The New Year--Okay Two Plus Months Into It

As I've said before, when I get computer time, I usually scrapbook. Today I figured I would blog since I haven't done it in three months! Yikes! I do the scrapbooking to document life, but I wanted to share our precious memories with all of you that live so far away. Maybe, some day I will go backward and blog about Christmas...

In January, Katelyn finally decided that walking was a good idea. She'd been taking a few steps here and there and then all the sudden, she's all over the place. On the day I took this picture, I was trying to get video of her walking, but she just stood there and swayed back and forth and then crawled away. That little turkey!

My mom ended up staying here in the states the whole month of January. My dad was back for a week of it. It was so fun to have them in our home--oh wait, their home that we're residing in. My mom was a huge help--doing cleaning projects and watching and entertaining Katelyn. Israel and I even got a few kidless dates. We often would play games with my mom and dad after Katelyn went to bed. Who would have thought my mom would like Settlers.

While my mom was here, Katelyn and I went with her to Kentucky for Matt's graduation from army training and then on to Tennessee for Becca's baptism. It was a fun trip!

I can't pretend that Katelyn was the perfect traveler, but she did extremely well considering that we drove through eight states. She also decided she loves chicken nugget kid meals. (Credits: Wyld Web Designs)

Israel laughed so hard when he saw the picture of Katelyn's tiny head poking out of this tank. I couldn't believe how tight the space was getting up there.

While at my sister, Rachel's house, we went to the park. Katelyn loves the slide.

She and Isaac shared it all-bread and each other's snotty noses.

Becca and Katelyn before the baptism. Rachel's girls all adore Katelyn and spoil her rotten with attention.

The whole gang including Becca's other grandparents.

Anna pushed Katelyn around on the fire engine for a long time. Katelyn loved it!

The picture is way out of focus, but we frequent a place called Bouncin' Bears. It has all those blow up slides and moonwalks. It's free for parents and kids under 18 months. We've been there with library storytime friends, Bri and her kids, and some friends from church.

Katelyn is a huge help in the kitchen. Actually, I usually can get work done in the kitchen without too many disruptions because she loves the broom, her mixing bowls, and spoons out of the dishwasher.

Katelyn wore her red dress the Sunday before Valentine's day. Carmen went to church with us that day and was over for dinner and games.

I made heart shaped pancakes for Valentine breakfast. Katelyn enjoyed them, but not as much as her blueberries.

My mom and dad got her a baby doll stroller. Katelyn's favorite part was pushing the button to make the music play. She was in the process of opening the card, but would stop and bend over to push the button every time the music stopped.

Katelyn is such a good mommy. She gives her babies kisses and hugs, feeds them, and takes them on rides in her little car.

We went to the zoo in February with some new friends, Jimmy and Heather and their two adorable kiddos.

In the African Forest, they had bongo drums. Katelyn loves playing drums.

Yes, I crawled through a tight tube to get this prairie dog picture.

Katelyn went on her first carousel ride. She wasn't sure about it until the music started and Caden took her hand to make her feel better. So tender!

I sent Israel and Katelyn outside to play, so I could do some last minute cleaning before the Stewarts came over for pizza and games. Israel has recently found a love for photography and was playing with our camera. I just love how he captured Katelyn playing Peek-a-boo. He actually just bought a fancier camera (after these pictures were taken), so he can capture memories better. So, keep your eyes open for his new pics.

(Credits: Connie Prince_Brain Freeze)

Seussical Birthday

I can now see why parents get party planners for their children's birthday parties. I had a lot of fun planning Katelyn's first birthday party and learned a lot for the next one. One lesson I can't seem to make stick is not to procrastinate; however, the party was a ton of fun.

The invitation:

My mom had written a poem for a baby shower that my sister threw, so we took that poem and adjusted it to fit. I am so glad my mom can write rhyming poetry because I am not so good at it.

The Decor:

This is the adult/baby table.

My Aunt Livi has quite the collection of Seuss stuffed animals. They came in handy.

This is where you can totally tell how lame I am. We haven't decorated our tree yet, but it worked for the party decor! I knew I was waiting for something.

The Attire:

My cousin, Brianne and I made her the tutu skirt. I cut and she tied.

"Hats off to the Birthday Girl"

Next time I try an iron on, I think I will measure where it hits the baby. There was a little too much room on top.

The Guests:

Here's where all the cousins sat. It was the One Fish Two Fish table. They had fish plates and a fish bowl in the middle of the table. Israel made his yummy lasagna, which Katelyn got to try for the first time. Yum!

