Dane Dane the CAndy Cane... turned ONE!

aaahhhh the ritual of turning ONE. The kids were "released early" from school yesterday so we had family and close friends over for a cupcake and coloring to celebrate Dane's first year. He was tired....the kids were hyped to be out of school and he utterly despised his cupcake. He was happy until we put him in his chair to "have at it". He touched it, tasted it and burst into tears! (could it be the influx of young girls wanting to guide him through this right of passage??)
Happy Birthday Baby Dane!

The kids on their last day of school (yesterday) before break. I guess that's going to be Dane's story... hey who wants to celebrate being out of school (AND my birthday by the way?!)

Thanksgiving in New Mexico

Looking at this picture I was surprised at how old the three of these little buggers look...
We had such great weather the kids were able to play outside every minute! And they really did!
They played in the dry creek bed behind Mimi and Poppy's house. Some distance from the house...alone...the 5 older kids. They named themselves the "ditch club". Ahhh the stuff good books are made out of...

The Original Cast

We just came home from a great week in New Mexico spent with Chris' family. We had great weather, great food and lots of fun and good conversation!
Here is the original Carlson Crew and aren't they cute!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

A real Thanksgiving Feast! This "feast" stretched equally as far the other direction. the entire "Great Hall" was filled with 1st graders eating their feast on rolls of brown paper and homemade placemats! Gunnar is second from the bottom on the right.
Gunnar has talked about his little friend Iiro all year .... they talk Star Wars and play on the playground at recess. I ....had in my mind that he was from, well... Japan? So this feast was the first day I got to meet Ihro? He's from Finland!! Gunnar and Iro the Swede and the Finn living in Texas!! That's America!!

11 months today...

Dane is 11 months today....
In all his glory. Teeth, slight runny nose, crawl, stand, walk along the couch, the only word he says is "Auda" every time he sees Audra he lights up and says her name almost clearly!!!!

Soccer Player Wanna-be

A younger brother waits.... waits on the sidelines. Season...after season.... until finally his day will come. The warn shoes of his brother's last season Adidas....he cheers (really echoes the cheers of other fans) "GO FIREBALLS!" At last......soccer season has ended. We hang up the cleats until next season when this little machine will get his turn on the field.

Mother Teresa (a.k.a third grade biography)

Before she fainted....
Yep....she fainted. Turned green, overheated, nervous energy fall to the ground, caught by another mother fainted!!
One for the record books!