Spring time!

We are loving the Spring weather here!  We've been spending lots of time outside and taking in lots of fresh air.  This afternoon was awesome... Sitting on the back porch with my boys, feet up, 80* weather, and a big margarita in my hand.

Nate and his friends welcomed Spring on Tuesday, making flowers and flower pots.  They turned out so cute!

Nate and I took a trip to visit Nana & Poppops last weekend too.  We enjoyed gorgeous weather and Nate loved all the new things to do.  Poppops got Nate a basketball goal, so we had to play all weekend long!  We also went to the aquarium and had so much fun.  We saw the Live Dive Show in the shark tank, the river otter show, snakes, frogs, turtles, and we touched the stingrays!  Nate has been telling everyone about the sharks - "Big Sharks!" and he's told me at least 15 times today, "Poppops, shark" so I know he's associating the two just like "Poppops, basketball". Smart kid!

At the Dive show in the shark tank

LOVE this one with three of them!

Hangin' with Poppops

 This look tells me he knows he's not supposed to be in the garden

Nana showing Nate the minnows in the pond

At the big park

A fierce competition on the balance board! :)

 Thanks for an awesome weekend, Momma and Daddy!

I Should've Known

Yesterday was a great day.  Nate woke up happy and was happy all day long.  He laughed all day and had a blast.  The sun was shining and the birds were chirping.

Today it's been a few giggles, lots of whining, some crying, toy and food throwing, and a couple tantrums.  I've been doing my best to not pull my hair out.  There have been many "Calm down, it's not the end of the world" talks which I think were more for me than they were for Nate.  I'm also trying to believe in the power of deep cleansing breaths.

Wish me luck.  Here's hoping things are better after nap time!

Two

It's been a big week around here.  Nate turned the big T-W-O on Friday and I can hardly believe it.  Where has the time gone?

Today at the zoo, the wagon was more a prop than anything else as Nate didn't ride in it at all.  He pulled the wagon like a big boy and he walked the entire zoo - with energy to boot when we left.  Yesterday I was struck by the fact that Nate was walking down steps without hanging on or sitting down.  It seems like these things just happen overnight.

I just glow when I hear "Thank you Mama" when I give Nate his breakfast or when he asks "Peas may have paci?"  He's becoming such a little boy, and a polite one at that.  I just look at Mike and say "We did that."  And I feel so proud.

Mike's at work today and every time I talked to him, it was to brag to him about something else Nate did.  Like when we were walking a dog and Nate stopped at the curb and looked both ways and said "cars" because he knows that we stop, look, and listen to make sure it's safe to cross.  It just warms my heart.  And to be honest, I have moments that these same things make me a bit sad.  Time just goes by so quickly and I hate that one stage ends even though I know it just means that an exciting new one begins.

We've had a great time celebrating Nate's birthday.  Last week we celebrated with our friends who also had birthdays.  It was an awesome day!  We went to a bouncy place and the kids (and all us parents) had a blast on all the inflatables.  Nate started out small, going down the slides with Mike and me.  That didn't last long - Nate went down the biggest slide, "The Fortress", solo many times after!

My big boy

 

This is Nate's sign for I Love You

Superheroes

7 Boys, 6 Birthdays.  All with adorable shirts!

On Nate's birthday, we had a nice family day complete with balloons, music, a trip to the park, presents, dinner with Amanda's family, and topped off with cupcakes!

We spent Saturday morning at the Botanical Garden with Nana & Poppops.  It was a bit chilly but fun!

King of the tree

 

Mike made Nate's Jack's Big Music Show cake - how awesome is that?

I love this family photo!

Phew.  I'm exhausted.  So that about recaps everything we've been up to lately!  Happy Birthday, Nate!