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.

Disney Days: Part 6 (Character Pictures)

I was determined to get pictures of the kids with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang. We managed to track them all down and wait in the long, hot lines so Nate and Kate could meet them.

As soon as we got there on the first day Pluto was out.

We met the legend at Hollywood Studios. Kathryn, of course, ran right up to Mickey Mouse. 

Nate was reserved, even though Mickey Mouse is his favorite character. Mickey Mouse touched noses with Kathryn and made a kiss sound and that was enough to put Kathryn over the edge. That absolutely made her day.

 Nate showed Mickey some love.

 Their official Mickey, Nate and Kate pic.

Look at how happy she was after she met Mickey. That kiss from Mickey Mouse made her one happy little girl.

We just happened to come across Goofy at Hollywood Studios too. Kathryn always ran right up to the characters and gave them big hugs. Nate was much more reserved.

 He gave Kathryn her moment then stepped up and gave hugs.

 Official Goofy, Nate and Kate pic.

Then we ran into Donald Duck at Epcot. Not many kids there, so we only had to wait a few minutes.

This was the day Kathryn just happened to be wearing her Daisy Duck shirt. (Daisy Duck is her favorite now.) Here, Donald Duck pointed to Kathryn's shirt and gestured that he love Daisy Duck. It was so cute. Then Kathryn asked Donald where Daisy was. The person standing by Donald told us where she was at Magic Kingdom. Immediately after she found out Daisy was at Magic Kingdom she was done with Epcot. So, wanting to make sure the kids loved every minute of Disney World, we left and headed straight over to Magic Kingdom to wait in line to see Daisy Duck.

 Official Donald, Kate and Nate pic.

We waited in the line that was estimated at 60 minutes. The kids didn't mind because it was so hot and the line was inside in the cool A/C and they just sat and ate Skittles. When Kathryn saw Daisy she ran up and gave her a huge hug

Kathryn wouldn't leave Daisy alone either. She kept almost leaving then going back for more hugs. I don't think Daisy minded though. Daisy's companion who speaks for her said she was flattered to be on Kathryn's shirt.

Kathryn already decided she is going to have a Daisy Duck birthday party this year. Who better to invite to your Daisy Duck birthday party than Daisy Duck herself? Kathryn did. Daisy was flattered once again by Kathryn. Nate thought it was hilarious that she invited Daisy Duck, but he thought it was even more hilarious telling her Daisy Duck wasn't really going to be at her party.

Daisy Duck, Nate and Kate.

Next up, Minnie Mouse. She was Kathryn's birthday party theme last year. She was thrilled to get to give Minnie a huge hug.

 Nate and Kate and Minnie Mouse.

As we were walking off Minnie Mouse came after me and my first thought was, "please don't embarrass me or make me do anything." Then she pointed to my backpack and gestured for an autograph, so she signed Kathryn's bag. Kathryn thought that was pretty great too.

And a bonus character, Marie from Aristocats. This was Nate's favorite movie when he was 3 years old.

We're already discussing our next Disney trip. It's addicting to see how happy Disney World makes kids.

Then this was the ride home. Now you get to see Nate isn't always the mean one.

Bonus video! Despite what she says, I think she prefers Magic Kingdom over any other park.