Fun times at Grandma's

Auntie Lauda and Sydney visited us at Grandma's for a few days and Kate seemed delighted to have a playmate. They entertained each other, showed off for each other, and fought over toys with each other. It is always fun to see what fun things Sydney is doing in anticipation of what Kate will be up to in the coming months.

We thank them for packing up and coming to Michigan for a visit!!

Sledding at Grandma's

This video speaks for itself. Kate LOOOOOOOVED sledding and we had a grand time this afternoon while Grandma and Aunt Marilee watched from the window.

Home Sweet Michigan

We are in Michigan visiting Grandma, helping her get settled into her new home, and visiting with COUSINS! We're having some good times and I promised #2 I'd share video and photos, since he seems to be missing us a great deal. We love and miss you, #2! Oh - and please enjoy the photo of my black eye. Kate clocked me in the face with a plastic toy.

And Happy Birthday to BOTH of Kate's Grandma's this week!!
(This first item is a slideshow. Click on it to view)

Christmas Day 2007

Happy Holidays, from our home to yours!

The last week has provided a great deal of snow in our mountains. Today #2 and I decided it was time to introduce Kate to snow so we packed up the pink outerwear and headed to our favorite sledding spot in the foothills. When we arrived we were dismayed to see that there still wasn't enough snow to make it safe for sledding. Alas, we decided to walk around and play in what was available. As it turns out, Kate thought the snow was funny, but she especially likes swinging around like a monkey (regardless of snow or not). High points: ATD (#3) had the best time of all (as seen in the first photo) and Kate's face matched her snowsuit within minutes of our arrival.

Happy 1st Birthday, Kate!

What a week it has been! Grandma B just finished a week and 1/2 long visit and it seems as though we went non-stop the whole time she was here. A few of the things we did (or were done to us): each of us suffered from the flu over the course of her visit, we planned and executed a first birthday party extravaganza, we visited with Santa, we produced approximately 100 greeting cards, Grandma sewed a tutu (THANK YOU!), we ate good food, and we celebrated fun and exciting events with neighbors and friends... in summary, I'm tired! Although I am sad to see my mom leave, it will be good to return to our regular lives and start putting all of Kate's birthday gifts to good use. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us this week! For those of you far away, we look forward to celebrating many birthday's to come with you.

In the excitment of the week I didn't even notice that Kate started cutting her 1-year molars. Oops! Who knew they were so far back in there and so hard to see? Between the pain of cutting molars, the departure of Grandma and 3 shots at her 1-year doctor's appointment today, this is the definitive end of the birthday celebrations. What a wonderful milestone birthday! I can't wait to see what Kate's 2nd year will bring.

Enjoy the ridiculous amount of photos capturing our good times (and thank you to Katie, Julie and Kerry for taking so many)!

It's that Time of Year Again...

for KATE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!

Grandma Bylsma is in town for the big event and we've (I've) been enjoying the extra set of hands - especially since the flu took over the house this week (sorry Grandma!). Of course that means putting on a pretty dress and a trip to see Santa. Our birthday celebration with the neighborhood kids is scheduled for Sunday and I can't wait! Of course, pictures immediately following!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we give thanks for all of the wonderful blessings in our life, and obviously, a big one this year is the addition of Kate to our family. This will officially be her last "first" holiday, which I can hardly believe is possible. So here is our baby, no longer a baby but a toddler, enjoying her first Day of Thanks.

How Are You?

This morning I realized that when I asked Kate, "how are you?" she actually answered me, over and over, with the same answer. I can't believe it, but this afternoon I caught it on tape. Here it is!

PS - Happy Birthday to Aunt Sheri and Brenna today!

