A conversation with Braxton

Braxton is such a funny kid. He makes me laugh everyday. Yesterday he & I had a great conversation. I was watching my niece and nephew and Braxton got himself and all the kids a fruit snack. I told him to wait a while before they got anymore treats from the pantry. I went into my bathroom to get make-up on and this is how the conversation went:

Braxton: "Mom, alright alright I'll tell you the truth."
Me: "The truth about what?"
Braxton: "I didn't get the fruit snacks from the pantry."
Me: "You didn't - where did you get them?"
Braxton: "I got them out of my bed. I put them there last night."

Can you tell we have been working on telling the truth. Jason said he saw Braxton sneek by him before bed. He went in to check on him later and saw that he was hiding something. Gotta love the kid!!!

Dylan's 10th Birthday

At the movie with Wyatt and Tanner
The first of several gift cards
The cake

I can't believe Dylan is 10. Last night we were talking about the night he was born & I still remember it so clearly, makes it seem like just a few months ago. He invited two friends to go to a movie, "Journey to the Center of the Earth". I took them Saturday afternoon. They had a blast, especially laughing when I screamed during the movie. I took treats to his class. Then we had cake and ice cream last night for his official birthday. It was a small party of just my family. My parents and grandma were here to help celebrate. He got 4 gift cards to Walmart. He is so excited to go shopping and get more stuff. I know it was a hard birthday this year but I hope he had an ok one. Jason & I tried to make it a good one. Hopefully next year will be better. He keeps reminding us that he's getting closer to driving. Heaven help us!!!

Corn on the cob

I know, another post. We've had a busy week. Anyway, this last week Natalie had her first corn on the cob. It was a great moment at the Carter home. She loved it! Jason is the only one that isn't that crazy about it. It was so fun to watch her dive in and chow down on it. Dylan was a bit jealous because he can't have it until the braces come off. The whole thing was really cute!! Yes, I let Braxton have some too!!

A goal, a race, a leg & a broken heart

This is a story about my day on Saturday the 23rd. I guess I better go back farther than that. For those that don't know me well, I am not athletic in any way, shape, or form. I never have been, never will be. Well, a few years ago I started running, extremely short distances at first (like down the street). I have run on and off for the past few years and I love it. I have only run a few 5k races and decided to take a big leap and do a half marathon. I started training in March for the Hobble Creek Half. Now mind you I have been running steady since last spring, except those winter days of 5 degrees outside. I'm not that dedicated. My good friend Michelle & I both signed up for the half and really started working on our distance in May. Well, about 6 weeks ago we about doubled our distance and I got really bad shin splints. If you have never had them, be glad. They are so bad. I went to a doctor and he told me to stay off them for at least a month. I told him to keep dreaming and asked what other options I had to which the answer was "None". I took two weeks off and then started back again. They hurt but it was bearable. Then I went on a practice run one week prior. I rode up the canyon with some friends in the ward that were running it also. I stayed with them for the first mile and they took off. I am happy with a 9 minute mile, they are 7 minute milers. I got to about 8.5 and died. My leg hurt so bad. I had my phone with me and was calling home when an old friend stopped and took me home. Thats when the dream died. I was so upset, not to mention not able to move for 2 days. I still had a small hope, but not much. Needless to say, I wasn't able to run the race, and yes there were tears involved. I was brokenhearted. For some, running that far is insane, for me, it is the only active thing I thought I could do. I did put on my clothes and butt in line to get my shirt, because they only give them to those who actually finish the race. Don't turn me in!! Next year I am so running that race. Just goes to show you that life happens and you just have to move on. Lesson learned!!

First Day of School

Yeah! School is back in. Dylan started the 4th grade and man do I feel old. He absolutely loves his teacher, Mrs. Hardy. He has a few good friends in his class and so far he is loving it. I think the best part for him is the fact that they don't get homework unless they don't finish it in class. I think it's great, just hope that he stays where he needs to be. He is a reader like his mother. I hope that he keeps that up throughout his life. I took him school shopping a few weeks ago, just him & I and we had a great time. We shopped for clothes, ate dinner at Chick-fil-A (our favorite) and he endured an hour making copies for my preschool. He is such a good kid. I am super lucky to have him.

