The Crips, The Bloods, and the Suburban 5 Year Olds

Watching Logan we are starting to learn the unique dynamics of gang relationships. Good or bad, the Elementary school bus arrives home about the same time as we get home from daycare/Pre-School....then the madness on our street begins.

Before we can even get Carter out of the car, Logan has leaped from the backseat, strapped on his bike helmet, and gone blazing down the road on his bike. Our quiet dead-end street is quickly transformed into an elementary school "hood" complete with about a dozen 2-8 year olds riding bikes, scooters, PowerWheel cars, John Deer tractors, and whatever else has a wheel. Good or bad, this is Logan's 3rd summer on a bike and he has no fear. The speed at which he rides makes mom and dad just waiting for that first major crash....like father like son. Grandma closer still reminds dad of the time he was carried home by a neighbor screaming with blood all over his faces and hands after crashing his bike.

It is great to have playmates for the boys so close. Our little boy (Logan) is growing up so fast. It seems like only yesterday that we needed to be with him when he played with his friends - now he is 5 houses away playing tag or Star Wars. At least Carter is still dependent on us :-)

Snowbird Utah

We just returned from our last minute travels to Utah for Sara's grandpa's funeral. It was a beautiful service and the family all enjoyed some time together.

Outside of the funeral, we were able to spend a couple of days up at Snowbird skiing. Logan got his first set of skis and helmet during the trip and now skiing is officially his "goodest thing to do in the whole world" (from the mouth of a 5-year-old). Dad is ecstatic that his oldest son is finding a hobby that aligns with his passions - Shawn is already dreaming of pulling Logan and Carter out of school to go skiing when they get bigger. Most days Shawn skied solo in the morning hours then picked up Logan for a couple of hours in the afternoon. In short, he has no problem getting all the way down the hill without falling and is starting to master turning and stopping.

Too tired to write more.....instead I will just post some fun pictures from our trip and Carter's second b'day.

P.S. Did you know the Easter bunny still shows up at your house when you are on vacation - our boys were amazed at the persistent bunny's visit.

Happy Birthday Carter!

We celebrated Carter's 2nd birthday a couple of days early this weekend due to our unplanned trip to Utah next weekend for Sara's grandpa's funeral.

Attached are a variety of pictures. "Grandma closer" got Carter a hocky net and set of sticks. Carter is definitely showing potential as our future jock. It doesn't matter the sport, he gets right in their with his brother and neighbor boys and pushes them around whether it is soccer, hockey, baseball, wrestling...you name it.

Carter's favorite things to do as a 2-year-old:

• Watch "The Wiggles"
• Play hockey and soccer
• Eat candy and ice cream
• Read books
• Boss mommy and daddy around in the car. Example, "NO - that way!"
• Do EVERYTHING himself. Don't even try to help him get in the car - he has to do it himself.

The boys are excited to go to Utah this weekend. This will be our first airplane ride with Carter since he decided to puke all over Sara on the way home from Puerto Rico last year. Hopefully he will not be a creature of habit. Outside of the funeral, we are going to spend a couple of days skiing at Snowbird (over 550" of snow this year), swimming, probably go to the SLC Children's Museum, and whatever other excitement throws itself at us.

Name that rash!

Last night we were greeted by a surprising rash all over Logan's body in the bathtub. After a quick call to "nurse grandma;" as well as the official Clinic Nurse Line, we determined that it was most likely not chicken pox but rather a severe case of hives caused from an allergic reaction to the ear drops Logan has been on for the past 10 days. I guess the ear drops are in the same family as the eye drops which caused his allergic reaction a couple of years ago.

Going forward we are going to have to be more sensitive to the various prescription medicines he is on - a friend mentioned that even neosporin is in that same family and may cause problems.

Logan has been a trooper! Luckily the rash is confined to body parts covered by clothes so others don't panic when he is out in public.