Pinata Playdate

On Carter's birthday, we invited some of his friends to the playground for a little party.  I printed out invitations for some of our friends and Carter decorated them with drawings and stickers.

The main purpose of having this little playdate was for Carter to have a pinata for his birthday.  We invited 4 families and half could make it.  It was perfect though because that meant all the kids got to hit the pinata a bunch of times before it broke.

We had our playdate at Crockett Park.  We used to be able to park right next to the playground but the middle school now closes that lot during the day.  Now we have to walk about 1/4 mile from the parking lot so we brought along our old wagon to bring get everything to the playground.

The kids played on the playground for about an hour and then it was pinata time.  Carter went first.  All the kids got to go twice.  Carter went a third time and broke the pinata off it's hook with his last hit and then I just had to shake the candy out because it was impossible to re-hang.

I like this one.  The dinosaur's mouth got a hole in it and candy would fly out of it on each hit!  There is a Tootsie Roll, Dum-Dum, and something in green flying out here.

Rylan:

Chase:

While we were doing the pinata, the middle schoolers came out for P.E. and had to do a lap around the baseball fields.  Some of them stopped for a minute and were cheering our kids on!

Hutch:

Will:

Luke:

 After the pinata was destroyed, it was cupcake time!

Thanks to everyone for braving the cool morning and helping Carter celebrate his 5th birthday!!!

Carter's Birthday

Last Friday was Carter's birthday (November 15th).  I decorated a little downstairs and put out his presents from us and grandparents the night before.

As soon as Carter woke up, we let him open his presents.  (Carter was in love with the birthday crown he got to wear at school and rarely took it off on Friday and Saturday.)

Rylan even had a gift to open from GG and Papa Art!

Carter had to put together the dinosaur Lego set that we got him right away.

I made Carter's favorite food (other than ice cream) for breakfast ... blueberry muffins.

It took Carter and I a long time to decide on what to do for his party this year.  Like Rylan, he wanted to have a dinosaur (actually, only t-rex) party and wanted it to be at the house.  November is so much more risky with an at home party (I really hate to have to be inside the house for a party), so I wasn't really on board.  But I eventually figured out that Carter really wanted the party at the house because he wanted a pinata (like Rylan had at his party).  So I told him he could have a playdate on Friday, his actual birthday, and have a pinata to break with just a few friends (more hits each!).  Then we'd have a party on Saturday with all his friends at a place other than the house.  I suggested gymnastics because it's cheaper than a lot of places and we could have a lot of friends (Carter really wanted his entire class and lots of our playdate friends).  Carter was all for it immediately!!!  And he never changed his mind (I kept asking a few times a day for a week or so before I booked the party, just in case).

I'll do a separate post about the pinata playdate, but it was lots of fun!

So we did that in the morning and then Carter had Lil Sluggers at 4pm.  In between Rylan took a nap and I worked on Carter's dinosaur cake for his birthday party the next day - it turned out much better than I expected (pictures to come soon in another post!).

I asked Carter what he wanted for dinner - he could have anything or go anywhere he wanted.  He wanted his own kid meal at Chick-fil-A.  That worked for me!!!  So we met Brian there after Lil Sluggers.

When we got home we had cupcakes (the same ones we brought to the pinata playdate and the same as the ones I made for Rylan's party in June).

Happy 5th Birthday, Carter!!!

5-Year-Old Checkup

Carter had his 5-year-old check up yesterday.  I had no questions and the doctor had no concerns so it was an easy appointment ... except for the shots.  Carter was due for 2.  He got one shot at his 4-year-old appointment (I think) but this was the first time Carter truly scared.  I don't think he really knew what was going to happen last year but this year he did.  I went back and forth on if I should tell him before the appointment to prepare him or just wait until the nurse was in the room with the needles.  I went with telling him because every time I mention the doctor (for a sick appointment or flu mist or for Rylan), Carter automatically whimpers, "I don't want a shot".

It was a little dramatic and we both may have teared up a little but he survived.  There was some loud screaming while getting each shot and lots of begging not to get the second one.  Brian asked me last night how Rylan did watching and I have no idea - I was completely focused on Carter and didn't even notice Rylan (hopefully he's not scarred either - he keeps telling me though that he's not scared of shots and that he's brave).

Carter brought along his dog to hug and looked happy when leaving the office.

We went straight to Dunkin' Donuts after for a special treat (first time ever for us to get doughnuts other than "Talk Like a Pirate" Day at Krispy Kreme).

