Christmas

So this Christmas we decided to go to Idaho and visit my parents house... at the last minute. So we drove surprised them on Saturday night! We had told them we wouldn't be able to go so they weren't expecting it at all. Sadie was talking about visiting Grandma and Grandpa's house and the snow the whole way there, little did she know it would be 12 hours in the truck with an hour and a half stop at the tire shop on the way. It was a loooong drive. We didn't get much time there but it was fun to see everyone and get away from "real life" for a while.

It was soooo cold outside but the kids really wanted to play in the snow so we took them to sled in the mountains in Idaho. I guess it was a mistake. It was another big drive to Magic Mountain and the kids lasted a whole 10 seconds out in the windy, snowy outdoors before they were begging for us to take them back to Grandma and Grandpa's. We went down the hill on the sled 1 time each and then took off the snow clothes and went back. I'm sure the other people that were happily playing in the snow were laughing as they watched our truck with California plates drive away after our 2 minutes of snow time!

Sadie really loved playing with her Uncles because they would do whatever she told them to do. Most of the time they played house and Sadie was the mom that would put them in time-out every couple of seconds. (Do I do that?) Braden clung to me like the world would end if I left him at the beginning but after a day or two he decided he could handle the other kids on his own. When it was time to say good-bye he gave everyone 2 or 3 hugs each at least. We were sad that we couldnt visit many friends because it was a short trip but glad we were able to see the family.

Sadie's Christmas crafts

Sadie gave us a cute plate with her hand print on it for Christmas. She made it at preschool. She also made the little Christmas tree at school. She loves to do crafts and helped me alot this Christmas. She helped me to cut and tape the wrapping paper on the presents and helped me make Christmas goodies. Sadie also loved creating a gingerbread house with Jason and I. She was very meticulous in arranging the candies on her house.

See Carter Family Elves

I just made a total elf of myself. Check it out by clicking the link below.
Carter Family Elves

Is it Christmas yet?

We are getting very excited for Christmas over here, especially Sadie and Braden. We picked out our Christmas tree at the end of November, which was probably the first time we have been early for anything in our lives. Sadie and Braden love looking at the houses with the Christmas lights, singing Christmas Songs, making gingerbread cookies and gingerbread houses, etc. Sadie wakes up every day asking if it is Christmas today and "Did Santa come last night?" She has a lot of faith that he will bring her a puppy on Christmas. We will see.
It was funny when we made gingerbread cookies with Sadie's friend Maile. I let them smell all the ingredients as we put them in. The molasses, ginger and cloves didn't get a good reaction, but when we put in the cinnamon, Maile said, "Finally a refreshing smell!" A couple times they were sure the gingerbread man was running away but we always caught him before he got very far. :)

Thanksgiving, Family and Stiches

A Trip to the Jelly Belly Factory with Glenden and Patty, Rocio, Patty's sisters Betty and Lorena and Lorena's baby Illan.

Glenden and Patty (Patty is 5 months pregnant expecting twins!) The last couple weeks we have been able to spend time with family we don't see often. My mom and my sister Mary came 2 weeks ago and spent 4 days with us at our house. They brought some yummy food from the farm and from their personal garden. Jason's brother Chris came from Utah to help Grandma Barney in her travel back to Aunt Jill's house. Then my brother and his wife came to visit her family from the Bay Area and us. We were able to throw a baby shower for them while they were here, as she is expecting twins.


(p.s. Chris, there was no copyright on this picture, right?)

We had a yummy (as always) Thanksgiving Dinner at Nana and Papa Carter's house where Jason's Aunt Pam and Uncle Dee were there, along with 2 of Jason's siblings, Jennifer and Nathan and their families. Sadie and Braden had a great time playing with cousins, but there was a little too much rough-housing and Sadie ended up at the hospital getting stitches. She fell off a little tykes truck that Madison, Noah, Sadie and Andrew were playing on and landed on her chin. She only needed 2 stitches so hopefully there wont be too much of a scar. It was sad when she was on the table wrapped up in a burrito wrap so she couldn't thrash around and 2 people holding her down so she could get the stitches. She was yelling "Why are you doing this, I want to get out of here!". The good part about the experience is that we have a new hospital close by and it was so nice not to travel into Concord and wait for 6 hours for help. We were in and out in an hour or so. Close up of Sadie's 2 stitches in her chin

Little Peanut

The Jason and Amber Carter family has a new little member. We are all excited for this new addition. Sadie talks about the new baby very often and always insists it is a girl. Braden has no clue about the situation just yet. Right now its about the size of a peanut but looking healthy and happy as we saw on Ultrasound today! We saw a little heartbeat and moving arms and legs. Its about 9 and a half weeks old and has a due date somewhere around June 17th. On January 21 we will hopefully find out out if it is a girl or a boy and that everything has developed normally. What a miracle life is!

Sadie's new favorite alaphabet song

Starring Kermit the Frog!