Carter’s 5+1 Angelversary

As we remember and celebrate Carter this year, auntie Lori shares…

Hey Carter,

So Sonya asked me to write the 5+1 Carter Blog for this year’s anniversary. Yes…she’s poking fun a bit at my mental math that is often done out loud…in reality, I just want to make sure everyone can follow 😊 6 years have gone by…that’s crazy. We think about you often especially when walking Oscar and I see the two red cardinals down on the walking path. I tell myself it’s you and Grandma Betty…Oscar tells himself he’d like you to be squirrels down on the ground instead.

Updates – well, as you likely know, Katie is getting married! Can you believe it? She and Belle (and Lucas and PJ) live up in the cities by me now. I was certainly happy to have Lucas and PJ up here willing to help me install a basketball hoop in our backyard…Belle and Tiffy supervised the dogs and ordered the pizza. Katie is going to be student teaching this fall and Belle is attending school to be a chiropractor. Tori moved into her apartment in Brookings and has an internship – yes, an internship at a real Architecture firm…talk about becoming a grown-up! Tori enjoys going to the lake up north with Kyle – he works in Olivia – he’s an adult now too it seems. It makes me wonder what you’d be up to…just finishing your second year of college too. Speaking of college, Sam graduated and got a real job and bought a house! Cody continues to drive truck and help farm and Dylan seems to really enjoy working at Bend Rite. Jackson finished his “first” year of college but is super smart like me (😊) so is already ½ done…he, too, has an internship this summer…man I’m starting to feel old! Time seems to fly by.

The “Littles” aren’t so little anymore. Wyatt is going to be a SENIOR this fall and still a beast on the ice. He went to prom this year – cleans up pretty good when he wants to. Jonah and Tiffy will be juniors – both still playing LOTS of sports. In fact, Jonah and Wyatt played golf together this spring on the high school team. Jonah plays football and basketball as well – don’t tell him, but he’s a pretty good athlete. COVID kind of put a crimp in fall sports this past year so Tiff ended up doing cross country since volleyball was delayed – dude, I literally had to push her out of the car the first day! She ended up loving it – who knew (I mean clearly I knew, but what do parents know). She also did volleyball, basketball (went to state and actually played against Marshall – that was fun!), and then decided on track this spring. Oh…and they both turned 16 and got their licenses this year – yikes! Baby size JR, the littlest little, is no longer the littlest. He is going into the 8^th grade and is one exceptional athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He still gets to play the “baby” card as he is the youngest even if he’s not the littlest. Needless to say, they are living their lives to the fullest, and I like to give you the credit for that!

As for the adults…we’re all doing well and really can’t complain. We have our health and some great kids to keep us busy and the memories of you to keep a smile on our faces. We also have our dogs – lots of them. Oscar loves it…he has lots of “cousins” to play with wherever we go.

It’s almost time for the annual week at the lake…remember when you talked Grandma and Grandpa into going twice that year? You always were such a stinker. Tonight, while we all may be in different places, we will be enjoying steak sandwiches and Silver Oak cabernet in your honor. We miss you dearly and hope you are keeping everyone entertained up there…playing ball and telling jokes. Until we meet again, “Stay Awesome!”