Firefighter Nathan Turns 3

These pictures are LONG overdue...it's kind of been a busy month at our place.  But we just got back from a friend's birthday today, and we were fondly recalling Nathan's birthday a few weeks ago.  It was such a fun morning.

Nathan celebrated his 3rd birthday at the Laytonsville Fire Department.  Boy! Did they do an outstanding job coordinating the party and creating fun activities for the kids.  Honestly, all I had to do was bring the cake!!  (Which was incredible thanks to Classic Bakery in Gaithersburg!!)

Here are some highlights:

When we first arrived Firefighter Greg greeted the kids and gave them awesome tattoos.  While Volunteer Linda welcomed parents and made our little guy, Chief Nathan, complete with a white fire hat and a LDVFD tee-shirt!

 Even Daddy got a tattoo - it was a purple salamander...not the manliest of choices.  Nathan stuck with a classic fire truck!

The kids got to see a bunch of different equipment, including an ambulance and a few engines.  Nathan could tell you the difference between each engine. And sitting up in that driver's seat was a highlight for him.  He was so proud of himself!

 

  

The kids got a tour of the entire station including the living quarters - very cool for them to see real firefighters eating their lunch.  Firefighter Greg did an excellent job talking about fire safety and the importance of trusting a fireman during a firefighter.  No need to be scared of the guys in the funny looking masks!

Then it was time for the kids to become firefighters and practice their skills.  Nathan was given (on loan) his own uniform as he lead his company of friends in some important exercises.  The most memorable one being using a fire hose to put out pretend flames in a play house.  Every kid got a turn with the hose.  It was so much fun!!

 

 

 

The kids had a lot of fun playing games too.  They had a relay race to see which team could transport more water to a "fire" like they used to in the old days of firefighting.   Team Nathan won - of course.  But both teams got prized because they did such a good job following directions and putting out the "fire".

 I must say the favorite game had to have been firetruck-firetruck...kind like our version of duck-duck-goose.  The kids ran and squealed and had a great time!

 

 

 

 Even fireman Greg got to play too!

Thank you Mrs. Linda and Firefighter Greg for an awesome birthday party that Nathan will never forget!

A Day in the Park

Literally we needed a day in the park today - a family day to focus on the kids and just being together.  It has been a crazy week for Josh and I.  Two weeks ago we found our dream house in Virgina.  So tomorrow our house officially goes on the market.  What is not being said is that everyday Josh and I have been busting our tails to de-clutter, pack, and do all those home improvement projects that we have put off!  We have been exhausted and haven't had a lot of extra time to focus on the kids.  After all, a trip to Home Depot everyday does not excite our Kate!

It was raining this morning, but this afternoon the sun came out and the weather was beautiful.  So we headed out for walk around the ponds that the kids love so much (and that we will miss when we do finally move).

Flowers are in bloom everywhere, and as I have instructed Kate to please stop picking the daffodils and tulips that are in bloom in our front yard (curb appeal is important you know!), I let her and Nathan have it with these pretty purple flowers we found on our walk.

 Kate loves the swing.  And as she clearly pointed out, Mommy does not push as high as Daddy.  (On purpose I might add.)  But today she got her thrill as Daddy let her fly through the air until her adrenaline fill had been met.

Nathan on the other hand would rather play with dirt - or mulch in this case.  Have at it big boy!

We are very excited about moving to a new house.  The new neighborhood has nice walking paths, but I must admit we have enjoyed our time walking around the ponds and exploring our little piece of nature just out our front door.

Spring is drawing near (I think...)

So next week is technically the first week of spring according to the calendar hanging on the side of my refrigerator.  The threat of a big snowfall last week scared us just enough to doubt spring's arrival.  Luckily, it missed us and left it's mark on our dear family in New England!  But here, South of the Mason-Dixon Line, this weekend saw sunshine and 60 degrees, so again I am hopeful.