Alphabet Pal Goes Away

A few months ago Brad and I decided it was time to purchase some educational toys to help stimulate Kate. Brad picked out Alphabet Pal (seen in this video), mainly because he quickly realized that using the phonics function of the toy, he could make it say dirty words. Recently during a playdate, the triplet's mom said, "doesn't that thing drive you crazy?" Well, when her kids played with it they dragged it across the tile and hardwood floors as fast as they could go, so the answer was yes. At that time, when Kate played with it she just pushed the buttons and made it sing the ABC's over and over. Well, this last weekend Kate figured out what Alphabet Pal's string was for. And so, for the health and safety of Annie The Dog, and for the sanity of #'s 1-2, Alphabet Pal may be finding a new home very soon... maybe Joey Cooper would like it!

Bath Time

I don't normally bring the camera into bath time, but lately we've had so much fun during this evening ritual, it seemed time to share it. Leading up to Day Light Savings, trying to keep Kate awake -and happy- later than usual, in addition to her recent distaste for afternoon naps, has led to rather noisy, sad, tired evenings. Bath time; however, is always fun.

Additionally, I continue to hear from our family and friends viewing the blog that Kate looks so much like Brad. I admit that from time to time I see it, but normally I think she just looks like herself with my same baby hair, skin and eye coloring. Well, I cannot deny these pictures look EXACTLY like Brad.

Enjoy!

Playground!

I tried to tell Kate to wait her turn and not to push or bite her friends on the playground, but she was just a terror...

Okay, none of that is true (someday soon I'm sure it will be), but Kate did recently try out the swings at a local playground and thought quite highly of them, so we headed back today with the camera. Enjoy - and turn the volume up so you can hear the giggles!

Halloween 2007

I vividly remember last Halloween (2006). I was very pregnant and entering my final "morning" sickness phase (turns out it can be at night, too). I raced home from work (missing the first hour of trick-or-treaters) and handed out candy while eating dinner and while using the kitchen sink to deal with the "morning" sickness, all at the same time. Not good. Well, as hectic as all that was, October 31, 2007 was much more hectic. Kate thinks now that she can walk, she can also take on stairs. Stairs going down. While standing. Usually in a cemented area. Needless to say, she took quite a few tumbles tonight in her lovely (hand-wash-only I realized when the night was over!) flower costume. She ended the night with a beautiful, bleeding & bruised forehead. Please enjoy the photos of the pumpkins we finally carved this morning, our trip to Albertson's for trick-or-treating in the afternoon, and our evening in the hood with all of our friends. It was a truly fantastic 1st Halloween!

This week in the Hood

As all of the neighborhood kids prepare for Halloween (4 of them running around in their costumes tonight - just testing them out), Kate enjoyed some sunny fall days in the neighborhood this week. Last night we went to a Pumpkin Carving party at the Triplet's house, but Kate was too tired to last and unfortunately we have no photos. We plan to carve pumpkins tomorrow, so we'll be sharing those photos soon enough. Enjoy!

Isabelle's Pirate Party

Last night we went to our neighbor, Isabelle's, Pirate Birthday Party! All guests were asked to dress as a pirate, and I must say, aside from Isabelle and her parents, Kate's costume was top notch! Enjoy the few photos we captured before Kate crashed to sleep...

What Would you do with a Drunken Sailor?

Pumpkins!

Today was a beautiful fall day and Number's 1-4 visited a fantastic pumpkin patch. We picked out a variety of wonderful pumpkins and had the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot. Kate got to not only ride in the back pack, but pounded on pumpkins AND stood by a baby calf! Good times!

WALKING!!

It isn't pretty, but it is getting better and better everyday. I can officially say that it is her preferred method of transportation, so it is time to share it here.


We've had some beautiful fall weather here in B-Towne lately. Kate and I have been getting out with her new back pack (and here we are trying it out for the first time). On Saturday the whole family walked in Idaho's largest Dog Walk - "See Spot Walk" and Kate was mesmerized by all of the dogs. We met up with Katie and Jason (see link to their blog on the left). It was a great time!

Yak yak yak...

This video speaks for itself...