The days of a bunch of Nutts

Between Kara’s birthday, our trip to St. George, and Halloween the Nutt House stayed busy with the everyday happenings that make up our lives.  As we work to finish catching up here in a nut shell are those events that keep us busy each and every day.

Outdoors

We try to get outdoors and enjoy this beautiful world we’ve been given.  We may not get out as much as any of us would like, but we take advantage of the times we have gotten out.  Whether it is for family walks and/or bike rides.

Going pedal boating on Tempe Town Lake.  What a fun activity!  Lessons learned include – the boat goes faster when Kara isn’t helping with the pedaling and this Nutt can pedal faster when Kaden is not on my lap.  Such a fun event though and one we definitely want to duplicate once the weather is better!

We’ve been wanting to get something for the kids to play on outback, I mean, we have a nice yard and the grass is fun and the kids have more fun playing in the rocks than I ever would have imagined, but we wanted something more.  After searching, bartering, searching, and bargaining some more we came home with this uber-fun 7-in-1 play set.  Oh my goodness, what fun the kids and their friends have in this!  In the short time we’ve had this outdoor jungle gym the kids have played with it enough it has more than paid for itself.  Thanks to the scouts that I work with and a recent family get together we know the play set can support and provide entertainment to older kids as well.

In October I did what I would have called the impossible before September.  I completed a 5K fun run.  The Run or Dye event was my first 5K and I was one tired Nutt right after.  At the same time I was so energized and proud of my accomplishment that I have been ready to do another one ever since!  To add to my excitement was the fact that I beat the time I set for myself to complete the race in!!! (*Now to just get back to the gym so I can actually complete additional 5K’s)  Who knew I would enjoy running/jogging/walking as much as I do?!?  But I really do enjoy it and want to do as much as I can going forward.

Post Race & ready to go again!  

Thanks to a mom’s group that I am a member of the kids had a chance to go horseback riding again.  Kara is so in love with horses and riding.  She eagerly helped care for the horses in every way they’d allow and did not want to get off the horse when it was her turn to ride.  Kaden, not wanting to be outdone by his older sister could not wait for his turn to ride as well.

Places we like to go

Once in a while us Nutts need a break from our regular routine and when we do, we try and visit one of several places around town that we have memberships to.  Our most favorite place is the zoo.  As Kaden is getting older he is just starting to recognize the animals and appreciate the experience that the zoo can be.  Each time we go, we try and see something different.  In fact, when we were there just this past week we saw several areas and animals we had not seen prior to this trip!  Once area we end up visiting on most trips, especially if Kara or Kaden get to provide input on where we are going while at the zoo and that is to the petting zoo area.  Kara enjoys finding out the names of the animals and with a gentle softness petting each of the goats in the area.  Kaden on the other hand prefers more a drive by petting approach where he will run up to a goat, pet it once, then move on to another goat that just happens to be on the opposite side of the area that we are in.  Not only do we enjoy the petting zoo but discovering the other interactive areas that the zoo has to offer.

Always the cowgirl

A rare moment where they petted the same goat

What an expression!

 

Move over Crocodile Dundee!

You too Ariel!

Now, how do you get that milk out?

Though it’s a bit further away we love to go see the butterflies when we can.  Kaden enthusiastically attempts to grab, pet, and hold each butterfly he can while Kara who eagerly looks forward to our visits is much more timid and nervous around the butterflies.  In fact, they scare her some, but with each visit this fear melts away a bit more.

Though she is apprehensive during our visits she still insists on dressing for the occasion while visiting the butterflies!

Not all of the places we enjoy going are places that we have memberships to.  A simple family outing to the local hardware store can be fun.  Especially when they have their kids classes and Kara can complete a new project.  Kaden who wants to participate is typically driven to another part of the store until he is old enough to complete the projects.  While he is away, Kara gets to work wearing her special apron she hammers and paints to her hearts content until the project is complete.  We never have to worry about her projects ending up the mudding brown that several children end up painting their projects, not as long as the color pink is around.  If it is, no questions asked that is the one and only color she prefers using.

Miscellaneous Fun

The past couple of months have lent themselves to other happenings as well.  These included the honing of my Martha Stewart skills as we bottled tomato sauce, apple sauce, apple pie filling, and dehydrated apples to snack on.  It is with great pride that I say I only called home to my mom for advice a couple times and when I did, I usually had a plan in mind and was looking more for confirmation than what exactly to do. 

In what may arguably be Kara’s favorite day of the year Kara was able to meet one of her television heroes when our family went to meet Doc McStuffins at a family health day event being help at a local recreation center.  The line and waiting reminded me on a much smaller scale of a Disney Park.  Overall, it was a fun day, Kara was able to take a toy with her (Old Grumpy Bear was chosen) and give him a checkup just like Doc McStuffins does to her toys.  While we did have to wait, the smile radiating from Kara when it was her turn to give Doc McStuffins a hug was worth everything and then some.  We knew the day was a success when a heartbroken Kara cried out that she didn’t want to leave and wanted to stay with or at least watch Doc McStuffins with the other kids.

Of course, we find plenty around home to keep us busy, happy, and recognizing the blessings that we’ve been given.  Brent is a great dad and head of our Nutt-y family.  He makes a point of finding time to play with the kids and participating in activities they want to complete with dad.  Even if that means rebuilding a marble run that will be knocked down within 3 marbles being placed upon it over and over again.

It can also mean, that as a good day would do, Brent Finds time to indulge Kara in a little finger nail painting. When the request is made for daddy to do it.

We would not be who we are and be the Nutt’s that we are if we didn’t love each other and have goofy fun with one another at every available opportunity.

Our Nutt-y days are not all games and fun.  We do have our challenges.  Once that Kara had to learn recently was that we do not bite our friends.  While Kara was at a friend's house for a weekly play date I received a phone call that something had happened and Kara was asking for me.  After scooping up Kaden we headed over to pick up a teary eyed Kara.  After we were home, tears were wiped away, and all versions of the event were shared it turned out that Kara had wanted a turn with a toy that her friend was playing with.  When her friend was not ready to give the toy to Kara, Kara bit her on the hand.  Not appreciating this, Kara's friend then bit Kara on the cheek.  Both girls have been talked with more than I am sure they wish about not biting our friends, Kara's conversations have also included an added section on being patient and waiting our turn for toys.  With the physical markings now disappeared the internal markings are still there, hopefully serving as a reminder to not bite our friends so they will not bite us back.

With the sage wisdom of do not bite your friends if you do want to get bitten back, the Nutt House bids you adieu!