More of the Same

I feel the need to apologize for being so boring. I feel like all my pictures and posts are the same: Kate doing dress-up; Kate doing dress-up with a friend; Kate doing something silly; Kate at a local attraction like a museum; Blah, Blah, Blah. So to mix it up, I have Kate doing something silly in the lazy Susan, Kate dressing up as wedding girl, and Kate at the zoo-Whoopee! I don't know what to say. How can I spice my life up? Any ideas?

Exciting Photo # 1

Kate snuck into the lazy Susan yesterday. She had the door shut when I found her. What a crack up. I don't know what goes through her mind sometimes. She's my feral child.

Exciting Photo # 2: Wedding Girls

It seems like I have a lot of photos just like this. Kate talks about her wedding a lot. Whenever she sees beautiful jewelry, flowers, or if she sees me in a dress she likes she says, "You can give this to me at my wedding."

Exciting Photo #3: Dress-up

Grandma M gave Kate this beautiful dress-up dress out of the blue. She also gave her the matching crown and wand but Kate was wearing this other crown because she just got it as a party favor from a birthday party she went to.

We went to the ZOO!

Exciting Photo #4: The Baby Elephant

My good friend got us into the zoo for free! We saw all the zoo babies that everyone has been raving about - fun!

Exciting Photo # (what am I on now, 5?) Kate & Elle

Exciting Photo # 6: Kate & Mr. Rhino

Exciting Photo #7: Us on the Carousel (Kate riding a Panda)

Exciting Photo # 8: Elisa and her two cuties

Exciting Photo # 9: More of the Feral Child

So, Kate and Elle ran off ahead of us and we found them on these statues. I'm pretty sure Kate shoved these kids out of the way and I'm almost positive their moms were trying to take pictures when Kate pushed them out of the way. SORRY.

Exciting Photo # 10

We took our pictures and quickly got out of the way.

On other news, Scott and I were recently released from our church calling with the Young Single Adults. We were surprised by the change and have been adequately bummed out about it. We will like not being away from Kate so much because we did have a lot of activities that we needed to find a babysitter for Kate and that was tricky but we LOVED serving in a calling together and being with the YSA. We've built friendships that we want to maintain and that has been fun.

Scott was called to be the Assistant Scout Master. He was just in a calling with the young men before our YSA calling as Second Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency so it's funny to have him right back there with a slightly different role.

So far, no calling for me. With each passing day of not having a calling I become more and more nervous that I'm not got going to like my next calling right at first. I'm hoping to be a teacher in the primary or something fun like that. We'll see.

And, I did end up moving the playroom upstairs. I would post before and after pictures but it's really nothing special. I didn't paint the walls a fun color or do anything special. But it has been nice to have toys upstairs and to have a purpose for the room. Now the empty room is downstairs and it doesn't bother me as much. Someday it can be a guest room or something.

A Plant, A Helmet, & Two Fawns

We were given a plant to babysit while some basement renters from next door vacation and look for another place. They asked me to watch their corn leaf palm for a month or so. And this is so rude but I hope they don't come back to claim it because I adore having their plant here. Kate and I need to come up with a name for it, don't you think? Any suggestions? We finally bought Kate a helmet. I figured it was time to teach safety-actually long overdue. We go to the cabin so much and ride four-wheelers and NEVER use any kind of protective head gear. That's irresponsible enough and we've been putting Kate at risk and she's too little and innocent to know better. So, breathe easy mom, her head is now protected (Have I ever mentioned that my mom is a CPS worker?). I should probably get one made just for ATV's. And I plan on it. But this is as far as we've gotten. The ATV helmets are not cheap so I'll buy one next spring since heads grow and we probably won't do much more four-wheeling this year as fall and winter approach. Now it's time for Scott and I to get some helmets so we can be better examples.

Oh, and I love the tap shoes. My sister, Jeni, found them (or maybe it was Sami) at the DI (local thrift store) and Kate loves them.

Kate spotted two fawns across the street from our house. They were eating the neighbor's flowers. We see a lot of wildlife in our neighborhood and it makes it fun.

