Nate the Great: Posted by Nate Himself

Hi. This is Nate. You won't believe what I got for Valentine's Day! I got Mario Sports Mix Wii, the video game. My favorite characters are Mario, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Yoshi, Ninja and Black Mage. There are four sports. They are volleyball, basketball, dodge ball, and hockey. I would place them like this...
1. dodge ball
2. basketball
3. volleyball
4. hockey.
There are mushroom cups, flower cups, and star cups. These cups are the prizes for when you win tournaments. I love to play Mario Sports Mix!

Mom's Note: So you heard it straight from the horse's mouth. This was good writing practice for Nate. They've been working on 'small moment' stories at school. These are stories that focus on one small event or subject. For example, instead of writing about Valentine's day, write about one specific part of Valentine's day. Mario Sports Mix has definitely been what Nate has been focused on lately. It's how he spends almost all his free time. It's a good alternative when snow has blanketed the outdoors! And though the pictures aren't that exciting (It's never much fun to watch someone else play video games.), you can kind of see how much he's grown. He's getting so tall!

Caz's New Toy

Caz turns 4 months today and is showing many signs of growing. He is learning to use his hands, working on that hand coordination. He gets multiple daily ab workouts as he's always trying to sit himself up when he's laying down on an incline. We have to begin being more careful leaving him lying on the bed as he can roll to his side now; he hasn't quite made it all the way over, but I'm sure that's just around the corner so we'll have to keep an eye on him. To keep up with his new moves at trying to grab at things and desire to always be up and at 'em, we got him a new jumper toy. I think he was a little overwhelmed at first, so many new sounds, but he quickly got comfortable and began to try to explore. It will be fun to watch him grow into this toy, and we hope it makes him very happy for at least a few months. :)





And as you can see by the dampness of his shirt and the evidence hanging from his chin, he continues to be a master drooler and a total sweetheart.

My Valentines

I love my three little valentines...

Basketball

It's cold as ever here, and cold weather means basketball season. This is Mari Cagle's second year playing, and she's really enjoying it. She and her teammates have wonderful coaches and they even enjoyed a Lady Husker's basketball game together. They play better and better each week and seem to be having lots of fun, so it's been a great season. Yesterday, MC had her best game yet, playing "with her hair on fire." Her dad was especially proud that she fouled the other team. I realize it may sound mean and a little odd to reward her for getting called for a foul, but it's a real challenge to get young girls to play aggressively, so in that context, we were excited. I put together a montage of clips from the game so you can see just how great she played. It includes some great defense, her foul, and her shot! (To make your viewing a little easier, MC's team is wearing the blue jerseys, and MC is wearing pink shorts and white basketball shoes.)

Caz is 3 months!!

That's right, Caz is 3 months old now. Time flies, but at the same time it feels like he's always been a part of the family. He's as cute as ever and we can't get enough of kissing his adorable cheeks, seeing him smile, and listening to his baby babble. All so sweet!

He's been in his bumbo seat a few times and could take it or leave it at this point. But he can definitely handle it. He's holding his head up very well. Strong little fellow.

See what I mean about those cheeks!

And those smiles!

I guess his funnest trick lately, besides goo-goos and ga-gas, is kicking his toys with his feet. It's a favorite of his as he smiles and talks to the animals while working on his foot-eye coordination. We consider it good practice for years later on the soccer field?!?

Another talent Caz is exhibiting...drooling. He can make spit bubbles like a champ! It makes for lots of outfit changes throughout the day.

Below are a couple of short videos of the little guy...first, kicking those little feet and second, a little bit of talking.

Happy Birthday Caz!

Christmas Back Home

This Christmas was new and different for many reasons. The biggest difference is that both sides of the family grew significantly with the new addition of Winslette, Jack, Evangeline and Caz! And Caz and Jack were baptized on Dec. 26. What wonderful blessings! Too, we drove home for Christmas, the first time we've made that long drive since the move. (Perhaps it was also our last drive, the jury is still out on that one.) And also, we added an adult member to the family as Terri and Chad are engaged!!! It all made for lots of excitement and Christmas cheer. See for yourself...

At Grammy & PopPop's we enjoyed lots of family time with cousins. The kiddos made awesome gingerbread houses. And we got to see all of the extended family too on both the Lockhart and DeFoor sides of the family.

Rockin' around the Christmas tree!

Chillin', watching a little TV.

I didn't get a shot of all the kiddos but this is part of the brood. (Let me take this moment to ask Kim and/or Kristen for one of their great shots of all the group. :) )

Presents...MC has been wishing for the peeing/pooping doll for sometime but I've always said no. It was amusing to watch her open it. She was excited but at the same time torn because I had said no all those times. I assured her I had given in and it was a-ok for Grammy and PopPop to get it for her. I appreciate her strong will to follow rules (most of the time).

Loving his skate board and Calvin Johnson jersey.

I don't think this Christmas should count as Caz's first seeing as how he slept through most of it being only 2 months old. Next year he will be much more excited and in to all the festivities.

MC wrote a book for Grammy that included each member of the family...princesses Mari Cagle, Quinn and Payton; fairy godmother Evangeline; knights Caz, Nate and Hudson; king and queen Grammy and PopPop; maids Kristy, Kim and Kristen; and dragon snatchers Britton, Brandon and Rob. It was very cute. Also, notice Quinn and Mari Cagle's matching shirts Grammy got them. They loved being dressed alike.

Christmas morning...MC got some fun American girl stuff to share with Ruthie.

Nate got lots of Pokemon stuff.

The one thing MC consistently requested from Santa was a Husker jersey. She's so cute!

Meeting Grandma. Caz is named for her dad, Casper Schaeffer.

Grandma and Papa love the Braves too. Grandma watches all the games on TV. So the Heyward t-shirt they got Nate was perfect!

I mentioned Caz and Jack got baptized the day after Christmas at Nana and Pa's church. It was a special occasion but even more so being so close to Christmas. He was almost too big to fit in the Christening outfit that Nate wore. Caz was very quiet throughout Mass and the actual Baptism as he was sleeping. He didn't even cry as they poured the water over his head. He just looked surprised to be getting a bath in his clothes.

Our dearest friends, the Tyres, made the long trip, early in the morning to be there as Caz's godparents. Aren't their boys handsome? Emery isn't pictured, but he's a doll too.

The doting big sister. The big brother was quite sweet that morning as we got dressed..."You mean Caz has sin in him?!?"

Back to sleep on the way home. He looks quite angelic, doesn't he?

It was not only special to be baptized the day after Christmas, but also special to share the day with sweet cousin Jack.

The awesome godparents...

The newest additions to the Payant family. Each of them is so precious!

And the whole pack, quite a good-looking group!

The Jackets basketball game was canceled, but Nate and Caz were decked out just the same. Go Jackets!

Nate continues to get spoiled.

As does Mari Cagle. She was so excited to get the salon chair for Ruthie.

The girls are outnumbered 2:1, but they'll gain on the boys come July when Winslette gets a baby sister!

We love matching PJs.

Like I said, Caz slept through much of the festivities. But it was great being able to introduce him to all his aunts and uncles and cousins and all the family! Best wishes for a blessed new year everyone!