My First Born

Carter - Pre-K Graduation

On May 31, Carter officially became a Kindergartner as he received his "diploma" for completing Pre-K. A year ago, we made a very difficult decision to leave the only childcare/daycare home that we had known since Carter was 10 months old. It was decision that weighed heavy on our hearts, primarily because we were leaving many of our best friends and new friends we have just started to become close with. 

But we knew with out a doubt a change was needed and Carter needed to be in a positive and loving environment where he could thrive and focus on learning through fun in these super formative couple of years. We were blessed to find a new home with these four teachers above. Most have their degrees in early childhood development or are in school now to get it. Their passion for teaching, unbelievable patience and ability to tune into each child as an individual teaching to their strengths was what impressed us the most. 

Ericka and Andrea, his two main teachers. Carter definitely melted the heart of Andrea and he could always count on her to pat him to sleep each and every day, something he NEVER gets at home... what a treat!

After the four teachers read the Dr. Seuss book, "The Places You Will Go," and they each got up to receive their diplomas, we all had ice cream sundaes to celebrate. Here, Carter is with Robby and Aaron.

We love you our special little man!

Now, we are welcoming the world of summer camps in anticipation of Kindergarten to begin August 27, 2012!

Our Little Snorkeler

Carter had been asking us about snorkeling for several weeks and when Meme was in town last week, she found him one to try out. We're impressed with how well he has picked it up and I love listening to his little breaths through the tube while he is under.

Baseball In The Backyard

 I love the way Addie was looking at Meme...

Deep conversations.

Carter's 1st Round Of Golf (9 holes)

About 9 months ago, my girlfriend Liz, introduced me to the "marble system" of discipline. It's more like way to reward the kids for catching them with great behavior or doing things over and above what is expected and to punish for poor behavior or choices. Once their individual jar is filled up (it usually takes around a month,) they each get to choose ANY fun activity to do one-on-one with Mommy and/or Daddy. We have done Monster Golf, ice cream trips, Put-Put Golf and one of the recent reward for Carter was that he got to go play his first REAL round of golf with daddy. (These prizes are all usually due to GROUPON.) He was SO excited. It was only a nine hole par three course, but Carter was begging for more. Blake wanted him to leave wanting more but I have a feeling come some cooler weather & maybe a GOLF CART, Carter will be ready for a full 18 holes.

Carter - End Of Season Basketball

About a month ago, Carter played his last two winter basketball games and we couldn't be more impressed with who he did playing as a five year old in the under 7 league. The second to last game, Carter scored 14 points playing only half the game. He was so exciting having so many family and friends there cheering him on and we know what a boost that is to Carter when he is on the court!

In Blake's 5th season of coaching Carter's sports, he did the perfect job coaching these 5-7 year olds. He has this unbelievable gift of extreme patients and stays so calm when everything around him is chaotic. Besides wanting to teach the kids the sport, he wants each and everyone, most importantly to have fun. I am so proud of him. 

 Blake and his team...

 Without a doubt the "most improved team" of the season. They went from loosing the first half of the season to winning the entire second half, ultimately beating the older and much larger teams.

 The family support was amazing. The Metcalf Four, YaYa and Grandpa, Erin and Matt & Lolli! (This was the game Carter scored his career high of 14 points playing half the game.) See fans do help the players!

 The Perkins came for the very last game of the season.

Old & New

On last week's visit to Mema's, I loved seeing the difference in hands as Mema helped Carter with a puzzle.

Kicking Booty

So I have to say, I was having second thoughts on Carter playing basketball as a super young five year old with ALL six and seven year olds in his league. I was nervous they were 4-8 inches taller, quite a bit faster and some just plain mean... well, I say that because one day during practice, a boy told Carter he was slow. But boy was I wrong, I forgot to take into account that Carter has one thing that 95% of the other boys don't. He GETS it. He has the HEART and the plain out SMARTS. In fact, this last game, he scored ALL of his team's points and his defense (as pictured above) is really improving. He came home from practice this week telling me how he scored a jump shot from the free throw line during their scrimmage. His confidence in his skills is increasing and with that we are seeing unbelievable growth every week.

Tennis With Carter

At a fresh five years old, my son is officially is good as I am...

Carter's Five Year Old Interview

The third one is my personal favorite.

Proud Mama Alert!

With no zoom on the IPAD, he's the littlest guy in the bright orange shirt, with the ball on the left.  On a team with all six and seven year olds, my freshly turned five year old just happened to be the leading scorer on the team but I promise I'm not really keeping stats! Meme... you'd be SO PROUD!!!

Dear Carter,

It's 9:41 PM on December 18, 2011 and pretty much five years ago to the minute, we welcomed you into this world, after nearly 15 hours of active labor. Knowing you as I do now, I don't think you were just being stubborn on that special day, rather you just wanted to enter on your own time. It really does fit your personality.

As I sit here and think about you right now, it is a flood of mixed emotions that I don't even know if I can articulate well. Before now, based on what I thought I knew about the age of FIVE, half of me says NO WAY, you aren't what I pictured a five year old would be. You aren't old enough or big enough to be starting elementary school in eight months and you are still so sweet and kind and loving and timid at times. I don't know what I had in my mind that a five year old would be like, but I will take you a million times over what I had in my mind.

I love how you want to be with me, your dad and Addie every second of every day if you could. Your healthy independence is definitely there, but if we are in the same place, you want to hang around us and for that I am beyond grateful. (Of course that does exclude the times your cousin Sean or Marshall are within a 500 foot radius!) ;)

I'm pretty sure I say this each and every year but your are absolutely amazing and make me proud to be your mommy every single day, no joke.

This past week at our regular conference with your teachers, they told us one of your biggest strengths is being a natural leader. You probably don't even understand what a positive power you have but Erika gave us multiple examples of how you are positively influencing your friends in your class every single day. They say that they can count on you to listen and follow instructions and as soon as you start doing something, they notice those around you start to do the same thing, taking your lead. Carter, this is a wonderful characteristic to have as an adult, to be a silent leader sometimes, and I hope you always nurture this trait.

This is a big year for you. Today, you embarked on your 6th year of life. You will learn to tie your shoes, start elementary school and perhaps play your first full round of 9 holes in a game of golf with your dad. Whatever may come in between these highlights, I pray I continue to take a moment every day to stare into your HUGE dark chocolate pudding eyes tell you that I LOVE YOU.

I love you to Pluto planet and back,

Mom

Turning around in the car and taking time to remember my little FOUR year old on the eve of turning FIVE....

On your actual birthday, the three of us cooked  a special birthday breakfast for you, as we do every year.

We all played your new Golden Tee Golf Game as a family and you and daddy had a special outing to Monster Golf, where you had SO MUCH FUN!!! YaYa, Grandpa, Uncle August and The Perkins came over to sing Happy Birthday and enjoy some ice cream cake.

Your new Transformer sleeping bag from YaYa and Grandpa!