Love Bugs

The cutest little bugs around

Springer enjoyed splashing with the 'duck' in the 'stream'

The most common view I had of them-full steam ahead!

Carver is on Spring break this week and we've looked forward to our daily adventure. Today it was the Nature Museum where we visited our animal friends and enjoyed the nature trails. Springer particularly liked watching the mink and Carver deemed "all of them" his favorite! When we arrived he said, 'there's just so much to see I'm not sure where to start.' Believe me, they covered it all!

Sweet Voice

Springer loves to draw-and talk. While we waited for dinner on Saturday night I captured a bit of her favorite past times. Enjoy that precious little voice...we certainly do.

A great weekend

Springer, Carver and Sara James

Roll Film!

Well, he did it! Saturday afternoon we took Carver to our local PBS station and he filmed a little piece for the new Raggs Kids Club. He did a great job and really enjoyed it. He and two other little boys sat with the show's cat, Dumpster, and talked about all sorts of things. I imagine there will be lots of editing before the final product comes out! He didn't seem nervous at all and liked the whole process-including hair and makeup (strawberry chapstick and a bit of concealer!). We were so proud of him.

G and I have often laughed at the whole stage parent phenomena, but to see it first hand was a little unnerving. One mother must have said six times to her son, "this is your job; you're working; pay attention and do your job..." It was also scary to see how easily we can become 'those parents'. One of the boy talked more than the other two and didn't use very good manners; I found myself (wrongfully) resenting him and his parents too! There was a lot of stress (completely generated by the parents) for a small bit on a PBS show. I can't imagine what Hollywood is like! Although Carver has asked to 'go back and do it again' I think G and I could go a long time without doing so. Nonetheless it was a terrific experience for him and he had fun-that's truly all I wanted for him. We'll be sure to let everyone know when his piece airs.

Deja Vous

On Wednesday Springer began her first music class with Music Together. When Carver was her age we did the same class and he really loved it. Even at a year old he took on the role as the class entertainer; he never sat in my lap (like the other children), but instead walked around and visited everyone (especially one precious little girl named Roxy), danced in the center of the circle and otherwise just made himself known. Springer can be a bit more stand off-ish at first so I assumed that she'd be more of a 'sit in my lap kind of girl'. I was wrong. Very wrong. It was Carver all over again. She was the ONLY child who prefered the middle of the circle to her mother's lap. She danced, hugged the younger children, lifted her dress, rolled, clapped, drummed-all very happily from the center of the group. Every now and then she would look over at me and just grin. She was in her element. So here we go....eight weeks of the Springer show! My mom used to say that all I needed was to open the refrigerator door and have the light come on and I would perform, so perhaps she's getting it honestly. G, of course, has never shied away from the spotlight either so I guess our kids are just being who they were made to be.

Speaking of the spotlight, Carver's shoot for PBS is tomorrow at 1:00. Wish him well!

Beautiful Days

The weather has been just beautiful lately and we've taken full advantage of outside play time! Whether they are swinging and sliding in the back yard, playing at the park with friends or trying out new tricks (Carver, mostly!) on the scooter-if they are outside, they're happy! If we could just get a little rain to wash off the lovely green film that's covering our part of the world right now we'd be perfect!

The Response

I keep meaning to post about Carver's response to the news...it went something like this. He came home from Dylan's and we sat him down and said...

Me: Carver, guess what? The people from the kids show called today and they want you to be on the TV show! Isn't that cool?

Carver: (in tears and grabbing my neck) I want my mommy, I want my mommy!

Me: (pulling him off me) Carver, this is fun news! You really wanted to do this show and they chose YOU! Everyone is so excited...I talked to Uncle Micah (quite possibly his favorite person in the world) and he is so proud of you...

Carver: NO! I want to live with the Hiatts! I want to live with the Hiatts! I like living HERE!

Me: (trying very hard not to laugh): Carver, do you think that you have to move into the TV to be on the show?

Carver: Yes! And I don't want to go!

Me: You don't have to move, silly boy, we'll just go to a room and they will record you just like we do with our video camera.

Carver: (no tears now) Oh, it's sort of like I'll be a twin.

Me: (hesitantly) Yes, something like that. More like they'll just record you and then play it back on the television.

Carver: Oh, ok then.

G and I have had many a laughs thinking that he thought we were all so excited to be shipping him off! Poor boy! My favorite part was that he said he liked living 'with the Hiatts'. Since when did we become distant relatives?! Very funny.

We did get a call sheet and he'll be in the studio next Saturday around noon. I'll be sure to let everyone know how that one goes.

Our very own PBS Kid!

For a long time now people have encouraged us to get Carver involved in acting. Grocery store workers, our post man, neighbors, teachers, family...but we've hesitated for fear of being surrounded by or seen as 'those parents'. Well a few weeks ago a friend sent me a casting call for a new PBS show 'Raggs Kids Club.' It seemed the right time and
I figured PBS was as wholesome as it could get.

