Carter's Second Birthday Party

Last week, Carter turned two years old. I can't believe my baby is two...and that he's going to be a big brother in just a few weeks. Carter's actual birthday was on Friday. I took him to his two year visit (which I realized in hindsight was pretty mean because he had to get shots) After the shots he kept saying, "it's not right!" We got a happy meal afterward, so that made things ok. We had Carter's party on Saturday. I did a "Thomas the Train" theme because trains are pretty much his favorite thing right now.

Carter had 8 of his buddies over from the apartment complex and from nursery. I had conductor hats and kerchiefs for all the kids to wear, and I had grand plans for an adorable group picture...but pretty much none of the kids wanted to wear them. For games, we played pin the "2" on Thomas.

We also played "train, train, caboose" (duck duck goose) The kids didn't really get this game, but they had a great time running around as a pack.

For the cake, I did train car cupcakes. I had a bunch of candies and frosting and the kids had a fun time decorating them.

Carter was thrilled when everyone sang happy birthday to him. Carter definitely got spoiled with gifts from family and friends and is now fully prepped for Christmas.

. The grand finale of all of the birthday presents was a powerwheels motorized Thomas from Carter's grandpa. Jeremy decided to ride it into the living room wearing the Thomas face. It was super creepy. Carter actually started to cry.

After the Thomas face came off, all of the kids were dying for a turn on Thomas. I think Carter had a really great time at his party. I am so glad that we've been able to make such great friends in Ithaca. We sure love our two year old!

Halloween and the Cutest Dino Ever

This year for Halloween Carter went as a "Dino." He was really excited about it. A couple of weeks before Halloween, we started "training" Carter for trick or treating. When he said, "trick or treat" we gave him a couple of marshmallows in his bucket. One night when we got home a little bit past our normal dinner time, he ran into the closet and grabbed his bucket and said, "trick or treat" in the most pitiful voice you ever heard. I guess he just figured that this was a surefire way to get fed.
A couple of days before Halloween, we got together with some friends from the apartment complex and decorated cookies.

Carter made the one on the bottom left. The day before Halloween, they did trick or treating at Jeremy's business school. All of his training paid off and Carter had a great time.

I wasn't sure how much Carter would like real trick or treating, but we decided to take him out to a few houses. He loved it! He even ran up to the houses and knocked on the door all by himself.

Holidays are so much more fun with kids. I can't wait until Christmas this year!

Fall Festivities

I really feel like we made the most of fall this year in Ithaca. I think partly this was because everyone kept telling us to get out and enjoy things before winter comes. Hopefully winter won't be as bad as people say it is. At the beginning of October, we went to the "Pigs and Apples" festival at Indian Creek Farm. Carter had a great time bobbing for apples (he totally cheated), going on a tractor ride, playing with the apple slingshot, and eating cider doughnuts.

We also went to the first annual pumpkin regatta at Beebe Lake on Cornell's campus. It was pretty entertaining to watch because most of the pumpkins were not quite big enough to be made into boats and so they pretty much just sank.

Jeremy is going to get a team together from the MBA program for next years regatta. This fall, we were also able to get some family pictures taken at the arboretum on Cornell's campus.

Carter was not thrilled about getting pictures taken, but we got a few that turned out really well.

The first semester for MBA students is broken up into two terms with a short fall break in between. This year, for fall break, we decided to to visit Providence and Newport Rhode Island with our friends, the Strykers and the Hogges. We had a blast visiting Newport, it is the prettiest little town. This is where the Vanderbilt and Rockefellers, and all of the other really rich people had their summer homes around the turn of the century. Laura, Lacy, and I got to take a quick break from the kiddos and went to the "Servant's Life" tour at the Elms. I'm pretty sure this tour was inspired by the Downton Abbey craze, but it was pretty interesting. They showed us the servants quarters of the mansion, the kitchens, and the laundry. It was incredible for me to learn that the servants washed every guests sheets (by hand) every day and then ironed them!