Kate and Josh went out on a walk Saturday and breathed in the sweet fresh air.   I love that they have these little treasures of adventure together.  I hope when Kate looks back on her childhood she will remember days like this with her Daddy!

Bye-Bye Diaper Party

I just love this picture! The cute chubby legs - the trains by his knee, the firetruck shirt he is wearing (that is unfortunately not seen in this shot).  But most importantly, I love what it is really saying:  NO MORE DIAPERS for Nathan!!!

We've been taking a slow approach with Nathan and potty training - letting him go when he wanted to, but not putting pressure on him.  I was planning on waiting until spring when he turns three to really go full force on potty training, but he announced last week that he "was ready for his diaper party!"  No more diapers and only underwear.  So who am I to argue with a boy who knows what he wants?

So this weekend we hunkered down and stayed home for three days straight. As I did with Kate,  I geared up for the constant  potty reminders, the activities to keep him entertained, and the accidents.  But by Friday afternoon, he had it down pat.  I guess he really was ready.  It was so easy with him!!

As is the Gallagher Potty Training Tradition: the family came over Sunday night to celebrate with him.  We had pizza and chocolate chip cookies per Nathan's request.  There was a lot of praise and encouragement from cousins, aunts and uncles.  Gigi and Papa brought him a new police car.  And he earned a big firetruck at the end of the weekend.

The best part of the weekend was not packing up the diapers.  It was seeing how proud Nathan was of himself. How excited he was to tell the family of his accomplishments.  How genuinely happy he was each time he got to put on his underwear!  

Yes, I too am a very proud mama!  My baby is not so little anymore.  I think I am okay with that-- just don't grow up too fast little buddy!

 

Happy Valentine's Day

I adore Kate's heart.  It is simple.  It is genuine.  It is full of love if we are wise enough to receive that gift she offers us daily. 

Kate and I were making valentine's for her class this week.  She made one extra card and added quite a few extra heart stickers on it.  I asked her who it was for and she plainly said:  Jesus. 

I asked her if she wanted to mail it, shamefully sarcastic in my mind.  She said, "No, thank you."  I have another idea.  And into the backyard she went with her Valentine balloon and Jesus's valentine taped to the string. 

My heart melted.  Sarcasm gone.  Pure love.  Unhindered faith. Oh, to be more like my sweet daughter.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14

Weekend Adventures

It feels like January came and went in a blink of an eye!  I can't really tell you what we did in January.  Not much.  I think we bundled up indoors and probably watched way more TV than the American Pediatric Association would approve of.  But it's a new month, and I am bound and determined to get these kids, and myself, out of the house as much as we can.  

Last weekend, I was away on my annual girls' scrapbooking weekend. (Yeah for me!) Josh was Mr. Mom for a few days (with the help of Papa Dan).  Our nearby farm, Fox Hollow, had just announced the birth of some baby goats, so Josh bundled the kids up for a morning trek to the farm.  Here are some shots of the kids playing with the kids...ha...ha...

We go to the farm often, and Kate loves the sheep and lambs.  Nathan has a fascination with the chickens.  Some days they let us in the hen house to find our own eggs.  But today Nathan got a real treat:  he bonded with a chicken so to speak, and he got to sit on a tractor too -- can't beat that!

 

We just love Fox Hollow Farm.  Thank you to Stephanie, Vince and Olivia for always making the kids feel so welcome and special!

Keeping with community support, our good friend, Chris, works for Laytonsville Fire Department.  He invited Nathan to come by to see some engines.  Nathan is obsessed with firetrucks right now.    Every other word is firetruck or ambulance or police car.  But he honestly is fanatical about firetrucks!  What a special treat this was for our Firefighter Nathan!

Thanks, Chris, for your time today!  And thank you to all the firefighters who serve our communities so well.  We are grateful!

Norman Rockwell Christmas

This is my new favorite Christmas picture!   Kate spent the night at my parents' house last week and helped them decorate their Christmas tree.  As our tree is not yet up, Kate was so excited to be a part of this activity.  My dad snapped this picture.  Love it!!