Rylan actually ate a doughnut this time!

Here are Carter's measurements from his appointment:

Height: 3'-7" (50-75th percentile)
Weight: 40.2 lbs (50-75th percentile)
BMI: 15.26 (25-50th percentile)

For comparison, at age 4:

Height: 3'- 4.5" (50th percentile)

Weight: 35 lbs (50th percentile)

Hills and Hollers Half Marathon

Yesterday I ran the Hills and Hollers Half Marathon with Missy and her once-a-week running partner, Mindi.

The race was in the Thompson Station area and on some scenic country roads.  The course wasn't closed to traffic but since there was just over 100 half marathon runners (there was also a 5K), it really wasn't a problem.  There were still a few police cars at some intersections as well as lots of signs around which slowed down the few cars that were using the roads.

Missy took a couple of pictures while running and shared them with me.

They weren't kidding when then named the race.

There were a lot of hills.  And some REALLY steep ones.

I ran a marathon only a week earlier and knew that there was no way I'd be recovered enough to really push it in this race.  But I finished in 1:53:37 and am really happy with that time.  It's my third fastest time (I've now done 7 half marathons).  My two faster times were on courses that don't have one real hill.  The Cedars Frostbite Half is comparable with hills and I did that one in 1:55:35 in February.

I ended up getting first in my age category but didn't stick around for awards since I wanted to get back home for Carter's birthday party later in the day.

I ran the first 2 miles with Missy and Mindi but just didn't have the spring in my legs to keep up with them on that crazy hill at about 2.2 miles.  They stayed together and finished with a time of 1:50:00!  This was Missy's first half and she did awesome!!!

This race was a fundraiser to raise awareness for amyloidosis.  Missy's vet developed this and it is her family that developed the charity and organized the race.  They did an amazing job.  The race was very well organized (and had lots of food after the race unlike the marathon I ran last weekend!).

They also had great swag!  We got a nice short-sleeve tech shirt and bag before the race.

At the finishing line, we each got a finisher medal and a long-sleeve tech shirt!

This is my favorite finisher medal that I have gotten,

The hills were challenging but I hope to do this race again next year!

Preschool Birthday Celebration

Carter's three days of birthday festivities started off with a celebration at school on Thursday (November 14th).  We brought a special treat for snack time to share with his class.  We made sugar cookies in the shape of a "5" and decorated them with rainbow sprinkles (Carter's request).

The kids also get to a make a poster to share with the class.  They can put anything they want on it - pictures, stickers, drawings, anything.

Carter went with mostly photos.  We went through iPhoto and Carter picked out pictures of things he liked.  I asked if he wanted to include a picture from each of his previous birthdays and he was excited to pick those out too.  Carter also added a few drawings.

The day Carter was born and blowing out candles and his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th birthdays ...

The drawing on the left is Carter building a tower out of Legos and the right is a blueberry muffin, trampoline, and ice cream with sprinkles.  Carter loves this picture of him eating sprinkles out of a wine glass at the beach :)  The other picture is from Diamond Caverns.

The cave we just hiked, the trampoline at gymnastics, playing Papa Mike's instruments, swimming, scoring a goal, and mini golf ...

I had to take a picture of all of Carter's medals (he's so proud of them!), canoeing, and fishing ...

And this is a picture of Charlotte ...

Ms. Denise sent me these pictures she took at preschool that day ...

Carter loves the crown Ms. Denise gave him and wore it the next two days!

Happy Birthday, Carter!

We have a FIVE year old!!!

Recent Pictures

Last week we met friends at the playground at Crockett Park.  We had about an hour to then kill before Rylan's speech session at the adjoining school so I took the boys for a run.  Carter rarely naps but they both passed out that day!

This Carter's drawing from chapel last week.  The story was "Elijah Prayed to God" and is basically about a severe drought, praying for rain, and on the seventh time, a cloud and rain forming.

The notes on Carter's drawing are:
"a mountain"
"He's praying for rain"
"He's going to look for the clouds"

Show-and-Tell for "H" week ... Hippos!

I'm still drawing on a picture on Carter's lunch napkin everyday.  On show-and-tell day I attempted a hippo :)

For some reason I love this that Carter brought home from school the other day.  The acorn has glasses and a beard!

This week's chapel story was "David Thanked God" and the kids drew what they are thankful for.  Carter is thankful for his heart!  This is a drawing of his chest with his heart in it :)

Carter's "I" week show-and-tell ... Iguanas!