So, one Friday afternoon Carver and I headed to the auditions. We talked about it a little before hand and he seemed interested enough, but we really played it down. There were a lot of kids there and several days of auditions but I figured it was a good experience for him if nothing else.
After he auditioned he talked about really wanting to be on the show, but I stayed low key and just told him that there were a lot of kids and not everyone would be picked. March 10 was the day they said decisions would be announced. It came and went without a call so we really put it out of our minds. Carver asked about it a few times, but after the deadline I casually explained that some other kids must have been picked and maybe he could try again one day.

Well, low and behold, today I received an email from the casting director-he was picked to be on an episode! We are really excited for him and can't wait to tell him the news (he went home with a friend from school today so he still doesn't know). We'll see what comes of it. His Uncle Micah has already taken on the job as his agent and is requesting a cut!

He took the picture (below) that we used for his audition so he's looking for a finder's fee, I think! Wish him well; I'll post more information after the shooting takes place in a few weeks.

Thank you, Nonna!

Nonna (G's mom) came for a visit this past week in order to help G while I enjoyed a wonderful long weekend with my college friends at Isle of Palms. We could not have made it without her! The kids thoroughly enjoyed the walks she takes them on, playing with legos, reading, drawing, and playing outside with her. Carver cried as we drove away from the airport earlier today. We miss you already and cannot thank you enough for your willingness to come!
We love you!

 

Bedtime Boots

My dear friend, Elizabeth, recently passed along a pair of Caroline's outgrown rain boots. As I have mentioned before Springer loves shoes and these boots proved no exception. While we were getting her ready for bed tonight she decided to model them.
A good look, wouldn't you say?

She wanted baby to get in on the action as well!

"these boots are made for walkin'..."

 

Time Flies

While clothes may not make the man (or the little girl in this case) there is certainly something about children's clothes that just make me weak in the knees. I bought this dress for Springer when she was 4 months old. At the time I couldn't imagine the day that it would fit. Well that day has come...and now it's about too short! When I put it on her this morning it occurred to me that this will be the last Sunday she'll wear it-given the decreasing length and the fact that the weather is warming up and will no longer require a wool dress. Anyway, it made me a bit sad so I decided to capture the moment of her in this favorite dress.
She enjoyed the opportunity to have the camera all to herself.

 

Ride 'Em Cowboys

Carver's friend, Caroline, celebrated her fifth birthday with pony rides and a petting zoo. The boys were especially in rare form-something about putting on cowboy hats seemed to increase the testosterone! I supose the guns weren't especially helpful....just as a side note, we don't typically allow him to play with guns, but when in the Old West...right?


Dylan, Lawson and Carver: keeping the peace...or something like that!

 

Big Times in Big Canoe!

After a very hectic two months we took this past week off and headed to Big Canoe, GA to relax with our dear friends Donna, Billy and their girls. The weather was just beautiful-sunny skies and perfect temperatures; the kids got lots of outside time and Carver and Abigail even practiced riding their bikes without training wheels!

Most of our days were spent enjoying the gorgeous mountain setting, playing soccer and frisbee in the large field, soaking in the hot tub and eating!

It was a wonderfully relaxing time-
much needed and deeply enjoyed.
Thanks for sharing the week with us, friends!

Highlights of the hot tub: Carver and Springer both went all the way under!
Abigail and Sarah Curtis were great cheerleaders.
After the kids went to bed the grown ups enjoyed the tub to ourselves!

Mr. "Biddy" quickly became Springer's pal. It's clear that she misses him already!

Lunch at the Smith House in Dahlonega

Sarah Curtis, Abigail & Carver

The only real fussing was over who stood(or sat) next to whom! Carver, in what I can only guess was an early attempt to woo the ladies, told Sarah Curtis that she had 'magic hair' and that it was 'like butter.' Sweet Abigail was told that she has 'hair the color of toast'.
Perhaps he has a little way to go with his poetry!

Sweet Times in Big Canoe

There's no need to say it, but she adores her daddy!

 

A Milestone

Last night before bed, Carver chose several books for me to read. One of the books he chose was a beginning reader book I recently brought home. We had never read it together and to my knowledge he had never even opened it. Well, I read the book title and then when I saw the first page I realized he could read some of the words himself. (As a side note we really haven't worked much on reading formally, but from an extremely early age he has been captivated by letters in an almost photographic sort of way. Words have proven no exception). Anyway, he began reading and with maybe a half a dozen promptings on my part he read the whole book! He was beaming! Half way through he stopped, looked at me rather sheepishly and said, "Mama, I'M READING!" And so he was!

 

Soccer's Back!

After weeks of waiting, soccer finally began again! Carver came home from preschool asking 'how much longer until soccer?'. With Spring-like weather and a very happy boy we really could not have asked for a better ending to a wonderful day!

While Carver worked on soccer drills, Springer worked on moving dirt-
one handful at the time.

 

A little taste of our evening fun