What's New With The Carter Family

I'm going to post some Christmas photos in a few days time....but for now, you will have to settle for a Christmas message from Jem (to his Nunna, Papou and Uncle Con). Watch. It's cute :)

This Christmas was the first one in 10 years where I got to actually "see" my family. Thanks to the marvels of modern technology (a computer and a webcam), I got to have a Christmas chat with my folks, my brother, and their lunch guest.....my grandfather (also known as Nunnu). It was an amazing experience, seeing my grandfather again - but the most incredible part of it was that he actually SAW and HEARD me too. Kind of a miracle, seeing as my Nunnu is legally blind, hard of hearing, and sometimes not always aware of what's going on around him.... But it was like a light clicked inside of him and he realised who I was and that he could indeed see and hear me :) It was priceless. We actually had a short conversation, something I wasn't even able to do with him when I visited in 2007. Brings tears to my eyes just remembering it :) What a great gift this was...it's something I will NEVER forget.

This year's Christmas concert was great :) As a second grader, Jem learned and performed songs with the third grade classes....so unfortunately he had no speaking part this year (that honor always goes to the older class). Nevertheless we thoroughly enjoyed listening to him sing the songs he'd long practiced -- my personal favorites were "The perfect 10" (a song about the Ten Commandments) and "I Trouble" (a song about man's selfishness). Great job Jemaroo! Here he is after the concert with his best friend, Heather. And a picture with his second grade teacher, the lovely Mrs Inks.

While the AMOUNT of snow was fairly pitiful, this was indeed the first day of snow for the Winter Season :) Jem INSISTED he put on his full snow gear and head outside - and was happy enough to be out there while the white stuff was falling from the sky.

Every year for the past few years we've hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange with some of Jem's friends from preschool. We started off with some playtime, then sat down for a Christmas story, played a game of Christmas Bingo, wrote a letter to Santa, had a snack.......and exchanged Christmas cookies! It's always nice to have Jem's preschool buddies over....and while we may not see them often, we are grateful to still keep in touch with these wonderful children and their families :)

WHAT! I can't believe I forgot to post some Halloween pictures on here! I've been so pre-occupied with my 'other' blog (the stamping one) that I have kind of neglected this one....so sorry! Here are a few photos of Jem from this year's Halloween night - where he recycled his costume from 2 years ago, added a little to it, and became - a Hammer Bro. from Paper Mario (a Nintendo video game).

This weekend we said goodbye to an old friend (or foe as Cathy remembers it)...Brandon's 1999 Chevy Malibu. It had gotten to the point where it needed the same repair done on it (a third time) and along with it's other issues, became too much trouble to keep. So we went car shopping. We were looking for another Sedan, and since Cathy was happy with her Hyundai Santa Fe, we decided to go with the same brand, different model - a Silver Hyundai Sonata V6. It's a good little car, gets decent gas mileage, has great safety features and will be a perfect little commuter car for Brandon. Plus with the warranty we won't have to worry about any 'repairs' for a long, long time! Welcome home new car :)

Two days later, Jem lost his SECOND tooth.....on the bottom, right next to the first one :) It was wiggly and wobbly, and with enough tongue pushing it came right out! Another visit from the tooth fairy might have been the motivation to rush getting this one out haha!!

His very first tooth...........loose for months now..............is FINALLY OUT!!! It happened only a few minutes ago :) and yes, already I'm blogging about it haha!!! He's been waiting for this for sooooo long.....whooo hoooo!!!!! His tooth is in a baggie under his bed, awaiting inspection from the tooth fairy; and attached is a note asking if we could please keep the tooth since "mom" wants to scrapbook it haha!!!! I wonder what the going rate for a fairy visit is these days.....

This is a sight I often see, on weekends only of course (since we have a "no video games during the school week" policy!). It's a very Jem moment in time....glued to his Mario & Luigi game on his Nintendo DS (as he wears his Mario Bros. t-shirt). He is a little boy, obsessed with Mario :) He talks about him, pretends to be him, and even dreams of him. I know this stage won't last forever....but for now, I'm glad he's found something to pour his passion and imagination into. Even if it is a video game character :)

Jem just signed up for cub scouts this week... and here he is, all ready to head off for his first outing! He and Carson got all dressed up, and along with the dads, headed off to a day of fun activities with other cub scouts. LOOK AT HOW STINKIN' CUTE MY BOY IS IN HIS UNIFORM!!!!!!!!! So cute!!!!!

I can't believe that Jem is now in SECOND grade!!! Wow, time sure does go by fast....wasn't it just yesterday that he was starting first grade with Mrs York??? Whew! Well Jem is just LOVING second grade...he is in Mrs Inks class with lots of familiar friends and best of all, his "best friend" Heather :) He even sits at a little desk now (not the big shared tables of Kindergarten and first grade!) and is still going by "James" at school *LOL*. Here is a page I scrapbooked (at Sarah's house this week) of Jem's first day of Second Grade!

My parents, Mary and Michael (also known as "Mum'n'Dad") came to the USA to visit us this summer. They were here for almost the whole month of August....and it was the first trip to the States for my dad, and the first in 7 years for my mum! It was AWESOME having them here... I can't express how much it meant to me to be able to spend some time with them again :) Here are some of the highlights from their (too short) stay. Welcome to the USA! A walk to Lundeen Park, Lake Stevens. Going to a baseball game - to see the "Aquasox" play Boise. Jem and "Nunna" making Koulourakia. A visit to Pike Place Market in Seattle. Mum bought some beautiful flowers there. Dad was always busy doing something around the house...he made firewood bundles, sanded and stained our decks, moved building blocks, installed a storm door.....wheew! Thanks for all of your help dad :) Mum and Jem cuddling together on the couch. On the Mukilteo Ferry, on our way home ...

Yay!!! My mum and dad are here :) Not much more to say is there???? Very very happy!

Here are some fun pictures from today of the kiddos - Jem, River and Carson. I want to give a special "shout out" to my buddy Cars, who just started a blog of his very own! Way to go buddy, you know I'll be checking it every so often to see what's "new" with "you" :)

Brandon and Jem decided to go down to the garden and pick some strawberries :) They took Jem's halloween candy bucket, and off they went.... A few minutes later they came back with a bucket FULL of fresh, red strawberries - and then went right back down for another bucketful! All in all we filled three HUGE containers with Brandon's strawberries....and yes, they were as delicious as they looked! Super sweet and soft and full of goodness!

This was Jem's LAST DAY........of First Grade!!!! They celebrated with a Field Day -- a half day of school, where all the kids participated in group/class games outdoors. It was a TON of fun.....and it was nice to see everyone together one last time :) The day ended with a Pizza lunch and free ice-creams thanks to the PTF! What a great year it's been! Lindsey blindly pours the water to Jem..... .....who then pours it into Joseph's cup! And down the line it goes! Jem with some of his school buddies...Kassidy, Heather, Jem, Maci and Jeffery (with Amanda at the back). Jem with his "best" school pal, Heather :) Then Jem and Ysabelle get ready to do the "Sponge Run"! Drip Drip the water goes....Wet anyone??? Getting ready for the "Dress Your Teacher" competition.... Here she is! Let's give a big "Thank You" to Jem's FABULOUS First Grade teacher, Mrs York!!! We'll miss you!!!