Today, I'm trying to decide whether to move Kate's playroom upstairs into the empty room that Kate began calling "the rocking chair room." We've had a little TV in there that only plays VHS and Kate uses it in the morning to watch a movie while I get ready. Later in the day we use the rocking chair to read stories. But the rocking chair is getting uncomfortable, mainly because Kate is getting too big and the rocking chair is busting from all the abuse. The last week we've sat in the living room to read stories. If I get brave and dismantle the playroom, I'll post some before and after shots. I should just do it. We'll see.

Playdates & Preschool

Kate started Preschool last week! This has been wonderful for both of us so far! I love having the break to pursue hobbies and Kate comes back full of good stuff. I LOVE asking her questions about what she's learning. She gives me on-the-level answers even. Yesterday I asked her what Miss Connie (her teacher) does when she or other kids in the class are too noisy. Kate used her sing-song voice to say, "Zip up you lips everybody." and then she did the little zipping motion with her fingers on her lips. Too CUTE!
Last night, Kate had a playdate with a neighbor-friend, Cali. Since Kate is an only child, I am trying to hold more regular playdates with girls her age.

I love Kate's over-the-top poses she does. She can't just smile-she's in character. Oh, and these are the free-for-all roses that I set-aside as "fair game" for picking.

P.S. The other day Kate found a couple crowns of broccoli awaiting rinsing and chopping. Before I could say bobshrackle Kate was marching around the house with her "bouquet" of broccoli, humming the wedding march. What do boys do with broccoli crowns, I wonder?

Daylilies

This month, I learned that a Daylily bloom only lasts one single day. Now I kick myself because the name of the flower explains everything but I just thought it meant that they close up in the evening and open up again the next day-NOPE.
Since they only last one day, we've taken notice and enjoyed each new bloom. Between our three Daylily plants we always have one in bloom but today, we were given two! What a treat.

Everyday we come out to see which bud bloomed today. Remarkably, Kate hasn't picked any of them yet. That could be due to the free range I've given her with our one rosebush. I've given that one over to the children of the neighborhood including Kate. If they want to pick they can pick to their heart's content. And they do. Luckily that rosebush blooms profusely so they always have plenty to pick. They love to pick the blossoms and throw the petals all around the yard pretending it's snow. Often Kate makes up a bouquet and pretends she's a bride humming the wedding march--magical.

All this makes me wonder, how do you celebrate each new day???

The Bean Museum

We had a fun trip to the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum on the BYU campus last week. I was watching James for the day while Jill got her classroom ready and attended a teacher's conference. I thought I would make Sami come along to keep me company since she was home alone and all.

I should preface: I don't drive. I've NEVER driven to Provo. I had a few panic attacks but we made it and in one piece. I even managed to find my way back home, too! All Thanks to Mapquest. I don't know how people found their way before the internet.

I enjoyed telling the kids about the stuffed Liger they were about to see. I think they were dissappointed that the Liger looked so much like a Lion and not too wierd. When he imagined the Lion and Tiger mix, James envisioned something much more extravagant. But a Liger we saw, nonetheless.

Sami, James, & Kate with the LIGER, Shasta!
Katie with the "Swan Princess"

A butterfly composed of butterflies! That's cool.

BINGO!

I printed up the bingo cards from the Bean Museum's website. On the way to the BYU campus, the kids decorated their bingo cards. We searched the museum's three floors for the exact species mentioned on the bingo card and then we checked them off. Sam was the first to achieve bingo. Kate was the first to blackout-almost, we never found the bald eagle. Since Sam was the first to check off a row, she was able to decide where we went for our dessert.

The highlight of our Provo day trip was seeing Kate's face light up as we entered the Disney store at the University mall. I wish I had a photo of her eyes and the way she put her hands over her mouth and held her breath in awe.

As of Late

Scott and I celebrated our NINTH wedding anniversary! Still in love.

My mom found a dead snake in her flower bed-it was infested with maggots.

