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new pool

Daddy & Carter testing the water...it's a little chilly!

Carter & Sean set up the new splash pool in the back yard over the weekend. Carter's favorite thing to do in the water is splash and pour water, so this was right up his alley! I think this pool will be getting a lot of use this Summer!

Ride Makerz action shots

Ride Makerz

Ride Makerz was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. This place is a "Build-A-Bear" concept store where you can build a toy car...making it as simple or as elaborate as you want (to pay for). It was an awesome place for a little boy who LOVES "wheels". Carter was in heaven...I just wish Sean could have been there to see it all.

Since this is the ONLY shop in Missouri, and there are NO Ride Makerz stores in Colorado, we were so happy to be able to make this special stop on our trip. Carter is a little young for this type of thing, but he sure enjoyed running around the store and playing with his new "wheels". And, Grandad was there to help Carter pick out just the right car and all the cool parts for it. Thanks, Grandad!

Cool car!
Watching the guy put our car together.

Ohhhh...I want THIS one!

So many wheels, so little time...

Outside the store...can we go inside now, Mommy?

Branson!

On Wednesday, we really "did" Branson. We swam in the hotel pool, saw "The Duttons" show in the afternoon (it was awesome!) and then headed to Branson Landing to "Ride the Ducks" and build a race car at "Ride Makerz". The photos are in reverse chronological order (oops!).

Mommy & Carter on the "Duck".
Carter helping Mommy "steer" the Duck.

Grandad & Carter enjoying the ride.

Carter at the Precious Moments museum in Carthage, MO. We stopped here on our way to Branson on Tuesday.

Carter & Grandma Nancy checking out the moving Precious Moments statues. Carter's not sure what to think about all of this!

Thank you Dad & Nancy for a great trip to Branson & all the fun outings! We had a great trip and hope we can go again someday!

Lunch at Mimi & Grampy's house

We were fortunate that mom & Arlen could come pick us up from the airport on Monday afternoon. We went back to their house for a good lunch and got to spend a little time visiting.
We also got to spend time with Uncle Josh & he was kind enough to take us over to the Legends. Thanks Uncle Josh!

Mimi, Carter, Grandma Irene & me
Grampy showing Carter a tiny baby bunny that is living in their front yard (or should I say WAS living in the front yard).

Mimi came out to meet us at the airport on Thursday before our flight left for Denver, but we didn't get the camera out for that visit. It was pretty rushed, but we are so glad we got to see Mimi before we had to fly home. We miss you Mimi & Grampy!!!

Dinos, Dinos & more Dinos

Last Monday, Carter & I flew into Kansas City for a quick stop before heading to Branson on Tuesday. On Monday night, we ate dinner at the T-Rex Cafe at the Legends. It was a dino paradise! Carter loved it!

Mommy, Carter & Grandpa Tim outside the restaurant...pretty cool!

You can't really tell, but the dinos were moving & roaring...kind of scary!

With Grandpa in front of a BIG dino.

Checking out one of the many huge aquariums. Carter loved all the "fishies".

16-week OB visit

Today we had our 16-week visit at Dr. Johnson's office. Sean couldn't come today, so I took Carter instead (much more work than taking Sean). We heard the baby's heartbeat & it was perfectly normal, but they had trouble finding it at first because the baby was so active (I had just eaten lunch). We could hear movement, so I wasn't worried at all, but we almost ended up in the ultrasound room to visualize the heartbeat instead. Finally, the third nurse that came in could hear the baby's heartbeat with the doppler.
They drew blood for routine lab work and we scheduled our next appointment for 20 weeks, that's the BIG one where we get to find out this baby's gender! I hope the baby decides to cooperate more on that visit!

Sean's Birthday

Tomorrow is Sean's birthday, but we have already celebrated it twice! Last night, Kelsie came over to babysit so we could go to Texas de Brazil, our favorite celebration location, for dinner with our friends the Zunigas. Hector is one day older than Sean, and Desiree & Hector's anniversary is the same day as Hector's birthday, so we had a lot to celebrate!
After we had our fill of steak, we walked down to the movie theater to see "The Hangover". I wasn't too excited to see that movie, but it was actually hilarious! I laughed so hard (maybe it was because we only go out on about two dates a year & haven't seen a movie outside of the house in who-knows-how-long)!


Last weekend, we went to dinner at Olive Garden (my choice, not his) when Mimi & Grampy were in town. We had a great meal & we surprised him with a cake...yummy!

Too bad this one turned out fuzzy.

Just "the girls".

Mimi and Grampy visit

Mimi & Grampy are in town for a short visit. They spent Monday night at our house before heading up to Ft. Collins to help Uncle H. They will be coming back through Denver on Thursday for another Carter fix.

Mimi reading Carter a book before naptime.
Three generations...me, Carter & Mimi

Grampy, Carter & Mimi at Panera

Carter showing Grampy the new patio furniture.

New house!

Sean decided that the box from our patio furniture would make a great house for Carter. So, while I was asleep on Saturday, he transformed a giant cardboard box into every kid's dream house. Ok, maybe that is a stretch, but Carter seems to love it! We'll see how long a cardboard house can stand up to a toddler....I'm giving it a couple of weeks.

Can I sleep in there, Dad?

No parents allowed!

I think this place needs a woman's touch!

Happy boy

Our little gardner...he enjoyed playing in the water while I was planting flowers.

Trying to get ahold of the camera!

Say "cheese"!

Pergola

Sean and his dad built us a pergola over the weekend. They did a great job! It makes the patio look so much nicer! Thanks, Grandpa Dan, for all of your help. And thanks to Grandma Pat for watching Carter so the guys could work outside!

Memorial Day

Sean's parents have been in town visiting this weekend. We have really enjoyed our time together and celebrated Taylor's birthday, my birthday & Memorial Day by having everyone over for dinner tonight.

Carter helping daddy eat some birthday cake
Debbie, me, Carter & Kelsie. Sean, Taylor, Scot & Tyler

Mom B., me, Carter, Sean & Dad B.

Kelsie with Carter, Tyler & Dad B.

The birthday cousins with the ugly cake

Taylor & Kelsie with their favorite cousin

The Beilmans out for BBQ

Carter helping in the kitchen (notice the oven mitt?)

New bathroom (sort of)

While Carter & I were in Chicago, Sean surprised me by re-painting the upstairs bathroom! I had kind of "hinted" that it would make a nice Mother's Day/Birthday gift to me, but I didn't think he would have enough time to get it done while we were gone. But, my sweet husband worked until 2AM two of the three nights we were gone. Thank you, honey! I love it!