Going...Going...Summer is GONE!

Dad told me the other day it had been June 4th since my last post and I just checked...he was right! :P  What can I say...when I'm working, it's difficult to keep up with my blog...  Just want to come home and play with Carson instead of pretty much anything else!

I really can't believe that our summer is about to end!  It really flew by.  With several weekend trips and me teaching two classes this summer (which was SOOOO wonderful!), summer came and went before we knew it.  Well...I guess I should clarify.  JOHN'S summer is coming to an end.  This is his last weekend off before heading back to work.  Summer band starts next week!  Wow!  Luckily, Miss Carson and I still have a full month of vacation left (yay!)  But I think summer will always be "over" for me when teacher's head back to school.  It's just engraved into my brain!

So, since I've pretty much missed posting anything about our summer...here goes!  Our summer in review...

SEA WORLD!!!

We had fun for our weekend getaway in San Antonio.  We hit all the main attractions...The River Walk Can you say STRESS?!...That place is NOT toddler/stroller friendly at ALL!  Lesson learned.), The Alamo, and Sea World.  We also hit up the outlet malls in San Marcos on our way down...who could resist? :)  We also had fun at our Buc-EE's pit stop, but didn't get any pics.  Somehow, I felt odd about taking pics at a glorified truck stop.  LOL!  Here are a few pics of our mini vacation...

Packing for a family of three for ONE weekend...good grief! :)

Remembering the Alamo with Daddy

(Sleeeeeeeepy!)

Ready for Sea World!

Bad pic, but proof that I -was- there! :)

Cooling off with a $20 lemonade...

Dolphins!

(Side Note:  Carson learned how to say "dolphin" on this trip.  We really didn't use the word at all after our trip.  Just a few days ago, she pointed to a picture of a fish she saw in Hobby Lobby and said, "Dolphin!"  Cute and what a great memory she must have!)

I fed a dolphin!!!  Kinda scary for me...but I did it!

LOVE this pic!

Being a Goober During Shamu

Shamu!

Tuckered Out at Shamu

Swimming in the hotel pool was by far Carson's favorite activity of the trip!

Water Baby

Heading Home

Our trip was really a breeze with Carson!  The DVD player, lots of snacks and Mama sitting in the back with her really made for an easy trip.  She only slept for about 30 mintues the entire trip, and that was on the way home.  I was nervous, but we did great!

Marriage Retreat

Back in February, John and I attended a Marriage Retreat weekend through our church at the Fredonia here in town.  We actually won the big "door prize" for the weekend...an all expenses paid trip to the Weekend to Remember Marriage Retreat.  We chose to go to the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas at the end of June.  What a treat!  The hotel/resort was gorgeous and luxurious and the weekend was fantastic!  We were supposed to go somewhere romantic for the Saturday Night "Date Night" the retreat suggested...but we opted for Medieval Times :)  We had so much fun!  I've requested to go back there by myself for my upcoming 30th birthday........ahhhhhhh! 

Medieval Times Date Night

Carson spent her very first weekend away from Mama and Daddy while we were in Dallas.  I think we all did great!  Carson had a fun getting spoiled at Nana and Papa's house and Mama and Daddy had a relaxing weekend.  I got to sleep through the night for the first time in about two years.  HEAVEN!  I don't have any pics of Carson on her first weekend away, but Mom does.  I'll have to get some from her later to post.

Thank you, Fred Hill, for our great weekend getaway!!!

Fourth of July

If you know me well, you know I LOVE July 4th!  It's my favorite holiday!  We made our annual trip downtown for the Nacogdoches Freedom Fest.  It was pretty hot (check out Carson's curls in the pics...a glimpse into what the humidity will be doing to our hair) and Carson had a tough time waiting so long for the fireworks to start, but we had fun. :)  Carson didn't really get scared of the fireworks.  A couple of jumps on the really loud ones.  Mostly, she was sleepy and cranky...but we'll return next year and try again!  Ha!

Our futile attempt at a family photo with flags...this was the best one.  LOL!

18 Month Well Visit

Carson's checkup went well!  We had the shortest wait EVER at Dr. Procell's office (appointment at 1:30 - in the car ready to go home by 1:55) and from now on will be requesting the first appointment after lunch :) 

Carson weighs about 25 lbs and is in the 75th (ish) percentile on height and close to the 50th percentile on weight.  Her head is finally catching up and is somewhere in the 40th percentile.  Overall, she is doing great!  We still have yet to be "sick" other than one ear infection and a couple of mild colds.  Such a blessing!  (We did have a little vomiting episode after traveling to Hemphill a few days ago, but we've decided it must have been motion sickness. I don't think she'll be into eating Multigrain Cheerios for a some time now...)

We had fun waiting and spinning on Dr. Procell's stool and playing with tongue depressors.  Our shots received a couple of tears this time, but were cleared up within seconds.  Big girl!  We won't have another well visit until Carson is TWO YEARS OLD.  This is our longest stretch without a checkup since she's been born.  We've also got our first dentist appointment coming up :)  Should be interesting...

Climbing!!!

Carson has started climbing in a BIG way this summer.  Nothing is safe in our house anymore!!!

Happy Half Birthday to Carson!

