Second Part of Our Week

Wednesday night Dylan took an introductory karate class at a studio that we think he will join.

It's fun watching him do something that he loves.

Fall break this week has pooped the kids out.

I tried a new hairstyle on Payton.

  Now if I could just do it on myself!

We checked out another great park.

Rylan's not so sure about the swings there.

Dylan caught a "Wooly Mammoth" caterpillar.

It was UGLY!

More of the kids being pooped out.

We went to Downtown Franklin to meet my friend, Alicia.  I knew her at our old church in California and she just moved to the area in June.

We stumbled upon the Franklin High School Homecoming Parade that took over Main Street.
It was so neat to experience a "small town" event.
D found another caterpillar.

This one was all white.
Maybe he will be a caterpillar whisperer!

We headed back home today and Craig and Sasha had made a yummy HOME COOKED meal.
It was so nice after a week of eating in a hotel.
Rylan even learned a new trick.

Wiping down the counters.  Yea for chores! 

Happy 9th Birthday Dylan

NINE years old.

I {almost} can't believe it!
He requested Fluffy Pancakes for breakfast.

He had been up since 5am, saying he couldn't sleep.

He was so excited to open his bow staff (for karate).


After that it was time to get on his new roller blades from Papa & Sasha

He's getting the hang of it!

Then time to webcam with family and open more presents!

Finally getting dressed for the day in a new outfit from Papa Nutt & Gigi.

For his birthday dinner he requested J's Mac & Cheese, Corn and Green Beans.

Dessert was chocolate cake with vanilla frosting.
It was fun to watch him be a silly goofy boy.

This is what most of my pictures of him look like.

We got him The Action Bible.  It's the whole Bible in comic book form.

It's waaaaayy cool and all of us (adults) want to read it too!
This little guy is so happy.

The 4th of July fireworks (also Payton's birthday) were cancelled this year because of rain.  They were rescheduled for today, Dylan's birthday!  He was so excited.
We got showered up, cozies on and headed over to watch them.
They were supposed to start at dusk.
The kids got antsy.
So we took goofy pictures.



We waited around for almost an hour, and the fireworks never started.
The kids were bummed, but so many people were smoking around us we couldn't take it anymore.
And of course, as soon as we got home, they started!  Boo!

Dylan,
You put a smile on my face. I love your creativity, your love of reading, seeing you be a big brother, your kind heart, your willingness to serve others, that you always want to help out, that you fight for what is right.  I love that you are a daddy's boy, and sometimes (when you are hurt) a momma's boy.  I am so PROUD that you are my son.  Keep following God every day of your life.  He will ALWAYS be faithful.  I am so excited to see what God has planned for your amazing life.
I love you buddy!
Love, Mommy

It's Really Happening

We started packing.

Wow.
Kinda crazy how life can change directions so quickly.
We keep trusting God to guide our steps.
Payton found a little inch worm to play with for a bit.

This little guy is SUCH a handful because he is so busy.
But he is a happy boy and for that I am grateful.
He may be busy, but we sure have fun.

I posted this picture on Facebook and Instagram.

He is Papa Jr.
He wakes up and starts reading before he even gets out of bed and as you can see, reads while eating breakfast before school.
Payton had her first homework assignment.

She was so excited.
It was actually for the whole week and she got it all done at one time.

I will be keeping these papers in her keepsake box.

I love that she writes in both upper and lower case and that her "R" and "g" are backwards.

Payton had 2 friends join her at karate today.

Ethan is in the red shorts and Lauren is in the skirt.
They were so cute!

Past Couple of Days

I had to snap a picture of how tan my little girl got this summer.

And that is with SPF 30 on her that I re-apply every hour!
Little man (with the crazy bed head) really wanted to go to school with the kids one morning.

But the back pack was too heavy and he kept falling back.

He loves climbing up on the counter height chairs now.

I made "The Awesomest Pancakes Ever" again Saturday morning.

My Big Little Man killing it with his splits at karate.

Rylan LOVES lemon.

He begs for it when he sees is and doesn't even make a face at it like he did in the beginning!

Another Well Check & A Busy Day

At Payton's appointment yesterday, the Dr. reminded me that Rylan should have had a well check at 14 months.
Woops!
So I made an appointment and returned first thing this morning!

It was nice going to the doctors when he is healthy!
Here's his stats:
21 lbs 11 oz
31.25" long
He's gained 1 lb 1 oz and grew 2" since April!
He is 10% for his weight and 100% for his head circumference!
"It looks like a watermelon on a toothpick!" (Name that movie!)

After his appointment I went to a meeting . . .  looks like I got a part time job being a virtual assistant!
After that we took the kids to the pool.

Then in the evening drove to a sparing class at our karate's other location.
Here's Dylan sparring with Mr. Parman Sr.

And he's that blur on the right executing a round house kick.

Payton LOVES her baby brother!

So funny story.
Friday nights are usually Family Movie Night.
We watch a kids movie and eat homemade popcorn.  Yum!
Since we were out late and were not going to have FMN we decided to get ice cream on our way home.  Me, trying to go the cheap way, suggested cones from Burger King.  They are only $.50 right now.  Mind you, we DO NOT like Burger King.  The food is just not good {in our opinion}.
Anyhoo.
The soft serve was gross {shocker} and too soft.  We could have drank it with a straw.  So half way through eating them, Chris told us to stop, we were going somewhere else to get different cones.  We drove to Chick-fil-A and got MORE cones!
Chick-fil-A's were perfect.
We spent $2 for the cones at Burger King and $3.60 for the cones at Chick-fil-A (did you know you can buy kiddie cones there?).  So the moral to the story is, cheaper isn't always better.  Plus Chick-fil-A wasn't that much more!
The kids thought it was SO cool that we were getting MORE cones.  We made a great memory tonight!