A relaxing Sunday

I consider the weekend a success if we get two things done: laundry and grocery shopping. We're too busy and tired on week nights to do these chores so we leave them for the weekend.

This weekend however Clay and I did all the laundry and grocery shopping on Friday night. We had a wedding to go to on Saturday and we wanted to make sure we got everything done so we wouldn't have to worry about getting it done all on Sunday.

Saturday we drove 238 miles down to Stewartville, MN for a family wedding. We had a fun time seeing Clay's family and attending our first Baha'i wedding ceremony. Bea and the boys enjoyed dancing and the candy bar. The boys even enjoyed scooting around on the floor with the rest of the kids. We drove back that night.

Sunday was a beautiful relaxing day. Everybody slept in. Pancakes for breakfast. Mac & cheese for lunch. All three kids napped at the same time. Bliss.

In the afternoon, Clay took all three kids out for a walk in the woods while I made chicken pot pie.


We don't normally dress the boys alike but when you have matching identical Adidas sweat suits it must be done. Also, note Bea carrying her doll Alexander in a sling and her skirt under a dress look with the ladybug boots. Gotta love four year old fashion.

The kids in a bunch of leaves.

Bea buried under a pile of leaves. Tick check time. ;\

Simon & Bea swinging. Simon cried and cried when it was Ollie's turn. Some cheddar bunnies calmed him down.:)

Moo Baa La La La

Sorry for not keeping up to date on the posts. I have a big backlog of photos to post to flickr, but I hope this will hold you over until then.

Tadpole Hunt

B's preschool was in need of tadpoles for their aquarium, so we volunteered to look for some in our pond.

We invited B's best friend and her family over to help us out and the girls had a fantastic time playing together.



Creatures found included snakes, tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs & giant water bugs.



The boys enjoyed some time in the sun and grass.



I think all the adults had fun wading into the pond.



To see more pictures of our tadpole hunt visit http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=pond%202010&w=17038679%40N00

Gooseberry Falls 2010: Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day!!
Originally uploaded by Sunshine C.

This is the third year that we've gone to Gooseberry Falls for Father's Day. I guess we've started a tradition.

We started the road trip by heading north on gravel country roads and we got to the falls by 9:30. We loaded the boys in the stroller and headed down to the middle falls. We were able to take the Bob down the stairs to the falls, which was what we were hoping to do. Bea had her shoes off in no time and after a quick nurse, the boys each had a turn putting their toes in the water. In fact, Simon & Oliver would have crawled right into the falls if we let them.

After hauling the stroller back up the stairs, we headed home. We grabbed a quick bite in Two Harbors and then continued on our way. We were home by 12:30.

What a great day! Happy Father's Day Clay!

To see more pictures from our Gooseberry trip, go to http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gooseberry+falls+2010&w=17038679%40N00&s=int

Olde World Renaissance Faire: Twig, MN

Bea and her friend S
Originally uploaded by Sunshine C.

Last weekend we had a fabulous time at the Olde World Renaissance Faire in Twig,MN. The Faire isn't advertised much in the Duluth area, so we wouldn't have known about it if our friends hadn't mentioned it to us.

We arrived around 11:30 and stayed until 6:30.

We saw a joust, ate turkey legs, drank lemonade and mead, watched belly dancers, ran away from fairy catchers, cowered at the steam-breathing dragon and marveled at the character actors and their performances.

Bea had her face painted, which was the highlight of the day for her. We went on our own, but ran into three families we're friends with and we ended up spending the rest of the day with them.

The best part was the proximity from our house (30 minutes), the size (not too large), the shows and performers (numerous and varied). It was an honest to goodness renaissance faire!

We're fans now.

To see more of our Faire photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=faire&w=17038679%40N00

What Ollie & Simon have been up to.....

Ollie and Simon are just over ten months old. They are still such happy little babies. Their most recent accomplishment is crawling. Yes, our days of peaceful bliss (ha ha) are over. We are going to seriously re-baby proof the house this weekend.

On the sleeping front, they are on the verge of sleeping through the night. They've been testing that out, and everyone (mom & dad included) think it's a grand idea. They've been sleeping around 6:30-6 each night. They hadn't been getting up to eat in the middle of the night until last night. It will happen someday soon.

Oliver is a big eater and loves baby food still along with puffs. Simon won't eat baby food, but sometimes he gets a hankering for his finger food. Daycare said both he and Ollie loved their mashed potatoes the other day. They both are practicing drinking out of cups with spouts and do okay with that until they decide to toss them over the side of their highchair.


Simon in a predicament.


Ollie enjoying the mirror.

Carter boys

Carter boys
Originally uploaded by Sunshine C.

Clay holding Oliver (L) and Simon. Nearly seven months old.

Geesh. These guys are cute.

I'm so blessed to have two smiley & good natured baby boys.

It's still hard work, don't get me wrong. Twice the poops, but twice the smiles. :)

The Olympics are taking up all my free time....ha ha. Gotta run. I'm way behind.

Those crazy kids

Aren't we a funny bunch!


This is where I nurse the boys. They hang out here a lot. Clay was playing with the boys while I was gone one day. Don't they look like big boys? Simon (L) & Oliver (R).


Sometimes we put the boys in one crib for some safe playtime (safe from puppies and sisters). I came back after a couple of minutes and this is the mess I find Ollie in.


Clay was giving Bea a ride on his shoulders and Bea decided she wanted her rabbit to ride on her shoulders. I think that rabbit needs to work on his core. ;)


Bea was feeling generous that night and lent out two of her lovey's for Oliver (L) & Simon (R)


My mom and I were going through the hat bin and found these. Don't they look like little old men? Oliver (L) & Simon (R).

Beargrease 2010

Another winter is bearing down on Duluth.

Another Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is over.


The breakfast brunch feast with bacon, sausage, french toast casserole, potatoes, eggs, toast, juice, jam. Yum!!!! We needed to load up for the cold adventure to the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.


The kids ate it all up!


Karen, Jill, John & Scott waiting for some teams to run by. It was cold and we walked a long way to get there.


One of the 31 marathon teams. When I say marathon, I don't mean 26+miles. I mean 400 miles. There is also a mid-distance race.



Sam & Bea smiling despite the cold cold wind on their cheeks. I kept slurring my words because my lips were so cold.


Funny puppy waiting to be picked. Do you like the paw print design of the doors?


A tough looking dog. This is what you might think a sled dog looks like.


But they usually look like this.


Here's a very short video clip (my memory card got full right after I started recording) of sled dogs ready to go to the starting line. These are mid-distance teams.




See you again next year!