One more thing (for today)

Kate just said, "I love my Grandma. And I love my Grandma Sloane. And I love my tennis shoes."

Classic.

Catching Up

Since Anna's bout with whatever that horrible rash was, I've been otherwise occupied... my mom visited for 2 weeks and on the last evening of her time here it was decided that we will be moving to the mid-west. I'm delighted, it's true, but admittedly we should have decided this upon her arrival so that she could help me prepare for selling the house! Oops. Now I'm on my own, but looking forward to this adventure...

This said, I failed to post Easter photos, and many other delights of the girls (first trip to the dentist). Enjoy! And if you're able, come over here and help me pack!

Rough Road

Anna has had a very rough go of it lately - although by her sweet demeanor you would never know it. Over the course of the last 2 weeks she has been in the ER - twice, Urgent Care, her regular doc - twice, and a health clinic. She has been diagnosed with RSV (who hasn't?), an ear infection (still has it), and has broken out in the scariest rash I've ever seen. Through all of this, we have had a lot of interrupted sleep and one night of complete sleeplessness, but other than those bumps, she has been a total hero. I thought I'd share this yucky photo with you, so you can gasp like I did when I woke up yesterday morning to discover this scene. Please know that it is clearing up nicely and that all will be well again very soon.

In the meanwhile, Daddy and Kate have been enjoying some great time together!

The Terrible Threes

I'm sorry, but the terrible twos didn't even compare to what we're going through with three. I'm just hoping that four somehow gets better than this.

A glimmer of light on my cloudy day...

K: I want to go live in a different house.

G: Where do you think you want to go?

K: Ben's house.

G: But you and Ben seem to fight over toys a lot.

K: Joey is nice.

G: Do you think you would like to live at Joey's house?

K: Sometimes he doesn't share with me.

G: I think you're going to find that this house is where you are loved the most.

K: Yeah, but is it the right size for me?

G: (bursts into laughter)

K: (joins me)

Friends in Boise

This is the painting I had commissioned for UB for his 40th. Our friend Tom Stack (www.stackmatic.com) painted it. It arrived yesterday. We love it.

Another Quotable

THREE TIME
KATE: Hey Mom, can I have some 3 (holding up 3 fingers) time?
ME: Three time?
KATE: Yeah! I LOVE three time!
ME: OH! FREE time!

ANGELINA
KATE: Some day I'm going to dance!
ME: Yes you are!
KATE: Some day I'm going to be just like Angelina!
ME: Yes you are!
KATE: Some day I'm going to be a little white mouse!

Quotables

Kate is becoming such a big kid. And, as you already know, big kids say funny things.

Today, while reaching for the top of the tv, but coming in an inch low: "I can't reach any higher. It's no use."

Yesterday, while playing with her Old Maid playing cards: "Look mamma, it's the Old Maid. She's a lady. Just like you're a lady!"

Catching Up, Video Style

A Christmas video for our personal archives. If you have a moment, enjoy. As you might catch on to here, I'm pretty excited about our new Mac...

New Technology

New technology, a couple of on-line tutorials, and here you go...

Finally, Anna gets some props:

Update Apology

I have so many pictures and videos to share, and I don't know where to start. We've had technical problems over here for quite some time, and the promise of new hardware and technology has made me put off sharing some great things out here. I felt I should at least share my excuse. I mean, clearly, there are tons of pictures of that beautiful baby and the brilliant big sister that you haven't seen. Just know that to be true! :)

A Merry Christmas, Indeed!

It is as though Christmas never happened before until this year. Kate finally grasped the concept of Christmas; lights, trees, elfs, Santa, reindeer, stockings, wish lists and finally, giving. What fun! Brad and I sat watching her with our own delight - while she tore into each and every gift with glee and happiness and then paused to say thank you and moving on to read each label carefully to understand that she was opening gifts for her AND her little sister.

Kate was blessed this year with two Christmas celebrations due to our trip to Michigan (see birthday post below). Between two birthday parties and two Christmas celebrations, it might be perceived that December was made for her personal happiness. We'll work on that next year...

MICHIGAN

HOME WITH DADDY

Happy Birthday, Kate!

Kate is 3. It's true. I know, I know,... hard to believe, but true! This last October UB asked what I would like for my birthday and I responded with, "a trip home." I knew it would be a large undertaking - now with a baby and a preschooler, but it was worth it! We traveled between Thanksgiving and Christmas, encountered numerous angels sent from above in various airports across the country who helped and smiled and gave me words of encouragement when I needed it most. We stayed for 3 weeks, and celebrated Kate's birthday with her Bylsma cousins. It was a big girl party, to include a movie at the theater and a slumber party! Good times were had by all, and Kate absolutely loved being chased around Grandma B's house by her older cousins. Thanks to everyone to attended and assisted! It was a great day and Kate had a blast. And thanks to Aunt Carlin, she now thinks she really is a princess.

Oh My!

It occurred to me this week that maybe Anna would like something new - the lameo bouncy seat has really lost its luster. And thus, the resurrection of the excersaucer! Check out Kate during her first ride 100 years ago, and then Anna below on her maiden voyage...

