The Zoo Adventure

This morning I woke up, got dressed, looked outside at the cloudy sky, and for some reason decided that today would be a good day to take the kids to the zoo...by myself! It was only a few months ago that I was scared to take both of them to the grocery store at the same time, and now I am making trips to the zoo!

All in all, we had a great time, even though it was just the three of us. I took the double stroller, but Carter ended up walking most of the way because it is hard for him to see the animals from the stroller. He did really well, and only got the "If you don't stay close to Mommy, we will have to go home" threat twice. He wanted to have a picnic next to the deer, which was nice because it was under a big tree and there was lots of shade. Ally did really well, too! She loves looking at all the animals and people, and she even did a good job of eating her lunch while sitting in my lap.

Ally's Busy Day

After waiting for months, I think that Ally has finally decided she is ready to start crawling! She hasn't gone very far, or very fast, but I think by the end of the week it will be a different story!

This is what happens...

when Daddy is in charge! Ally gets to tear apart the pantry, and Carter gets to eat chocolate-chip pancakes while watching "101 Dalmatians!"

Priceless

Happy Birthday!!!

Dear Sam,

Happy 30th Birthday! You are officially OLD!!! Thank you for being such a great husband and father. We are so lucky to have you in our lives, and we hope that you have a wonderful day!

Love,

Courtney, Carter and Ally

Summer Fun

A Fresh Start

Ally loves to play peek-a-boo with anyone who will give her a few minutes of their time. Here she is at breakfast the other day using her "mimi" to play with me and Carter.

Although this doesn't look like a very pretty face, it is actually really cute in person. This is Ally's "I'm really happy" smile. She wrinkles her entire face and closes her eyes. You can't see it, yet, but there is another tooth in that smile...her top right one has finally broken through her gums. I keep telling her that she is going to look funny with only one top tooth!

The kids took a bath together last night for the first time in a long time. We had a busy weekend with Sam's parents, so both kids were ready for bed early last night. We were hoping for a quick bath, but with no luck...they were just having too much fun. Carter is the one person who can make Ally laugh hysterically! They were both being silly, and whatever Carter was doing, she tried to imitate. I am just praying that she doesn't grow up spitting like her big brother!


Last week didn't go well around the Noynaert house...everything from waking up to beer bottles all over our yard from the college guys next door to Sam's truck getting broken into in our driveway! All of that on top of a fussy baby girl who still refuses to crawl, a 2 1/2 year who is asserting his independence and boysih tendencies more and more each day (ex. spitting anywhere and everywhere...including on his sister!) to Sam getting phone calls in the middle of the night for drilling issues. We were happy when Sunday rolled around and we got a fresh start on a new week! I'm a little scared to write that so far things are good around here, but then again, it is only Tuesday!

First Time "Visitors"

Last week Sam had some training in Houston so the kids and I decided to go to College Station for the week. We had a great time while we stayed at my mom's house, and I don't even think that we drove her too crazy! However, it was hard juggling doctor's appointments and trying to make time to see friends. There are several things we didn't get to do while we were there, and a couple of people we weren't able to get together with due to scheduling conflicts. However, it was a great week and we look forward to going back.

Carter loves playing in the water. He would beg us to "turn on the water" almost every day.
One of the dogs deflated his soccer ball so he decided to make it into his new hat.
Ally likes to eat...as you can tell from the pictures! She has also discovered how to get all of the food onto the floor by "cleaning" her tray!
It doesn't appear that Ally is enjoying herself in this picture, but I promise she did like the pool. This is the only picture I could find to post where her swimming suit wasn't falling off her shoulders!
Carter absolutely LOVED going to the pool. I just wish that I could sign him up for swimming lessons. I am sure there is a pool somewhere around us, but I haven't found it yet. I am also hesitant about taking both kids swimming without another set of hands.

One of Carter and Ally's favorite things to do is ride in the wagon at GaGa's house. I had to take this picture quickly because after about 20 feet of pulling Ally, Carter decided it was too hard.
Carter looking for Fletcher, the cat my mom somehow managed to adopt from my brother. Carter thought it was fun to carry him and tackle him, and believe it or not, Fletcher let him do it!
Ally riding in the wagon. We went for her 9 month check-up while we were in town and the stats speak for themselves: 20.7 lbs (75th percentile), 30 inches (95th percentile). If she keeps at this rate of growth, she is going to surpass Carter by the time she is one!
Another picture of Carter (and Shiner) searching for Fletcher. I would let Carter bring him home if we didn't already have two fat, and lazy, cats of our own.
GaGa got the kids a little swimming pool for her yard, which they played in a lot since it was just too hot to do anything else. She also invested in a small *"playground" for them to play on when they come to visit. Ally loved swinging in the bucket swing, and Carter loved everything else! It didn't take him long to learn how to scale the rock wall and ladder. I think that my hair turned a little grayer every time he climbed up! I don't know what I am going to do when he actually becomes a teenager!

*Carter calls the swing set his playground!

Christmas in June

This is what our yard looked like this morning at 10:00 am.

This is what our yard looked like at 12:30 pm!