Mullet Festival 2012

Nate has wanted to go back to the Mullet Festival ever since he left it last year. Steve wasn't around for the excitement, but the kids and I definitely had fun. It's a lot more fun this year since Kathryn is exactly 36" and tall enough to ride most of the rides. It helps that she's not scared of anything too! We got there early enough Saturday morning that we got to ride rides over and over without even having to get off. That was beneficial after spending $25 for each wristband. It almost made me feel like we got $75 worth of rides.

 We took a break with a kiddie ride. They were bored with it.

 Nate and Kate and their friends grabbed a bite to eat.

 On the ferris wheel.

 Kathryn had fun.

 Then on another spinny ride.

 This one kind of made me nauseous.

 We took another break from fast rides and rode the merry-go-round.

 I could only get pictures of them on the kiddie rides because I was with them on the crazy ones.

Until next year... maybe Paw-Paw and Lady will be able to join us next year. They certainly missed a fun day!

Getting Even

Nathan has finally decided no more Mr. Nice Guy. He is finally retaliating when Kathryn is mean to him. It's about time. She abuses him daily and he used to to just tell her to stop. That means absolutely nothing to Kathryn. She thinks she can go around and be mean whenever she wants without any consequences. Hmmmm......I'm definitely trying to stop this behavior! Here is Nate enjoying getting her upset by hitting her back. This scenario has been going on for two days so I decided to get a video clip of it. My favorite part is when Little Mack tries to steal the spotlight.

Cousin Slumber Party

Joe, Lexi and I came up with a really bad, but fun idea. We decided it might be fun to try a cousin slumber party. The kids had a ton of fun Saturday night at the raging party. I thought we would get there late enough to not have to go out to the playground. I tried using the "it's too dark" excuse, but when every other pregnant military wife and her several kids are out there it's hard to tell my kids no.

If you've ever had to supervise children on this playground you would do everything in your power to try to avoid it too. It has more drop-offs than places with railings. It's okay for Nate, but when the other girls are on it it's a headache.

 Like this helicopter, it's really old and has dangerous edges.

We finally got the kids inside with promises of Danimal smoothies. We showed up with three 6 packs to last them through the rest of the evening. These kids can seriously down some Danimals.

I accidentally ordered 2 Minnie Mouse costumes so Aunt Lexi jumped at the opportunity to get Jessica one to wear on their upcoming Disney cruise. Thank goodness. I'm glad I decided to bring Kathryn's too because once she saw Jessica in her costume she immediately wanted hers too.

Then the rest of the kids had to get in on the Minnie Mouse action.

Kathryn is the worlds biggest Minnie and Daisy fan. She actually wanted to be Daisy Duck, but I couldn't find a costume so I talked her into being Minnie Mouse.

Then it was time for the slumbering part of the party. Aunt Lexi got them glow sticks. This picture was actually taken in complete darkness. The slumber part went exactly how we all expected.

Jessica and Nathan playing and wrestling while Kathryn was a good little girl and tried falling asleep in all their commotion.

 Finally, a picture of them all passed out.

The next morning here they are back to playing.

Who knew Jessica would have the thickest southern accent out of all the cousins so far!?!

It's not a complete trip to Pensacola without hanging out at the food court and moseying our way over to the enlisted hangout. I just know they hate seeing these four kids on the loose.

Nate used to stand at the door and look in here, but we never let him go in. Kids are allowed with an adult so Uncle Joe finally took Nate in to see this room that has been forbidden to him for so long.

The played some shoot 'em up games.

Uncle Joe led Nate over to a gun that was more his size.

You don't think Jessica and Kathryn would allow for only Nate to be in the fun room, do you? Once they noticed they had to get in on the action.

Allison is such a big girl. She has to do everything the big kids do.

After lunch we went to a USO Sesame Street show.

Allison fell asleep before it even started, even though she was the one dressed most appropriately.

Kathryn enjoyed the show.

Nathan enjoyed making the Elmo wands fight with each other.

