It's been 6 good months...

I'm mad at Blogger right now. I've tried 10 times to upload the rest of the pictures for this post and it keeps failing the upload. Grrrrr..
These are the only ones that I could get on. I was going to put one picture from each month. And he only gets cuter, so the last couple were super cute pictures. Oh well. Today was Nate's 1/2 birthday. Actually, any time I thought about him being 6 months today, I tried my best to get the thought out of my mind. 6 months sounds too old, and I know the time will keep going fast. I'm trying my best to soak up every minute. Yesterday I packed more clothes away because he is growing too fast. I still cry every time I pack more clothes away that he has outgrown. Seeing these pictures of brand new Nate makes me want to reach out my arms and hold that tiny infant. Now Nate wants to reach anything he gets his eyes on, and always wants to be part of the fun. He still loves to snuggle, and I am so glad for that. We love this little boy.

Watch out Nate!

I knew Nate was kind of a ladies man at our house (Meliss, Ash, Sadie...) but when I saw this picture (with the tongue) I realized that Nate took it to a new level. Is he moving in on Meliss...?

Ashlyn's Recital

Friday night Ashlyn had her Suzuki Book 1 Graduation Recital at our house. She was so excited for it. Ashlyn is generally pretty shy, so it took me by surprise when she told me that she wanted to hide in her room while the teacher announced her, so she could walk out and make a grand entrance. Too funny! She said she was nervous, but she seemed so calm at the piano. It was a big night for her with lots of her friends who came ot cheer her on. She has worked on Book 1 for 2 1/2 years and it was a big accomplishment to have it done! She wrote a story using the titles of each of the 21 songs in the book. Some of you have asked about the story...so here it is.

Once upon a time there was a ferret of the family of weasels. She lived in a mine in the town of Clair de la Lune. One day Goka, the ferret, found a dollar on the ground and picked it up. She was stopped by a mother lamb and her name was Mary. Mary had a Little Lamb. The lamb said nothing but went right on walking. Goka ran to Go tell Aunt Rhody that she saw a Cuckoo Bird, a Mississippi hop frog, and a Honeybee. She also saw a Blueberry Popcicle and an Ice-cream Cone on the London Bridge that she really wanted to eat. Then Goka saw a pianist playing a song called Musette. The London Bridge was built Long, Long Ago; it crashed and Goka felt it but luckily it fell in a boat. Goka Lightly Rowed down the river and met two Little Playmates named Allegretto 1 and Allegretto 2. At midday Goka sang French Children’s Songs. At midnight she lay down under the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars. At mid-morning she planned her Christmas day Secrets and when she would say Good-bye to Winter. She ate Allegro soup for dinner. Goka Chanted for glee when she heard that her best friend Arabe was coming. They were happy to be together again!

The End

Nate's first tie

And I thought boys wouldn't be as fun to dress up. Nate was ready for church first this morning. He knocked on the bathroom door to show daddy his new outfit. Dave opened it and found this cute little thing standing there staring up at him with a smile.

Finally, this should work: Nate's Song

Sean and Kristi, you guys are amazing.

Back on the Blog

We've been out of the blogging world for a while. I hardly used the computer while I was in CA for 3 weeks...and since I've been back, I've been going non-stop to re-group after being gone almost a month, get back into homeschooling, getting us off CA time, piano, getting our house ready to sell, etc, etc!!! We have been alive and doing things, and had a great trip to CA that I wanted to post some pictures from. By the way, I have noticed that most everyone has updated their blogs with fancy templates and layouts. Someday, or some year, I hope to add some fancy tricks to mine. But first I have to learn how...and I'm not sure when I'll be able to squeeze that in. So if anyone would like to give me a crash course on blogging, that would be great. I spent a while last weekend trying to figure out how to post a song on my blog. No luck. I tried what they told me to do, but it wasn't working. I still want to put my sister's song on so you can hear it. So if anyone knows how, let me know!




It was bittersweet bringing Nate to our sweet spot at the Los Gatos Cemetery. Dave started a tradition a while ago...each time we are there, we kiss our thumb, and then put our thumb on Brie's "B". Nate got to join in...but he used his whole fist.

Lindsay, Sadie, Ashlyn, Tyler (cousins) showing off the school kits they made for children that don't have money for school supplies. Grandma Shelly sewed the bags and the kids bought and stuffed the school supplies.

Nate showing off for the camera with Grandma Walton at one of the many yummy Christmas meals! Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa Walton!
We were so glad we were able to visit with Great-Grandma Walton for a minute during her trip out. She had been taking a nap, so we visited while she could still rest in bed.

If you knew us when Ash and Sadie were babies, you'll recognize Dave's favorite trick. Nate is a pro and loves his trick with Daddy. Usually he has the biggest grin while doing it.

By the way, our new Sony camera has given us a lot of grief. It takes great outdoor pictures, but most indoor pictures come out terribly. A lot of our CA pictures are awful. Dave spent forever on the phone with Sony trying to return it, but to no avail. Boo Sony on their customer service. We won't be shopping Sony again...and we are on the lookout for a better camera.

Ashlyn, Sadie and Mrs. Moncrief, their piano teacher. The girls had a great time at their piano recital. Neither were nervous to perform (mom was when I had to play duets with them!) It was a fun evening.
Where else do you put totally conked out Sadie when you are at the airport, trying to unload 8 major pieces of luggage, juggle a guitar, baby, tired but awake Ashlyn? It worked perfectly putting her in Nate's carseat. We carried her this way from the airport, to the shuttle to get the rental car, and all the way to the rental car. She slept through it all.

I have a few more pictures from our trip but our internet is being stubborn. More to come...

Nate's Song

I had to share my favorite Christmas gift I received this year. My little sis, Kristi, had our family for the family gift exchange. We were spoiled with various home made gifts from the talented duo. After all of the gifts were were exchanged, she said she had one more little thing for me. But we all had to go in the family room where the cd player was. Kristi and Sean wrote and sang/played a song for me (and Nate!) I need to figure out how to post a song on the blog, and when I do, I will most definitely let you hear the song. It is amazing. Kristi is a little girl jam-packed with musical talent. She amazes me with her gift of music. They recorded the song at home with several different tracks. She played the guitar and sang at the same time, then recorded two different harmony parts to add to her singing, Sean played guitar solos, Kristi added a piano track...and I'm sure I'm missing some of it. You just have to hear it. But until then, here are the beautiful words. 

Oh, one more cute note. Kristi has spoiled me with songs, poems, and a movie over the past 2 1/2 years. Each thing has been about our hard times with our babies. They have been treasures to me and have captured feelings and memories better than anything ever could. Jokingly, I recently told her that I didn't want any more songs written for me (only implying that I didn't want to lose another baby). Before playing this song for me, she said "I know you didn't want another song, but I had to, because this was a happy one!"

Thank you, Kristi! I love it, love it, love it, and listen to it over and over with Nate in my arms! 

Did you imagine, the day, when you would hear me say

That I'm stayin, oh, I am staying, oh with you.

In your eyes, I see, the way you look at me,

That you like me, oh, that you love me, oh this way.

Now I can smile today,

Smile

Cuz I can Hear you laugh

And now I can hear you cry

And now I can sing you lullabye

No goodbye, this time.

You hear angels speak

You speak to me

And whisper softly to me,

So that I can Hear them laugh

And so I can hear them cry

And so I can sing them lullabye

Oh tell them I said "hi,"

You hear angels speak

You speak to me

And whisper softly to me,

No goodbye

No goodbye

Cuz I can hear you laugh

And now I can hear you cry

And now I can sing you lullabye

No goodbye

No goodbye

This time