Nathan at 7 (Almost 8!)

Is a smaller kid but has a big imagination!!

Although he has gotten better at pronouncing Nathan, people have often confused his name for Mason, when he tells them his name.

Imitates almost any job he sees or knows about.

Has been a window guy, bug guy, part of a hazmat team, a SWAT guy, army guy, concrete worker, paramedic, police officer, a cowboy, garbage man, and a delivery man, just to name a few.

We went to Steamboat Days this summer, and when we came home, he immediately wanted to recreate the carnival and imitate the carnival workers who ran the rides. No doubt he noticed the rides, toys, and games while we were there, but he also noticed what the workers had to do their jobs. To recreate a carnival at home, he had to have a ticket booth to hand out tickets; he needed to collect 3 tickets per ride and put them in a pouch around his waist; he needed prizes set up near the games, and he had to make sure kids were buckled in for their rides before they started.

Is still a bit particular about what he wears, but is getting less picky about such things.  He doesn't like when things feel too baggy.

Almost always tucks in his shirts and loves jeans, especially the ones with holes in the knees.

Likes cucumber sandwiches and pickles.

Loves to drink pop as a special treat.

Overall, seems to be a morning person.  Is often one of the first people up in our house, whether he needs more sleep or not.  On the flip side, he is often one of the first people to fall asleep at night too.

It is not uncommon to hear him snoring at night, especially when he has a touch of a cold.  It was noted at his well check that he has larger tonsils, but he should grow into them.

Can be very intense when he is upset about something or doesn't want to do something.

Has been know to let out a grouchy growl or scream a time or two!

Loves watching shows and movies.

Enjoys playing football with dad.

Likes helping dad usher at church.

Loves Legos.

Loves riding his bike and his police jeep.

Likes listening to the Okee Dokee Brothers and cowboy songs.

Jumps between playing well with Ella and playing well with Dominic.  

If he is playing some imaginary game with Ella (like school or "mom and teenager"), he often chooses to have his name be Jake.

Dominic often calls him "Nath" or "My Best Brother."

Enjoyed his 1st grade year!

He woke up ready for school most days, and there were only a few days when it was harder to get him out the door.

One day, Andy was helping him with a subtraction problem for homework and casually told him, "Oops, you forgot to borrow."  To which Nathan replied in frustration, "What?! You never said we were knocking on the neighbor's door!!"  Andy quickly said, "Oh, sorry. You're knocking on the neighbor's door."

He is continuing to grow in his math and reading skills.

In 1st grade, his teacher told us he has a very kind heart and also has a goofy side that surprises her sometimes; it seems to come out when he knows the attention is all on him.

Loves the feeling of his ears when they are cold.

Also loves holding Dominic's hands when they are cold too.

Some common phrases of his are:

"Don't ask, but I kind of like..."

"What the hey, hey!"

Loves to laugh at funny jokes and phrases.

Loves to spend any money he has on some new gadget or toy.

This past winter, he watched a Veggie Tales movie on St. Nick, and after he watched it, he came into the kitchen and whispered to me, "Mom, I like Jesus more than presents."

Nathan at 7 brings so much life into our family, and we simply couldn't imagine life without him!

💗