Uncle Joe you'll appreciate this. A few days after the show Nate asked what kind of people were inside the characters.

Kathryn sat with Uncle Joe for a minute for old time's sake after their bonding in Georgia.

And of course, the shirt coming off is always the next step in everything Kathryn does.

 



This pic is for you, Lady. You have to look closely in the dark. When I walked out to the playground I immediately thought of you. Here is the group of pregnant moms with babies on their hips with a the rest of their many kids running around. Lady thinks this is the typical military wife. Hilarious!

Phone Calls

Lady, if you don't recall these phone conversations Kathryn is having with you it is okay. You're not really on the other side of the call. She walks around "talking" on the phone with you all the time.

I like this video because she makes Lady disagree with her then she argues back.

Some Fun & Games

We managed to squeeze some fun activities into the our Georgia visit. We were able to go visit Great Grandma Gerken.

Of course, we had to squeeze in a trip to Marietta Square.

This was a bonding experience for Uncle Joe and Kathryn.

She learned that Uncle Joe is a lot of fun. She hasn't ever had the luxury of having him all to herself like Nathan used to.

  Kathryn with Grandma Lady.

Awwww, Mace.

"Paw-Paw Has a Cold"

I don't like writing about this, but I like keeping an accurate log of events. I was volunteering in Nate's kindergarten class last Monday when Lady called me to tell me about Paw-Paw's health scare. Luckily, I was  in the workroom at the time of the call. I finished out my volunteering duties (after all, I am a Tennessee Volunteer) at the school so that Nate wouldn't wonder where I was. I didn't want to get him upset at school. I'm glad we stuck around for art because that was the most fun Nate has had in art all year.

Nate hates art and anything creative, but he had fun painting his face.

He came home with a painted face and a Christopher Columbus hat.

After school I told him and Kathryn that Paw-Paw was sick and that I was going to go to Georgia to check on him. Kathryn immediately said, "Paw-Paw has a cold?" I said, "No, not a cold." She said, "Yesssss, he does. Paw-Paw does have a cold." She just knew that's what it was. She spent the first day hanging out in the waiting areas. She didn't mind though. She actually thought it was a lot of fun going in the gift shop with Lady and buying candy and BBQ chips everyday.

And lounging in the waiting area watching cartoons.

She was such a good little girl. I think she brightened everyone's day who walked by the window and saw her.

Kathryn is all ears and all eyes and picks up on everything. She began talking about Paw-Paw and told us, "Paw-Paw has blood pressure."

One nice nurse finally decided to let Kathryn go back and visit Paw-Paw, but only after Paw-Paw began begging to go out to see her in the waiting area. Just passing by her in the waiting area to and from tests wasn't going to cut it for Paw-Paw.

She was a little freaked out at first.

It didn't last long though. She can overcome anything to get to visit with Paw-Paw.

Kathryn let Paw-Paw know he wasn't the only one with a medical condition. She showed him her scrape on her knee. These kids don't like to get one-upped by anybody.

Kathryn logged many hours snoozing in various places around the hospital.

So cute she still sleeps like this sometimes. It reminds me of her baby days.

She never once complained or got grumpy the entire visit. I think not having a nagging big brother around had a lot to do with that too.

She caught up on sleep every chance she got!

Here are some videos of Kathryn talking to Lady on the phone one morning after she woke up.

To add to Kathryn's trivializing Paw-Paw's hospital visit, Nate called and talked to Paw-Paw and reminded him that he's been to the hospital before too. Last year he ran into a wall corner and cut his forehead. He ended up getting it glued back together and bandaged up. These were his exact words on the phone: "Paw-Paw, remember I've been to the hospital before too? Mine was badder than yours though because mine was bleeding and needed a band-aid. Yours is just the kind that you have to stay at the hospital for a couple of days." In Nathan's mind, if it doesn't require a bandage it's not that serious. So Paw-Paw told Nate that he had a bandaid on his arm and Nate went back and looked at the pictures and saw it, so Nate began realizing that maybe Paw-Paw really did having something wrong.