Happy 7th Birthday Carter!

Am I old enough to have a 7 year old? According to one demented (really demented) old man at my gym, I am old enough to have a 23 year old named Jen Jarvis...but that is another blog post that I will get to later. This post is to celebrate the life of our special boy...

Carter William Nikolaus

Carter is only an hour old here with The Willy

Taylor was only 10 lbs. heavier than Carter here I still remember the day I found out I was pregnant. I was in complete shock because Taylor was only 6 months. After the shock set in, I knew in my heart that this surprise baby was meant to be. When Carter was born, I couldn't have asked for an easier baby. He loved sleeping from Day 1. He pretty much ate and ate and ate and then slept it off, which if you think about it...it's not a bad way to live.
Exhibit One: Multiple Chins (3 wks)
Exhibit 2: Thighs (3 mos)

Carter helped me see once again that Heavenly Father really does know what is best for us. Taylor and Carter have been constant companions, and I'm still asked if they are twins. Carter was exactly what we needed at that time in our lives.

Carter is such a sweet boy. When he was 3, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He replied, "A kid." I was expecting fireman, policeman, Bob the Builder, so I asked him, "Why Carter?" He then said, "Because I want to stay with you and Dad." He's always had such a tender heart and often puts other's feelings before his own.


Carter has a funny sense of humor. He's always trying to put a smile on other's faces. He was being grumpy one night and I asked him, "Where did my sweet boy go?" He replied with his arms crossed, "He went on a business trip!" You are almost always guaranteed a smile with Carter. The kid has got personality.


Now Carter is growing up. He is loving sports right now - baseball, basketball, football, soccer, etc. He is starting to watch them on TV now too. I caught him watching college girls' softball the other day! What?? That just shows his commitment to the sporting world.


Last but not least, here's my "sweet boy" singing a Mother's Day song at school with his 1st Grade class. A mother couldn't be prouder. :0)



Happy Birthday Carter William Nikolaus. We love you to the moon and back! Peace out!

Remembering Grandma Carter...

Memorial Day this year brought with it more sentiment for me. As we visited the graves of the Nikolaus family at the Show Low cemetary on Monday, I couldn't help but think of my Grandma Carter, who just recently passed away on April 3 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She had a tremendous influence on my life. I had the opportunity to speak at her funeral last month and would like to honor her today with some of my memories of her...you may need to use the bathroom and get a glass of lemonade first because it's kind of long.

Grandma was full of love. When I was very young, she used to babysit a boy named Wally. Wally loved her too, and I could tell. I remember thinking, “I hate to break this to you Wally, but she’s not really your Grandma.” I bring this up because Grandma was magnetic. Everyone loved to be near her, especially children. Her energy and light that she brought into the room with her was contagious. Her laugh and smile made all who were near her laugh and smile. Each of her 19 grandchildren knew that they were loved. She had a genuine interest in each of our lives and made it known.

Grandma was full of fun. She was the absolute best witch at Halloween. The green face, the cackle, the Reese’s peanut butter black wrapper on her teeth….I was so proud that my grandma was so much fun and bragged to all my friends.

Grandma always had Chewel’s gum (the green gum with the gel in it.) She must have had stock in the company because I never knew her not to have a pack in her purse, and she always shared. When the sad day came that they stopped making Chewel’s, she switched over to the green mint Extra, and she still shared.

One of my favorite stories that we would beg Grandma to tell over and over was “The Story of the Family with the Crooked Mouths” who couldn’t blow out their birthday cake candle. They finally took it over to the neighbor. Problem solved!

Grandma was an artist. Many of us remember sitting next to her as she drew her sketches and animations. One time she made me paper dolls with beautiful clothes that I treasured. I can still see her face as she drew and created them with me at her side.

Grandma always had good food. Breakfast was a feast with fresh cut melons, German pancakes, yogurt, 3 different juices, milk, chocolate milk, 3 different types of jam, granola, bagels, and everything else in her fridge. Her lunches and dinners were just as plentiful and just as delicious. Grandma was famous for her peach malts and created a few ice cream addicts in the family. The best was when we got to drink the malt in the white mug with the frog in the bottom!

