Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Twilight @ Midnight

At the last minute some of my girlfriends and I decided it was absolutely necessary to see the midnight showing of Twilight. So we fandango-ed our tickets and counted down the hours until it was time to go. We needed really big diet cokes to stay awake but it was worth it. The movie was fun, not Oscar worthy but fun. I thought that it stayed pretty true to the book and Edward was fabulous!

Flash forward to Saturday...

I saw Twilight a second time with my Mom, two of my sissies and my two nieces. I have to say it was definitely better the second time around. Or maybe that is because I was sitting next to my Mom who had plenty of comments about Edward, lol.

*Lana, thanks for the post title...

My Little Buddy

*I just love these photos of Carson with his wild and crazy bedhead and dirty face, they are just so him*


Since Cole has started attending all day school, Carson and I have been spending a lot of one on one time together. He is such a fun little guy to pal around with. He makes a pretty good shopping partner and he doesn't ever tell me to change the song on the radio. He and I are still struggling to get our new schedule worked out but he has been pretty flexible.

And just a quick update about Carson, he is 21.5 months now and he thinks he is 5 yrs old, but don't try to tell him he's not. He's so stinkin' independent, I think he'd pour his own milk and change his own diapers if he could figure out how. He's a climber and likes to push the bar stools up to the counter to get what he wants. He's starting to experience separation anxiety and cries when I leave the room, so I'm hoping this is a very short phase. His favorite word(s) to say is "Pirate ship". No lie, he must say it 1,000,000 times per day. He still likes to snuggle when he's in the mood and if he's in the mood you will get the yummiest snuggles ever. He's doing better at sleeping and he loves his big brother.

First Day of Kindergarten: Take 2

Today went GREAT!

Cole was so excited to go to his new school, he wasn't nervous at all and was really looking forward to eating lunch at school and having recess. We packed a yummy lunch in his Pirates of the Caribbean lunch box, he put on his new uniform and headed out for a new adventure. Of course I worried and watched the clock through out the day wondering how he was doing, although I kept myself busy with a trip to the gym and a little shopping and lunch. ;)

When I picked him up he had an ear to ear grin and gave me the thumb's up. He told me about his day (his only complaint being that it was long) and then he started to clap his hands and he and Carson sat in the backseat of the car clapping all the way home.

What a HUGE relief!

I'm so glad we made this change and I hope it continues to be a good experience for him.

Veteran's Day

Pictured above is my Grandfather. He was a true American hero who fought to defend freedom and loved his country.
Freedom is not free. Many have paid the ultimate price with their lives so that we all can enjoy the blessings of living in a free nation. Please take time today, Veteran's Day to remember those who have fought and those who continue to fight for this great nation.

Change

As some of you know, we have been struggling with some issues pertaining to Cole's kindergarten situation at Challenger. Things have not been working out as we had hoped. Their Kindergarten program is a complete opposite from the wonderful nurturing preschool environment that he had experienced last year. Kindergarten has been sterile, militant and just down right full of ridiculous expectations for 5 year old children. After we returned from Disneyland I began seriously looking at other schooling options for Cole. With much thought and prayer we withdrew him from Challenger and enrolled him at Merryhill. Friday was his last day at Challenger and tomorrow begins a new adventure at Merryhill. Upon touring their school I was very impressed with the classrooms, the teachers, and all the "extras" that Kindergartners need to grow and develop. The kids didn't look miserable, in fact they were smiling and actually having fun. I can't wait for Cole to jump in and experience Kindergarten as it should be experienced. Interestingly enough in his new classroom he will be the third transfer from Challenger this year alone. And I know that a couple more student are leaving this week and considering Merryhill as well. I guess we weren't alone in our feelings after all.

Carson's First Haircut

I have been putting off cutting Carson's hair for sometime now but Saturday it finally had to happen. The crazy "wings" were starting to really get out of control. My sister had the honor of cutting off his precious curly baby locks while Carson sat in the high chair with some cars and screamed hysterically. I didn't have her cut very much off, just clean up around his ears and get rid of the mullet in back keeping the baby hair on top long. He survived the trauma and looks so handsome with his new haircut!

The LONGEST Halloween

I think I'm still recuperating from this year's month long Halloween extravaganza. It was the Halloween that seemed to go on and on and on...

*Click to view larger

Some of the fun activities we did:

We went to the Springs Preserve for their Halloween festivities and trick treat event, Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disneyland, a party at my parent's ward, a party at my sister's ward, Cole's class party and costume parade and then finally Halloween night!

School Photo Revealed

Cole brought home his school photos today. It's always a little stressful to open the envelope and see how they turned out. But I was pleasantly surprised, there is no goofy, fake smile, just one super cute little boy!