Adventures with Nonnie

Nonnie has an awesome backyard. Seriously, it could be in Better Homes and Gardens. The kids probably don't recognize how perfectly manicured it is or how everything is strategically placed just perfectly, but they DO recognize how fun it is out there. So much to explore.

Nonnie helping Natalie feed the fish.

Showing me the crane.

Just handsome.

Chasing Bowtie, the kitty.

Watching fish.

She'd jump in if we'd let her.

Rock climbing.

Showing Nonnie some pictures.

Riding on Pops and Aunt Sally's 60 year-old horse.

Nonnie showed her how to hold up the hand to be a proper cowgirl.

Checking out the camera on the counter. Dad just snapped and this is the cuteness that was captured.

Nonnie Hugs

Nonnie really does give THE best hugs. Sutton was happy to be on the receiving end of her affection.

Peek-a-boo continues to be a favorite.

Sooo sleepy.

Crashed in the carseat after 5 seconds. Playing at Nonnie's is hard work!

Playmates

Jaycee and Natalie are getting to the ages where they play together now. It's fun to watch. Sutton also chases them around, which is plenty entertainment for him.

Jaycee got out of her car and was dressed just like Natalie. Cute times two.

It's not Mimi and Pops' without ice cream.

Natalie even got a couple more birthday gifts.

The only problem: There's just never enough time together.

Little Chief goes to Oklahoma

We spent the weekend in Oklahoma at Mimi and Pops' house. Just walking through the front door is a good time.

When I Grow Up

While driving around town Natalie started telling me what she wants to be when she gets big. Our conversation went a little like this:

Nat: I think I'm gonna be a garbage girl when I get big. But don't worry, Mom. I won't fall in with those big bags of trash.

Mom: Well, good. Cause I don't wanna have to get all stinky to get you out.

Nat: Well, I might fall in, so maybe I want to be a train girl. {Pause} Or a pilot.

Mom: You want to fly the big planes? Way up in the sky?

Nat: Well, maybe I will just drive that white truck (pointing to an 18 wheeler). Or a car. I can drive really, really fast like those. {Pause} Maybe I will just climb a tree.

So, for the record, so far she wants to be: A trash guy, a train conductor, a pilot, a truck driver, a racecar driver or an adventurer (or maybe a firefighter, she talks about cats being stuck in trees and helping them down). Forget about girly jobs like being a cupcake decorator or princess. This kid is ready to get her hands dirty... she already does quite often.

P.S. And, here's what she JUST said to me while I was adding this post...

Nat: What do you call it when you like the thunder?

Mom: I'm not sure.

Nat: Oh, brave. Yeah, brave. Like Daddy does.

I wish I could save every conversation we have.

Natalie Goes to School

Natalie has been so excited to go to school. Today was the first day of her formal education and it didn't let her down. When we went to the open house last week, her only problem was after we left, "Mom, you forgot to leave me there. You were supposed to leave me there all by myself." She was thrilled that we were going to let her stay a little longer today.

Finding her name on her frog and putting her backpack on the hook.

Jumping right in.

Hugs to say "See ya!"

A tasty treat to celebrate making it through her big first day!

First 5K

I started the Couch to 5K running program back in March. I was 2 weeks away from the goal when I got sick about a month ago and couldn't run. I was REALLY bummed about it. I actually don't love running, so all that training for nothing was gonna be a big bummer. I only got to run once, a week before the race, but I'd already signed up, so there was no turning back. I really didn't think I would make it, but I finished the race with no walking! My official time was 29:45! Way to go me! (That's right, I'm cheering for myself!) It's not the fastest time out there, but I was just happy I didn't stop running. Plus, the finish line was down on the Royals baseball field, so when you ran into the stadium and around the outfield, it was pretty easy not to stop and walk.

This is a group from our church that ran. It was a really fun way to spend a saturday morning. Well, if we could've skipped about the last mile of running! :)

Child Labor

Anyone else remember the video of Natalie doing the laundry back when she was a tiny little thing? Well, it is now one of Sutton's favorite pastimes. Here's a little video of the 2 of them helping me with the housework.

Conversations with a 3 year-old

Convincing Arguments

Natalie likes to get what she wants. I mean, who doesn't really? So, when things don't go her way, she's learned that whining and crying don't really work that well (thank goodness). However, instead of just going with the flow, she begins to negotiate. A couple of my favorites:

Bedtime: It was bedtime and she didn't want me to shut the door to my room, so she could see in there while falling asleep. I told her my light was too bright and it would keep her up. She says, "You can turn off the bright light turn and on the lamp. Then your can keep the door open and I will sleep."

Naptime: Again, she didn't want me too far out of her site. While trying to fall asleep at naptime, she saw me going down the stairs and called out for me. She begged for me to stay upstairs. I told her I was coming right back up, I just needed to take the laundry downstairs. Her response, "You could just through the laundry over the stairs and stay up here."

We went to the open house at her new preschool today for about 45 minutes. Here are a few of her comments throughout the rest of the day...

"You didn't leave me Mom. You were supposed to leave me there," wanting to go back and stay longer.

"I can't take a nap right now, I need to do my homework."

At bedtime she wanted 3 songs because she is 3 years old (clever, I thought). So I started to sing You are my Sunshine, really quickly. "Not that way, Mom. That way is "erdiculous."

And right before drifting off to sleep, she randomly whispered, "At school, I was kinda shy."

And I couldn't resist laying by her tonight looking so small after she seemed so big all day. That little arm holding tight to my neck and asking me to "stay just one more minute, then I'll go asleep" was more than I could refuse. I tried to tell you, she CAN be quite convincing.

There are a couple more honorable mentions from back when she was a mere 2 year-old:

This one was this past summer. She fervantly said, "NO!" to me when asked to do something she didn't want to do. I explained that she is not the boss and Mommy makes the decisions, she needs to obey. She thought about it for a second, then responded, "Amember...today...when we were playing Mommies and babies at the beach? And you were the baby and I was the Mommy? I was consused about who the Mom was."

And in Africa, after being sent to timeout, she threw herself back on the bed and said, "You're like Goliath, Mom!"

I'm doing my best to write it all down, but, wow, everyday there's something new.

Safe Scooting

Natalie got a big kid helmet for her birthday. She looks adorable in it. Daddy is very pleased that she will no longer be scooting down the sidewalk in danger.

She scoots all the way down the street to the mailbox, gets the key out of her little basket and does her best to open the mailbox door.

It is seriously cute. Oh, and the helmet has reflectors on the back. They probably all do, but this is my very first experience with tiny helmets, so forgive me if I think it's just too adorable.