After the servants' life tour, we all toured the Breakers. It is gorgeous. Carter had a hard time on the tour, so I stepped out with him and we walked around the grounds until everyone else was done.

After we finished touring the Breakers, we headed down to the pier for some lunch. We went to Aquidneck Lobster Co. It was a really fun place. I got a hot lobster roll, delicious!

After lunch, we walked along the Cliff Walk, which is a trail that runs behind all the mansions, right along the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean. The view is pretty spectacular!

That night, we went to the Pumpkin Spectacular at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence. They have over 5,000 carved pumpkins along a trail through the zoo. Some of them are almost works of art.

 We both loved this, but especially Jeremy. He is definitely the pumpkin carving enthusiast in our household.

A few days after fall break, Jeremy's mom came for a visit, Carter was in heaven having her here. We had a great time visiting Taughannock Falls, touring campus, going to the park, and visiting the cider mill, Carter was pretty bummed when she left, but luckily, my parents came for a visit the next week, so Carter was able to get his grandparent fix again.

I am really glad that both my mom and Jeremy's mom are planning on coming after the baby is born!

Niagara Falls

In September, we took a little trip with a couple of other MBA families to Niagara Falls. The first evening we were there, we went to Buffalo for dinner, to the supposed birthplace of the buffalo wing.

Here is a before and after picture of our dinner...gross!

On Friday morning, we went to Frankie's doughnuts for breakfast (so yummy!!) and headed out to the Maid of the Mist. The Maid of the Mist is pretty intense, it takes you right next to the falls. With all of the mist, it feels like you are in a huge rainstorm. Carter was a little bit confused, but he was a trooper.

Later that day, we took Carter to a little aquarium. They had a seal and sea lion show and he LOVED it. It was really fun to watch him run from tank to tank with his buddies.

After the aquarium, we took a walk to Goat island, in the middle of the river, to get a different view of the falls. It was such a gorgeous day!

The next morning, Jeremy and I drove across Rainbow Bridge to check out the falls from the Canadian side. It really is a much better view!

After our quick visit to Canada, we drove back to the American side and met our friends, Laura and Lacy at the finish line of their half marathon. They both did amazingly well, I was so impressed!

Chad's Wedding

A few weeks after we moved to Ithaca, I flew to Salt Lake City for my brother Chad's wedding. It was a little bit tricky traveling by myself with Carter, but somehow we made it. I'm really glad that this will be the last plane trip we will be taking together in a long while. Chad and Stacey were married in the Salt Lake City temple. It was really special to be there for the sealing. They are a really cute couple!

Carter and I had a fun time walking around temple square. Carter loved looking at the temple.

Even though it was a really short trip, it was great to be able to catch up with some of my extended family that I hadn't seen in awhile. We wish them all the best!

Hello Ithaca!

We have been loving Ithaca so far. It really is a beautiful place. It is right next to Cayuga lake, and is surrounded by state parks with spectacular waterfalls. We tried to get out and visit a few of the state parks with Jeremy before he got too busy with school. We visited Ithaca Falls,

went swimming at Buttermilk Falls,

and hiked to Taughannock Falls

Jeremy had his very first day of business school in August and he has been pretty busy ever since. He is really enjoying all of his classes and is learning a lot. We are proud of him for working so hard.

While Jeremy has been busy working, Carter and I have had a great time exploring Ithaca with some of the other graduate school mommas. We went to the farmer's market, went blueberry picking, raspberry picking, and apple picking.

It's been fun to make some yummy desserts with the fruit we picked.

We've also had a great time exploring the parks in the area. Before we moved to Ithaca, I was pretty bummed about moving to an apartment (and I am still not thrilled about not having a washer and dryer) but I have really loved living at Winston Court. It is so nice to live close to other graduate student families that are in the same situation that we are. We have been really blessed to have made some great friends really quickly. Carter talks about "the friends" constantly and loves hanging out with his buddies!

I am so glad that we made the choice to come to Cornell!