Baby Olivia Again!

Hi all, Carter here again. I just had to tell everyone that my favorite baby came to visit again! It was so much fun to see her and now that she is almost 8 months old, we could do so much more with her.

Ava actually liked getting to hold her this time. All Ava wanted to do was hold the baby and if anyone said no, well, Ava let them know she wasn't pleased until she finally got to hold her. Thankfully Olivia doesn't seem to mind the chokehold since that's how Ava usually held her!

Me, I just liked to touch her hair, grind my teeth (not only do I seem to have that particular Wendorff trait, I suffer from it greatly), and say "hi baby" over and over to Olivia. Mommy and Aunt Holly thought it was funny because after so many head touches, I would have to run around and jump like a wild man due to my pent-up testosterone!

Poor Ellie just wanted a chance to see her and took advantage of any moment we weren't around the baby, which were few! At least she got to help out by passing out all the presents at Amanda's shower and Olivia's baptism party.

Olivia's baptism. Look at that dress! The only word to describe it is ostenetatious!

We had such a great time with Olivia and can't wait to see her in June for Aunt Amanda's wedding! We just love that little baby so very much!

Love, Carter

"Springtime Fun" by Ellie M. Wendorff

A story with illustrations all done by the budding author Ellie M. Wendorff

Springtime Fun - In this story, you will hear all about spring

My birthday is in spring on May 30th Sunday 2010 - In spring you can ride your bike like me

Get some ice cream - And go to a pool

Picking flowers is the best - I go to bed then when the day is done

Ellie's World

I feel I haven't posted much about Ellie lately. The pics I snap of the twins tend to be while Ellie is still in school and when she does get home, we don't see much of her. Apparently we don't have the same draw the neighborhood kids do.

Anyway, here's what has happened with Ellie:

*Lost her third tooth, another bottom one. Poor kid has too small a mouth for adult teeth so this tooth fell out only because her other front permanent tooth needed room. Braces are looking inevitable...

*Had her first grade musical concert on March 23rd. It was a great way to celebrate my birthday and the twins and I went to two of the three performances. (she's the peanut in the black & white dress)

*Learned to ride a two-wheeler!! This is the greatest accomplishment and I wish I could take the credit but it goes to Ellie's determination and the helpful nature of the neighborhood kids.

The story of the training wheels:

Ellie didn't touch her bike all last summer, opting instead to scooter her way around. A week ago, she decided she was ready to ride but wanted to skip training wheels. I overrode that opinion and put the training wheels on the bike. Last Thursday, she asked for them off, saying she was "so embarrassed" to still have the wheels. I refused to take them off and went in the house. Fifteen minutes later I went back out to see that the wheels had been kicked back so they weren't touching the ground. I decided to humor her and take one off. Since she was leaning to the right, I took that wheel off. Another girl walked next to her until she figured out how to balance. Since the other wheel was still kicked back and was not touching the ground at all, I opted to take that one off as well. So, in about an hour's time, Ellie learned to ride her bike and it required very little work from me! Just the way I like it!

Next on the docket for Ellie: learning to swim!

Mothers of Multiples Sale

Many people hear me talk about my mothers of multiples group's semi-annual sales but I don't think they fully get the concept. We had the spring sale yesterday and it was out-of-control! There were over 125 sellers and around 400 public shoppers. That doesn't count member shoppers who get the first shot at everything in the gym. The sale is from 9-11 for members and 11-2 for public shoppers. This time there were almost 600 transactions and the sale grossed over $42,000!! If that isn't intense for a 5 hour time frame, I don't know what is!

It is crazy busy but is a great way to get rid of baby and kid stuff I no longer want. I made about $250. As a board member, we have to be there for all of set-up on Friday (noon-11ish) and before the sale through clean-up Saturday (5:45 am - 5:15 pm!). A lot of time on the feet and generally on little sleep but so much fun! You get to see lots of other MOMs that don't always come to our meetings, get away from the kids for a few days, and can even score great deals on stuff for the kids! Although board members log in so many hours, we do get to pre-shop on Friday night so we get the very first dibs on items! Definitely worth it but it can be overwhelming deciding where to start.

For proof of the madness, see the below pictures:

Jan-March Reading List

I know there are a few out there who are curious as to what or how much I have read. I said I'd post a reading list in January but forgot which book I ended the month on. I decided to keep track through February but of course, I again forgot what I read that month. I finally sat down in the middle of March and racked my brain to remember what I've read. Here is the list in no particular order, read from December 26th (know what I started from that point but not January 1st!). Also, the last book I managed to sneak in and read March 30th and 31st, finishing at 10:30 pm the 31st!

The List:
Diana Gabaldon - Drums of Autumn (a re-read)
Diana Gabaldon - The Fiery Cross (another re-read)
Diana Gabaldon - A Breath of Snow and Ashes (again, re-read)
Diana Gabaldon - An Echo in the Bone
Harlan Coben - Long Lost*
Jane Green - Second Chance
Jane Green - To Have and to Hold
Iris Johansen - Blood Game
Iris Johansen - Deadlock
Iris Johansen - Notorious
James Patterson - I, Alex Cross
James Patterson - Alex Cross's Trial
James Patterson - Worst Case
David Baldacci - True Blue*
Suzanne Brockman - Nowhere to Run
Kim Edwards - The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife****
LJ Smith - The Awakening & The Struggle
LJ Smith - The Fury & Dark Reunion
LJ Smith - The Return Vol. 1, Nightfall
Philippa Gregory - The White Queen*
Philippa Gregory - The Bolyen Inheritance
Philippa Gregory - The Virgin's Lover
Philippa Gregory - The Other Queen*
Philippa Gregory - The Constant Queen
Philippa Gregory - The Queen's Fool
Anita Shreve - The Pilot's Wife*
Anita Shreve - The Weight of Water
Kay Hooper - Blood Ties

Suffice it to say, I. Read. A LOT.

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions for good authors to try. As you can see from the list, once I find an author I like, I tend to read all of their books.

(* denotes ones I particularly enjoyed)