We were shopping at Target and I went down the kids bedding aisle to see if there was anything good…and she immediately noticed the Sesame Street set (“MAMA!! ELMO! COOKIE MONSTER!”) so we got it for her. (I also offered Doc McStuffins or Frozen but she was most excited about SEMMEE STEET). 🙂
“Owee help please!”
We couldn’t stay as long as we’d planned last night after Dairy Queen, so we took the kids back today. Of course, Katie was THRILLED to be swinging: “Look Owee! I’m swinging!”
Owen was playing Frozen with two older girls until they left…then he looked bummed and I asked what was wrong. “I need the two girls to be my archers!” Here, he’s “just resting.” 🙂
It took some convincing, but we got him up there.
Then of course Katie wanted up as well.
Gramma was reading a Finding Nemo book and Katie kept saying “Nemo!” and “Just keep swimming!” You think we’ve watched that movie a few times?
Unfortunately, Gramma Jean was sick so she didn’t make it to the party—and we didn’t get a group picture—but Grandpa David, Grauntie Marge, Grandma Marsha, Uncle Rob, Grannie Lin, and Papa were all there! Even our dear friend Paul stopped by!
He bonked his nose diving in the shallow water.
Katie was having a blast splashing EVERYONE. We kept trying to redirect her to splash Owen but she kept coming back to us.
Tom turned the water on and she stuck her foot right in!
She has no fear—she jumped right into Tom’s arms!
She loved daddy pushing her around the pool!
Owen was not comfortable in the big pool and stuck to the steps and the side of the pool. He would NOT go out any farther, even though we showed him it wasn’t any deeper AND Grannie promised to hold him tight. Eventually, after maybe 30 minutes, he FINALLY let go…and of course had fun racing with daddy and Katie!
And then it was time for the party! Grannie Lin and Papa bought all the plates/decorations, the cake and cupcakes, and the pizza—and brought Burger King crowns for both kids!
Grandpa David would put a cheeze ball on Tom’s beer and Katie would eat it off. We did this a handful of times.
Papa and Grannie had bought this scooter for Owen for his birthday but then they weren’t able to come visit…so they brought it now, but he’s just a bit over the recommended weight limit so it went to Katie instead. You can see she liked being pushed on it. 🙂
But then we let Owen try it, just to see if he’d like it and would maybe want a bigger scooter for himself. He did like it, and Katie took to running in front of him saying “WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT!” to clear his path. 🙂
Then it was back to the house where it wasn’t long before the kids were ready to crash. A good day!
The family decided to have Christmas in July this year and the Besons hosted. It was a GORGEOUS Michigan summer day on the river spent with our AMAZING family! Timmy supplied about 32 different types of brats (okay, maybe only about 12) and we stuffed ourselves silly on them plus all the other good food everyone brought. A good time was had by all and I think we may officially be moving our holiday celebration to the summer from now on!
Owen was a bit shy at first, so he and Katie were both in Nick’s room playing by themselves.
Katie loved the boat. LOVED. LOVED!! She would have sat out there all day if we let her and kept wanting to go back.
Finally Owen wanted to play!
Owen is six months younger than Aubrey. I know, right?
Cousins Katie 2, Owen 5, Aubrey 6, Gracie 8, Nick 10, Alex 12, and Jess 15. We never actually got Owen back-to-back with Nick, but I think they were within a fraction of an inch of each other (with a five-year age difference). And Katie seems to be pretty close to Aubrey, who is four years older. I guess we really DO grow them big. 🙂
Last year:
Lisa B. made these AWESOME ladybug cupcakes for Katie’s birthday.
And these for Greg’s birthday. (I missed a pic of the ones for Aubrey’s birthday, but they were Frozen-themed.)
We did pretty good keeping track of Katie all day (when there’s so many people around, there’s always someone half watching) and then we failed right at the end. People were running around cleaning up and putting things away…and before I know it, Tom is carrying Katie back from the front yard. Apparently Katie was wandering down the driveway and Greg caught her and brought her back. Phew.
And before we knew it, it was time to head out. Katie didn’t make it to the end of the road before she fell asleep, and Owen lasted about 15 minutes.
Katie: Where’s Yoda?
Owen: Upstairs.
Katie: Can I go get Yoda?
Me: Yes.
Katie: Okay, bye, see you soon. /heads upstairs
Knowing Katie knows what an elephant is, I showed her this picture and asked what it was.
Katie: Mess!
We were eating snacks in the living room. Katie likes to offer bites to everyone.
Mama bite? Owee bite? Daddy bite? Maggie bite? Movie bite?
Lately, out of the blue, Katie will ask to color. She can even get up onto (and off of) our bar-height dining room chairs by herself so she’ll climb up there and wait for you to bring her crayons and paper. 🙂
Yep, we splurged on two days of the waterslide—why not? (Yes, it was mostly guilt—I still feel bad we have no back yard (per se) at the new house and they lost their playset.) And what fun is life if you can’t spoil your kids now and again? 🙂
Unfortunately, Katie was NOT into it today…this is all she wanted to do:
Then Katie climbed up this far then stopped and wanted help getting down. She refused to go up and refused to go down and wouldn’t let Owen help her. I wanted her to figure it out herself so just left her there for awhile while I watched Owen play.
