nothing better than peewee basketball!

Ellie's first day of peewee basketball! She really wasn't sure if she'd like it but think she had a real good time! Only 2 girls on her team and one on the other. Had a few minor malfunctions. Doesn't like stuff in her hair so out came the ponytail holder half through the game. When she doesn't have pockets, she stuffs it in her waistband, however halfway down the court it's falling down her pants. Ran it over to Mom and back in the game!
For never had dribbled or thrown a basketball, I thought she did awesome.

Halloween preschool Parade

Had a wonderful time at the preschool Halloween parade at the YMCA. Ellie was Tinkerbell and Ethan tagged along as a penguin. The preschoolers sang some songs and everybody was as cute as they could be.





Ethan the penguin just going with the flow ...



OK .. maybe that hat was getting a little warm



Ellie will love that I got this picture since she
thinks this boy (I think I have the right one) is so dreamy.



So many cute and creative costumes!

Miss Theresa the lady bug!

Miss Wendy was Minnie Mouse!

Ethan's first trip to Mimi's house

Here's a shot of Ethan on his first trip to my house! Did not realize until they left that I didn't get a picture of his Mom. Will do better next time!

Since I haven't posted official stats on my blog here is our big news:

Ethan James-Perry Carpenter,
was welcomed into the world
on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009,
weighing 7'11.9" and 19 3/4" long.

He looks even more like his Daddy than Ellie does, if that is humanly possible. The Carpenter's definitely carried the dominant gene in this family!! Lucky for us they are cute people!!

Ellie loves her little brother. She's a very good helper to her Mama.

We are very blessed!

The Art of TROUT FISHING

(This is my last blog that never made it to press)

Actually, the title is misleading since I really have know idea how to catch a Trout. I see all the flies, nymphs, salmon eggs, etc.. and think at this point of the learning process we're basically just throwing $ at all the needs of trout fishing person. I'm just not good enough to think like a trout and decide whether I want a mosquito or a fly for dinner.

We practiced with our new fly fishing rods & reels. A whole new way of casting and I thought it always looked pretty tricky, I found that it really is fun to throw.

Not sure why trout fishermen do so much walking down streams, but my muscles in my calves all the way up were talking to me the next day from all the water resistant exercise we got. Oh.. and I fell down once on slippery rocks, rod flew out of my hands as I went straight down and then got splashed in the face. Perry was right in front of me and missed the whole event.

We haven't had the priviledge of catching trout but at least are getting casting practice and I'm sure that we'll have a nice stringer full real soon.

UPDATE

Friday we headed back to our "spot" and I decided that I didn't want to do all that walking, since the dog had taken me for a walk the day before and my back wasn't back to normal yet.

About 15 casts later, low and behold, I caught my first trout! Perry was no where to be seen so had to hold my big surprise until he came back and got to see my trophy on the stringer.

Poor Perry, still fishless, so I decided to share my expertise with him. He soon got antsie and just couldn't seem to stand in one spot and headed down the other way just when I hooked another one! I screamed, "PERRY!!!!!!" because I wanted a picture of me yanking him in, but Perry couldn't hear me because of all the water noise and down the river he went.

The good news! We got to go home, stick our heads to the computer to watch a youtube demonstration on how to clean a trout. Very easy too I might add! The next night, the gourmet dinner... yum yum.

Perry probably won't take me again.....he really needs to learn how to catch fish :)))

Ellie & her new Pillowcase Dress

When Ellie got to my house today, she was sporting her new pillowcase dress that her Mama had been the winner of. Although I'm not a professional, like some people around me, I just had to take her picture and she is always more than happy to pose. I'm sure Mom or Dad will do better but Ellie & I were happy with these.

Thanks so much Mandy! The dress is as cute as can be and my goodness, even I could make it!

Anyone that is not familiar with the magnificent mom that made this, and many other things... you need to check out her blog, or I should say blogs ... and here they are http://mandybeez.blogspot.com & http://craftedition.blogspot.com/. It is definitely worth you time in browsing.

Max's letter home

Dear Daddy Kaan & Mama Tia-

So much has happened since I left home a couple weeks ago, but will try to catch you up.