At Easter time, she made yummy chocolate eggs for us. At Christmas she made green rice crispy wreaths with red hot berries. She made every holiday special, full of tradition. Another favorite holiday was July 4th…we’d join her and Grandpa at their ward’s breakfast and then go back to her house for fun. Not only did we have a feast, but we would play baseball, bad mitten, ping pong and football in her backyard with our uncles as grandma once again made sure everyone was having a good time. It wasn’t until I was an adult myself that I realized what great time, preparation and hard work that must have been for her, yet she did it out of her love for us.

Grandma was full of talent. I have many memories of Grandma at the piano playing her music vibrantly and at times singing along. I remember her playing for Grandpa as he sang. It was times like this that as a child through my adulthood that I thought they were magical together.

Grandma could run circles around many, literally. Not many people can say that they have a Grandma that could out run them. I remember one time we were at dinner. My brother and I were in high school and debating about whose calves were more cut. Grandma heard us and quietly pulled us aside. She stood at the wall on her tippy toes and said, “Feel these.” Rock solid calves! I almost always think about her when I run.

When our family moved to Arizona, I was 16 years old. We drove to Grandma and Grandpa’s house the night before we left to say good-bye. I remember crying and holding on to her. We went out to our van, ready to drive off. She came out and climbed in the back of the van with us and filled my ears with words of encouragement, promising to visit as often as they could. She didn’t ever want anyone else to feel pain and did what she could to make it better.

Grandma was full of energy and life. She was very active in her grandchildren’s lives. She was the kind of grandma who got down on the floor to play. She talked to us; she listened to us; she shared her amazing sense of humor with us, which often lead to nonstop laughter; she shared her testimony of Jesus Christ and her love of His Gospel with us. She was everything that we could ever hope for and want in a grandmother. I will forever be grateful for the influence she had upon my life. She was a woman of inner strength, and one that I will always look up to.

My Family at Geraldine Ramsey Carter's Funeral

(Jenny, Bryan, Jeff, Dad, Mom & Me)

Little Man Tate (3 yrs)

I'm going to have to give a shout-out to good ole' JC Penney. I sure don't like going there because they are never on schedule, and I don't know...I just start to sweat the minute I walk in there. I had a coupon, and I decided to go for it. I used to get Taylor and Carter's milestone pictures there, and I hadn't done Tate since he turned 3 in February. The photographer was great, and he didn't make any loud, obnoxious sounds with the tongue roll.

More of Little Tate

Father & Sons

My friend, Susan Stidham, edited this picture of 'da boys at Father & Sons. Anyway, I just love it. So, today I am bragging about how sweet my boys are (father included.) They had a great time at Father & Sons, and Taylor & I had a great time at home. We ended up going out to dinner and to a play. It was pure joy to see Taylor's face as she watched. We then had a sleepover at my parents' house. I love one-on-one time with kids. It's then that we really get to know who they are.

Just can't get it right

Quote of the Day:
"Mom, do you have your shirt on backwards again?" --Carter

Sweet Moments

Have you ever had those mornings when you get up and every chitlin' woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Well, that was my morning yesterday. I usually wake up in a chipper mood, so it is hard for me when my family wakes up grumpy. Who wants to start the day like that? Anyway, Taylor and Carter were going at it especially. You know...the usual brother-sister stuff, "Stop looking at me! Mom, he's touching me! Ooooooh...I'm teeeeellllling! Mooooommmm, Taylor said I look like a tuuuuuurtle!" You know...that stuff.

Well, I wish I could say that my chipper mood stayed chipper. After the 25th tattle, I lost it. I took my voice up a notch (or two) and yelled, "STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. TAYLOR, GO GET IN THE CAR! CARTER, YOU GO LAY ON THE COUCH! THE NEXT PERSON TO MAKE A PEEP IS GROUNDED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!"

I do need to add that Carter wasn't feeling well. The plan was to keep him home from school that day and take him to the doctor to get him checked for strept throat (which he did have). I was going to load Taylor and Tate up in the car to go to school, and let Carter stay home while I drove them. (Don't call CPS on me...it is a 7 min. round trip. :0) )

Well, we got in the car and it was silent. I'm pulling out when Taylor asked to use my cell phone. I wasn't really paying attention to who she was calling until I heard this:

TAYLOR: Hi Carter. Are you doing okay? I'm just calling because I was worried about you.
CARTER: I'm okay.
TAYLOR: Okay, I was just checking on you. I hope you feel better. I love you.
CARTER: I love you too.
TAYLOR: I love you. Bye.
CARTER: I love you. Bye.

Sweet moments like that make it all worth it.