The furbaby

We are embarking on a new adventure in a few weeks. K is getting a puppy. Maybe it's more like 'we' are getting a puppy because I know we'll both be involved in the raising of this furbaby...but it will be mostly his. :)

 

On Saturday, we took a trip up to the middle of NC to look at a litter of mini schnauzer puppies that were born on November 10. They were SO cute! There were 5 in the litter - 2 boys and 3 girls. A while back I told K he could pick whichever he wanted and he's been pretty set on a girl the whole time so that day he picked her out. She was the largest of the three girls and she had a white patch on her chest "like Maddie". I thought that was really sweet as his reasoning for picking that puppy.

 

We should be getting pictures along the way. I think the planned pick up day is Jan 17.

 

No name as of yet. K has a whole list going but it looks like the front runner is Hallie.

 

I will say...I have not seen dogs that young before...they had JUST opened their eyes and couldn't walk yet. The best part was they were so snuggly. As soon as they were all put down they squirmed over to each other and piled up to snuggle together and as soon as one of us picked one up, it would snuggle right up to us. So sweet.

 

Mother Nature is...

ON CRACK!

I mean really, that's the only logical possibility. 3 days ago it was freezing and we got some snow. This weekend it is 70 and we put our toes in the sand. 

The Hulk

He loves to show off his 'muscles'. It is too cute. I will say that his arms do feel pretty strong!

 

 

1st project

K's first school project was to disguise a turkey. We went through a lot of ideas (some of which I'm glad he didn't decide to go with) but ended up wanting to make it look like him in his karate uniform. I helped him draw the costume, and he did the cutting, assembling, and decoration. I think it turned out cute. I asked him how the other turkeys in his class were decorated and he could only remember one being Spiderman. I'd love to see the rest of them. I bet they are all awesome!

Snow??

True story. It actually snowed here last week! K's face pretty much sums up our shock. We didn't get much, not even really enough to do anything with, but it was still snow! Maybe we'll get a little bit more...enough to play in...or even *cough* get a day off of school/work. ;)

Little vacay

We took a little weekend trip to Myrtle Beach last weekend since we both had Monday off. K had been talking about wanting to go to Pirates Voyage so I told him we could go that weekend if he was feeling okay (b/c he had been kind of sniffly and coughing so I wasn't sure. When we looked up the Pirate show, it had switched to Christmas and K seemed less than excited. Less than excited does not incline me to spend the money on those tickets so we decided we'd still go but we'd probably do something different. We had a busy weekend. The pics below are not in order but I'll kind of sum up what we did.  We got there Saturday afternoon in time to check into the hotel, notice a 'real phone' to which he said "Mommy, you have GOT to hear this!" about the dial tone...and then we made our way over to the usual spot of entertainment....Medieval Times. As usual, K was fascinated.  Sunday morning we got up, had breakfast (he's the king of the continental breakfast) and the first thing he wanted to do (that he remembered from last time and had talked about a lot) was go to 'the upside down building'...aka Wonder Works. It is a pretty neat place! He really likes the space related areas. We took sneakers (okay, *I* took sneakers) because we were going to try out their Ropes Challenge while we were there. K was tall enough to do it without me, but I had a feeling that wasn't going to happen. Honestly, I wasn't sure if he would do it at all b/c of this sporadic heights issue. So, we tried, we got up the steps to the first turn and he was NOT having it. He was shaking and wouldn't move. I told him I was proud of him for trying and that maybe next time we'd make it to the next level. Last time he wouldn't even try it, so we took a step forward this time at least! After a couple of hours at Wonder Works we walked around Broadway at the Beach, fed the fish, and went to Hard Rock pyramid for lunch where he saw lots of guitars and drew a picture of himself playing the drums.  We have been going to MB for years but I had no idea that the Children's Museum of SC was there. Apparently it has been there for 18 years?!?!? The only other thing K really wanted to do was play putt putt. I swear we passed 100 places on the way in. He's gotten pretty good!  Monday on our way out, we stopped by the outlets because I wanted to find K a heavier jacket. He really does NOT like shopping but it was so helpful having him with me because I would have bought things that were way too big. He even picked out something on his own...a puffy vest. And...he has worn the vest every day so far. It must be warm...but I'm sure there will be a coat day sometime soon. I was just happy that he helped me pick some stuff out for him!

King me!

The newest entertainment lately has been checkers and K seem to really like it. He still needs a little help but he has grasped the game and does pretty wel on his own.  

