We finally did Katie’s Christmas gift! And my friend Amy helped because I’d never done anything exactly like that before! (I could totally do it now, though, after watching!)
And after the shower… plus look how long her hair finally is!!
And what Katie does during baseball.
Today I came back from the movie and lunch…and she was on the couch (and I had to clean up accidents). We thought it was a random thing but no, when we came back from gymnastics, she was out again.
So tonight at bedtime Tom clamped the blanket over the top of her crate area. Katie happened to go down to get water and…she was out again. Gahhhhhhhh. So Tom put more clamps on for the night and we get to figure out a better/less ghetto solution going forward.
Katie’s home!
Basically an empty park (there might be 30 guests here and that’s being generous—I’ve counted who I can see and it’s less than 30), perfect weather for me not going in the pool (it’s a measly 70°!), good music, a new book, and kids leaving me alone… I just wish they served margaritas!
but Olive keeps whining to get on my lap. I’ll allow it since these days don’t last forever.
She couldn’t stay still…
Time to wake up!
And I finally caught her in a big yawn!
And then Owen came home…
And look what she learned how to do today!! Nooooooooo!!!
I told Katie to pick up your bathroom before the housekeepers got here. I can’t even.
Oh, and her closet. Filled with clean clothes that she said she already put away.
Heading out to celebrate Evan and Aiden’s 8th grade graduation with dinner at Primo!
There was lots of drama—and lots of crying as she lost her scheduled sleepover. This morning we found this outside our door.
I told her to take a book to baseball and she did…and actually read it!
I loved seeing Katie interact with her teacher—who gave sass right back to Katie! Both her teachers had great things to say about her.
Owen went with us because he wanted to “check out his old stomping grounds” and visited with his third and fifth grade teachers! He’s now taller than both of them!
Let’s see what she thinks of the front yard…
In this one she looks eerily like Maggie.
Mom I don’t like this. Save me.
I know I shouldn’t let her do this but at least it’s not my toes AND they’re Owen’s shoes.
Sleepy puppy…
And then the next nap…
Tonight she started chasing!
Nine is ungrateful. Minutes after returning home from a playdate, Nine will beg to have the next door neighbors over. When you explain why that’s not possible tonight, in a ridiculously kind and patient manner, Nine will sigh loudly and snidely mutter something about life being unfair. No matter how many toys or friends or things Nine has, it will never be enough.
https://www.scarymommy.com/this-is-9-year-old
Yes these will eventually taper off but right now she is just so damn cute.
Her first trip to the park! She needs to start getting used to her harness and a leash!
Anna let us borrow her cat sweatshirt.
Which means they got puppy duty so I could get some work done in the office!
The kids took the overnight shift so were still with her in the morning.
We were trying to keep her awake so she’d sleep more at night…but she was so tired she fell asleep like this:
I loved Maggie fiercely and was devastated when we had to put her to sleep earlier this year. I knew we’d get another Boston Terrier eventually, but I wasn’t ready quite so soon (just over two months).
Emotionally I was okay but I was really enjoying having NOTHING to take care of (kids don’t really count as they mostly take care of themselves). Tom wasn’t thinking about that—he just wanted a puppy. But guess who’s going to be home with her ALL DAY EVERY DAY?! (You know if I would have told Tom I was getting him a new daily job he would have said oh hell no, right?!)
That said, I did kind of miss having SOMETHING around the house. And she IS super cute…I’ll give her that. This is the first photo we got of her:
We stopped in Normal on the way back and had dinner with Marie and Gabi!
Meeting Anna.
I told Katie that I thought she was going to get a few comments today because she’s dressed up for school pics (vs her usual sweats and ponytail). Her response?
“I think I’m going to attract boys.”
And an outtake:
Katie was ready at 5am—she’s ALL about the egg hunt. And I think Owen is about over it.
And then the ever important opening and sorting process.
When she actually washes her hair (and doesn’t put it in a ponytail) and wears real clothes (not sweats and wrinkled clothes), she looks like a real girl (as opposed to a grungy kid).
Katie still loves Candyland. Makes me crazy but gramma still plays along!
So OBVIOUSLY both of their bedroom lights were still on when I went to bed.
The office is a nightmare and I’ve lost track of gift/prize organization so decided today was time. And I convinced Katie to help me.
Oh HELL no, dear Katie. Keep your crap contained to your own room!
We stopped in to check on the cats while Anna and David were camping…and we snagged Ash for a proof of life photo!
Imagine my surprise when I was out on my walk and saw this!
The three musketeers.
Just the girls!
