ROAD TRIP

Carsten had a couple of firsts yesterday. We are visiting grandparents in Concord this weekend so we got to enjoy an extended 8 hour road trip. In our mini van. Without air conditioning. In 98 degree weather. JOY. The weather was cool and overcast through Santa Barbara but an hour and a half into the trip, at Santa Maria, we were already too hot. So we stopped at Chuck E Cheese. We decided the pizza tasted OK, but for $30 it should. Actually the pizza was only $20, the other $10 was for tokens. We cooled down, played some games and had fun.

The rest of the trip went pretty well. The temperature cooled down for a while and then heated up again. We made a stop at Taco Bell in King City and cooled down again, and then had to stop about 1/2 hour later to get Carsten to calm down and go to sleep, then he slept the rest of the trip.

As you can see, Carsten is growing up fast. He had fun at Chuck E Cheese and he smiled for his grandparents when he got here. Then he set a record and slept for 6 hours straight. I don't know if it was all the screaming in the car that did it or the 1/2 hour we spent smiling at each other before I put him down for the night.

I think it was the smiling.

Cute Pictures

Healthy Lunch

Micah has a field trip today to the Camarillo House and City Hall. She was excited because they had a assignment to pack a "Healthy Lunch" for the trip. She started with carrots. Good job. Then she added graham crackers. OK, not too bad. Then came the bag of Cheeze its. She and Avarie measured out a 1/2 serving, so not too many at least.

Last came the package of Oreo Cakesters. Its the first time I brought these home. They looked good. Avarie and Micah read the nutrition facts to me as they ate breakfast. "Mom, it has 250 calories, is that good" "Not really, how much fat?" "12 grams"

Oh, well, maybe she'll get an "A" on her math worksheet instead.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 package (57g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 108 Calories 250
% Daily Values*
Total Fat 12g		18%
	Saturated Fat 2.5g	12%
	Trans Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 5mg		2%
Sodium 250mg		10%
Total Carbohydrate 36g		12%
	Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
	Sugars 24g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 2% Iron 10%

SMILE

More Carsten

Sorry, I had a cold all week and didn't get anything posted.  But Cate did so I'm sure you've all seen the pictures from Carsten's blessing already.  Also, the first OFFICIAL smile picture.  He's been smiling all week but we had trouble getting a good picture.  I think Bradlee finally got a good one this morning.  

Carsten is on a pretty stable sleep schedule for the last couple of nights.  Down between 8 & 9, up between 2& 3 and up again around 5:30-6.  Then unfortunately I have to wake him up at 7:30 if he happens to still be asleep to get Avarie & Donavan to school.  Some days we come home tho and get a nap in right away.

The girls are doing good in school.  They help with Carsten a bit.  Micah will pick him up when he cries and deliver him to me.  Avarie will hold him for about 5 minutes if I make her, and Bradlee will take him whenever

Ok, on to the pictures:

Carsten Checks In

My mom has been trying to type this all week, but there isn't much time for her.  I'm either awake and she's holding me or feeding me or changing me or I'm asleep and she's lucky if she can get a shower.  Wednesday I let her shower but I woke up before she could get dressed, heh, heh.  Right now I'm sitting on her lap and getting fussy so maybe we'll just go for some quick one month picutres.

Also I'm getting blessed by my dad tomorrow in church.  Hope to see you there.

Love, Carsten

1 month old!

Carsten isn't that exciting yet but he is getting bigger by the day. At his one month check up he was 10 lbs 2 oz and 22 in. We thought we had his sleeping schedule down but this week he changed on us. not just for one day though. Every day he has changed the time he wants to go to sleep resulting in a very tired and grumpy mom. He is pretty much eating 24/7  and seems to gain another two pounds each time he eats. Also we are starting to see the start of smiles! We'll try and get a pic!

BYE MRS.MOORE

Helping my old kindergarten teacher was great!  The kids were shy but very cool.  On Friday my last day helping I gave her a card and cookies for being the best teacher ever.  On Friday I helped her so much she said she would have had to stay up until midnight to get it done but I finished it all for her.  I'm so happy I helped! 

-avarie

First Bath

I know, I've been procrastinating again, but don't wipees count as baths too.  Anyway, I finally got the new bath out and gave Carsten a good cleaning.  About ten minutes after he was done and diapered again he spit up over everything, so I put him in again for a rinse.  That counts as two baths so we are averaging one every two weeks.  He seemed to enjoy the bath and didn't pee on me so that was good.  Now if we can just get consistent about sleeping.

First day of school - Parts 1 & 2

I've not been looking forward to this year since Bradlee started kindergarten.  We have kids going to three different schools.  Add a baby into the mix and we have a 4 way split.  It will stay that way until Avarie is in 9th & Bradlee in 12th in 2011-2012 and then we have a 4 way split again with Bradlee in college and Carsten in pre-school!!!

Bradlee started school bright and early last Tuesday.  She is a freshman at Rio Mesa this year.  Kevin drove her down to the bus stop around 7 am

.  Sorry I didn't get any pictures.  Maybe I'll take one on the first day of 6am seminary next Tuesday.  I'm usually up around 5 with Carsten anyway.  Luckily Kevin will drive her down to the church in the morning and then she will catch the bus at the community center by church to get to school and then a different bus will bring her back to Cam Heights in the afternoon.  The only

 fluke is Thursdays, when school doesn't start until 9, so I have to pick her up from seminary and then she will hopefully ride the Cam Heights bus to school.

Micah started 3rd grade at Cam Heights on Wednesday.  She's excited about school and loves going.  She doesn't always get equally excited about homework though. (just laid the baby down so hopefully my arm will wake up again).  Micah walks to school which helps with the schedule. 

Avarie doesn't start until next Wednesday.  I sent her to help her old teacher in kindergarten this week at Cam Heights.  I think she enjoyed herself and it gave her something to keep her busy in the mornings.  (and she can pass off some Faith in God requirements!)

Here's Micah on her first day...

Two Weeks Old

Carsten turns 2 weeks old tonight.  We're getting used to him being here.  I'm also feeling a little better every day.  It also helps that he's slept a solid 5 hours the last three nights.  Unfortunately, when I do get up to feed him, I turn on the olympics replay and a couple of nights ended up watching for a couple of hours.  I did better last night.  I just watched the end of History Detectives and then went back to bed.  Kevin or Bradlee take a turn with him in the morning so I get to sleep in after I feed him at 6, 7 & 8 o'clock.  I'm not looking forward to school starting.  Kevin goes back to work and Bradlee goes to girls camp next week so i'll be more on my own.

Anyway, here's some 2 week pictures.  Enjoy. -- Debbie

 

What's Micah Hiding?

What is she hiding? 

Oh it is a funny hat I made her wear! Micah decided she wanted her hair dyed so I took out the kit and found this hat.And guess what, I made her wear it even though she didn't need to!

Well Micah is mad I had her 

wear it for a whole three hours.

But she loved the outcome!

Doesn't our hair look awsome purple! 

Purple!

At the begining of the summer my mom said Ava and I should dye out hair some crazy color for the summer. 

Well I did it! Rainey came over yesterday and dyed the bottom of my hair purple.I think it looks wonderful!-Bradlee

Here's the Pictures

Rainey, I need you to come over and take some good pictures.  Here's the best I've got so far.