I know, I know…it’s been almost a year since my last post. Well like I said once school starts it gets real busy around here. Seeing that I’ve left you in suspense since my last post I guess I should tell you if we had a boy or a girl. Say “hello” to Jackson Maywood Carey!

4/6/12

There have been some changes around here. After 11 years of teaching and working my tail off I am now a stay at home mom. It feels so good to be there in the morning to send my kids off to school and to be there in the afternoon when they come home.

It doesn't hurt either that I get to spend the day alone with this handsome lil’ prince.

Don’t you just love the double chin. They are so in style right now.

I do feel some guilt because now my hubby has to work his tail off just so that I can be at home. He’s gone a lot and I feel bad posting some of the fun things I do with the kids. I don’t want him to feel left out. Although, he probably sees my posts and thinks to himself “Better you, than me”.  I really do appreciate everything he does and how much he provides for our family. J

Hunter started middle school and let’s just say I was a psycho worry wart. I was very stressed  about him going to middle school but he didn’t seem the least bit fazed. It was all for nothing since now he comes home everyday saying how much he LOVES middle school and everyday is “the best day”. I can’t tell you how relieved I am and I thank God for making his transition so easy. I didn’t have the best experience in middle school or high school for that matter so of course I want Hunter to have a better time than I did. I’m so proud of him and I think this year is going to be a great year as well! 

Ava is in preschool and this is the first time she’s only gone for a half day. She wasn’t too happy about it at first. The second day of school she told me that we needed to take her nap mat to school so she could take a nap with her friends instead of at home. She now seems to be fine with the fact that I pick her up early every day. I love it because it just means more time I get to spend with her.

Looks like someone is not too happy to be at school. Maybe this is a foreshadowing of what's to come...

Oh and in case you need another dose of double chin goodness with some dimples on the side…

After taking a year long hiatus from spinning I drug myself back to the Y for an exhilarating workout. I was surprised at how easy***(see below for definition) it was and how I almost (using that term very loosely) felt as if I had never stopped. There was a new instructor (not sure how new she was seeing that I hadn’t been in a year) and I really like her!! I’m very critical of my spinning instructors and she passed the test. Nothings worse than sweating your butt off for 45 min to an hour with a horrible instructor with even worse music! At the end of the class she started talking about this blog she follows called 100 Days of Real Food  and I became very intrigued. I looked it up as soon as I got home and I must tell you I could not stop looking at the site. There was a lot of information on there that I was already familiar with as well as stuff I didn't know. I tried some of the recipes out the very next day and so far I’m pleased. The idea of the challenge is to go 100 days without eating any processed foods. Right now I’m easing my, or should I say, our way in to it. Prior to reading this blog I would say our family was living a 60/40 lifestyle…that is 60% Real Food and 40% Processed Food. That may even be a stretch but I would like to think we were eating fairly healthy. There are a couple of reasons I’m going to gradually move us in that direction until we are 100% Real Food.

 ***Spinning in no way shape or form is easy so when I said it was easy I really meant that it wasn't like my VERY FIRST time spinning when I thought I was going to literally fall over and die from exhaustion.

Reason #1: I have a family of complainers and I don’t feel like listening to anymore complaining than I already do. The Complaint Department is maxed out!! Therefore I will trick them by slowly cutting out processed food. 

Reason #2: I know if Jillian Michaels were here or if I was on The Biggest Loser with whatshisname they would make me throw out everything in my pantry but I can’t just throw away money (food) or chocolate so we are going to just eat it. But once it’s gone, it’s gone!

Reason #3: I can’t go off Hershey's Chocolate with Toffee cold turkey! 

Reason #4: The holiday season is almost upon us and you better believe I will be having something with chocolate, sugar and anything else that’s bad for you that I can get my hands on.

Reason #5: Because I’m allergic to diets and I need time to trick myself into thinking this is not a diet.

Wish us good luck! We're gonna need it!!

Carrie xoxo

P.S. So I noticed when I was trying to publish this blog that there are parts where the font changes. I have no idea why it's doing that because when I typed it up everything was in the same font. Hopefully soon I'll figure this all out!

Time Flies When You're...hmm am I having fun?

