Quotable

While reading a book with Jackson that had pictures of baby and mommy animals...

"Jackson, where's the baby elephant?" Points to baby elephant.

"And where's the mommy elephant?" Turns around and points to me!

Quotable...Parent Edition

"Kathryn, keep your cracker below your head. Crackers are not to be raised above your head."

"Kathryn, it's not nice to show your hiney to others." (spoken while trying to hide laughter)

"Kids, we don't put our cheese on our stomachs."

"No, don't put the soap-filled sponge in your mouth."

"Yes, I would like some privacy."

Kathryn at 3 1/2!!!

In the busyness of the fourth of July celebrations, it just hit me this evening as we were bathing the kids that today Kathryn is three-and-a-half!!! (Good thing we had a family fun day and spent time together today just playing and hanging out, and then went to Bruster's for ice cream after dinner!) So, here is a very-needed update of our not-so-little girl these days. Kathryn has become quite the sweetheart. Gone are the long days of constant discipline, and instead they have been replaced with sweet times together. Of course she still needs some, umm, guidance often enough, but in general she is truly a joy.
She loves riding her "big girl bike" with training wheels, and even does cool tricks while riding (that she came up with by herself). Check it out!

She loves to sing, and knows the words (and motions) to more songs than I can count. Her favorites are Amazing Grace, Come Thou Fount, and Jesus Loves Me (at bedtime). She also knows countless Bible verses because of hearing them in songs.

She still takes one afternoon nap, although oftentimes her nap is either in her recliner chair (in her bedroom) or on the floor. In fact, even at night, she usually falls asleep in one of those places as opposed to in her actual bed.
She plays with various things on various days, so depending on the day/week, she is into different things. She loves to do arts and crafts (coloring, gluing, painting, etc.). She also still loves playing outside, no matter how hot it is, or even if it's raining (although that hasn't been a problem lately!).

Kathryn is really into picking out her own clothes, and most of the time does a pretty good job of it (as in, they actually match, at least somewhat). We have walked out the door in some pretty interesting outfits, though, too! Her most frequent request with what to wear, though, is anything that will make her a princess (usually some pretty, frilly dress). She loves to be dressed like a princess.
Kathryn has been learning a lot lately! She's started writing some letters. She wrote this "K" all by herself (after I demonstrated how to do it)!!! Can you tell how proud she is?!?

(On a side note, check out her leggings and high heel dress up shoes, a great example of one of her more "interesting" outfits!) She has also been working on recognizing her lower case letters, sounds of letters, recognizing numbers (and reading the numbers on a clock), counting past 20, and more writing/drawing. We don't do a regular learning/school time yet, but I recently got her some basic preschool workbooks to do together when we have a moment. Her latest big accomplishment has been learning how to spell her name so that she can tell others. We made up a song to the tune of Bingo (you know, the dog song), and after one day of singing it, she knows how to spell her name! We are so proud!!!

She loves that Daddy is a baseball coach, and can tell you quite a bit about the game of baseball. That also makes us proud!
She's quite funny, too. The girl loves treats. As you can see in this photo, she was hamming it up while eating a lollipop! Two of her favorite treats are chocolate and gum!
She also loves doing big girl things, like helping out at the grocery store, cleaning, water flowers, etc. I see a lot of my personality in her in that she loves to be useful!
Looking like a movie star at the beach!

Kathryn has an amazing understanding of spiritual things, and we already see a love for the Lord in her heart. We pray daily for that love to continue to take root and grow, so that she may live for Him.



Kathryn, we love you more than words can say. We are so proud of the little girl you have become, and can't wait to see how God continues to mold and shape you into the person He has made you to be. Keep following Him and loving Him with your whole heart.

Jackson at 21 months

This month has been a big one for Jackson language-wise. While he still doesn't communicate a ton, he's really grown a lot in his communication abilities. He will now repeat, or try to repeat, almost anything we say. He still uses grunts, pointing, and sign language to communicate a lot, but is using spoken words much more than previously. We are so proud of him! Of course, he still has lots of frustrations with not being able to communicate all the time, and we are working on that! He continues to be such a snuggle bug, that is, when he's not on-the-go moving! He loves to jump, dance, do ballerina moves (i.e., kicking his leg out), and make goofy faces in hopes of getting someone to laugh. He follows directions better and better, and will help with simple chores like putting toys away, emptying the dishwasher, or wiping things off, among others. I am also noticing more pretend play this month as well. He is still mega-attached to his paci and blankets/lovey, and will steal them out of his crib at any given moment. (The rule is that they have to stay in the crib after he wakes up...) He also welcomes room time, since it means he's in his crib and gets to have them. But, just so you don't think he's a "baby", he now tells people "Peace Out" by holding up one finger (can't quite get the second one up) and will "pound it" when asked as well. Finally, Jackson is always ready with a hug for anybody, and gives great kisses too (still mostly "zverberts" on me, though!).





Jackson keeps us smiling every day!

Ice Cream Truck!

The week before last as I was getting ready to take the kids outside after dinner, I heard the faint sound of music in the air. Yup, you guessed it...the ice cream truck! We rarely get an ice cream truck in our neighborhood, and the kids had never seen one, so I told them to get their shoes on and hurry outside! I have never seen Kathryn run so fast! We had to go down our street to the next one over, and she ran the whole way! We were able to find it, and here are the pictures of them thoroughly enjoying their special treat!

Can you tell she's excited??Paying for the ice cream...


Back home eating...
How does this push pop work, anyway?
Hmmm...
Messy!

Pretty Kathryn

A few weeks ago we went up to Bridgewater to visit with my parents and attend a mother-daughter banquet at Cov Pres (mom's church, and the church we attended when we lived up there). Kathryn was old enough to come, so it was fun to go to the banquet with my mom, my sister, and my daughter! Kathryn got a little restless at the end, so I took her outside to walk back to my parents, and had to snap a few pictures of her in the pretty gardens outside. She wasn't feeling too cooperative to pose, but I did get a few good ones. Which one is your favorite?

Some days...

...are play outside in your jammies days....