A nice, pleasant Saturday Evening out

So we've started a tradition (if you can do that.... we did this for Charity when she turned seven and now for Kelly.... so I'm calling that a tradition :).... hoepfully we can continue it with the rest of our kids somehow) where we take them to dinner and then Build-A-Bear for their seventh Birthday. Kelly was thrilled. Actually anxious was more the word for it, and Kelly is a Master at the committment pattern!!! She sure knows how to hook Nate and I, and reel us in. We weren't sure we'd be able to go this weekend, we kept trying to get a sitter but nobody was available, and finally it came down to the last minute and we had no one. Nate and I were both stressing because we had told Kelly we would do it THAT DAY, since we'd had to postpone it from the day before. Well, we got this crazy idea to have Charity watch the kids since Grandpa was home and would be upstairs. Originally I was just going to ask my Dad to watch them, but this seemed like an interesting opportunity for Charity. Kind of a practice round for babysitting. Not that I think she's old enough to leave home ALONE. She's only 8. But there's nothing wrong with practicing. Grandpa was right upstairs in case of an emergency... or anything for that matter. We left Nate's phone here with her as well (which she made full use of). She did a FANTASTIC job!! My Dad said that when he finally came down, about 2 1/2 hours into it, she had all the boys in the tv room, completely calm and relaxed, everything under control. He was impressed. I was too. It was fun to think that she could actually do that some day!! And crazy as it is, I was really comfortable with the idea. Granted my dad was here, so it wasn't that big a deal, but anyway.... just a cool little first for our family. Charity earned herself $5 for it as well, and tasted her first little sampling of babysitting money :) Something I enjoyed very much as a kid :).....

So ANYWAY, back to Kelly's date! We went to Applebee's (Kelly's choice) she used her free Kid's Meal coupon she got from school. We had a nice time. Luckily Kelly is okay with sharing Mom and Dad with Erika too.... she tagged along :) Kelly is such a sweet, quiet little girl. It's funny to see her with all of the attention. She almost doesn't quite know what to do with it. She loved watching the little baby next to us and seeing similarities to Erika. She wanted dessert and then shared it with Erika and I. ALways giving! She was pretty anxious to head on over to Build-A-Bear and pointed out that we were "supposed to go there first!" (apparently I gave that impression with the card I made :)).... we got there about 15 minutes before they close, and she made her little Pony "Diamond". She was so cute, looked for what she wanted with such surety! There was no browsing really, she knew what she wanted and was done once she found it :) Just like Kelly. And very practical too. No clothes for a pony. Just a saddle, wings, and a cute bag (lol.... Kelly is incomplete without a bag to fill up :)).... She seemed so grown up typing in all the info and then carrying her box and extra bag out to the car..... She really is just getting too old for me. I loved the time with her. I hope she felt special and all of our love. Sometimes I feel like our kids don't get enough of the one on one time, but when they do, it sure is special. I hope they understand. And hopefully as they get older (and can babysit for us :)) we will be able to do more of that. Good times, great memories for me!!

These are from Sunday night, Nate got a chance to use my (I mean OUR) camera. He is amazing!!! First Steve's guitar, and then he just went nuts with the crazy clouds. Apparently they are really uncommon formation of clouds, they mean there's a thunderstorm coming. Again, Nate is amazing!! Enjoy!

OH, and my Dad stole a few shots of cutie patootie in between....

Charity went with him, she and Luke couldn't sleep that night. I think she read to him for an hour and a half before he finally konked out.