 

Halloween

 

Happy Halloween!

We sort of have a tradition of celebrating Halloween more than once. Usually it's at least 2 times if not more, which usually means he picks more than one costume. That is probably my fault...and aiding in his potential indecisiveness when it comes to Halloween....but anyway...

He had been trying to figure out what to be. He kept coming back to a Vampire and honestly, I was less than thrilled. However, I agreed to it (kindof) but not on Halloween night.

Part of the tradition is "Trick or Treat Under the Sea" at the Aquarium. This year it was CRAZY over there, but K had fun. This is where he was "the Count". He thought it was cool to have his hair slicked back and his face painted.

On Halloween night, we have a 3 year tradition going where we go to a friend's house for dinner (mummy dogs) and a hay ride around her neighborhood. This year, they also decorated 'haunted houses". The kids go trick or treating at houses where she knows the people.  It works out well, since most of Newport does not participate in trick or treating. I remember having so much fun doing that as a kid, so I'm glad to be able to share that experience with K.  He was a Ninja for Halloween night...as was one of his buddies. They had fun!

Karate kid.

K's favorite color is orange...and this day was his orange belt test at Tae Kwon Do. During tests, the black belts sit as a panel in the front and judge the testers. Here are a few pics of K during his test, receiving his belt, and the big smile afterward.

I love to see his confidence in this sport. He shows no fear and just simply gets up in front and shows what he knows. He's on the way to green next...but that'll probably be January or February.

A glimpse into my perfection....

I went on a girls trip! I've been wanting to go somewhere tropical for years and on New Year's Day I had decided it would happen this year. At that time, I didn't know how or when or where...or even with who, but I wanted to do it!

 

One Friday night in June, a friend was talking about wanting to go on a cruise. 2 of us in the group said we'd be up for it. Another out of state was game as well. By Sunday, the original friend was ready to book it!

 

So...in October, we took a short trip over to the Bahamas. It.was.AWESOME and we are already talking about making this either a yearly or every other year idea. I'm excited already for the next one.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of my perfection....

 

 

The Med Student

This child loves to look at body books. He talks about being a doctor and it wouldn't surprise me. He surprises me often with the things he knows (or moreso, verbalizes...and the words he uses). One day I found him in his room with the big light off and the small reading lamp on, 'studying' his body book. Start 'em early.

 

 

One Eyed Jack.

Of course, every year we get a pumpkin with the idea of carving it. This year was no different. We visited a local church to pick out 'the one' and I think we left with 5 of varying sizes.

Let me preface this by saying that I always like the IDEA of pumpkin carving, but when it comes down to it, I am NOT a fan. It is HARD and never turns out the way I want it to.

This year we bought a pumpkin carving kit. I did not have high hopes. I figured it would be just as much of a pain in the ...you know. Well, as it turns out, it was a HUGE success in my book and it was pretty dang easy. We'll be doing it that way from now on.  He was so proud of his little pumpkin family. I think next time we'll carve more than one!



(K wanted to get the 'guts' out and I was all for it. But of course, once he touched it, he thought it was nasty, but he did it anyway)



 

Seafood Fest 2013

The NC Seafood Festival is always the 1st weekend in October. We'vemade it a point to go the last few years. I like to try out the local seafood dishes and K likes the rides and other kid things. Here are a few pics of the day we went this year. K actually ran into one of his friends from pre-k. I don't have apicture of that, but they had a blast riding things together. It's always more fun with a buddy. :)

 

 

Fall Soccer....and the famous water bottle.

Yes, it's time to play catch up!

 

K decided that he wanted to try out soccer this fall. The season was pretty short (mid Sept - end of Oct) so that was nice. I will admit, the whole having to be out of the house early on Saturday mornings was a huge adjustment. Practice during the week was fine but man, those Saturdays were rough! Needless to say, when the season was over, I was not heartbroken. That wasn't just all about me though. K did not seem overly happy either...but it's the nature of the game. You want to play, you gotta get up early! :)

 

It was a good season though. The coach said it best during our first conversation that soccer at this age was more like 'herding cats' and boy was he right! Ha!

 

On another note, you'll see the massive water bottle. That is a hand-me-down from OEO who played soccer for....well...forever. This water bottle is particularly ideal b/c not only can you drink from it, but it also makes a good seat. :) It's been holding hineys since the 80s. :)