leading up to it! We are going to wear our costumes to Zoo Boo this year! We already wear them around the house almost every day though!

Drawing.....the RIGHT way!

Caidey's proud of her circle!One of my first smiley faces. OK, he's not really smiling. Maybe it was more of a self-portrait!
Work'n my tongue as I color!

I finally learned how to old the crayon/pencil the right way! This has been cause for many arguments in our house. Mommy, being a teacher, was bound and determined to teach me how to hold the crayon/pencil the right way but I was really determined not to listen!

I am finally getting the hang of it though. I still don't have much interest in writing my name, practicing letters, or coloring; but Mommy is hopeful that will come soon.

Lucas Oil Stadium

Check out how big this place is!




"I'm gonna get you!"



I love Aunt Corinne!



So little, yet so big



All the kids!


Carter check'n out Harrison

We took our first trip down to Lucas Oil Stadium to see Noblesville's football team play. We met up with our good friends the Barnett's and their friends Julie and Drew. Between the three families, there were six kids - plenty of people to get into trouble with!!!

Carter and I enjoyed running up and down the aisles of our seats. Lucky for us, our parents were smart enough to sit away from the crowds! :-)

We had never seen a place so big. We really had fun looking at all the sights and playing with the other kids. We made a game out of running back and forth.....until Mommy and Daddy made us quit.

Construction Site

My friend, Ty, turned three. His mommy went ALL out! He had the coolest construction birthday party EVER! There was a back-hoe that we could play on, boxes to build big buildings with, a pinata, cars to drive around in the mat, construction sites to build with stickers and two very yummy homemade cakes!

As you can tell, my very favorite part was the box building!

Moon Sand!

I could dig in this stuff all day. Check out my volcano!

Play'n with Daddy!

No other words to use to express this look other than sheer joy! :-)

Play'n Outside

Our favorite past time is to play outside in the front yard. It's is shady out there! The sun comes and hits our backyard pretty heavily in the evenings.

In the front Carter has started riding his big boy bike and trike more frequently now. We will walk up and down our street. In order to get me to move a little faster, Mommy brought out my baby doll and her stroller. Now I don't go on walks without Baby!

Check out my strut!

Pretty Girl

All tuckered out on Mommy and Daddy's bed.....


These are just some random pictures of me around 2 years and 3 months old. Where does the time go? I'm getting ready to move into my "big girl bed" tonight! I just got up from my last sleep in my crib/toddler bed. I'm a big girl now!

Such a long way to go.......

We were playing the other day by putting our feet together to roll the ball between the two of us. I just thought this made such a cute picture. Here is Caidey's foot at 2 years old next to her "Mama"'s foot at 30. I always want to remember how small she is. I know these days will be gone before I know it.....

Swimming Lessons

Riding our horsies!



I can really swim!

Caidey and I are becoming swimming pros! I have been taking swimming lessons since February and Caidey has been doing them since June.

I can now touch the bottom of the shallow end on my tippy-toes, float on my back, "swim" all over the pool when I have my floaty on and "really swim" to Mommy or Daddy when I push off the side of the pool. I can go almost half the width of the pool!

Here are some pictures of us swimming with Mommy and Uncle Josh. It's soccer season, but we're so lucky to have family fill in so we can both still go swimming!

What's for dinner?

I am, apparently!

Mommy had laid our "lovies" out on the table to finish drying. Well, I saw this as a great opportunity to curl up on it! Mommy walked in to find me laying on the table.

Of course the second monkey had to follow in his younger sister's footsteps!