Friday, October 5, 2012

Crazy Eights

Our Nate has turned eight and now you can hear silly little chants like this wherever we are near:

Nate the great who now is eight is never late for his date.

What can I say?  After all, he's a unique kid whose name rhymes with a number.  Don't you act silly in your home too?!

Nate is a funny guy with enough personality to go around for several kids.  I'm so glad God packaged him all up and sent him to us.  He dreams of becoming a pastor one day, and if that is what God has in store for him, then I can already see how his personality would line up with such a job description... talkative, dramatic stories, love for people, charisma, and devotion to God.    

We were still in Ukraine when we celebrated Nate's birthday.  When we returned from Israel, after having taken Davey to a safari park for his 10th birthday, we decided we would do the same for Nate.  A new safari park had recently opened about 25 minutes away from our home, so we decided that the drive would be well worth it to make our little guy feel special.

We paid extra and waited in the scorching sun to get several shots like the two pictures below, but we are so glad we did. 

Just before we walked out of the cubs' cage, Brianna reached down to pet the lion cubs lying under the bench.  When she did, the tiger cub on top of the bench swiped at her head and caught his claws in her ponytail.  It scared her, but she sure did love having a big story to tell her friends later! After all, how many people can say that they have had their hair pulled by a tiger?!






After spending a couple of hours at the safari park, we went to visit Alina who was turning 20 on this day.  It is our yearly tradition to drive to her house, congratulate her with a gift and song, then get a picture of the two birthday "kids" together.
Then we went home and grilled hot dogs, Nate's requested meal.  He invited Caleb and Anna {other missionary kids who live on the other side of the city, whose parents are starting another Baptist church} over.

Here are how our hot dogs come packaged:

Even though the frosting on Nate's cake was melting down the sides due to the sweltering heat {did I mention this was late July?}, we still managed to throw some decorations on there to go with our safari birthday theme this year.  And guess whose creative mind came up with this idea?  Yes, Nate himself!
  And, a picture made just for you, Nate:
Enjoy this "crazy eight" year to the fullest, my sweet boy!

11 comments:

  1. Happy 8th birthday, Nate!!!! What a fabulous celebration of your "crazy-eight-year!" LOVE all the pictures and our family sends birthday prayers for many blessings from above on this year of your life! *Hugs*

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  2. This is so sweet. Your family's love for one another is so evident in the things you write! And the story of Alina (I went and read your other post along with her testimony) touched my heart! Precious! Oh how much we take for granted! Thank you for sharing with us:)

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  3. Happy Birthday Nate!!

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  4. Happy Birthday Nate!!! YEAH for crazy eights!

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  5. Happy Crazy Eight birthday, Nate. So glad you were not too late to eat your cake and that your day was great! ;) Sorry, that is about all I've got! ;)

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  6. We sure enjoyed looked at Nate's Birthday Pictures. Happy Birthday, Nate. We are so glad that you got to go to another Safari Park for your Birthday.
    Wish we could have been there to go with you. Hope this next year is a great one for you while you travel in the States for 1/2 of it. Hey, They have some pretty cool
    Zoos in the States, too.
    Love,
    Sam & Rhonda

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  7. Nate,
    Your birthday party made me feel like I could be eight.... Thank you for sharing with this 65 year old.... I simply adore the pictures and not only did I get a smile on my face.... I have a bigger smile in my heart.... I hope and pray your eighth birthday is going to last all year long...
    Mrs. Nell

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  8. Happy Birthday Nate! Now can you come up with a rhyme about how great it is to be 52??? Hope it's an awesome year!!

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  9. Enjoyed your blog. When we first arrived in Mexico in 1995, we bought hot dogs that were individually and tightly wrapped in clear plastic. One day I decided to be kind and give the dog one. He took it and went running around the house. I watched from the window and wondered why it was taking him so long to eat the hot dog when he usually swallowed it in a couple of bites. He was knawing and knawing. Then it dawned on me--I had forgotten to remove the plastic. There was nothing to do. He would have bitten me if I had tried to take it from him!!! He ate it plastic and all and survived!! :)

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  10. Happy Birthday to Nate! Wow...8 years old already! Looks like you had a blast :)

    Love you!
    Aunt Ruthie

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  11. Oh, SO CUTE! :)

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Thank you for your encouraging comments! "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25