Memorial Day

We had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend! We went to Amarillo Friday night and spent the night by ourselves. Jack and Darla were in Nashville visiting Candice and NEW BABY!!! So we played with just the boys! We went to the zoo Saturday morning with GG. Then ate with Roseann and Monte Saturday night. I also got to spend Caleb's nap time at Grammy and Poppy's and they HAD to hold a baby the entire time... Then Sunday we went to church then played at home then went to Monte and Roseann's again all evening. Then Jack came home Sunday night late and Monday morning we took Caleb to see the dinosaurs at the Discovery Center and then had a bday party for Jack with all the kids! Over all a fantastic weekend!This expression cracks me up! He loved the dinos!

Yes we sort of have a sick sense of humor...

then me and Caleb put on a play. He was the grapes!

Caleb talking to the goats at the zoo

LONGHORN!

GG enjoyed every second

Caleb just gets more and more fun everyday!

Time

So today I found myself looking at all of Caleb's baby pictures and not believing that he has changed SOOOO much in only 2 years... I was thinking about what we were going to do for his birthday next month and things I needed to do and not believing that another year has gone by. Everyone told me that once you have kids the time flies by and you don't know what happened to it. I now know that this is true. Caleb has changed from a tiny, helpless infant, to a running, talking, helping toddler. He is constantly helping me, talking to me, hugging me, telling me he loves me, asking me questions, begging me to read to him and I am so thankful for the 2 years that I have had with him. I can't even remember my life before my precious boys and the funny thing is, is that I don't want to. There is no way to describe the way you love your children until you have them. It is a love so deep and so wide there is nothing that could separate it. So today and everyday I am going to cherish every second. Stop to read and play and laugh with my boys because EVERYTHING else can wait. Nothing is more important and I won't get these precious years back. I am so thankful that I get to stay home and witness every moment of their lives. I am eternally grateful. I love my life!!!!

Sincere Sweetness!

So since the day we found out that we were having Laken, we have begun to pray over Caleb and Laken that they would be more than brothers, more than best friends even, but that they would have a bond that no one could break and they would be eachothers accountability partners, stand up for eachother, and stand by eachothers side no matter what. I am already starting to see those prayers being answered... Today Laken was upset and fussing in the bathroom in his lamb chair. So Caleb out of no where runs into the kitchen, grabs a plug and a blanket and comes back. He gives Laken a plug then sweetly wraps him in a blanket and tucks him in. Then he rubs his head until Laken closes his eyes, kisses his head and runs off to play. I was so in awe that I just began to cry. God does listen and loves to grant us the desires of our hearts and today I saw that come to pass. They will be best friends for LIFE!!!!

My God is SO Big!

I have been singing this song to Caleb since the day he was born. I truly believe every word of it and want Caleb to know and believe it too! So here he is acting out the motions. He already loves God so much and loves to pray everyday. I'm so very proud of him!

This is him talking. He is talking so well and even starting to put sentences together. I can't believe how fast they grow. You really can't blink...

Texas Tech Grad!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I graduated from a Division one university!!! There were many time I didn't know if I would get to say those words but even with a husband and two boys I DID IT! I wouldn't be able to say those words if it were not for my WONDERFUL, caring, loving, and devoted husband. He kept boys, hired tutors, and constantly built me up so that I could finish. I also would not be able to say that if it were not for my wonderful in-laws. So thank you all so much. Thank you for loving my boys as much as I do, for being their when we had our babies, for throwing me graduation parties, for constantly telling me how great of a wife, woman and mother I am, for being examples of Christ's love everyday! I couldn't have done it without you!
Now enough rambling! Here are some pictures! We had a perfect graduation weekend!

Laken had a throwing up incident on Dantri! Sorry girlie!Addie drawing the double T at the restaurant. Her parents were so proud...Some good smiles from the sister!Papa!Grammy!Pop was a little tired after sharing a bed with the crazy sleeper (aka bug) I love this pic!Caleb is a little bit in LOVE with Pop. He talks about him everyday and gets sooooo excited when his Pop comes to see him! He was a little bit in Heaven this weekend since he got a Pop all to himself.Daddy and Laken sleeping away! My sweet men! I couldn't be happiersome baby smiles!Caleb decided he would decorate Laken with stickers. I don't think Laken appreciated it much...The culprit!And finally he started sucking his thumb. I love my boys, I love my life and I am so very blessed!!!!

Calebs bed

So the new Carthel hangout is Bug's room. We all love to be in there and we love to be on his bed. the 3 boys sharing a pillow!

some good lovin

colton loves his boys just a little...

Laken trying to get our attention

That's good stuff

Caleb asks to hold Laken everyday several times a day. So we take brakes and I let him hold Laken for a while and he just loves it. He will talk to him and kiss him, put his plug in his mouth and rub his tummy. Last night he did the occassional big bro thing where he took Lakens hand and made him punch Caleb over and over (not a boy thing at all...) But Caleb is a SUPER big brother, very attentive and hates for Laken to cry.

This is the cutest video of Caleb saying macaroni. SO funny!

Little messes

Last night we went to a parenting conference called Kingdom Families (it was our third time to attend and it just keeps getting better and better and I keep learning more and more about how to be the mother God called me to be) Anyways it was late and the boys were tired but Caleb asked if he could hold Laken so I let him and got some super sweet pics out of it! my boys!

And this past weekend Pa and Granny came to visit. They took us out to Orlandos and then stopped by a gas station on the way home and Caleb got M&Ms, a rice krispie treat, Blue Bell Ice Cream and some animal crackers (he's not spoiled at all) Needless to say he cried when Pa and Granny left!

Colton playing with all the cool features on our new camera he bought me for mother's day.

So Saturday morning I got Caleb some watermellon, milk and ONE powdered donut for breakfast and I went to work on some school while Colton took the boys and watched a movie in bed with them. Well although Colton is the BEST dad there is, sometimes he doesn't watch as closely as I would, and while they were movie watching Caleb came back into the kitchen, got out the entire bag of powered donuts and mashed them all over the table, floor, carpet ,chairs etc... then took the rest of the bag to share with daddy. Daddy thinking he had just hit the jackpot began to eat donuts in bed while watching a movie and Caleb now continued his destructive time and mashed them into our comforter and sheets (don't worry daddy got in trouble) haha I love little memories like this that we can laugh about and remember forever. Having kids is so much fun and the biggest blessing anyone could ever ask for!

lauging about his destruction!

Laken just hanging out!

this is a sweet video of Caleb holding Laken. Precious, priceless memories!