The Presents:

The Cake:

This was my first real attempt at cake decorating. It's so not perfect, and I ran out of time, patience, and hand muscles towards the top, but I was okay with the end result.

Katelyn clapped when everyone sang and we blew the candle out.

Here's a progression of the cake experience. I only made the cutest ones big.

She was one messy girl!

The favors:

I did different bags for different age groups.

The Family:

Israel was such a big help at getting everything ready.

There's No Place Like Home

"There's no place like home" besides the pumpkin patch and a trunk or treat for Halloween. Here are some late pictures of our Halloween festivities:

Cade and Carmen came with us.

What the Houston heat does to green make-up.

Helping Daddy pass out the candy.

I could post about 50 more pictures of the pumpkin patch, but I think you got the idea.

Once again, it's been a long time since I updated. I originally planned on blogging once a week, but I'm not even making it once a month. I have to admit it's not a lack of time on the computer; the digital scrapbooking usually wins over the blogging. I thought I would merge the two and post my pages. I can't figure out how to paste in Blogger, so I'm just going to give a quick summary and those of you who are really interested you can get your magnifying glass out. I do have some pictures I haven't scrapbooked yet. Here it goes!

Every Monday we attempt to go to Lapsit at the library--we make it about every other week. They read stories and sing songs and then have playgroup. Katelyn absolutely loves singing and jumps up and down through most of the songs. She's getting more into the toys and the other babies every time we go.

Katelyn loves pulling out books from the bookcases. So did I as a baby and you can see a picture of me doing the same thing on the right side of the page. Cade, her three old cousin, actually removed all the books from the bottom shelf in the study, so she wouldn't ruin them.

Credits: LissaEDesignz-Picnic in the Park, Sarah DuVall--Picnic in the Park, Just So Scrappy--Backyard BBQ

We went to a Houston Symphony show at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Credits: Just So Scrappy--Classsic Beauty and Strollin' Through the Park

We invited ten adults and ten kids over for BYU's opening game. It was a madhouse, but a lot of fun. BYU actually won this game. Other weekends have not been so much fun. Come on Cougs!

Credits: Just So Scrappy-Are You Ready for Some Football?

Credits: Shabby Princess--In the Groove Album (I didn't design this page; it was a quick page--just drop your pictures.)

My mom and dad are officially living in Switzerland. My dad went over earlier in the summer, but my mom didn't leave until Labor Day. My brother, Matt went into Army Basic Training right around the same time. We had the Wallaces over for dessert to wish them well.

Katelyn is pulling up on everything. She loves to walk along the furniture and can even stand for a tiny bit by herself. She cracks me up when she walks holding onto our hands. She either does this running walk or walks like a T-rex. She also has big girl jammies--2 piece jammies. She's outgrown most of her one piece/footsie jammies. I just can't get over how grown up she looks. In fact I can't even buy jammies in the baby, baby section anymore. I have to go to the 12 month-2T section. Her Aunt Falicia bought her these jammies though. Cutest thing ever. We just adore her.

We've seen a lot of Cade lately. He comes over and plays while his mom is working since Matt is in basic training. Most of the time Katelyn and he play very well together. In fact, Katelyn grins when Cade comes over and makes a ka ka sound, which I have interpreted to mean Cade.

I had a repair man here one afternoon. I guess that was entertaining enough for Cade--he fell asleep in the window sill. The other picture just captures Cade. He put the Jumpin' Grasshoppers in a pine tree in the "Cabin" decorated room.

The other kids are here periodically too. One Monday night, Falicia had to work, so we had Family Home Evening. We made chocolate covered marshmallows coated in graham cracker crumbs and had a lesson on the Good Samaritan. I had made picture cards for my Sunbeam lesson, so it was a great way to try them out. Yes, my new calling is Sunbeams teacher. I have five little kiddos and they are so cute and well behaved!

Katelyn went to her 9 month check-up. A few days later, she was back in the doctor's office with a stomach bug.

Credits: Plum Dumpling Designs--bandb quick page from her Black and Blue kit. Once again, just added the picture and journaling.

I guess I have a thing for jammies lately. Happy early Halloween!

Credits: Scrapping Sisters-Boo kit

My cousin Brianne and I took the kids to Meyer Park for a leaf hunt. It was so cute to watch them gather the leaves. They really got into it.

Credits: LR Autumn Blessings; DJFS--Autumn Blessings; SNP--Autumn Blessings; SM_K--So Blessed

We celebrated Cade's third birthday.

Credits: Paper Planes Designs--Birthday Fun

I maybe should have broken this up into smaller posts, but if you made it through, way to go!