My Grandpa died-we had the funeral a couple days ago. We are all glad he is finally free.

I saw some of my extended family at the funeral most of whom I haven't seen in over ten years!

I sang in church with a small group of girls (double trio minus one).

People have told me that my skin is looking better and everytime, I break out more. STOP!

My niece, Whitney, dedicated her chapter book to me (so nice).

Kate and I walked to the park today for exercise but we were glad that our neighbor, Robyn, swooped by to pick us up because Kate couldn't walk anymore and it's a struggle to carry her up the hill on my own. Mercy.

Kate is playing with scissors, a loaded stapler, and tape. Hmmm...

Me and one of the YSA girls are starting a Jane Austen book club. I've never been in a book club before.

What am I going to make for dinner?

Eulogy for Puppy-Puppy

Puppy 2006-2009

We lost puppy at some point while we were in Park City for the day with my family. We didn't realize he was gone until we arrived at the cabin to spend the night. I hoped he was just wedged somewhere in the truck but I did a thorough search the next day when we made it home.

Kate - Jan 2007

I miss him. Puppy was such a special part of our family. He could always make Kate happy. We animated him at first but then he began to animate us. He was real to us. I'm crying even now. Saturday night after putting Kate to bed I just cried and cried. He's a symbol of Kate's childhood. He's in every memory. I thought of him just left some-where in Park City and it makes me sick. Maybe we knocked him out of the truck coming in or out. Maybe Kate took him with her to the Park and left him on a slide. I just don't know.

Kate sleeping - May 2007

I even called the City Park in Park City to see if they found him. No word yet. If I had the guts, I'd drive down and retrace my steps from the outlets, to the Alpine Slide, the Roller Coaster, the bathrooms, the sandwich place, the parking lot, the City Park, Mirror Lake... I'm positive I would lose myself trying to find our lost puppy. Puppy-Puppy.

Kate's favorites: Puppy & Bink - Nov 2007

Kate has been sugar & spice about it all too. She's trying to be strong. The first night at the cabin, I still had hope that I would find him so she was content to sleep with a little stuffed moose that Grandma B keeps on the couch. The next night she told me how much she would miss him. The third night, she awoke in the middle of the night and asked for him. She cried a little when I reminded her that he's gone. "But I need him." she pleaded. It broke my heart. Yesterday, we were talking about him and she said, "I miss puppy. He was such a good boy when I had him." Later she saw a Barbie blanket that she lovingly referred to as Puppy's blanket. It was pink and silky. She always wrapped him in it at bedtime. She found it and said, "Oh, Puppy's blanket." She started to tear up. "Where is puppy?" I told her again how we lost him and that maybe a little girl found him and is loving him for us. She said, "But his blankey. He needs his blankey." She was so sad for him and her eyes were full of tears.

I'm grateful that I genuinely miss him too. It has made it easier to comfort her and show more compassion. When she feels sad and talks about how much she misses him, I can whole-heatedly embrace her and mourn with her instead of making her shrug it off and cowgirl up. So I guess that's my God Principle out of this tragedy. Not to cowgirl up but that Christ overcame the world. He truly can succor us because he genuinely felt/feels our pains etc.

Oh, Puppy-puppy, I had hoped to save you for when Kate was all grown up and on her own. I had hoped to pull you out of your treasured place on a featured shelf and show Kate how much she loved you by the wear of your fur. I would have reminded her of how much she loved to twirl your brown tail in and out and around her fingers. And how she rubbed it under her nose. That was the plan.

Last night, she went to bed with her white, stuffed kitty. Kitty came with us on our errand to the store yesterday. Kate says kitty is a girl kitty. Grandma M gave Kate the kitty for her birthday last year because it had a nice tail, like Puppy-puppy.

Kitty has a pretty face with blue eyes and a pink nose but I'll never forget how Kate would communicate to me about puppy by panting like a dog and later, barking until she was old enough to speak words.

I'll always remember how puppy, especially his tail, could soothe her like nothing else.

If there ever was anything or anyone more real, puppy was.