Continuing our half-birthday tradition!  Carson LOVED her cake, singing and blowing out the candles.  Her real birthday this December is going to be especially fantastic since she loves it so much!  Blowing out the candles and singing Happy Birthday to You was requested multiple times...adorable. 

1 1/2 Tiers and 1 1/2 Candles! :)  I think this might be the last year I can pull this cake idea off...

Mother's Day & Father's Day

We didn't do anything special on these days this year...just spent time with our little family of three :)

Crazy hair in this one... We'll be getting our first haircut in a few weeks with Ms. Tiffany!

'Wimming and Watermelon

Carson was introduced to the "big" pool last year, but has really fallen in love with it this year!  She calls swimming "wimming".  We also love watermelon!

Odds & Ends...

Just a few other things we've been up to this summer :)

French Doors & To Do Lists...

In preparation for John to start summer band at the beginning of August, we have spent the last two weeks doing things around the house that have been needing to get done pretty much since we've moved in almost four years ago!  Just little odds and ends and things that needed to be fixed...home ownership is fun, exhausting and rewarding. :)

Our biggest change was taking out the old sliding patio doors in the kitchen and replacing them with French doors...

Thanks John & Dad!  You do great work! :)

Progress is good!

Finished Product!!!  LOVE it! :)

In Carson's World...

I read over my previous posts last night and had to laugh at myself on the post where I listed Carson's vocabulary.  I thought she was talking SO much!  OHHHHH....what a difference two months can make!  We are pretty sure that God granted us the gift of gab.  I cannot keep up with the amount of words she knows how to say.  And forget keeping up with the language she UNDERSTANDS.  Holy cow...she is even making short sentences now.  If this keeps up, we'll be talking all day non-stop by the time she is two.  :)  The only sad thing is that she is dropping her signing in a big way. :(  She continues to sign "more", "finished" and often "daddy", but the others are fading fast......so sad for me!

Carson still loves all her favorites...Sesame Street, Blue's Clues, reading books, chasing our cat, opening/closing anything and everything, drinking Icees and eating popcorn (aka "popcorrrrr!"), playing "monster" with Daddy & SaSa, chips and dip, the outdoors, riding in wagons and playing with her puppy dogs (stuffed only!) and her animal toys (she LOVESSSS animals).  She is a busy little beaver for sure.  We are loving every minute! 

News, Updates & Plans

We received some exciting news at the end of June.  John got a call from Mr. Wells, the director of bands for NISD, asking him to consider a promotion to McMichael Middle School's HEAD band director!  John has been busy this summer making lists, sending emails and letters and working on calendars.  Yesterday, we lunched with band arrangements playing and John working to find some concert contest pieces for the year.  We have adapted well to band director life and know what to expect this year with both of our new jobs.  We foresee a more smooth ride this school year. :)

I will be continuing my FABULOUS job at SFA this fall.  I don't start until the beginning of September.  Carson and I will be squeezing some more summer out of August...wahoo!

Carson will be starting PRESCHOOL at First Methodist Church this Fall.  We are SUPER excited!  We visited a couple of times last Spring and she just loves it.  All the workers there are so friendly and so attentive to the kids.  She does so great in the nursery at church (our only other experience to compare preschool to!) and Ms. Mary and all the nursery ladies always comment on how friendly she is and how she likes to talk and share with the other kids.  As a mom, this is such a relief!  I hope it continues as we turn 2!  (It's my turn to work in the nursery Sunday and it will be the first time I'm in Carson's room....I'm a little nervous to see how she's going to do!)

Even though we are THRILLED to be in at First Methodist Preschool, it is still bittersweet.  I think every teacher that is a mom has to go through something others don't...we start all over again a couple of times a year with daycare. Just as we get comfortable with taking our child to daycare, we get a Christmas break or a summer break. It makes it so much harder at the beginning of the school year to think about dropping our little one off again. Will they be okay after being with us for the entire summer? Will she feel abandoned? Will she understand??? These are all thoughts that are going through my mind as our school year approaches. My answer is lots and lots of prayer and lots and lots of praise that we have a wonderful place to take her that will love her and care for her well. Praise God for that!

Specific prayer requests for our little family as we begin another year...

Please pray for John and his new leadership role.  Pray for receptive and understanding parents as the program undergoes changes.  Also, pray that those little boogers practice their horns and accept the program change well.  Pray for stress management and patience for John.  AND...pray for a successful year of band!

For Carson, pray that she adapts well and quickly to preschool and that she makes lots of friends!  Please, please pray for her safety...that is a big worry of mine.  Pray for her physical safety on the playground and such at school, but also for her allergies and that she isn't given something with nuts in it accidentally!  Oh, I am so afraid of that!

Carson is also battling outbreaks of her eczema this summer.  Poor baby.  Pray that our trip to the allergist in a couple of weeks will bring some relief.

For me, pray that I can balance work with going back to school for my next phase of education with being a good mommy and wife.  Please pray that I have peace in my heart about leaving Carson. As I mentioned, we have an upcoming allergist appointment and I'm pretty sure Carson is probably going to need regular allergy shots.  If I have to give them, please pray for strength for me to do this and that Carson will realize I'm not trying to hurt her! :_(

Overall, we are looking forward to a new year filled with new opportunities, challenges and memories!  We love you all and hope your summers are going great!