Okay, now that I have my reality addiction out of the way, I will talk about my next addiction...spending time with my family and taking lots and lots of pictures! Carter has seriously been cracking me up. Can I just start off by saying I have never seen anybody love the vaccuum as much as this little one. Every day, he goes to the closet that holds our vaccuum and says excitedly, "Mama, mama!" as if he's really saying, "Hello! My most favorite part of the day has arrived!" We vaccuum at least once a day over here, and sweep. Carter also will go put socks on his hands and wipe down all our furniture. I swear I did not teach him that trick...he's just my little neat freak. But, he will purposefully try to throw sand from the backyard into the house so we can vaccuum again. He truly loves it. And he has now discovered an even funner way to enjoy this activity! Enjoy the video...I sure enjoyed making it!

Also, this little guy LOVES vegetables! I love that he loves them, but I have a hard time getting him to eat fruit. Weird, huh? He won't eat oranges, grapes...he will eat 1-2 slices of apple, a slice of watermelon, or half a banana, but he will scarf down all his vegetables at dinner and ask for more! He wasn't always this way towards fruit, but oh well...hopefully he'll outgrow it. Here's some super cute pics of him eating one of his faves, corn on the cob. Also, just some plain cute ones of our recent girls night and other fun stuff in our family!

My vice...Reality TV

This is so sad to admit, but I just got really excited to find my reality shows are coming back on!!! I am so addicted to The Bachelor...I really don't know why. I pretty much love all reality TV. Even if I know it's the most rediculous show ever...still, something pulls me in. And then Justin stays up to watch them with me only to repeatedly remind me how stupid these shows are. He always asks me, "Why do you watch these dumb shows?" But, mind you, he is staying up to watch them too half the time, albeit vocally bashing the show through the whole hour. I love The Hills, The Bachelor, Millionaire Matchmaker, Real Housewives of Orange County... So, all I have to say is, "I love you reality TV! Even if you do make me dumber by watching you! I'm glad new seasons are starting where I can watch more crazy people that...yikes...are real live people that live across this wacky and wonderful country!" I'm glad my trailer trash sister, Danielle, shares in this horrible addiction =) Ha ha...I lub you!

Tag you're it!

Okeedokee! So I was tagged by my good friend, Whitney Odom! Read ahead, and it will explain. A.)The rules of the game are posted at the beginning. B.)Each player answers the questions about themselves. C.) At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago: Ten years ago I was 13 years old...I was probably roller blading around our neighborhood with my friend, Lindsay, or riding my horse, Buddah!
2. 5 things on my to-do list today: Well, today is over, but tomorrow I will be mailing stuff at the post office I sold on ebay, making cookies for Justin to take on his campout, folding laundry, playing with Carter, and scrapbooking at night!
3. What snacks do I enjoy: Gummy orange slices, triscuits with cheese, salsa with cream cheese and chips, and cream cheese rolled up in ham...YUM!
4. What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire: I would buy our dream home and our family ones right next to us, pay off our car, go on a looong vacation, and go shopping...probably still at Target!
5. 3 bad habits: Not hanging my shirts back up after I try them on, procrastination is my WORST one, and not scooping the litterbox as often as I should
6. 5 places I've lived: Apple Valley, CA; Big Bear Lake, CA; Crestline, CA; Hollywood, CA; Las Vegas, NV
7. 5 jobs I've had: Tanning Salon, Hot Dog On A Stick, Baskin Robbins, American Eagle, Secretary
8. 5 thing people don't know about me: Hmmm...I'm a pretty open person, but here's some that might be new! I google my name and family member's names once a month or more, I will never be able to wear a 2-piece again...so much for losing all the baby weight...the extra skin is still there! I never workout...I have good intentions in my head, but I never seem to get around to it. When I'm actually mad, I tend to be really nice and people don't know I'm mad, but then when I'm telling a story, people will think I'm mad about something when I'm really not...I guess I'm dramatic when I talk? My dream vacation is going on a cattle drive at a dude ranch!
Ok, so I am now going to tag Danielle, Andrea, Melissa, Amber and Melody!

Wonderful life!