My 13th Anniversary

Anniversary Dinner from Joe Banditos
Cleaning the trailer after the hunt
Brax, Nati & Dylan - Our miracles
Good thing their cute
Taking a break together

Wow! 13 years ago today. I honestly can't believe it's been that long. Some times it feels like we have been married just a short while and other times it feels like a lot longer than it is. Jason is my "love of a lifetime" and I don't know what I would do without him. He is so good to me and I am so very blessed to have him. When I think of all of the wacky things I have done and wacky things I have said to him, I realize that he must love me. Even through all of my Twilight moments he has just let me do it and tried not to say too much. He is such a good dad and I love to watch him with the kids. He just got home from the bow hunt and Nati has not let him get too far away from her and he loves it. She really missed him. He even let the boys crash the last night of the hunt, just because he thought they would enjoy it also. We gave up a night out and settled for dinner from Joe's, and cleaning the trailer. It doesn't get more romantic than that. He did clean the trailer without my help- total sweetheart!! 13 years, 5 moves, 3 wonderful kids, major challenges, major blessings - I wouldn't do it with anyone but him. Thanks for loving me sweetie!!

What a Brother!!

On Tuesday the 12th I went out to get the mail. I scanned through everything and noticed a small package addressed to me from my brother Chris in Lewiston, Idaho. My first thought was "It's not mom's or dad's birthday or anniversary, so whats with the package?" Then I opened it. Oh my word!! My brother is the best. He saw a copy of Entertainment Weekly (not just any EW, the one with the Twilight Saga story) in one of his offices and knew that I would love to have it, so being the biggest sweetheart in the world that he is, he sent it to me with a cute note that said "Nic - I saw this & knew I had to get it for you. I know - I'm awesome! Chris". He has read the entire series and loves them. He has been trying to find a cheap enough flight to come here to go to the movie with me. He is the best!! Chris I think you are so fabulous and I love you to death.

Breaking Dawn Release Party

Wow! I actually made it. A year is a long time to wait for the ending of this series. I admit that I started to hypervenilate about two weeks before the book came out. Thankfully I had a ton to do over the last two weeks so time went by faster than I would have thought it would. Shavon & I planned a pre-release party. We invited anyone that has read the books and liked them (obviously no one could love them or be more crazy about them than us). Her friend Laura reserved a room at Magelby's in Orem, the Sun Room and reservation under "Edward". Totally appropriate don't you think. Shavon's mother-in-law has connections with a shirt printing place and we ordered shirts, black with silver writing of "I love Edward". Some friends already had the shirts that we ordered last year so it was nice to have variety. Shavon & I went over at 8 a.m. to get the wrist bands. There were already a ton of people there, making our #'s starting at 148. Not to bad compared to last years # of 350. While we waited in line we got talking about the books with those in front & behind us. There were some younger college aged girls behind us that said something about fans being obsessed. They mentioned that they had seen a white suv with a "Twilight" license plate. Shavon & I busted up laughing because its her car. It was so great!! I will be laughing about that for a long time. Anyway, my sister-in-laws Randi & Kate came along with several of Kate's friends. We had a total of about 28 for dinner, some had to leave after dinner but most hung out for the big event. This years party at Borders was so different from last year. They had a band in the parking lot, a bracelet making booth, and face painting. We made bracelets and then headed inside at around 10:30. It was fun just to hang out and talk about good books, bad books, and books that I shouldn't read (a little skanky). Some friends from my neighborhood came who are also in book club with Shavon & I. I had a blast. About 30 minutes to midnight they had us line up, which was interesting. They kicked everyone else out that didn't have a # under 200. They counted down from 10 seconds and then we all screamed. It was so great. We didn't have to wait too long to get up there. We got our books and headed out to see hundreds more waiting in line. The highest # we saw was 833. It paid off to go early in the morning! All in all it was so fun. I just finished reading the book. No, I'm not going to say what I thought about it....for now at least. I'll give everyone a bit more time to read first. I will say that I so called what would happen!!!!