Family Picnic

Nate got the great idea to have a family picnic. He's been watching Peppa Pig and getting all these ideas recently. He wanted to bring bread and "tom-ah-toes." I told him I'm not packing bread and tomatoes, but I did pack us a picnic lunch and took it to the park.

 By Florida standards, it was freezing.

 Nate insists this was an awesome picnic, despite the weather, so that's all that matters.

Kate quickly forgot all about being cold when we started playing on the playground.

All smiles now.

This must be one super fun slide.

Bowling aka "Balling"

When Nathan was three years old I used to take him bowling all the time when we moved to TLF on base for a few weeks prior to moving to Alabama. Kathryn's only experience with it was snoozing in her car seat at the bowling alley, until recently. Over our long President's Day weekend I decided to take the kids out for something we haven't done in a long time, or ever in Kathryn's case. We hit up Hurricane Lanes and had a blast.

These kids are so much fun to bowl with.

Every roll, no matter the outcome deserves a celebration walk back.

Kathryn especially enjoyed herself. I'm sure we'll be bowling a lot more in the near future.

So cute in bowling shoes.

These videos will give you an idea of how our adventure went.

A Walk in the Park

On Joe's last day in America for the next year, we all went to Henderson Beach State Park and walked on the nature trail and played on the playground. 

Mace and Mack were even in attendance.

Of course, you can't get to the nature trail without walking through the playground. That set us back 20 minutes.

 For Joe and Kathryn.

Seriously, I think that's high enough, Uncle Joe.

She was loving it though.

Finally, we headed out for our nature walk.

This is more of the type of walk Kathryn had in mind. I'm still trying to figure out how she always manages to get her way.

Uncle Joe got to lug an extra 33 pounds around on his shoulders.

Enjoying the beautiful emerald coast view from way up there.

 Standing under the spikey tree.

Running up and down sand dunes is no easy task. I'm sure its especially hard balancing Kathryn on your shoulders. They were running from that mean bear (Paw-Paw) that kept chasing them.

This outing has to be a forever secret. If Nate found out we did all this while he was in school he would never set foot in a school again.

 And we ended up right back on that same playground we started off at. She's a tough one to say no to.

Kathryn was so exhausted after the day's activities she fell asleep while swinging. I have never seen this done before.

To clear our conscious a little bit about having all this fun while Nate was in school, Uncle Joe and I checked him out early at 2 p.m. and surprised him. It's been his dream ever since the beginning of school to get checked out early and hear his name called over the intercom. Done and done!

Paw-Paw played a little hide and go seek outside with Nate after school. There aren't many hiding places in the front and side yard, so you have to get creative. Even if it means crawling in the super sharp landscaping. Ouch!

No Habla Espanol

"The Three Little Piggy Opera"

The class of 2025 entertained us with The Three Little Piggy Opera. Nate is the third one over from the bottom right. 

Kathryn and I thoroughly enjoyed our first elementary school musical. I look forward to many, many more from Nate and Kate.

I recorded a small snippet for those of you who were never invited or who had your invitation taken away by Nate. Here you go Paw-Paw and Lady and Uncle Joe. Although, at the last minute he told Uncle Joe he could come. His reasoning for not wanting anyone there was because it was embarrassing. Totally not embarrassing. Totally cute.

First Dentist Visit for Kate

Nate and Kate went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago. Nate is an old pro, but it was Kate's first visit. She did great and has perfect teeth, even after her majorly disgusting fall at school where her tooth got knocked back. It tightened up nicely and its no longer gray.

Great first visit!

Nate's dentist is also his soccer coach from last season, so of course he told the dental hygienist to take good care of his star soccer player. Nate proudly agreed.

I sure am glad no one else was in the waiting room when I took their picture. This is what they do when they have to have their pictures taken. I wonder what they would do if I told them to act silly for the camera. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Kathryn wore a Lady's Valentine's Day exclusive dress. Same one as last year, it still fit her.

Spring Training

I have said it before, but I really, really mean it this time... I'm going to try to make a point to blog regularly now that Uncle Joe is gone for a year. I would hate for all of Nate's and Kate's hard work charming Uncle Joe all these years to go to waste and be forgotten.