Here are some new videos and pictures from this past week! Carter is talking so good, I can't believe it. You'll hear a few of his words in the videos and hopefully we're not the only ones that can understand him! He had his first piece of chocolate the other day and it was so cute! He loved it and wanted more! But we don't need another choc-o-holic in this family, so he didn't get more...ha ha! He cracks me up because he says "Spiderman" all the time, but if you ask him to repeat it back, he makes up some other syllables like, "Be-bop" and starts laughing...he's such a little crazy with the best personality (not that I'm partial!)...he always gives us hugs and kisses and doesn't really hit anymore even! The next thing we're working on is him saying, "Mine!"...that ones a tough one because it's not like you can say, "No, it's not yours." I just want to teach him to talk nice too, but I think he's a little too young to understand that concept completely. I guess as long as he still shares, I'll just ignore that annoying little outburst for now...sigh...
Justin is going on a boy scout campout tomorrow night and I won't even get to see him all day because he has to go straight from work =P So, that totally sucks, but at least I have my mom and sissy coming over for scrapbooking, girly movies and chocolate eating! Ha ha...anyway, enjoy the pics and videos!




Here's our cute little guy having a blast at the park!




Carter didn't want to get out of the bath tonight. He was hiding behind the curtain and thought it was the most hilarious thing!

My little reader...

These are the darn cutest pictures...Carter loves to sit and read books! I love it...he always has enjoyed them and has a pretty long attention span for them! Anyway, he was sitting in his chair reading like mommy does and it was very cute! I was impressed he could point out all the characters too! He calls Mickey Mouse "Me me!" or a similar form of the phrase =) Anyway...enjoy the cute video and pics

Dad's Birthday!

Finally here are the cute pictures from my dad's (Don) birthday a week ago! I had quite a few vinyl orders this week and haven't had much time to post them but they are superly cute!

Town Square Park

I had to post some cute pictures from our past weekend too. We went to the new park on the strip at Town Square...it was pretty fun! It was also my dad (Don)'s birthday! Enjoy the cute pictures!

Raising boys....the fine line

So, for my first actual little blog, I wanted to start with something I've been thinking about a lot lately. It has to do with the fine line it's easy to cross when raising a boy. The past couple months, Carter has started hitting and kicking, which is only natural for a little boy. The past few weeks, he has it under control 75% of the time. We've taught him to "apologize" by touching nice and that when he hits, we don't want to be next to him (boy, that sounds so mean writing it). So, if he hits me, I tell him "No, that's not nice" and if he does it again, I tell him I won't sit by him if he's going to hit me and walk away. Then, he usually starts crying and runs after me a few seconds later saying, "Mama" and then "pets" me and hugs me. This has worked quite nicely for controlling these little boy "surges" he gets.
Anyway, I've been wondering if he hits out of nowhere because he wants to wrestle. I'm all for wrestling, but not being mean and trying to hit and kick (especially other children). So, I've also been hoping I'm not surpressing his manhood by not letting him be physical like that...it's a total inner battle, people!!! But, I'm satisified he's a tough little boy by watching him play outside and falling in the dirt, wrestling with him (not right after he hits of course), etc. BUT...Here's the kicker! I've noticed with a lot people that we're associated with a common "belief", if you will, about raising a boy. A lot of people seem to think that if one is a little boy, it gives them a license to hit, kick, whatever and be kind of a bully! They always use the excuse, "He's a boy!" Well, I'm sorry people, but I just don't share this same belief! A boy should be tough and get dirty and be able to stick up for himself...believe you me! I'm tougher on this little one than his dad a lot of times! But just because he's a boy doesn't give him a ticket to be mean or be a hitting, pushing bully to other children, or to anyone! Not even his dad...
Thanks for letting me go on my little soapbox...I'm just trying to raise a little, upstanding individual who will one day go on a mission, be a respectful, compassionate man who will love his wife and children. I don't believe being a bully fits any of those qualities...right? Man, I feel like Carter's growing up so much and he's such a little sponge...he absorbs everything and I hope we are teaching him the right things...just like all the other parents out there!

I'm so excited about this!

Welcome to our family blog! I'm exciting to be starting this...I think it will be easier and better to share our family happenings this way! Yay for us! Here's our first little pictures! Check back often to see all our cute pictures and stuff!