August

Carter (3 years, 3 months)
If it's possible, Carter seems to talk more this month than last.  He is always making up stories, words and songs.  He seems to prefer telling stories than recounting actual events, through he has a great memory.  So we have been talking to him each night at dinner about his day and having him tell us his favorite part, what he didn't like and what he is looking forward to the next day.  His answer to favorite part and what he is looking forward to is typically "School" which is nice to hear.

He is finally starting to fit into some 3T bottoms to go with his 4T shirts.  We are at the point now where we take Carter's small clothes and directly move them to Parker's closet.

He really enjoys school each day.  His favorite playmates are "Jakesie", "Jamesis" and Audrey.  Though Audrey sometimes doesn't want to play with Carter which makes him sad.  It is so cute to watch him hug his friends when he gets to school and leaves.

Here are a few random pictures from the past month.

Making a truck at Home Depot

At Waffle House with Dad and Duffy before heading down to watch Tech football practice

Putting on a post-dinner concert with his bass guitar

Parker (1 year, 21 months)

Parker is definitely the youngest child who gets away with everything because he is so cute.  He is starting to talk more (hard to do with chatty Carter around).  He is really into animals and animal sounds.  And he is starting to talk about colors.  He likes to sing along with his brother and he is a crazy dancer!  He knows how to get what he wants.  He has great feedback everyday at school about his sharing, picking up, happy demeanor and playful attitude.  His favorite activities lately are anything involving splashing in water, being outside, trains and books.

Here are a few random pictures from this month.

He opened and closed every dishwasher and dryer at Home Depot

Watching the fountain from the safety of dad's arms (his favorite place to be)

Petting the goat at the Farmer's Market... had to drag him away

Post-dinner dance party with mom to the Thriller station on Pandora

Starting his favorite game... copied from Brother.

Climb on the stool and over the sofa arm

Brothers

There is lots of joint playing in our house these days.  The boys seem to come up with new activities each day.  Parker adores his brother and smiles and giggles whenever they do something together.  Carter loves to be the big brother and come up with an activity for them both to do.  Here are a few examples.

Car parade/race

Sharing a milkshake

Painting

Potholder Boys (with lollipops)

Feet Wrestling

Football Season

College football is back and today was Tech's first home game.  It was a noon kick-off vs. Elon so we decided to bring the boys to tailgate and stay for a little bit of the game.  Dad packed up the car and decorated the van.  He did such a good job that Car was concerned people would think we were riding in the Ramblin Wreck: "But they are silly mom because it is really a van."

Our tailgates have evolved over the years to include new ways to use our tailgate games...

New activities like bubbles...

And adorable babies keeping watch over the food.

Carter had been talking about the football game all week and was so excited.  It was really tough to keep him occupied for the 3-1/2 hours before the game began because all he wanted to do was go to the game.   Luckily Jacket Walk kept him entertained for awhile.  The boys watched the band and cheerleaders, checked out the Ramblin Wreck and saw Buzz (Parker cried and Carter gave him a fist bump).

Once the players arrived, Carter and Parker demanded to be held by dad (this is a very heavy feat these days).

Carter gave high-fives to all the players on their way to the stadium while Parker clung to dad.

This coach loved Charlie and gave him about 8 high-fives as he passed.

We took a quick trip by kids-fest to check out the bouncy houses.  They had a few options but the slide was the biggest hit.  Parker was able to climb up all by himself.

We let the boys rest for a bit while we packed up our stuff.

Soon it was off to the game.

It was an incredibly humid day so mom left with the boys with around 5:30 to go in the first quarter.  It was okay though because the score was already 28-0 Tech.

It ended up being a rout for the Jackets with a 70-0 win.  While at the game Carter talked the entire time about the game.  A few highlights:

• One of the Elon players was shaken up on the play.  Carter wanted everyone to know "It's okay because the white team [Tech] said sorry.  Saying sorry is the most important thing.  The referee won't put the white team in time-out because they said sorry."
• He made everyone put up their stop signs. "You have to put up your stop sign to stop the other team.  When you want them to stop running you put up your stop sign and they have to stop".  If only it was so easy.

Carter's First Soccer Practice

Carter is playing soccer this Fall with a local Smyrna soccer league.  There are 10 kids on his team, 8 of whom are boys he is in school with.  It's a great excuse to have the kids run off some energy and hang out with the other parents.  The whole family got into the action with mom being Team Mom and dad being an Assistant Coach.

Carter's first practice was rained out last week so he had been overly excited for awhile now about.  He has worn his jersey to school several days and tried on his cleats and shin guards a few times.

Finally it was time for the first practice.  It was a crazy mess of adorableness.  It started with the kids getting instructions from their coach.

Then they were off.  The kids took turns running down the field kicking the ball to warm up.

Carter waiting for his turn (yellow shirt)

Then they ran a few drills.  Carter did a great job listening to the coach and waiting his turn.

They played keep away which basically consisted of the kids kicking the ball up and down the field as the coaches tried to get the ball away from them.

Meanwhile, Parker had been alternating between dad's arms (severely limiting dad's ability to help out) and getting snacks from mom.  Eventually he got bit by the soccer bug and started kicking his little blue ball around.

Then it was time for an actual game.  At this age they play 4 on 4 with no goalie.  So they divided the kids into 2 teams and they were off.  Carter didn't make it long the first time as he fell down in the pack of kids and ran screaming to dad that he wanted to go home.  After several minutes of consoling him (and Parker who wanted to sympathy cry), Carter got back in the game.  He immediately got the ball and ran towards the goal.

Only to take a few laps around the field instead of score.

Eventually someone got the ball from him and another melt down occurred.

He did go back in one more time and managed to avoid a final meltdown.

Soon practice was over and the team did a big "Go Dynamos" cheer.

It should be a very entertaining season!