Birthday and other fun

Went down south to celebrate Alicia's birthday.
"Aw man, locked out of the pool!"

Jayden's big cousin teaching her how to color.

"Run!"

Jayden:  "Ok, I've got this."
Carter:  "Oh no!  You're going the wrong way!  Just let me drive."

"Come on guys!  Kiss!"

"My life is over!  I will never feel joy again!"

"Fine, I'll sit here, but I won't be happy about it."

Getting ready to try out their new skates!

"Whoa!  This is trickier than I thought!"

Meanwhile, the little sisters enjoy a nice quiet game of chutes and ladders.

Daddy came home for Carter's birthday!
Too bad the kids were more interested in the balloons than Dad.

Taking Carter to his birthday surprise.
"Come on guys, where are we going?"

Carter's first movie in a movie theater.  He loved it (and those comfy chairs!)

Making a wish

Lots of helpers for lots of presents.

Trying out some of his new birthday stuff.

"I do NOT want to take pictures on my birthday!"
(notice Alicia's face versus Carter's.  One pleasant, one not so much)

Now compare again. 

Carter and Alicia: "This IS my happy face"
Kaycee:  "Oooh a bird"
Jayden:  "Oooh a rock"
Melody:  "I just threw up in my mouth a little"

Workin' with Grammy

Little skeletons

"Why did no one tell me I had two different shoes on!"

Dolly cuddles

More cuddles

Talking to Daddy
(Not really, she just wandered around the room with the phone to her ear saying "Da")

"Ta-Da!"

"Look at my masterpiece.  Isn't it wonderful?"

"Ahhh!  Godzilla!"

Playing with pipe cleaners during conference

Learning about octopus ink

Carter's special place where he does his "Study-work"

Boo!

Carter wanted a turn to be the villain (not bad guy, villain), so Jayden got to be the hero.

Pumpkin bowling!

Jayden is a serious bowler

After a while, Carter decided to try pumpkin soccer.
His first response:  "Ow!"

Jayden was a good helper.
"Here, let me set those pins up for you"

"Oh man, this is heavy!"

Carter teaching his little sis how to drive

Carter's favorite way to skateboard.
Or is it his favorite way to go sledding?

Serious helmet head

"Come on, lets go get married!"

"Wait, I was just kidding!  Don't run away!"

Such a big girl.

Made me think of this picture

Whee!

Carter isn't sliding down backwards.
He is climbing up with just his arms!  Mom was surprised when he made it all the way to the top!

Jayden craft shopping
"Ooh, I like this, and this, and this...."

Carter craft shopping
"This is comfy."
(Actually he was singing "Ten in the bed" as he rolled down to the end of the row)

Playing with his car tracks.
(notice where it ends.  The cars actually go through that little hole in the box and collect inside.)

"Please!  I just want more grapes!"

"Ok.  This will do."

Jayden practicing wearing a hat so she will leave one on for Halloween.
"Take it offs us!  It burnses us!"

How Jayden sleeps in her brace

How Jayden wakes up in her brace.
(Mommy was surprised the first time she walked in to this)

How Jayden sleeps without her brace.