Nate's New Bike

Nate outgrew his first bike that he got when he was four years old. We saw this as an opportunity for him to learn the value of money. He's been stuffing his piggy banks with dollars since he was a toddler from Lady's bribery. "I'll give you a dollar if you..." He emptied them out and had enough to make a trip to Walmart. He filled his wallet with three twenty dollar bills (he cashed his coins and dollar bills in with us) and rolled his bike right up to the register and handed the cashier his money.

 Nate's new wheels.

Big jump from a 12" to a 20" bike.

Ever since he got his bike he wants to be running the roads. Bad sign for the teenage years when he gets a car.

 He likes the cul-de-sac because he has plenty of space to ride.

I like it because it keeps me from chasing him up and down the streets.

 He is so proud of his new bike. Not only because it's a new bike, but because he paid for it himself.

Guitar Practice

So Long Hair

I was letting Nate's hair grow out all summer long. He looked so cute with his long, shaggy hair, but picture day came along and I didn't want him to look back at his first grade yearbook picture and wonder what was going on. You see, the majority of my childhood yearbook pictures were horrible and I blame my mom 100%. I'm preventing that. He has worn a Polo shirt for every school picture since he was three years old. I'm making sure he doesn't look back with embarrassment.

 About to go through with it...

 All handsome for picture day. Fresh haircut and new Polo shirt.

 As always, Boomba the beauty queen ready for her picture day.

Another Milestone

Kathryn has been asking to get her ears pierced for several months, maybe even a year. I was going to take her to get them pierced when she was 7 months old, but her daddy and Paw-Paw threw a crybaby fit over it so I decided it wasn't worth the fight. She would have appreciated it though. I have been telling Steve that he had to take her because he turned all whiny when I tried. He kept promising her he would take her, but never delivered. That is until Lady came for a visit and we were about to walk out the door to take her when he came home from work early and decided he wanted to go too.

We went to Claire's at Destin Commons and she got her ears pierced. She barely even flinched. Anything for beauty.

She chose blue colored stones. Whatever the December birthstone is. I tried to get her to change her mind and choose cz earrings, but she wanted the blue ones.

Afterwards we went to Publix to get a few things. I met Lady and Kate at the front and they were carrying flowers and a cake. I asked what all that was for and Lady said Kathryn decided she needed this in honor of her getting her ears pierced. What a girl.

Perfect timing for this. She gets to change earrings in 6 weeks, which is right around her birthday. We might be taking those December birthstones out and replacing them with some real diamonds! We'll see...

Busy, Busy, Busy

I'm so sorry I haven't blogged in sooo long. I feel like I don't have a spare second in each day. As soon as we get home from school, we're turning right around to go to either Nate's or Kate's extracurricular activities. Dance and soccer two days a week for Kathryn. Soccer and guitar four days a week for Nate. Not to mention Nate's homework and reading assignments. We're lucky to fit dinner and baths in each night.

Here are some pictures to share over the past several weeks. I'm not even sure what they are yet. I'm about to just start uploading whatever I see. Enjoy!

 Nate as Darth Maul.

Kathryn asked if she could be a clothing designer. She knows about that from some app on the iPad. She designed an old pair of pj's for me.

 Nate discovered Pop Tarts and how delicious they are.

 Rainy day soccer practice.

The first day of school for Kathryn and Ray-Ray. Reagan didn't know what was going on. It was her first school experience ever. Good thing she had Kathryn there. She's been going to school since she was 8 months old!

Paw-Paw and Lady came for a visit/babysitting job while Steve and I went to New York City. That will be another post someday.

 Crazy Nate.

 Redneck rider.

 Nate wears the bare minimum while Kathryn dresses up and accessorizes everyday.

She gets cold while she eats popsicles so she has a personal popsicle holder so she doesn't have to bring her hands out of the blanket.

 Poor Mack. He doesn't look comfortable.

Kathryn painted a shirt for Steve too.

Wearing my one of a kind jammies with the designer herself.

 Paw-Paw and Kate working on the puzzle together.

Mack scratched under her eye when he ran across the bed.

Working hard on a church activity bulletin.

Kathryn playing her "luka-layli" (ukulele).

 Me and my baby boy who is getting so big.