I eventually had to go up and get Katie down because she would. not. move. And then it was time to go inside to rest for a bit before more friends came over for a waterslide play date! 🙂
We left Katie’s closet open during her nap, so she woke up wanting the monkey hat from her Halloween costume: “Monkey! Monkey!” I didn’t get a decent picture until almost bedtime. 🙂
She dug through the washing machine to find the Crocs I’d thrown in there to wash.
“Mama! I did it!”
Listen closely for a) the laughing and b) the moving hanger. 🙂
We were there early to make sure we got good seats. Unfortunately, we had no idea where Owen would be sitting, so we just picked seats in the front row.
Katie did pretty good, considering we had to wait about 35 minutes. We kept her occupied with my phone. 🙂
Then it was finally time for the graduates to enter. And surprise! Owen was the Line Leader (something which he LOVES and always begs to do)…except he apparently got a HUGE case of stage fright as they came into the room and he kept his face buried in his hands, rubbing his eyes, and was almost crying…and would not have made it down the aisle if Miss Ashley hadn’t grabbed hs hand and guided him to the seats. I couldn’t even get a picture of him until he was past me. Poor kid.
Trying to talk to Owen to make him feel better.
Nope, still upset. And here you can see I had just about the worst possible seat in the entire room to try and get a picture of him (which you’ll see better in the videos).
This was Owen pretty much the whole time everyone was singing or otherwise participating.
There were a few slightly more normal moments.
“Days of the Week” (no participation)
“Pete the Cat” (the song he sang outside the other day)—a partial, because he wasn’t participating at all.
This was “The World is a Rainbow” which I didn’t even try to record because by that point, there was no hope of Owen participating.
When I looked back up, they had finally pulled him to the side so he could sit by himself but I motioned him over to us. He didn’t want to sit on my lap, but instead just kind of layed in my lap and let me hug him. Katie reached out to touch his arm and say “It’s okay, Owie.” /sniff
Then I tried to get a picture of him in my lap and he was all smiles once he saw himself in the camera…
But he even refused to go up and get his diploma so Miss Ashley had to come hand it to him.
As soon as it was over and he realized he had to wait in the room while we left, he was upset again. We all filed outside to wait for the graduates to exit and walk down the sidewalk. Katie was happy to be let free.
Everyone else coming out of the doors was happy and running…and then there was Owen.
Being comforted by his sister. 🙂
I wanted a picture of Owen and Braxton—but even THAT very normal act couldn’t break through his funk.
Braxton really tried—even talking to him. I thought this was so cute…it looks like he’s giving him a pep talk!
At least we got a decent family pic snapped by the TA Miss Sam. 🙂
And then after he had a snack, he was back to his normal self and very willingly took a picture with Miss Ashley.
And in the packet we took home, we had this picture, obviously taken BEFORE the ceremony started. Our graduate. 🙂
Katie is very good and quick about parroting what you say. 🙂
So while I was at my friend’s house today, her husband happened to have the day off. She heard their daughter call him daddy, so she started calling him daddy, too. It was SO cute. For awhile we thought maybe she really thought he was her daddy—tall, dark hair, short hair—but no, she told him her daddy was at work. But she knew enough to call him daddy to get his attention!
And being cute in a hat while picking up toys:
1-2-3
Big Bird
Blueberry (boo bears)
Cracker
Dinosaur
Mickey [Mouse]
Sir Kirby
Snack
Table
Truck
Owen: Katie, can I use the iPad?
Katie: No, I’m busy.
Katie: I want more cheese.
Tom: I don’t have anymore.
Katie: Points at the fridge. There’s more!
We were watering the grass with a sprinkler.
Katie: It’s raining!
I was going to the bathroom.
Katie: I wanna go potty.
Me: You want to go potty?
Katie: Yes!
Me: Okay, take your pants off.
Katie: NOOOOOO!!!
While playing in the front yard, a car goes by pretty fast.
Katie: WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT!
I was getting Katie dressed and she leaned over to hug me.
Katie: I’m sad.
Me: Why.
Katie: I miss daddy.
🙁
At an impasse…
Katie was swinging and Owen asked if he could, too. (Of course he doesn’t need to ask but he does.) This wasn’t quite what I expected:
Then he was all about pushing Katie. He’s never really wanted to before…so…YAY!
First, a hug. 🙂
Then a few pushes.
Then he decided to twist her—and OH the fun both of them had!!
More twisting!
Pushing…and getting kicked…and loving it!
Swinging together! He’d get her moving then hop on his own swing!
Finally, Owen twisting himself!
I’m glad they’re enjoying the swings…but why did Owen have to start liking them NOW? A year after we got the playset and a month before we have to sell it? See? The guilt. 🙂
Welcome to the first installment of Katieisms— she’s moving beyond words at this point (though she still obviously learns new words) and she’s such a cute little bug and makes us laugh and is too smart…so she needs her own posts like Owen’s Owenisms. I didn’t particularly care for Katieisms but nothing else I brainstormed hit me, either. So…to make life simple…she gets Katieisms.
