What's New With The Carter Family

This year for Halloween, Jem got to wear a ninja turtle costume! He looked so adorable in it! It was a gift from his Uncle Con in Australia (during our recent visit), and Jem had been looking forward to wearing it ever since we got back home. We purchased a couple of accessories (a belt and sword) and he was all ready for a night of trick-or-treating in our neighborhood! His cousin River, and friend Carson were his companions.....they were dressed as Harry Potter and Hermione (from the Harry Potter movies). They went to almost all of the houses on our side of the development, and let's just say that A LOT of candy was brought back home!!!

I don't know where the time went......all of a sudden Jem is 5 1/2 years old and starting Kindergarten! What happened to my little boy? Didn't I just write on here a little while ago that he was starting Preschool? Could that really have been 2 years ago? Life moves so fast - because here I am, having to let him spend his day somewhere else, with someone else......aaaaah!!!!!! Even though Jem is ready and excited for Kindergarten to start, am I ready to let him go? He has met his new teacher, Mrs Sterling, and visited his new school, Northshore Christian Academy. He knows no one....but he is such a social child, I have no doubt he will make friends in no time at all. Look at how little he looks in these pictures, can he really be ready for school? He looks so handsome in his school uniform! Have a wonderful year in Kindergarten Jem - play, learn and above all, enjoy yourself!

As you can see from the photos above, the yard project is coming along nicely! This summer in particular, Brandon (with some help from Justin) managed to get a whole other wall built. Doesn't it look different when seeing it from below? When you see it from the top of the hill you have no idea of how much wall there actually is! Although this project has been ongoing for over 3 years, the end is in sight - I swear, if I squint my eyes just so I can almost see a finished yard!

This past August, Jem and I were lucky enough to be able to take a month long trip down to Australia! It was Jem's second time there, and he was VERY excited to be able to see his Nunna, Papou, Uncle Con, Bouz Nunnu and all of the friends and family I've spoken so much of. We were able to spend time with my beloved Tzia Rose, Bill's girls Jaymie and Alex (who will always have a very special place in my heart), and my bestest friend from high school and beyond, Joanne. I am so glad that Jem got to spend some time with these very special people. Here they are below..... Jaymie and Alexandra... Joanne... My Tzia Rose... We got to visit with many other friends and family during our trip - thank you to everyone who came to see us or met up with us, we really loved seeing you again! Jem and I have some pretty awesome memories of our holiday - going to the beach to collect shells with Papou, playing cards for money (haha!), my dad's awesome (did I say AWESOME?) greek salad, f...

Jem is now 4 years old! Can you believe that all he wanted for his birthday was to have a 'Purple Party'? (Whatever that means....) We sent out invitations to 9 of his closest pals, and decorated the house in all manner of purple. Then for 2 hours it was pure kid bliss - with pizza, cake, games, a pinata & a special bouncy castle for the gang to jump in! Jem had a ball - and is already talking about NEXT year's birthday, which for now he is predicting will be a 'Yellow Party' (Spongebob perhaps???)

Have you ever seen a dog so fine? Look at that pretty girl..........and all it took was a visit to the doggy stylist! Money well spent, or so Snickers thinks :)

This Valentine's Day Jem had a playgroup party, where candy was exchanged and crafts were done.....my special memory of the day was when Jem colored a red heart for me and wrote his name (all by himself!) in it and said "this is for you, my mama!". It brought a tear to my eye I tell ya! That is, of course, until we got home..........where he promptly ran to daddy and exclaimed "look what I made you daddy!". So much for my 'special' valentine!