Steppin' & Snackin'

So in keeping with my regular New Year's resolutions, I've been trying to exercise more.  Kate, my faithful side kick, has been doing step aerobics with me.  We work out to a 90's Denise Austin step tape- originally on VHS- that has been converted to DVD.  It's a gem.   

Kate has been making me laugh while stepping together.  (Well...laugh on the inside because I don't do much laughing during the workout.)

Here are a few of her lines...
**"Mommy, I know it gets long for you, but maybe you should start doing it twice a day."

**(Referring to Denise) "Does she even know what brownies are?"

**Sitting down for a rest, Kate said, "It's okay if I take breaks because you need more workout than I do."

**"Why did Denise make this so long?"  (Obviously on a first name basis now.)

**And finally- the question that gets asked everytime we workout- "Do you think Denise is wearing any underwear?"  Her swimsuit type leotard really intrigues Kate.  

Natalie recently had Colonial Day at school.  She was a cute Colonial girl!:) 

She has a sweet second grade teacher!

I told the kids that we had to leave for Scott's piano lesson and Natalie groaned.  I paraphrased Hebrews 12:11..."No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."  Much to my surprise Natalie changed her attitude, and said, "Yeah...someday later Scott can play at a church and earn a lot of money for our family."  (That's why we have him in lessons, of course!;)

Kate and I were making brownies one afternoon.  (No wonder the step aerobics aren't working!)  I was talking out loud and said, "Half a cup of vegetable oil." 

Kate stopped stirring and said, "Wait...vegetable??  Are you sure that's one of the ingredients?"

I told Jon that Prince caught a mouse and Jon said that the cat is earning his keep.  I won't tell him which type of mouse he caught!;)

After Scott created a game for all of the kids to play in the basement, Natalie said, "Scott thinks of all the really great ideas.  I'm glad we have him.  (Me too, Natalie!)

Natalie was supposed to send in a picture with 100 of something for 100's day.  Here she is with 100 Beanie Boo Eyeballs! 

Kate doesn't play independently very often, so I was thrilled when she decided to strike up a game of UNO with her dolls.  She said, "I think I'm maybe gonna win...UNO!" And..."Maybe I should let someone else go first next time."

Kate:  I'm trying to be nice, but it's hard to be nice because I can't think of anything nice to do.

I vetoed this game the first time the kids played it thinking that someone was going to get hurt.  I had to laugh a few days later when I saw the kids playing this modified version.  Scott had passed out helmets for safer play!  Spring, where art thou?!