I LOVE NATE

Nate turned 5 today...

I can't believe it... he's so big and so little all at the same time...

my sweet Nate~ he reminds me to slow down... he reminds me to be silent but to be loud with what is really important... he reminds me that life is beautiful both inside and out~ around and in between... he is so beautiful~ inside and out... my sweet Nate Nate...

his sweet whisper wish... I could swim in this moment for a while...

Five Good Things

1. Nate's amazing gift to think of others... he would give you his last m&m... for real
2. Nate's amazing smile... so full of life... delicious
3. My weekly dates with Nate at the donut shop... the monster chocolate donut rocks for Nate and his smile is just as presh every time he sees it on the tray
4. Nate's little lego space ships~ I find them everywhere and they are so intricate~ they totally make me smile
5. To spend time with Nate is like a hot bath... you feel warm, you smell a sweet smell and you finish just a little more relaxed than before...

ciao~alicia

A DAY WITH NATERS

.

Nate & I hit the mall yesterday...

It was a glimpse into those little blueberry eyes...

We played ~we shopped ~we had lots of sugar ~we shopped & played some more

.

On the way home I thought...

he got the gumball out himself and told me he wanted to get brother one ~he was so patient when I had to try on clothes and told me I was beautiful ~our 6 trips to the bathroom (this is not an exaggeration either) just made it the ultimate kid day ~my Mama Heart is full ~ no ~overflowing

.

Five Good Things

1. The Great Provider
2. Nate Nate~ my little blueberry
3. Listening to Christopher & Nate say the blessing
4. Have I mentioned Caffeine lately?
5. Party planning

ciao~alicia

MY ELVIS

.

eLViS...

.

.

Christopher wants me to take his pic ALL the time... he tells me how far to stand and what to take it of... he then inspects it, tells me if it's good or asks me to do it again with his "tips"...

.

.

he LOVES to play his guitar and write songs...

.

.

painting~ they are vivid and amazing~ Christopher loves to make purple mixing red & blue (if you haven't heard yet, he loves all things purple), he asked me how to mix it when the purple depleted... stay tuned to see our outdoor art studio Chris & I are working on!

.

.

I think I have to pick up the piano again... there is a band forming I think;) We have a harmonica player, a drummer and a lead guitarist along with his little jr.

.

.

Five Good Things

1. Chris plays guitar beautifully
2. Siestas
3. Coop poked another tooth!
4. Watercolors
5. Heidi's piano

ciao~alicia

HE SLEEPS

.

Yes, he's sound asleep! I think he was really trying to stay awake for the movie!

.

Five Good Things

1. Esther's beautiful submission
2. God's provision
3. My table girls... so refreshing!
4. Baby sign language
5. Faith & Truth!

ciao~alicia

BABIES ON THE BRAIN!

.

I love this day... I remember it well. It was the first place I took them both... the museums... the sound of water. I could hardly walk, I had a hard time bonding with Nate and I could barely keep up with my 14 month old even though he couldn't walk very well himself. I didn't know how I was going to do it... it was so hard and so beautiful.

.

.

Nate's feet

.

.

Maybe it's because if Coop was Christopher I would already be a couple of months prego with a brother... Maybe it's because 2 of my sweet friends are prego... maybe it's because my other friend has a newborn boy right next door... maybe it's because I want to have more babies... I don't know, a combination of it all. The other day all the boys were in the middle of the living room playing trains; I heard the boys say almost in unison "no Coopy... we don't want to play with you"... my heart winced as I knew he didn't even know what they were saying. I immediately thought oh, and I just can't do another pregnancy now. Not to mention 4 kids under the age of 5 may mean a breakdown for this Mom. Will there be another baby? I just don't know... and that's fine for now.

.

Five Good Things

1. The boys are playing t ball together!
2. I have no doubt that every child is intentional by our Creator
3. I will be fine if we have 3 kids
4. I will be fine if we have 4 kids
5. I think Chris is halfway amused by my baby talk

ciao~alicia

Friendly Frog

Let's just say this frog had the rudest awakening to spring... he was dug up by the Lee bros and Nate took him under his wing...

he told him he would keep him "safe"...

he was safe even though Nate jumped after him like a little frog... I thought for sure he was going to jump on him... he was still safe when he dropped him a "couple" of times... he was even safe as Nate "jumped" him and "swam" him in Mimi's fountain!

When the frog hopped off in the bushes I think only then was he truly safe!!... never a dull moment!

Soccer

The boys are on the same team this year & it's Nate's first time...

I don't know who is more excited, him or me...

we all sat on the porch to get ready for the big day with all the new gear...

he sat on his ball so cute during practice... he shot his first goal and came running... "I did it coach John!"

My Little Valentine

He's the only big and little brother in the family (very important role you know)...

he can hit a pitched ball...

he's playing soccer with his brother next month...

I love that he is my valentine baby...

notice the smoke pointing towards him, I think brother beat him to it!

Christopher picked him out a dinosaur...

the brothers 3! the cake :)

it was a good day!

Sweetheart Fashion Show

He's been excited for weeks to do this fashion show... he didn't want to leave the stage and waved at everyone... he jumped when they were talking about the shoes so everyone could hear them squeak...

Coop modeled his little sailor suit like a pro... Nate & his friend Noah stole the show!

thanks to Shannon from Grins N Giggles... her clothes are adorable! also everyone from the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce... they were all so sweet with the kids!

Prince for a Day

Nate had his birthday party at school... here's their feet, laces untied with little shoes... I soaked up every minute listening to Nate talk about singing the happy birthday song and showing me his crown... I can't believe that he's 3 tomorrow... he tells me every day "I'm still 2"...

Prince Nate-Nate

You Smell Soft & Other Stuff

Nate said this to Coop and then said... "like apple pie"...

Here's the little astronaut listening to his "ipod"...

& in the ice...

Coops nick name for the day ~ Diaper Bomb!

Christopher stayed out in the ice an hour longer than Nate & I...he explored, knocked all the ice off of anything he could find with his golf club, and hit balls... he's always been my hard core kid!

they thought this ice was amazing!!! (oh, and I can't figure out how to get the date off these:)

Funny Flags

Who cares that we don't really know how many stripes there are...

Glitter glue and foam stars make for a fun... 10 min?

the pic?... Chris' phone!

A Tale About Crackers

Tonight Nate woke up with an upset tummy... I went and got Chris; little one was in one of those precious moods when I see his truth. I knew this was going to be one of those conversations I would remember after he leaves home and I go get a donut at 2 in the morning and the house is empty. (if it's a memory I happen to recall from some abyss in the brain where all sleep deprived memories go)...

He sat on the counter so big and so little, talking away... He so sweetly thanked me for sharing my crackers and then asked if we had some more if brother got sick. Then he asked if we had more for Sherman (Sherman works with Chris and is my boys fave) and then for Uncle Steven (Chris' best friend) and then for Miss Barbara (his teacher). Chris and I were in there somewhere later along with Jack and Livi. Then we got to hear all about how he bought the crackers at the grocery store with "his big helper" (and pointed to Chris); we about fell over. Oh my little Valentine Nate-Nate... his birthday could not be on any other day... he has the spirit of a little cherub, with cute little buns to go with it!

Big Nate

Little Nate-Nate is not so little anymore... he's going to be 3 in a month!