October Fancy

OK, standard drill: pix from the last month. We went down to the ATL to visit Grandma and the Wheatleys, and to cheer on Daddy's beloved Atlanta Braves in the baseball playoffs.

Grandma and the kids on the lawn at Stone Mountain

Sophia and Grandma on top of Stone Mountain

Grandma and Samari downtown Atlanta - Centennial Olympic Park

Sophia and Samari check out a huge tree in the park

And oh yeah the Wheatleys! Unfortunately, i don't have the best pics.
But Sophia fit right in and enjoyed a couple sleepovers with Jacinda and her sister Kaya.

And tee-ball with Huck and helpful Sarah.

"Wait a minute...what game were we playing again?"

Back home, astronaut Samari takes in the scene at 'Zoo Boo,'
a trick-or-treating event following cousin Gabrielle's Zoo birthday party.
"so...i'm the cutest one here, right? time to work the magic and earn my first Twizzler."

Already working on those model poses.

Meanwhile, sister Sophia dressed up as a Braves Cheerleader...

...with the face of a Cheetah!

September

Hi. I know i've been lax, but what can you do? Busy times. And oh yeah, i don't own one of those fancy phones that allow me to post things to the web from wherever. Plus, i'm a legendary procrastinator! Yet here we are. Enjoy some recent photos of my lovely family.

Posed photos at Tatay/Lolo's 70th birthday



Popsicles with a few cousins, and Tita Luz.

Styling at the children's museum rock stars exhibit*

Angela redux?: Sophie tries a tuba at Penrod Arts Fair

Riding and cloaking Mommy at Penrod

Troy's Aunt Carol and Don came to visit!

Everyone loves garden harvest time!

*dancing at the museum. too bad he didn't keep the hat.

First Day Of School

Sophia's first day of school was today, august 16. Mrs. Monfreda's pre-K morning class at Mary Castle Early Learning Center, to be exact. she reportedly had a great time, playing outside and getting to know the classroom. behold:

East Coast Summer Vacation

Hey all, a wonderful time was had by the Carpenter family on our summer vacation 2010. Mommy/Lourdes took a week and a half off work, and we traveled east to spend an extended weekend with the Groeschners of Connecticut (Mark, Nikki, Arlo and forthcoming baby boy), followed by three days in our old haunt of Brooklyn and New York City. We spent a day in Cleveland on the way back with Jan (Wittry) Royer and her son Finn, but unfortunately didn't take any pictures there. We've got a lot of memories to regale you with some other time, but here are a few shots to give you a taste.

Arlo, Sophia and Samari enjoy a trip to CT farm.

The Carpenters and Groeschners saddle up for walk to the park.

C'mon Sophia!

Great take on their personalities...
Our two smile but don't know where to look,
while Arlo fixes right on the eye/camera.

They've got this great new water park down by the Brooklyn piers.
In Amelia French's neighborhood, lucky girl.

Posing with Jennifer Singer on our brief trip to her apt.
That night, we had great fun at a party at the French's place,
but no photos from our camera. :(

The kids and Mom test out the classic 'dancing piano' at FAO Schwarz.

Waitin' for a train. Samari slept most of the time on the subway,

but Sophia got to where she would pronounce
whether the right train (orange F) was on its way.

Thanks to everyone who hosted/partied with us on our trip. Not sure when we'll make it out there again, but it was great fun and a good refresher before school starts and the leaves start falling.

Been a while. Hot days and summer nights here in Indiana are treating us well. about to embark on the Carpenter Family Summer Vacation 2010, a trip to Connecticut and New York to see old friends, some with young children friends, and of course the sights and smells of the east coast in summer. but here's a few recent pics in the meantime.

Some might call this our redneck tableau,
but when it's 95 degrees and your one-year-old
has a hankering for 'outside',
you do what you gotta do.


New playground activities for sister bear.
Note the plentiful 'silly bands'.

Samari with one of his favorite things to point at:

baby cousin Ella.

Sophie frolics with cousins in the sprinklers
at summer birthday party at Tita Nida's.

Daddy failed to clean the smudged lens,
but here's some pastoral familial beauty.

Music and Fun

Sophia at the children's museum, which we now love for its air conditioning as well as new exhibits. Samari enjoying throwing himself into the floor of one of those giant inflated play-thingies at cousin Lilia's recent birthday party. And Samari getting the Carpenter baby rite of passage - piano time at Grandma's.

Summer lovin'

So just a little somethin' ...the kids playing with cousins Lilia and Lucinda, and mugging in the car for mama.

Update

Sophia tries on her Olivia Newton John look, the kids play with next-door neighbor Konor (two months Samari's junior), and Sophia holds her youngest cousin, baby Ella.

Final Four and Easter

So it's a little late but here are some pictures of the ncaa final four practices and cute outfits for easter, soon to be streaked with chocolate.

-the Carpenters

Playing Together

Yes, everybody's happy when we're playing together.

Sister or ancient chinese statue?



Getting down like it's 1836.

And here we have pre-swimming lesson Sophia, getting a
locker-room pep talk from her diminutive manager.

Happy Birthday, Sophia

Sophia Cameron Carpenter turned three years old on Monday March 22, but we had her party on Saturday, so as far as she's concerned, that was the birthday. A great time was had by all...the weather held up so we had our first real outdoors-option family party in months, which was wonderful. Here's a few pics from the event.

The immediately-after-nap presents session
is apparently a bit bewildering.

Minnie Mouse gets a smooch.




Gotta love the pure joy of new dress, new backpack,
and a card that plays Kool & the Gang's "Celebration."