A boy to the core

Shaving the Bumps

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:14:01 -0800

Carsten loves watching his daddy “shave the bumps,” as they call it. He has been so intrigued by Tom’s ritual of prepping his skin, brushing the shaving cream, and shaving with a razor. When Santa left Carsten his very own “shaving” kit, he couldn’t wait to try it!
Did you know that there is Thomas the Tank Engine shaving cream? Oh yes. And a matching pretend razor.

Trading Mama In

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 22:32:26 -0800

After helping Carsten with an art project he said, "thank you, Mom. You're a good mom. I don't have to buy a new one now." The conversation that followed was quite amusing. When asked, Carsten said that a new mom typically costs, “$5,” but Caeli argued that new moms go for $500. Tom chimed in that $500 gets you an entry level mom.
Humph!
Apparently Carsten thinks of replacing me quite a bit. A few months ago, another episode went like this:
Carsten: You're a bad mama. I'm going to buy a new one.
Me: Really? What is she going to look like?
Carsten: Like you but she would give me cake every day!

A Monster of a Party

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 22:35:11 -0700

Carsten has long been planning his 4th (!) birthday party. He specifically requested, time and again, a Monsters Inc themed birthday, and we were happy to oblige. Never mind his long standing fear of the movie itself, there’s something endearing about the characters that made Carsten beg and beg for a Monsters Inc party. So we ran with it. There were invitations requesting his little monster friends to report for duty, a Monster Hunt, Monster stomp, monster crafts, monster cake pops, and a jumpy house. We all had a monster of a time!
See pictures here.

No Stinky Toes

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 22:22:19 -0700

Carsten has been begging for months to play soccer. Whenever we would pass by parks filled with kids playing soccer, he would ask, “Mom, I want to play soccer. Can you sign me up?” And when Caeli started her soccer season this fall, he was just dying to get out there and play. So, when his class finally started he was so ready! He is having so much fun, learning fundamentals such as “no stinky toes” (don’t kick with your toes!), and he looks pretty snazzy, too, thanks to a great find Tom made at a Hong Kong market...he loves wearing his soccer jersey!

Better than Sushi

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 15:59:12 -0700

After seeing Caeli graduate to a bigger bike, Carsten was anxious to move into the next size up. So, his dream came true when he and daddy went to the bike shop to see if the big red bike he had been eyeing the week before was there for him to take home. He’s been happy as a clam with his new bike, and we’ve all been having fun taking family bike rides (because Mommy got a new bike, too). Today he said, “I’m so happy I have a new bike. It’s better than sushi. No, it’s better than watching the ducks...and eating ice cream.”
See Carsten’s new ride here.