It's hard to keep up with this blogging "thing" once school starts. Every time I read someone else's blog I always think to myself "Gee, I should update mine." Of course I decide I'd rather go to bed then take the time to tell you about the latest in my life.
If you don't know already Bryan and I are expecting!! This will be our third child and as of now the house is split.
Girl-2 votes
Boy-2 votes
Although, I'm pretty sure Bella and Gus would vote for a girl as well.

We find out the gender on November 17th but we won't ACTUALLY find out till that weekend. My sister is throwing me a "Gender Reveal" party...don't ask. I've never been good at surprises so I don't know how I'm going to handle this, even if it is only waiting 1-2 days.

October is always a busy month----my grandmother's birthday, Hunter's birthday and of course Halloween. We have a tradition that we do every year. There is a pumpkin patch nearby that we've been going to since Hunter was probably 2 or 3. They have this shark slide (can't believe they still have it) that Hunter used to ask me to get him for his birthday. This thing is taller than my house and probably costs a gazillion dollars.

I couldn't even fit the whole thing in the picture if I still wanted you to see Hunter. He still loves it but now that love only lasts about 5 minutes. Ava on the other hand enjoys these blow up slide things from a distance.She much prefers swinging and climbing through tunnels.

Our whole purpose of going to the pumpkin patch was to pick out pumpkins. I'm sure your wondering where are the pictures of the kids choosing their pumpkins. I would have but I was busy taking pumpkins out of the wagon as fast as Ava was putting them in. After she tired of that I was busy running after her and freaking out because we were right near a very busy street (she's fast, even for a 2 year old). After about 10 minutes of this I finally grabbed 2 pumpkins, paid for them and watched the kids zoom past me to play. Go figure.

I love traditions and I love spending time with my family. Some of my fondest memories have been traditions that my parents created with my sister and I. Bryan and I have made it an important part of our family to create our own traditions that I hope Hunter, Ava, and Baby Carey will remember for a lifetime. Here's to family, traditions and creating memories!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!! Be safe and get lots of candy!!!!

Practice Makes Perfect!

Oh blog, how I have neglected thee…not only have I really blown this whole blog thing but I think my blog probably thinks I’m a little schizo seeing that I’ve changed the name 3x. You see, here is my problem…I want to keep up with blogging trends. I’d love for people to WANT to read my blog and it has to be interesting and funny---two things that are not me. I am not a great writer but I’ve decided I need to take the advice I give my students ALL THE TIME: To be a great writer you have to WRITE! The funny part…well…unfortunately my sister would need to be writing this blog for that to happen. Since she doesn’t read blogs and probably doesn’t even know what a blog is then you get to enjoy my sense of humor or rather lack of.

At this very moment my house is in shambles. We decided after living here for two years we would FINALLY take out the carpet and pull up the wood floors in the kitchen. Little did we know when we started this “little” project that we would discover that the wood is all rotted along the double doors going out into our backyard. Now we have to fix the rotting wood and replace the doors. That doesn’t seem sooooo bad does it? Well the floors were supposed to in and everything was to be finished this past weekend but because of the rotting wood fiasco I now have to wait until this weekend JUST to get the wood replaced and the new doors put in. Who knows when my floors will be finished? For now we must run through an obstacle course of misplaced furniture, half empty paint cans, and various tools that could easily impale you if made the wrong misstep. Even the counters are not safe…you could easily pick up your drink only to find that you are choking on dust from a Crate and Barrel vase. My house resembles and a cross between an episode of “Hoarders” and any show on HGTV (your choice). In the end it will all be worth it!! (That’s what I keep telling myself)

Where's Hunter



I’m really enjoying my summer off! I’ve enjoying sleeping in almost every day, going to the pool, taking naps, spending time with my kids, taking naps, watching as much TV as I want, taking naps…you get the picture.

Hunter has been busy this summer going to Boy Scout Summer Camp and visiting relatives in New York. It was quiet when he was gone…a little too quiet at times. I’ve enjoyed seeing him off playing with friends and listening to Ava begging to tag along. I can’t believe he’s going to fifth grade! One more year till MIDDLE SCHOOL!!! Am I really old enough to have a child this close to entering the next phase of childhood? Last time I checked he was two and sleeping on vacuum cleaners (just wait buddy…oh, the stories I’m planning to tell your future wife). Now he’s almost as tall as me and is constantly reminding me that he is a “pre-teen”. Sometimes when I look at him I see a glimpse of a teenager but then his child like features push their way back and I feel relief that I have a little bit longer till I start hearing that change in his voice and worst yet…HAIR—MAN HAIR!! Oh dear…I’m going to have nightmares tonight.

