Awww

Kate has really taken a liking to this doll.  YAY!!  Stay clear of the trains, Kate, and stick to the cuddly babies.  She actually picked up this doll, toddled over to the pillow, and laid down to rest (for 10 seconds) with it.  Where did my baby go? 

 If I say, "Awww...what a sweet girl!" Kate will put her head down on the pillow.

I recall Natalie (pictured above) doing the same thing with pillows/chair cushions at this age.  I find it so sweet, since neither of these girls stop very often to just be still.  Love it!

And so it begins...

 

Scott boarded the van after preschool yesterday and sighed.  "I had a bad day."  

"What's wrong?" I asked bracing myself for his first time to be called a name or his first time to be scolded by his teacher.  

"A GIRL wants me to come over to her house!" Scott announced.

After begging for more details, I learned that a girl from his class approached him on the playground to see if he could come over.  Scott said that he tried to think of a way to keep this from happening so he told the girl that he had a lot of trains at his house in hopes that she would just come to his house instead.  The girl said that SHE had trains at her house.  They then proceeded to try and arrange a date.  Scott told her "maybe on Saturday or when school is out."  

Today when we dropped Scott off his teacher came to our van.  "Scott has a girl following him!" she whispered.  I told her the girl's name and she nodded.  The teacher said that the girl was putting her arm around Scott and that she had to rescue him from her yesterday.  The teacher  promised to protect our Scott!  We laughed.  :)  Oh how I would love to be a little birdie on the playground to watch the preschool drama unfold. 

10 months-10 pictures-10 words

Okay...really not 10 words, but that would have been clever...   :/

Smile, Kate!  She knows just what to do for the camera!

Shades!  (First and last time wearing these glasses.  They were broken soon after this pic.)

Favorite book- B is for Bear or So Big!  (Both have been favorites for all 3 kids.)

Kate has 4 teeth.

Just started walking!

Jon's mom recently showed us some baby pictures of Jon at 10 months...Kate certainly resembles her daddy!

Likes: her siblings, Praise Baby, Cheerios, oatmeal, being outside, free roam of the basement, "If You're Happy and You Know It", books, bathtime, pacifier

Dislikes:  the church nursery, most baby food, jail time (a.k.a. exersaucer/pack 'n play), vacuum cleaner- we don't pull it out much...for Kate's sake, of course! 

Happy 10 month birthday, little girl!

Fair if you dare...

We took our annual trip to the state fair this past week.  We have to drive through Jon's district to get into the free entrance for police.  As usual, Jon gave me a tour of the lovely neighborhoods he works in on our way.  "Responded to a person shot there last week.  Huge gang fight there yesterday. That gas station gets robbed on a regular basis."  I felt myself sliding further and further down into my seat as we made our way there.  Yikes!  Thankfully, we all made it safely to the fair where we ran into other ferocious creatures like Daniel Tiger and hungry pigs.  :)

Kate did well and enjoyed people watching. 

The kids took a lap on these mini tractors...

 and then decided to move onto these big dogs...

Last year, I recall being HOT and in my 3rd trimester at the fair.  It was fun to be able to lug Kate around on the outside this time around and to pass her off to Daddy when she got too heavy.  :)  The cooler temps helped to make this a more enjoyable experience too.  Hooray for the fair!

The grass is always greener...

Today, Scott attended his first day of preschool.

Scott thought that staying with Grandpa & Grandma instead of going to school sounded much more desirable.
Natalie thought that she wanted to go to preschool and was begging to come along.

I thought it looked like oodles of fun to be the preschool teacher.
The preschool teacher was probably missing her stay-at-home with kids days.

Kate thought that she was ready to give up naps and longed to get in on some action.
Jon thought a nap sounded lovely but instead went to work where he saw all too much action.

Oh, the grass is always greener.

9 month comparison

Scott

 Natalie

 Kate

How time flies!

Hodge Podge

Guess who's 9 months old today?!
 

Jon and I celebrated our 8th anniversary this week.  I just read that we shared an anniversary with Arby's, and we could have split a roast beef sandwich for 64 cents that day.  Maybe next year...

We told the kids that morning that it was our anniversary and explained to them what that meant.  Natalie suggested that we make a cake, and Scott said, "Where are we going for dinner to celebrate our anniversary?"  :)

WE went to Chili's, which happens rarely, and we had a coupon for a free dessert.  The kids were loving it!  That evening, we went to the park.  I asked them on our drive there if they were having a nice anniversary, and they both enthusiastically said, "YES!"  

I'm so thankful for Jon- my best friend and for the little "friends" who helped us celebrate our day. 

The kids had swim lessons a couple of weeks ago and greatly enjoyed it.  If you want your kids to take afternoon naps, clean their plate at meals, and have a fun time, let me know and I'll pass on the name of a great swim teacher.  Oh...and I guess learning some swimming skills in the process was an added bonus!

In case you were wondering if Miss Kate has a sin nature, we have recently discovered that she does.  Bummer!  We were really hoping we'd get a perfect angel this time around.  :)  At least she's close!

Scott often pretends to be a police officer.  The other day Natalie wanted to take Scott's police car for a spin around the basement.  Scott objected and said, "No, Natalie.  Boys drive police cars.  Girls drive vans."  

We don't paint as often as requested around here.  So...when we do, I feel the need to document it, lest my kids someday think that I squelched their artistic ability. 

Poor Scott.  Just when he got one little sister to join him in helping with the track layouts and train play, another little sister is on a mission daily to destroy the Island of Sodor.  Scott continues to take this in stride and is patient with Kate. Ironically, Natalie has no tolerance for Kate messing up the tracks and certainly lets Kate know it!

 They ran out of dolls and asked if they could lie Kate across the top step.  Ummmm...NO. 

 Testing out Scott's new preschool playground...

The kids got butterfly nets and first went out with the ambition to catch a bird.  They then lowered their standard to catch "any living thing."  Finally, Scott gave up and suggested that they just catch rocks.  ?!?! 

 She'll be one before we know it!