I have a new name. They call me "Max". I will let you know my fancy registered name when we all figure it out.

I am really having a good time in my new home. Found out I'm stuck with 2 cats. I hold my own and they have learned who is in charge. I love my new authority.

My favorite playmate is a girl named Ellie who is four years old We have fun 3 days week. We play tug of war, tag, ball, and just have fun. I always take a good nap after she has gone home but when I wake up, I always cry because she's gone.

The food is good here! Have not missed one single meal since I left home. In fact, I was at the doctor for an 8 week check up and in two weeks have jumped from 9.5 lbs to a whoppin' 18.3 lbs. Wow! I think I doubled my body weight in a mere 14 days.

I have had just a few upsets. The first evening, I had to go to the bathroom, but didn't know where go, so picked Perry's tennis shoe. He smelled it but couldn't find it!! Carol thought it was so funny that she had to take a picture of it. I also have chewed a heavy duty orange extension cord in half. Glad it was unplugged, oh, and I may have chewed a USB cable in two. It seems like everybody gets snippy when I lay by computer wires.

Check out my pictures that are attached. I move so fast with so much to do that it is hard to get a good pose out of me.

Most of all, just want you both to know that I am loved very much.

xxoo
-Max

meet Max

We have done it! We are in the dog ownership world now. He's a little 7 week old German Shephard. Headed to KC today, although it ended up being just north of Archie on Hwy 71. We got to meet Max's parents, and then fell in love with Max and paid for the little guy, got his registration papers and headed home.
After seeing his dad come down the drive way to "welcome" us, we learned that we have not only bought a dog, but a security system as well when he grows up to look like Dad.

Seems like a smart dog too. Went into the bedroom apparently looking for a place to have a good doggie poop and didn't get any on the floor! It all went in Perry's old tennis shoe. Good dog....good dog. haha

Clyde the cat is NOT happy. He will get over it though.

We are kind of bad about renaming a dog after we look at it for a day or two so he may not be Max next week.

What a pretty bonnet.....

Ellie and her beautiful bonnet that she made at the library!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy 80th Birthday Dad!

What a day to have a birthday party! Who would have thought we'd have snow flurries and rain turned to ice on March 28th. So much for March going out like a lamb! The party was out in Dad's shop and had a FANTASTIC turnover even though the weather wan't the best.
Ellie was great. She served every person that came in. Asked what they would like to drink and what kind of cake they would like and she took care of it.
All in all, it was a great party and Dad enjoyed visiting with all of his friends. Thanks to all for coming!

another park hopping day!

Another nice day, windy but warm so we decided that we wanted to do some more Park Hopping!

We succeeded in conquering 4 parks before the afternoon was finished! Starting at the new Miner's Memorial. I had never been there, and it's really nice. Ellie had been once before and it was her suggestion. Next we headed to what we call "The Purple Dinosaur" park. Others probably call it the Barney park but for some reason, that is not Barney to Ellie. She had fun there because a boy chased her all over the place. When he'd quit, she holler, "Hey! Are you going to chase me?"
3rd on our list - Deramus. We really like that play set and always have it on our list.

Last but not least - Lakeside! Talk about kids, the place was PACKED. At the end, Ellie ended up in a Girls Only Club on top of the old slide. They were all about 8 years old and how she slipped in I do not know but she thought she was big stuff when they'd holler down NO BOYS when a boy would try to climb up.

Ellie's daddy walked down to meet us at the park and was going to get some shots for his film photography assignment so that ended my day. I drove to their house and left the cupcakes that Ellie whipped up earlier in the day.

I know I slept very well, and bet that Ellie did too!

here comes the bride

Ellie in another dress up mood. This time with an old formal of her Mom's pinned up and my bridal veil. I figured my wedding dress has stayed in a box in the closet for 30 years now so someone else ought to at least get some good out of the veil!! She wanted to wear the dress but it's just way to long in the back for her to navigate.

As for the groom, she said she is marrying TWO of the Jonas brothers. Joe and Kevin. Sorry Nick, she'll pick you next!