Double Digits!

Nathan is growing up so fast!  It's hard to believe he is now 10 years old - double digits!  He is a very smart, funny, loving, caring, and creative boy!  Ten years ago in the NICU we didn't know what the future would hold, but God is good and blessed us with an amazing son.  

October 2018 Highlights:
School pictures are here!  Look at this handsome fourth grader! 

Fall time is a family favorite in our house!  This season means football, cool weather, pumpkins, costumes, and candy!  We carved our pumpkins in the finished basement this year for the first time.  Nathan always has the best facial expressions while preparing his pumpkin for carving.  

Nathan enjoyed dressing up as Master Chief from Halo for Beggars Night this year.  The weather was cooperative making it a great night to walk around the neighborhood.  Nathan was able to bundle up enough underneath his costume to keep warm.  He came home with a bucket full of candy!  

November 2018 Highlights:

Nathan and Dad were up to no good out in the shop one weekend.  They were playing with the new leaf blower but I'm pretty sure this is NOT the way this is to be used!

Nathan was a big helper getting the Christmas tree decorated in the living room!  He thought it was pretty special that Dad let him climb up the ladder a little ways.  We enjoyed watching Christmas movies together while putting ornaments on the tree.

Nathan has a new tree for his bedroom because the summer flood in our basement ruined his old one. It was fun setting up this different style Christmas tree together filled with his robot and alien ornaments.

We spent Thanksgiving in town with the Campbell's this year.  It was great having Uncle Brandon home from Washington because it had been two years since we were together!  What a beautiful day it was on Thanksgiving; most of us went for a walk after dinner.  Nathan and his uncles found a huge rock they couldn't resist climbing.  

December 2018 Highlights:

Buddy the Elf returned to our house for the Christmas season!  He was a silly little elf getting into all sorts of things around the house...yet again.  We captured a few pictures of Buddy's creativity. 

snowball fight with Buzz Lightyear

candy cane rope

sugary snack

snowflake paper crafts

working in the shop

spaghetti with chocolate syrup

sink bubble bath

word game fun

On December 6th Nathan had an orthodontist appointment for pictures, x-rays, and a digital mold of his mouth for the doctor to come up with a game plan for correcting his teeth.  Nathan was nervous about this appointment but he was very brave.  We will follow up with the doctor in a month for a consultation after reviewing his records. 

Nathan lost a bottom tooth; this happened on the 21st this month.  The tooth fairy came to our house like normal but this month is a little crazy with "intruders" - Buddy the elf coming in and out, the tooth fairy visiting, and Santa Claus.  We might need to look into increasing our home security. 

Nathan invited a new friend (Derek) to our house for a birthday sleep over the weekend before his actual birthday.  They had a fun time together playing with the party balloons, having supper together, playing video games, and watching The Incredibles 2 movie with popcorn.  Too much party excitement made it hard for them to fall asleep in their sleeping bags.  They didn't quiet down until after 11:00pm. 

It's official, Nathan is 10 years old now! For his 10th birthday I created a special game with ten little green bags filled with different items.  He opened a bag of his choice but had to wait until 10 minutes after each hour throughout the day until all bags were opened.  Nathan was so excited with this game; more then I thought he would be.  I'm glad it was a big hit.  We had a fun morning as a family while Nathan opened the gifts from us.  After lunch we had a cake party inviting the Campbell's over.  Nana and Papa gave Nathan a very special birthday present this year - a new bike!  He certainly was due for an upgrade on bike size and boy he sure looks great on his new bright colored bike!  

Hum, which bag to open first?

Every year at Christmas time Nathan and I spend an afternoon in the kitchen making cookies.  This year we decided to change it up and make snickerdoodle cookies.  We enjoyed our baking time together.  Nathan did an excellent job rolling the dough into balls and covering them in cinnamon and sugar.  

Christmas time is here!  We enjoyed going to the Christmas Eve service at church.  There is just something special about singing Christmas songs at church.  After the service, we opened presents at home since we traveled to Nebraska on Christmas Day to be with the Wiese family.  It was a nice relaxing Christmas at home! 

Here are all the Wiese's for a family picture!  It was a nice Christmas being together - eating a great dinner, visiting and playing games, and watching the kids open their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma. Nathan also loved playing with all his cousins for the day.  

Nana and Papa came over for a fun New Year's Eve party at our house.  We enjoyed hanging out in the basement watching football, eating fun foods, playing games, and blowing party horns.  Nathan's favorite part of the evening was...the party horns!!!!!  It was getting late but we wanted a fun picture before Nathan headed off to bed.  His face expression here reminds me of one of Calvin's many facial expressions from the books Calvin & Hobbes.  Can you tell that Nathan does not do well past his bedtime?

Nathan took one of Nana's slipper socks!