September Sampler

(Please ignore the fact that I entered the second half of this post as part of the caption for a picture...I am too tired to fix it!)  :)

One of these days I am going to start taking pictures again and making pretty little blog posts...but for now, in an effort to not ignore the blog, you get another post with random updates and phone pics!  Better than nothing I guess....

It has been the same ol' same ol' around here lately...school, work, birthday parties, and a little family time mixed in...and one new activity...soccer.  I want to capture this moment in time, just in case Nate turns out to be a star athlete (or public speaker) I can remind him of his timid beginnings.  The group I signed him up with has a big group practice night once a week and then those kids all break in to their teams on Saturday mornings for "games".  So, his soccer career started off well enough...he went to his first practice and did a decent job participating in the different training circuits they had set up.  Fred is a big soccer fan so he was kind enough to come over one day that week and teach him some basics one-on-one.  And then the first Saturday -game day! - rolled around.  I thought he was excited...all of that practice had gotten him in to it...BUT for some strange reason they decided to have picture day (AT A DIFFERENT FIELD!) at 8:00 AM before the game...well, let's just say, after standing around waiting, Nate wasn't really up for having his picture made with his "team" that he hadn't met yet (he wouldn't even get in the pic), or pose by himself for that matter (I can't wait to see these pics - he has tears rolling down his face, one hand in his mouth, and the ball covering his face).  So, bad start...and things went downhill from there...we finally get to the game - Neena and Fred met us there with their chairs and everything - and he wasn't having it.  He cried and refused to go on the field.  So, we ultimately had to leave his first game since he refused to even try.  This past Saturday was a different story...again with my bribes (or "incentives" as I prefer to call them), I offered a trip to Target for a reward if he would TRY really hard.  Wouldn't you know it...after a slow start, he actually wanted to be out on the field almost the entire game...I don't know that he touched the ball but he ran around with the pack at least!  And of course I didn't think to bring the camera because I didn't think he would play!  There will be an update to this post....!  I do hate having to "incent" him but it seems to be the only thing that will motivate him to try something new.

Pre-game Practice Sessions

I did get a shot of our Target visit - what is it with boys and Super Heroes?  Nate has never seen Spiderman or even Superman yet he still talks about them, wears a cape, and talks constantly about Super Heroes fighting bad guys...

I don't take pictures at birthday parties much any more because they have gotten much more interactive (especially juggling two kids) but we did go to a really fun Bowling party for "Boy Keegan" (as Nate calls him) last weekend...I wasn't sure about 4 yr olds and bowling but they had a blast!  With the bumpers up, the ramp to push the balls down, and crashing pins it was a hit (the adorable capes that she made for all of the kids put it over the top for him).  I wish I did have pictures from that party but the dark lighting and flashy lights (which also made it cool) made that difficult.  Nate has already asked to have a bowling party next year...and I will be keeping that in mind!

Nate had his first field trip of the school year this week - to Publix.  Not really sure why that is a standard field trip since I drag him there every week...not exactly "new and exciting" for him!  But they did a great job of showing them all of the departments - the kids actually paid attention the whole time.  And after all of these "shy" episodes he keeps having in new situations (i.e. soccer), it is nice to see him in his comfort zone around his school friends.

Ms. Carla's Class - that's Nate, 3rd from left, adjusting his hairnet

Learning how to scan the groceries...hopefully he won't want to do it the next time we are shopping!

And I don't want to leave little Matthew out...here's what he has been up to...

Trying to keep up with his Big Brother...the baby swing doesn't always cut it any more...as soon as Nate gets off a "big" swing he wants on. This picture makes me laugh...the swing was barely moving but he looks like he is on a roller coaster!

Perfecting his spoon feeding skills.  Despite the yogurt dripping down his belly in this pic, he is actually getting pretty good at it.  He begs for cereal (with milk) for breakfast most mornings to eat like his big brother and is very serious about getting every bite to his mouth.  He has added "poon" (spoon) to his list of words.  He is getting pretty good with a cup too....

We went to our local Mexican restaurant for dinner tonight and they were kind enough to bring ice cream cones at the end of our meal...the kids are typically happy with just getting a balloon on our way out, and now they will expect ice cream everytime we go! 

And there you have it...another completely random post...and I will leave you with a parting shot of the boys together...impromptu evening sprinkler party....

Here's hoping the next time I post it will include pictures from an actual camera!