Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Carlsons to all y'all!

Dog Pile on B

All of the kids thought that it would be fun to pile on top of B while he was just laying there :).

Lace-Ups

M is practicing her sewing skills (along with her ABC's and 123's).

Boogety, boogety, boogety, boys...let's go racin'!!!!

T got a new racing computer game for Christmas that he loves.

Polly Pockets

M got lots of Polly Pockets for Christmas. She plays with them for hours on end.

Helping Mom

Here is M helping mom make crescent rolls... she loves rolling the pie shape dough into the crescent shape.

Cowboys Game

B and K got to go to the Cowboys vs. Panthers game... and the Cowboys won!

K and T helping M get a drink from an old time well pump in Old Salem, NC

K was so happy to have our friend Patty visit from Oregon on her birthday. The enjoyed a birthday mani-pedi.

B and T at the Bank of America 500 Nascar race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. This night was even more sweet when Jeff Gordon (Ty's favorite) took the checkered flag after an exciting finish.

This is T after we got home at 2am from the Bank of America 500 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He was one tired dude, but he was quite the trooper the whole time and he did not miss a thing. He was intently involved in that race for 4 hours. When ever I wanted to know a driver's number or what driver belonged to what car, all I had to do was ask...(now if we can get him to know his times tables with the same enthusiasm, we would have it made).

B had his birthday party a couple weeks ago. It was really fun. Effacing Autumn (pictured above) played. The three of them Bryce, Andrew, and Blake are all in our ward and some of B's bestest friends. They put on a fantabulus show :). Blake is on the drums, Bryce is on the guitar on the left, and Andrew is the lead vocals and backup guitar (bottom picture). Soon B hopes to be a part of the band by playing bass, but he has to learn first :).

Small, Regular or Super-sized?

This is B (small), Bryce (regular) and Jake (super-sized). They are all 15 and in the same teachers quorum at a YM activity.

Go B!

It is so nice to have friends with a boat! B up on a wake board.

Wheeeeee heeeeee

K on water skiis...it's been 12 years since he's water skied - he did great!

Look at her go!

Here is K knee-boarding at Lake Wylie, SC. This was her first time ever on a knee board and she got up and rode for quite a while. You can tell by the smile on her face that she loved every minutes of it!

Mani/Pedi anyone?

K's most favorite thing to do is go for a manicure. It is not a regular occurance but Grandma P treated her to a manicure while they were visiting. That is one treat we will do for her birthday this weekend. Our fabulous friend Patty is coming to visit for Kaylee's b-day. We will go for a mani/pedi, out to dinner and off to see "The 5 Browns" (5 siblings that are all accomplised on the piano - you'll have to check them out online). It is going to be a wonderful day!

Southern belles

Here's my girls! Aren't they adorable?! K is M's other mommy. She adores her big sister.

More racing photos

Here are my boys! Aren't they just the cutest?!

NASCAR!!!!!!!

If you need to know anything about Nascar, Jeff Gordon or where any of the speedways are located, just ask T. He LOVES racing. K, B and T are going to a big race this Saturday (T's in bed or I'd ask him the name of the race). We live about 30 miles from Lowe's Motorspeedway. I'm thinking we are raising a little red-neck. Oh, K just told me it's the Bank of America 500 race and we're pulling for Jeff Gordon.

Beautiful Beach!

K and T splashing in the waves.

The Hunley

Here's T peeking out of the submarine window

The Hunley

This is a replica of the Civil War submarine "The Hunley" which was the first submarine to ever sink a ship in war. They cranked the propeller by turning the bent shaft by hand (as M and K are doing). T looks like he is on a roller coaster ride :o)

Fort Sumter, SC

We took a boat ride out to Fort Sumter with Grandma P and Grandpa E. WOW! Here are 3 of the munchkins on one of the cannons.

USS North Carolina

This is the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, NC. We spent about 3 hours on this ship and we were awestruck by the ships history and power! K could have easily spent another 3 hours aboard but the rest of us were getting restless. It certainly felt like we were on hallowed "planks" because of what it accomplished.

Lazy Days

K and M taking a nap at the beach house in Charleston, SC. This beach house was 3 blocks from the sandy beach at Sullivans Island. K has promised me a hammock once we add a screened in porch to our home. I don't want to put a hammock between 2 trees because from what I've seen and heard, the bugs in NC are quite big, quite creepy and come from out of nowhere!! I don't want my lazy summer day interrupted by a heart attack caused by falling bugs :o)

Wrightsville Beach, NC

B and M at Wrightsville Beach. We love the weather and the beach. You can actually swim in this ocean as opposed to the OR coast which is soooooo cold it makes your teeth hurt. The water is so nice that it is very comfortable to swim in and the weather is fantastic.

M and Lizzy (T's pet bearded dragon)

Horray!

We now have an official blogspot (see what family pushes us to do?!). It helps to have a tech savy son to get us going. We will get pictures up soon.