Kayci is Blogging!

A few years ago, Kayci started a blog of her own. She didn't update it very often - after all, she was only five when she started it. But as of today, she's revamped her blog and is determined to blog again regularly, especially with things related to baking. The girl LOVES to bake.

So check it out if you get a chance and be sure to sign up to receive e-mails whenever she posts.

First Day of School!

Today was the kids' first day of school! Noble started first grade and Kayci started sixth grade. We had a fun morning and the kids had great days in their new classes.

Our yearly first day photo is little bittersweet this year because not only are the kids getting so big, but it'll also be the last year for a first day photo in the Little Green House.

Here are also some photos of Noble as he arrived to school this morning. There are none of Kayci because we're strictly forbidden now from walking her in to school on the first day. Frankly, we're glad she even lets us speak to her in car line.

We hope everyone had a great first day of school!

The Family That Creates Together...

This week is the Washington County Fair. The last couple of years I've entered some photos in the fair photography contest and have usually done pretty well. Last year Kayci entered a couple of photos, as well, and won some blue ribbons for her work.

This year both Pharaon kids decided they wanted to enter photos in the fair. Noble entered a photo he took with his iPod looking out the car window as we were driving one day. Kayci entered a photo she took of Noble a few weeks ago at church. Both Noble and Kayci knew exactly which image they wanted to submit and they stuck to it.

I entered three photos - a shot of a basketball player leaping, a light painting of Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos and a photo of a dinosaur statue at Dinosaur Valley State Park.

As my pal, Matt Parker, said - "the Pharaons did very well."

Noble won a red ribbon for his photo, Kayci won Grand Champion of her division for her photo, I won Grand Champion and Reserve Champion.

It was a good haul for the Pharaons, but most of all, I was proud that the kids wanted to participate and to show their creativity.

I'm so proud of our little knuckleheads.

Krause Talent Show 2013

Yesterday Kayci and her friend Kate sang Taylor Swift's "Our Song" in the annual Krause Talent Show. She did great, and we're so proud of her for having the courage - time and time again - to get up in front of large groups of people and perform. Three years ago, she danced. Last year she played piano and this year she sang a duet. We're constantly amazed at the talents of our Bitty and we thank God for her every day.

Reading Blankie

Last night we got home late after Maifest practice and dinner at Grandma's. On nights like that I read really short books to Noble at bedtime. Last night I chose one of his favorite books of all time - Blankie, which is a board book that is really meant for babies but which he still loves.

On one page, there is a picture of a family that looks remarkably like our family and I've always pointed to the characters and asked him "who is this?"

"Daddy."

"Who is this?"

"Mommy."

"Who is this?"

"Kayci."

"Who is this?"

"Noble." (but last night he said "me.")

And last night I pointed to the other little boy on the page and asked "who is this?" This question usually doesn't yield an answer or he'll tell me "I don't know."

"Randell" was the answer last night.

Randell is one of Noble's best friends at school, and I don't know why but his answer made me so happy. But when he answered, he just sounded so happy.

Later in the book there is a page that contains the words "birthday cake." As you might've seen, Noble has been learning to read and write and "brfday" is one of his favorite words to write out. As I read it and turned the page, he stopped me and asked me to go back.

"That doesn't say "birfday. That says Birt day."

Then I explained to him about the th sound and how it sounds.

So that, unfortunately, might be the end of "birfday," but it shows me that he's taking a lot of pride and delight in his newfound ability to read and sound things out. And especially important - he's asking questions about it.

I just love that boy more and more every day. It's so fun watching him grow.

Kayci's First Piano Recital

Today was Kayci's first piano recital!  She started piano lessons in September, and she's been practicing really hard.  Here's a video of her portion of the recital:



...and some photos of her playing:

We're so proud of our big girl!

Noble Writes His Name

Noble Makes Coffee

Ever since Noble was a baby, one of our morning routines has been to make coffee together.  This morning, he decided to make coffee by himself:

Kayci's Talent Show Performance

Kayci recently performed in the Krause Elementary talent show with her friend, Kate. They did the "Hairspray" dance from their portion of the Junior Maifest coronation, and they did a great job!

Check it out:

Noble Sings the ABCs

Black History Program

Today Kayci gave the welcome remarks at the Krause Elementary Black History program. After a whole month of rehearsing and preparation (she didn't need it- she memorized the speech in less than an hour) she took to the stage and gave her speech perfectly!



She also presented the doll she made of a famous black American for a class project. She chose Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court Justice. And in addition, she and her friend, Jenna, had a special surprise. They had made a doll of Mrs. Dixon, their math and science teacher.

She did a great job, and we're so proud of our Kayci! Here are some photos from the program. You can see the entire Flickr set here.

New Cyclist in the Family

Over the weekend, Kayci learned how to ride her bike! This video was shot over four days as she learned and got better. It's Kayci, so there were a lot of crocodile tears and wailing and gnashing of teeth, but she kept trying and refused to give up. We're so proud of her!

