A gentleman's game

We have been working harder than a three-legged dog here in the Pate Household.  We are super excited that Eric began his new job with Neiman Marcus store development this past week.  We are so thankful for the stability of his new role that words can't even express our gratitude.  His past job was a blessing, but we had been hoping for an opportunity when, low and behold, an opportunity came a' knockin'.  The best part is that he is still able to help me get Liam ready for school in the mornings.  And most evenings he is home while I am feeding Liam so we are able to go through the nighttime routine together. 

Random note: Not sure if it has anything to do with Dr. Seuss' birthday this past week, but Target has all Dr. Seuss books on sale for $5 a piece!  Liam LOVED "Green Eggs and Ham."  When I read it to him, he kept pointing to the pictures of the plate and yelling, "Mmmmm."  Ironically, the next day at his school they actually had green eggs and ham for breakfast, and he nearly melted down when they tried to get him to eat.  I guess sometimes pictures of food actually look better than the actual thing. 

Lately Liam is becoming quite the little athlete.  He had a great time playing with a soccer ball in the backyard...until Chloe promptly destroyed it.  Last Saturday night, our amazing and generous friends, the Gragerts, watched Liam so Eric and I could go to our supper club.  The usually clingy Liam didn't even care that we were leaving because he was making slam dunks in the twin's new Little Tykes basketball hoop.  And last weekend we went to a new playground where he totally sprinted up a big kid slide backwards.  Today while at Walmart I wandered through their seasonal section.  They had great finds like a big container of sidewalk chalk for $1.99, a long tube of bubbles for $.99 and a mini-plastic golf set for $5.  I broke down and bought bubbles and the golf set. 

After getting home from a long day of work, it was so much fun to play outside in 70 degree weather with my little man!  He loved the golf set.  But more than anything, he just loves to be outdoors.  It has gotten to the point where he melts down if I let the dogs outside and he doesn't get to go.  He has even taken to scratching the backdoor like the dogs in the hopes that I will let him out.  After one particularly exhausting day, I absentmindedly actually let him in the backyard after he scratched at the door only to realize my mistake the moment I actually closed the door.  Argh!  I am all too human.  Happy Friday!

Trying to figure out what to do with everything.
 I had to give him a few pointers conjured up from miniature golf games past.





Starting to get the hang of it. 

Now he starts to get fancy as he decides which club to use. 

Much easier to just throw the golf ball.  Except when the dogs decide they want to chase them.  Game over.



Back to his true passion.  Playing with the plastic stake that Tru Green left after our lawn treatment this week.