🙂
I was looking at a picture Owen drew:
Face!
Owen was building things with his magnets:
Amazing!
As Tom was leaving to take Owen to school:
Can I come please?
After he walks out the door with Owen:
Daddy gone! Mama! I want my daddy!
Chasing Bella around:
Come back here Bella! Where are you Bella?
Tom was playing with the fart gun.
Daddy did you fart?
Tom had Sesame Street paused when Katie walked in.
Katie: [Stops and points.] That’s Sessa Street!
Pushing her in the swing.
Me: Ready?
Katie: Ready set go!
We were at the dinner table and Tom was pretending to sleep.
WAKE UP DADDY! WAKE UP!
So we put her in bed with Owen again…and she chattered away for quite some time.
Good night Owen.
Good night mama.
Good night daddy.
Good night Maggie.
/babble babble/
Good night Maggie.
/I coughed./
Are you okay mama?
Tom and I took turns telling her it was night night time and she needed to be quiet… It was probably about 10 when it was finally blissfully silent. And other than a few small short cries throughout the night, she did fine! They actually both slept in until about 6:40!
So I was trying to read the kids a book before bed but Katie just doesn’t have the patience to sit quietly so every time I started a page she’s shrieking (at something she sees on the page) or babbling or saying “Mama look!” Completely disruptive so that I couldn’t even hear myself reading. So we just looked at the pictures…and even then I gave up before the end of the book.
So then it was time to pick up toys and Katie picks up a book and says “story please?” and I said no it was time for bed. She heads over to Tom with her book and again says “story please?” He says no and she gets THE biggest pout on her face. But she tries again—with the puppy dog eyes:
Katie: Story please daddy?
Tom: Are you going to be a good girl Katie?
Katie: I’m a good girl daddy.
Tom and I both looked at each other like “Did she really just understand and respond with a full sentence?!”
So he attempted to read the story and only got through about a half page before he agreed it was time for bed. 🙂
We were all eating when we heard Katie say “Ta da!”
She had stacked all her fruit on top of her pizza! And was SO proud of herself!
Katie likes apples and will sometimes ask for one. So I’ll cut a hunk into slices and give her them in a bowl. Some days she eats them all. Some days I get this:
She hands me her bowl and says “Mama, I’m done.”
I look in the bowl and this is what I see (arranged on the counter for ease of viewing):
What a poop!
I push Katie in the swing.
Katie: Mama swing!
Me: How about Owen swing?
Owen: No I have bad guys to get.
Me: Owen, who do you want to read your story tonight?
Owen: Good night daddy.
Me: I guess that means me.
It was a rainy Saturday so after our errands we all put on comfy pants.
Me: Comfy paaants!
Owen: Comfy pants party!
Me: Owen, you’re cute.
Owen: Even my butt wiggle? [Of course, accompanied by the said butt wiggle.]
And we’re back to asking why on everything.
Owen: Where are you going?
Me: To the garage.
Owen: Why?
Me: To get a pan.
Owen: Why?
Me: To cook dinner.
Owen: Why?
Owen: What’s the name of this song?
Me: Broken Wings
Owen: Why?
Me: Because that’s what the writer wanted.
Owen: Why?
Tom: Remember we have to Skype with Grandma Marsha today—it’s her birthday.
Owen: Why?
Owen: Mama, you know who likes pancakes?
Me: Everyone likes pancakes!
Owen: Except bad guys who don’t like pancakes!
Birdie
Buh bye. See you soon.
Bunny
Bunny coming! (There was a house we’d pass on the way into town that had a blow-up bunny on the porch.)
Burt
Cookie Monster
Count
Down please
Ernie
Flower
Frog
Help
Katie bite (When she wants a bite of whatever you have.)
Kitty cat
Mama, get up! (When she wants up on your lap.)
Phone
Pill (every time we give Owen his allergy pill, Katie says “Katie want pill.”)
Purple
Sesame Street (sessa seet)
Strawberries
Turtle
Scrolling through pictures on my phone, Katie says who’s in each one. I get to this one.
Me: Who is this?
Katie: Katie bunny!
Previous words:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Apple
Awesome
Balloon (bayoon)
Banana (nanna)
Bath
Bite
Boppy (character from Doc McStuffins )
Bubbles
Cereal
Cheese
Chicken butt
Daddy work
Doc (character from Doc McStuffins )
Duck
Elmo
Excuse me
Feet
Flag
Fork
Grape (Gape)
I don’t want to
I got you!
I have more please?
I want that
I’m okay!
Juice
Katie go outside.
Mama, can I have more apple please?
Mess
Minnie [Mouse]
Monkey
Mouth
Nap
Night night
Nose
Orange
Owen (o-wee)
Pants
Peanuts
Pills
Please (peese)
School bus
Shoes
Sleeping
Snowing
Spoon
Stuck
Swing
Thank you
Toes
Water (watee)
What’s that noise?
What’s wrong Owie?
Where’s Charlie?
Where’s daddy?
Where’s Maggie?
Where’s Owen?
Where’s [daddy, milk] ?
Wipes
You’re welcome