1st Grade Awards

The school year is almost over (wow, that went quickly)! On Tuesday Kayci's school held it first grade awards ceremony, and our Kayci girl received these honors:

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo art contest winner
• Washington County Fair art contest winner
• 3rd Place for highest Accelerated Reading point in her class
• 1st Grade Citizenship Award

We're so proud of our girl!

Here's the video of her class. She's at the 4:11 mark:



Congratulations, Bitty! Now, get ready for a fun-filled summer!!!






(This is Kayci saying that she won four awards)







And finally, a shot of Noble, who was a very good boy through the entire program...

Noble Reading and Playing

This video is a couple of weeks old, but it's classic Noble as not many get to see him...

That's Our MommyGirl!!!

Kristi is published!

She is the guest blogger today over at Today's Housewife - a blog about, as best I can tell, today's housewives.

Her post is about saving time, and she has some really great Kristi ideas to share. Be sure to check it out! And be sure to check out Kristi's blog, The Adventures of MommyGirl.

Congratulations, Girl!

Of Heart Attacks and Little Boys...

A funny/scary/heart attack inducing thing happened Saturday morning.

We were all getting ready to go to Houston for Preston's (awesome!) birthday party. The girls were taking a shower and I was getting dressed. Noble was playing with his toys in the office - loudly. I had just checked on him and went to brush my teeth when I heard a loud CRASH in the office. I ran in to find Noble pulling things off of his little workbench and throwing them on the floor. Normal for Noble, so I went back to the bathroom to finish brushing. Then about 20 seconds later, I heard more noises coming from that direction.

I cocked my heard. "That's weird. That sounded metallic" I said. I know that Noble doesn't have any toys that would make a metallic sound, except for when he pulls pots and pans out of the cabinet to "cook" - but he always bangs those as loudly as he can. No - this was a different sound. So I went to investigate.

I walked into the kitchen to find Noble up on the counter next to the microwave playing with Kristi's mixer and metal mixing bowls. He looked up at me, smiled his really big Noble smile, and said "hey!"

I'm sure my eyes got wide, my jaw dropped and I got a little more gray in that instant.

He had climbed up Kayci's red stool and onto the counter. He had climbed over a grill cover that was sitting on the counter as well as Kristi's laptop.

I don't really know what else to say, other than "that's my boy" (I love to climb, too) and "It's going to be a long, interesting ride."

Walk Like a Man, Talk Like a... Well - Still a Baby (But We're Working On It.)

As promised... video of Noble walking.

For those viewing this in your e-mail, you can probably click on the image you see and it will start playing. If not, watch it on the blog site.

Noble's HUGE BIG DAY!

Today Noble walked!


Kristi came home from the library and said he took three steps, so then we stood him up and, sure enough, he took a couple of steps. Then I turned him around and he stared walking toward me. I backed up a little with each step he took.

He took 19 steps in a row across the living room floor! Kristi and our friend Sherri witnessed the whole thing, so they can vouch for the fact that I'm not lying.

Then Kayci made a little sticky note and put it on Noble's back that said "Noble tuc [took] 19 steps."

He wouldn't walk again when we got out the video camera, so video will have to come later...

Then when we went out to dinner with the Bogans, he let go of the chair he was holding on to and walked across the floor to another table.

Wow.

Finally a college graduate

Well, yesterday it happened. Kristi and I finally graduated from college!!!!

We both started college in 1993 at Sam Houston State University. Kristi graduated in 1997 and I in 1998. Well, that's when we got our diplomas, anyway. But I don't believe that you truly own something until it's paid for.

Last night we paid off the rest of both of our student loans!

After almost eleven years, what a weird coincidence that both of our student loans finally terminated in the same month. It's an awesome feeling to have finally conquered that debt in our lives. It's been a long, long, long road that at times seemed would never end. There were so many months that we felt like we weren't getting anywhere, just spinning our wheels.

It's been horrible. There were a lot of times that we thought about how much better off we would be if $500 a month didn't come straight off the top of our salaries. Our goal now is top save enough money for the kids college so that they won't have to go through the same thing.

When we were little, saving for college was a luxury reserved for richer people. Our parents were too busy busting their tails just to keep our families fed and clothed and housed (and they did a great job), nevermind worrying about saving for college. I was the first college graduate in my family and Kristi was the second in hers. Back then, you didn't have to go to college. You could get a pretty good job without it. But times have changed a lot since then. Geez, I sound old, but it's true. The trick is to start saving enough early enough so that going into debt isn't necessary to make it happen. We've got a little more other debt to pay off before we get to college saving, but by this time next year we should be there.

I feel smarter already.

Where's Noble?

Where's Noble? He's standing, staring out the window (or maybe trying to escape, as usual). What's that he's standing on? It's Daddy's subwoofer. At the end of the clip, see Noble standing on his own and take a step!



I just noticed that Pink Floyd's "Is There Anybody Out There?" is playing in the background. Pretty appropriate for a little Noble looking out the window, trying to figure out how to get ... out there.