My “diva-in-training” said to me today, “You’re jealous!”….what?!? How does a 2 year old know that phrase and better yet does she even know what it means! This seems to be her catch phrase as she’s been saying it A LOT lately. I believe she may have heard me say it to my sister a few times too many.

Ava and Bella our cat have been bonding lately, or should I say Ava has been fervently trying to befriend Bella as if her life depended on it. If Bella could talk I believe the conversation would sound a little like this:

Ava: Sit Bella Sit. (pushing down on Bella’s back)


Bella: What the hell? I am not a dog. I do not sit when commanded.


Ava: (hands around Bella’s neck) Come on Bella, wanna snuggle? (pitch of voice gets higher)


Bella: GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY NECK, B#%$*!


Ava to me: Bella wants to take a nap with me and sleep in my bed


Bella: The hell I do…mom…mom…nooooo don’t close the door!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Thursday!!

It's time...

I can't believe it's been a year since I last posted! Well, hopefully now that I have a new idea of what I want to do with this blog I will be better about posting.

I have recently become RE addicted to makeup. Here's how it happened: I decided over the Christmas break that I wanted to get a "new" look...something I could wear for New Years or other special occasions. So, I went to my FAVORITE makeup store--MAC--and fell in love with the makeup the girl at the counter was wearing...Well after about 45 min I left with a new look and about $100 worth of makeup. My sister was with me and well....lets just say that we both fed into each others frenzy over the makeup. It's been down hill for me since then. Les and I went back to the MAC counter about a week later and spent even more money. Don't even get me started on the Vegan eyeshadows created by Indie companies that we discovered this past week. I need to start posting pics so you can see all the great colors. Bryan of course thinks I'm crazy but at least my attention has been slightly turned away from Matilda Jane for the time being...at least for another 2 weeks that is :)

Oh and here are some pics of the kids to satisfy any family members who aren't really here to listen to me rant and rave about things I'm buying :)

Ava in September 2009

Ava had not starting walking yet but she was able to stand up on her own. I kept saying "I can't wait for her to start walking"...didn't I learn my lesson from Hunter :)

5 months!!!!

It's been since August when I made my last post!!! I guess you can tell how busy I've been. It seems like since I've been back at work I have NO life!!! I go in super early, get home late, play, feed, bath and put the kids to bed, do some MORE work and then go to bed myself. Sometimes I feel like a zombie walking around. So I'm going to try my best to recap the last 5 months :) So in August our friends Buck and Barb came to visit with their son Dominic. We had the opportunity to visit NOB and see some military helicoptors. We love when Buck and Barb come to visit and we hope they come again soon!!!

Summer...hmmm

Summer is almost over :( I've really enjoyed being able to be at home with Ava and I'm not looking forward to only seeing her in the evenings and on weekends. Hunter's been gone now for about 2 weeks and I miss him a ton as well. We talk almost every day and I still can't tell if he misses me or not...hope so :) He'll be back in about 3 weeks...which feels like a LONG way off. I wish I could say that I have some exciting news to share or some interesting story to tell but I don't...I've been spending most of my days being a "bum". You would think that my house would be spotless and that I'd have meals cooked everyday...ha ha ha not at all! Right now there is folded laundry on my couch, laundry in the dryer and washer, dishes in the sink, clean dishes in the dishwasher and baby toys on the floor. The best part...I DON'T FEEL GUILTY!!!! Don't worry though I'll be back to normal once school starts. Funny how when your really busy and feel like you have no extra time to do anything is when you accomplish the most...well at least that's true for me. Well Ava is standing now and crawling ALL OVER the place. Today a friend of Bryan's was visiting and we were all hanging out in the kitchen. He asked "Can Ava climb the stairs?" My reply "No, not really" Dan's reply "Well she's climbing them right now". Sure enough she was up to the 3rd stair and wasn't stopping...guess we need to get a gate.