Baseball spring training started last week. We've been working on some basics before his first practice.

 Paw-Paw's tee ball coaching expertise came out from 31 years ago.

Nate had an entire cheering section during his first practice with Paw-Paw, Lady, Uncle Joe, Kathryn, Mace and me proudly supporting him.

This was my fault. I told Nate I was going inside to get his new batting helmet. I forgot it was still in the car, but I did remember to get his new cup while I was in there. I walked out and sat it down and he picked it up and put it on his head thinking this was his new batting helmet. Paw-Paw and I couldn't stop laughing about it for the rest of the day.

And here is a pretty picture of Boomba posing outside Paw-Paw and Lady's condo. That's as far as the kids are allowed in these days. Complaints from the neighbors below!

Valentine's Dance

Kathryn and I have been working hard at collecting donations from local businesses for a raffle and helping set up for the elementary school dance.

As we set up on Friday morning while the kindergarteners were having lunch on the other side of the cafeteria, Kathryn busted out some dance moves on stage. No music needed.

All the prep work for the dance was complete so it was time for my date and me to go have some fun!

 First stop was the refreshment table.

Then it was time to dance. He is watching himself dance in the reflection of a window and he doesn't realize I'm recording his every move.

Actually, Nate wasn't really looking forward to the dance once he realized Uncle Joe and Paw-Paw were going to be Kathryn's babysitters. I promised him if he went and didn't enjoy himself he could call Uncle Joe to come get him. After he ate the cupcake he was ready for Uncle Joe to come get him. He was dancing by the door in the above video waiting for Uncle Joe to get there. (I stayed to help clean up.) This is more like an ideal Friday night for Nate. Sitting in the comforts of his own home surrounded by Uncle Joe and Paw-Paw while playing video games.

Funny Kids

So Ghetto Fab

Kathryn got her nails did.

Qatar Bound

Before Uncle Joe deploys for a year, he has been TDY to Hurlburt Field (same base as Steve) for the past several weeks going to a class and preparing for his deployment. This has been awesome. He stays on base during the week and stays at Paw-Paw and Lady's condo on the weekends. Nathan and Kathryn have been living a dream.

Kathryn likes not having to share her uncle with her cousins Jessica and Allison.

I like having Uncle Joe around because he's always up for going out to eat, especially seafood restaurants because Steve won't go near them. Yes, that makes living at the beach with Steve so much fun.

We've taken Uncle Joe on a playground tour.

Coolest uncle ever.

Nate showing off his playground skills.

He gets such a kick out of pushing Nate way too high on the swings and scaring him half to death.

Kathryn too.

Lady came down to visit while Uncle Joe was here so we took them both to a new favorite playground.

Nate had the other kids jealous with his new playground buddy. That's his friend against the fence, but Nate had Uncle Joe to play with so he didn't have time for kids his age.

After a little while of Nate being too cool I reminded Nate that the kids his age are the kids he has to go to school with... when he doesn't have his wingman Uncle Joe by his side. He agreed and included them, then they started to try to take over Uncle Joe.

Kathryn got in on the fun.

We found a new favorite restaurant for the kids. We introduced them to all you can eat Chinese food.

Nate is always a goofball.

Kathryn loved her food.

Nate loved having the options of pizza, french fries and chicken nuggets. He decided he loves Chinese restaurants.

Uncle Joe is lucky he didn't end up with Chinese buffet all over him after he went outside and started flipping the kids around.

Every kid should be so lucky to have such a fun uncle!

One day we Skyped with Lexi, Jessica and Allison. It just made the kids miss them though. They saw how much fun their new apartment looks in California and they wish they could be there too.

At The Crab Shack celebrating Aunt Lexi's birthday from a distance. Nate is so into birthdays lately. He knows everyone's birthday in his immediate and extended family and friends and everyone in his kindergarten class.

Nate and Kate called Aunt Lexi to wish her a happy birthday.

This little girl sure will be sad to see Uncle Joe go. When he leaves to go back to base every weekend she says, "I don't want him to go. I will miss him."