Celebration of #7

As I said in my previous post......I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD!!!!!!! Where in the world did the time go?!?!?!?!?!?

We started Nathan's birthday off with an all boys (except one special girl--cousin Stirling) Karate Birthday Party!!!! The kids had a great time and I think they pretty much loved every minute of it. How could they not with games of dodge ball, dodge ball freeze tag, getting to break their own wooden board, and obstacle courses. It was a perfect start to Nate's birthday week.

Nate even got to be a black belt for the day!!!! He loved that!

The boys thought this was totally cool.....Nathan (along with some assistance) got to cut his cake with a real Samurai sword.

Check out this rowdy group!!! Notice Stirling.....that's about as close as we could get her to all those boys. Do you blame her?!?!?!?!?

On Nathan's actual birthday (Oct. 14th) I dropped by his school for a lunch visit and brought his class some yummy cookies. The class was so cute and very appreciative.

And then to wrap up the big day, Nathan chose Mikata for his birthday dinner with family. I told him since his party was for only boys that he could invite one "special" friend to go to dinner with us. OF COURSE it was his "girlfriend" Isabel.

And of course, one last set of candles to blow out!!

7 Years......Really?!?!?!?!?

This whole 7 year old thing is about to much for me!!!!! I want to go back to these sweet little years........................... Happy Birthday Nathan!

More pics to come from today!!!!!!

The Magical World of Disney

I am going to start off by apologizing for the longest post in the history of blogging --this quite possibly should be illegal to post this BUT it's hard enough these days to find the time to do one post...much less try to break these pictures up in to multiple posts. So with that said, hang in there with me. ;)

This post is about the much anticipated "celebration" trip for Nathan. What could be better than a trip to Disney after a year full of multiple surgeries for his reconstruction???? Nothing, I say!!!! We had a BLAST! We rode tons of rides, watched lots of parades, met LOTS of new friends and ate yummy food. The look on Nathan's face the day we got to each park was priceless and around every corner we went there were always fun and friendly characters to meet and get autographs from. My sweet boy was in HEAVEN!!!

These first pictures are from just SOME of our many new friends that we met. Definitely some of our favorites!!!!

On to the rides, parades and all the fun we had!!! This trip was so special -- first of all, it was just Rod and I and Nathan. We left little man at home with my parents so that we could really experience EVERY thing at Disney. It was a great opportunity to give Nate some one on one time without a hospital or doctor visits being involved. It will definitely be a trip we always remember.


Two of our favorite rides were Toy Story Mania (above) at Hollywood Studios and (below) Buzz Lightyear's Alien Invasion. Please take note on the intensity of my husband as he competed against his 6 year old.

And you definitely can't go to Disney World without getting your face painted, watching every parade/street party they have, and just plain goofing around!

Honey I Shrunk The Kids playground

Nemo and Friends


Nathan, we are so proud of you for what you endured this past year! What a brave and courageous little boy you were. We are so glad to say that this chapter of your life is finally closed --- you will only be a better/stronger man one day because of it.

Last but not least................we missed this little mousketeer TERRIBLY while we were gone and from what I understand he missed us just as much. Let's just say, he knew exactly where we were and missed us so much that he decided to start using the big boy potty while were gone--- he now thinks that we will be taking him to Disney because "I'm a big boy now mommy, I go to the potty.....now I can go to Disney World"!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

IT"S Here!!!!!!!!!!!!

"IT" would be Auburn Football and Tailgating!!!!!!! Oh how I love both of them. Our city of Auburn is in full swing, geared up for this season of Auburn Football ----this is just one of the many reasons it's great raising a family here (I might be a little biased though, considering I was born and raised here ). Let's just say, the Foster Family LOVES this time of year.

Yesterday was AU's first home football game, so we headed out to do a little tailgating and enjoy some college football. The boys were troopers to hang with us all day. Nathan even got to experience the luxury of one of the stadium suites. He sat with some friends of ours and their boys, while Rod, Wilson and I hung with the "common folk". ;) It was a GREAT day!

Ready to head out to the tailgate!

Sweet Stirling loving on Wilson.


Sis-in-laws

Auburn football make this guy one happy man!!!

Wilson and Prather ready for kickoff!!!!