The Vance's

Christmas pics 2013.

>> December 9, 2013

An old friend from high school offered a Christmas mini-session last month and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for some cute Christmas pictures. Carter warmed right up to the camera and loved exploring the rows of Christmas trees at the local farm. Lucy, on the other hand, wasn't really into picture day. She cried for most of the 30 minutes but we somehow managed to get some great shots of the kids. Thank you Jenni - we just love how they turned out!

They only way we could get her to ~~smile~~ stop crying was to bribe her with food. So, in 30 minutes she ate 2 cookies, a candy cane and a handful of raisins. Mom of the year.

The Lights of Christmas.

This past weekend we went with Matt's parents to the Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp. I've always heard good things and I wasn't disappointed. It was beautiful!

It was also VERY cold. Like 18 degrees cold. We decided it was worth it to bundle up and walk around for a fun night out.

Lucy wasn't too sure at first. Even though she was toasty warm with lots of layers and blankets she gave me the evil eye when we first started walking.

We waited inside for a bit while Matt's dad bought tickets.

Then we headed out. There were so many lights (duh….they advertise over a million) but I couldn't believe how detailed and intricate everything was. And it's all done by volunteers. Amazing!

Matt's parents were so kind to bundle up and walk with us. They were a huge help too because Lucy seemed to spend every moment in their arms instead of mine!

The petting zoo was empty when we got there so the kids were able to pet all the animals right away.

Every tree, bush, rock and building were covered in lights. They did a great job coming up with some cute displays.

I love this picture of them!

Lucy loved the nativity and kept saying, "baby! baby!"

After a while Carter wanted a turn in the warm stroller.

And finally, at the end was a visit to see Santa. I was so impressed with 1) that Carter actually wanted to see him, 2) he waited patiently in line 3) he didn't cry and 4) he actually talked to him!
He still wanted me by his side but this was major progress from last year.

He told him he wanted the Frozen DVD and Santa was smart enough to know that movie wasn't out on DVD yet so we chose a new Pirate Jake toy instead. Good choice Carter.

And a candy cane at the end. As we were walking away Carter looked up and said, "Mom, I was a little nervous. I didn't really know what was happening but I just went along with it anyways." Haha! Funny kid.

a day in the life of a 4 year old's birthday.

Carter's 4th birthday was perfect. He wanted a day spent with family and friends and all things pirates. So…that's exactly what we did.

Every night before I got to bed I check on him and cover him up. This was his last night as a 3 year old. Gosh…that year went fast.

I spent the evening before decorating the house for him. Since he didn't want a party, I wanted to be sure he still felt special with lots of decorations all over the house. (This picture doesn't really show much. I promise I did more than just a cheap plastic table cloth and a few balloons!)

I tried to get a picture of his reaction when he first woke up. Instead he said, "mom…your camera is SO bright. Ugh!" Haha…he's not much of a morning person.

He was so excited to see his new treasure chest. Best part of all, this was a hand-me-down from a college friend of mine. Her son didn't want it anymore and she generously gifted it to us!

So many fun pirate costumes hidden inside!

Aargh matey!

Another hand-me-down (wow…apparently this was a frugal birthday too!) was a copy of the Polar Express. Matt actually bought me this book when we first started dating for our first Christmas. Carter recently watched the movie and loved it so we thought he'd love the book too.

And we read it right away!

Next up…pancake time! And lots of hidden sprinkles inside each and every pancake. A very special birthday treat as opposed to our usual whole wheat/flax seed blueberry cakes.

Lucy wanted a part of the pirate action too.

For his special birthday treat I took him and his best friend to see his first movie at a theater.

Connor (his BFF) has been many times so he was kind enough to give Carter a little tour. It was so fun to watch the boys' excitement as they "played" video games and wandered the big theater.

We headed back home for a few more presents before dinner. To continue the pirate theme he got Peter Pan Returns to Neverland from my parents. His 2nd favorite movie (after Peter Pan, of course).

And our big gift….a gift certificate for an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge in January! We are so excited but of course he didn't really understand the silly piece of paper. Oh well.

Dinner was his choice at his favorite place. The Old Spaghetti Factory.

And finally, back home for a few more presents from Grandma and Grandpa Vance.

And a very special card from his Great Grandpa Philip.

Happy 4th Birthday Carter! It was such a fun day!

four.

>> December 2, 2013

And just like that I have a four year old. Four years of being a parent. A mom. Four years of early (very early) mornings, sleepless nights, bath times, nighttime stories, cuddles, endless worry and fear and falling more and more in love with a little boy I've been so incredibly blessed with. Wow.

A 4 year old is closer to a big kid than a baby. And it's so apparent now more than ever. His baby face is gone. He's a (very) tall, 49 pound, strong, busy boy. No longer a toddler but a full-on preschooler. He's asking big boy questions, playing with big boy toys, reading big boy books and chatting with big boy friends.

At 4 years Carter loves all things Peter Pan, pirates and Captain Hook. He cuddles up to his Peter Pan doll every night. He likes to read and is now finding a good balance between crazy, active boy and calm, focused learner. The book store, library and quiet time at home are some of his favorites. Berenstein Bear books are the best. He loves to eat and man…can this kid eat! I constantly hear requests for blueberry pancakes, bacon, strawberries and a big glass of milk for breakfast, lunch or dinner. He's curious. He needs to know how things work, why things happen, what something feels like and what it all means. His attention to detail is fascinating. He notices details in books from complex illustrations, road signs, maps, another's facial reaction. It all blows my mind how his amazing brain works.

Carter, you are truly one of a kind. You are the best at being you and I love you for that. You are kind, generous, smart, strong, honest, sensitive, funny and brave. You are just like your Dad at times. You have such a genuine love for your friends and really think about how they feel. You want others to be happy and will go to great lengths to make that happen. You are loud. You are fast. You are imaginative. I could listen to you play with your Peter Pan toys or Buzz/Woody figurines for hours. The worlds you create for them are hilarious and awesome and so creative I am just amazed. You are cuddly and sweet and still love to show affection to me. I hope that never changes. You have taught me how to have more patience, to slow down, to run faster, to laugh and be silly and to truly listen. You are courageous, especially when trying new things. Speech therapy has been quite the adventure the last 3 months and you have handled it better than me most days. I see you trying so hard to focus and learn, while also needing to move and be heard in your little 3 year old body. It has literally brought me to tears to see you try so hard, protect your emotions and find the very best fit for your learning style. It wasn't easy, but we found it and I couldn't be happier for how far you've already come.

And now you are four! I hope you keep having that Neverland mentality this year. To learn, grow, play and dream but still remember that the most important thing is to just be a kid. And I'll just hang on for the ride.

And just to make this super sappy post even more cheesy, let's just add the little quote we both have learned to love this year:
"If ever there is tomorrow we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is…even if we're apart, I'll always be with you."