Category Archives: Katie
Celebrating Katie’s birthday with the neighborhood gang.
Happy 5th birthday, Katie!
The day started by opening a present from papa and Grannie (that has been in our closet for probably two years now)—doll bunk beds. She was over the moon!
Picture with the birthday girl!
Opening her birthday cards—the same card from two people and the zebras matched her outfit! What are the odds?!
The official picture.
I found this when packing Katie’s room.
One of my last driveway drinks here…
Meet Wonder Woman!
We happened upon face painting while wasting time before my iFly flight. We wanted Owen to get one as well but he refused.
She tried to sleep here.
She was cuddling with daddy when it was time to go to bed. She said “Okay!” then rolled over and did this. Nice try, little one.
Who knew rain could be so fun?
It started raining harder and I wanted the kids out of the house for a bit, so I suggested they go play in the rain. Katie immediately thought that sounded good but Owen wasn’t convinced. And then I said they could put their suits on…and he got interested. They had a blast.
Playing and helping in the rain.
It was lightly raining and Katie asked if she could put on her rain boots and rain coat and go out and play. Sure thing.
My little LipSense helper (she LOVES running packages out to the mailbox).
Unfortunately she can’t always get the box open so big brother helps, too.
DIY Umbrella Design
This was an early birthday present for Katie. She had her own umbrella that broke and we threw it away and she really missed it, so I got this on a deal and saved it until now. She loved it—and even invited Owen and me to color with her. (If you’re curious, it’s the ALEX Toys Craft Super Sweet Umbrella.)
July 4th with the neighbors
Three happy kids tonight doing sparklers and watching the neighbor’s bigger (but still small) fireworks.
And some of the super cool pics I got with my waterproof camera on the Fireworks settings—these were just simple fireworks we did in the street. I was amazed at how cool they looked!
Our last July 4th cookout at the pool
We went to the pool just after it opened at 10am so it would be less crowded (I like less crowded) and it gave me a chance to get some good pictures of the kids.
Tom helped set up and then man the grill for two hours.
This is more what it looks like when it gets crazy…which is the time we leave. I cannot stand the pool to be that busy and loud. 🙂
Movie night with friends
Friends of ours have a standing Friday Family Movie Night that Katie always wants to go go…so instead of crashing their Friday night, we had our own on Sunday night. We went over to play, watch a movie, eat pizza, and make popcorn… Which I think they only lasted through about 45 minutes of the movie before they lost interest and started playing.
Morning family hug!
The first thing I try to do every morning is give both kids a hug. This morning turned into a family hug.
Early 4th of July festivities
Our local fireworks were tonight, so we had our “F It Friday” group together for a “Suck It Saturday” instead! After some delicious drinks (and refills!) and dinner…
…the kids played in the water while we watched and tried to stay out of the spray zone. One dad (Eric) joined in the fray…
Then it was off on a caravan to the equestrian center (where we watched from last year, too). The kids ran around and played and did sparklers…and eventually watched some of the fireworks. I think Owen sat with me and Katie for about five minutes and then he was off with his friends.
Both kids had fun and were happy and I got to spend another night with our great friends…and that’s just about all I can ask for. (Well, if Tom would have been there it would have been even better!) 🙂
Another afternoon at the pool…
Getting sunscreen on…
When Owen gets the camera…
When mom gets the camera back…
And yes, I actually got in the pool. It was HUMID. And then the sun came out and I got HOT.
Our good friends…
Their toys had gotten sucked in but they were both to scared of the bugs in there to reach in. 🙂
Sitting out during the break (the last 10 minutes of every hour) plotting their next move in the water gun war with the opposing team.
A new hand-me-down suit from our neighbor Maddie.
Cuddling with Daddy
End of year secret books!
I’ve had them for awhile now but haven’t read them. Until today.
Why?! Why did I do that? Because I’m an overly emotional sap anyway and add an imminent move to that? No hope. /Bawl
I know this is supposed to be a surprise but I really want to share them with him now. I’m hoping he will remember these teachers enough so that what they wrote still has meaning when he’s graduating high school. It’s only 10 short years away…
Who am I kidding? I’ve lost track of the pool days.
A few moments of getting along.
Homework time!
Then I was helping Owen with his homework and Katie took our picture.
A neighbor’s dog…and a neighbor.
A neighbor’s dog…
And a neighbor.
The first thing I saw downstairs this morning.
I don’t love that they’re on devices but if it lets me sleep in and take a shower I’m all for it.
Surprise birthday!
It was my friend Caitlin’s birthday and she didn’t think I knew, so we surprised her with cake and ice cream…and took them out to dinner. They just happened to have face painting that night, so three of the four kids did that (Owen stayed at the table watching Nationals baseball with Tom). The face painting lady and I even convinced Caitlin to get her face done as she didn’t think she’d ever had her face painted.
Katie picked the Ice Princess.
Last trip to Burke Lake
Probably our last trip to Burke Lake with friends…we visited our usual playground and we finally rode the train!
They did this all on their own… (That said, Katie says Jackson is her boyfriend. Jackson says AJ is his girlfriend.)
The kids loved it. LOVED IT.
I’ve lost track of how many days we’ve come to the pool.
The kids went to a new pool!
Heather and Eric invited us over to their pool today, but I had a LipSense party scheduled and Tom really needed to work in the garage…so they offered to take the kids for us!! And they had A BLAST! The pool is much bigger than our AND has a real deep end with a diving board so Owen was THRILLED—he’d never been on a diving board before! Heather said he was so cute—he must have gone on it 30 times!
These are some of the friends we are REALLY going to miss…
Once again in my shoes.
Our last Friday night swim!
Our last swim…and I only got a picture of Katie on a borrowed floatie.
Kids’ drawings to the rescue!
When you’re trying to use what you have but the presents are too wide for all 12 birthday bags you have…you have the kids decorate pics to glue on. #reducereuserecycle #littlekidswontcaretheyjustwantthepresents
We got rained out at the pool!
It was so hot and humid at Owen’s Field Day that we had decided to take the kids to the pool when Owen got home. Tom was home as well, so we all went down…and it started sprinkling almost immediately. It was fine for a bit and then it started raining harder. Tom stayed with the kids as they were already in the pool while I went to sit and wait in the car (it was chilly in the rain). They didn’t last too much longer. These are the pics (and video) I snapped before the rain started.
