Fun times in Florida!

 GO DRAKE!

We just returned from Florida.  I traded one boy for the other--this time leaving Matt at home and taking Charlie.  I have lots of vacation so we thought it would be fun to go to sunny Florida in February and play with Lucy and Charlie Menschner.  All four of their parents have degrees from Drake so we have already decided they will be roommates and the girls will be Thetas.

 Don't you agree that they will be fabulous Theta sisters someday?  BFF for sure!  The kids were really cute. 

 CHIP SAYS "NEVER GROW UP!!!"

 Believe it or not, there were new things at Disney since we went in October.  A new Belle storytime that was really fun (Cate here with Belle) and an Ariel ride that we loved.

Sweet baby boy.  The beach was chilly and we had raain on the last day but we still got some sand time in.  Charlie was petrified of the sand and water at first but loved the birds.

Happy Birthday, Carter!

It is hard to believe that Carter Joseph is 20 years old!

Kisses from Catie and a big smile from Chip!

And...a big smile from Carter when he learned her was going to the Masters Golf Tournament as his birthday present.  The cake was a putting green with a Masters golf ball and both Charlie and Matt were wearing Masters golf shirts to let him know.

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY, CARTER!

One more Christmas post

I had to add two more pictures from Christmas.  Every Christmas we have a picture of Carter and Matt in front of the tree.  I hope this tradition continues for years and years to come. Sometimes the dog is lucky enough to join the picture.  It is quite amazing how grown up Carter is now.

Hopefully this can be a new tradition.  This is a picture of the 4 of us at Cate's Christmas program at church.  Carter was there to see her sing but had to hurry off to watch another Christmas program.  She adored having him there...waving at Carter several times!

Best of friends

Couldn't pass up a quick post of a great picture of the kids together.  They are starting to play more together.  Charlie would like nothing more than to be doing whatever Cate is doing.  Sharing is not something either one of them is very good at and the terrible 2s have definitely started for Charlie.  If he had his way, he would be sitting in Matt's truck all day and night long!  He really, really likes trucks.

ISU girl at heart

A big clan of us headed down to Memphis for the Iowa State football game on New Years Eve.  It was a fun bus ride and once we got to Memphis things got better and better with a pep rally and even a horse and carriage ride from Dad for Mom! 

Mom and I at the Pep Rally on Beale Street (yes, she is standing on something!)

John and I getting off the bus ready for a party before the game!

BBQ tailgate time with Mom and Aunt Allison. 

Almost game time with Mom and Dad.  Unfortunately, Tulsa rained on our parade--literally.  The game was cold and rainy and that is the description of the weather and the play.  Nevertheless, it was a really, really fun trip that I got to enjoy with my parents and some other family members.  I had an absolute blast.  THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR A TRIP FULL OF MEMORIES!

Christmas 2012

We had a White Christmas!  SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!  We even had a snow day!  Neither Cate or Charlie was into sledding but Daddy and Uncle Mike quickly turned into little kids on the hill at the Country Club.

Look what Santa left!

Carter: iPad and backpack

Cate: Dollhouse and Dr. McStuffins kit plus other fun toys

Charlie: Jeff Gordan Big Wheels and basketball hoop

Charlie got other presents too but he sat on his Big Wheel and didn't want to open anything else!  He was on this all day long!  Looks like a pretty happy guy especially for one who throw up right before we went downstairs on Christmas morning.

Don't have too many of these great pictures to share.  Grandma Jane with Carter...

Snuggles from everyone for Cate and Charlie!  Snuggles from Uncle Mike are pretty great...

Church Christmas Program

Christmas Program and Lutheran Church of Hope Ankeny

 Seriously, is there anything cuter than the preschool kids at a church Christmas program? 
Cate did a great job at her Christmas program today at church.  She sang and held her doll that was dressed just like her!