Anna wasn't sure at first, but then...

Happy Halloween 2009!

Kate was finally able to participate in Halloween like a big kid - ringing doorbells, calling out "trick or treat!" - the whole kit and caboodle. She asks for chocolate daily, although most of it was hidden away and ends up in UB's lunches. She doesn't like much candy, but she's a BIG fan of chocolate. Loves it.
For the first year I didn't hop online on 11/1 to buy next year's costume at a huge discount. I think I might have opinions on my hands soon enough, so we'll see what comes about next year. Goodbye roosters! Hello princesses...

A Day at the Ballet

Kate discovered a pink tutu in her closet the other day. I've had it tucked away for a rainy day, and it was, in fact, a rainy - or at least dreary - day. I decided it could be part of her outfit for the day, and she decided that she would fly through the house dancing for the day. Not to mention, sidewalk chalk and cookie baking. All in all, a great day home from school.

Halloween Preparations

Kate and Ben got together to practice wearing their costumes, since the big day is quickly approaching! Phee has some great leaves in her yard, and the sun was out - a beautiful fall day for fun as a rooster - and a bat. This year Kate finally gets it - she knows enough that she is a little scared and skeptical, but excited just the same. The other night kids came to the door 1/2 dressed up in costumes collecting food for the Idaho Food Bank and when I closed the door behind them Kate burst into tears, crying that she was "MISSING IT!" She thought treat-or-treating was happening and she was devastated that she wasn't out and about. It took some explaining and finally some distraction to help her understand that she wasn't missing anything. A night or so later we were "Boo'd" - something I had never heard of until my adult, suburban life. The doorbell rang and a gift was left at our front door. I think Kate's excitement over that event is just an indicator of what is to come this Saturday night. She has her bag (a black, felt spider), her costume (a rooster - 2 years in a row) and her flashlight ready, and all of her favorite shows have provided her enough guidance to help her understand that on Saturday she is going to be scared and delighted and she's going to get a lot of candy. She can't wait.

Anna Banana

I may have failed to mention - or maybe I failed to notice - that as of yesterday, Anna became a big girl. Yesterday was a typical day for her, aside from the freezing weather at the pumpkin patch. She ate and slept and smiled and that was about it. Then, last night I put her in her pj's and laid her on the floor, on her belly, in her room on a play mat. (She was in the exact spot where Kate was when Kate first rolled over.) In an instant she rolled over on to her back. I couldn't believe it! So, thinking maybe it was a fluke, I put her back on her belly. I walked out of the room, came back and she was on her back again! So, after a few more times I believed it was true. Especially when this morning, I brought her downstairs and laid her on her play mat. Immediately she rolled onto her left side, then over to her right side, then back again. I suspect by the end of the day she will have rolled from her back to her front. You may wonder why I was surprised that my nearly 3 month old baby rolled over. Kate was a good baby, but never as content as Anna is. Anna requires no bouncing, jiggling or special procedures for going to sleep. She will sit quietly and wait for me to come and get her out of her crib in the morning. She waits patiently while I put Kate to bed, often falling asleep where she lays while waiting. And so, I figured such a content little thing would take her time on her boot-scooting. And so we will wait to see if she is on the move as early as Kate was. I'm praying for a quietly content roller for a long time. No one needs her to start crawling any time soon. She does realize this, right?

3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch Outing

I don't know how it is possible that this is my 3rd post of us - including Kate - at this same pumpkin patch. Which, by the way, has gotten more and more entertaining in many ways. The first year we were there Kate wasn't yet a year old, and the fun stuff was limited (I didn't really want her jumping in a bin of lose corn). Last year they had pony rides (for an extra fee), a cow train and a bouncy bubble. This year we saw a pig race, the pony rides were free - and you got to pick out a cowboy hat to wear, the cow train had a "station" of sorts and she was much more successful at the bouncy bubble. Kate was terribly excited about it all - and unfortunately it was freeeeeezing outside. Somehow we went from 90 degrees a week ago to 41 today. Needless to say, I wasn't prepared for that and Kate's extremities were bright red (maybe purplish?). Oops. And Anna slept through the whole thing while riding along in the Baby Bjorn (the story of her short life). Hopefully my body heat was keeping her appropriately warm. She was the only one in the family wearing a winter hat. Finally this year Kate is beginning to get the concept of Halloween, Autumn, costumes, candy, pumpkins. She loved getting to pick out her own pumpkin - which had the only requirement of being small enough for her to carry by herself. I'm not sure she's going to allow it to sit out on the front stoop, because so far it has gone where she has gone in the house (to include having a nap), but I'm pretty sure she's going to get excited about carving the big one we bought.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Last week we celebrated #2's birthday. Although it was a big one, it was requested that it be quiet and relaxing, and so off to the north woods we went (with the Bausch's, of course). Kate spent her nights and naps in a huge bed in the darkest basement that exists in the world and adventures outside with bubbles in the woods. Kate's most exciting adventure was a trip to the hot springs with Daddy - the same hot springs visited a few times last year (and noted in previous posts) while we were renting the cabin. Enjoy photos of Kate's float and Anna's happy face while she observed...