Best Friends

These pictures are just too cute not to share. This is Katie and her best friend, L. L. and Katie are in Mother's Day Out together as well as the same class at church. Katie goes home with L. on the days that I work and then we try to have L. over here some as well. The two are very inseparable and I just love L. She was one of my Puggles in AWANA last year and one of my Cubbies this year. I fell instantly in love with her and she and Katie were fast best friends.

Katie's New Found Love

I know it has been a long time since I blogged and I apologize. I am just a little busier than normal if you can actually believe it. Please cut me a little slack though as I am preparing for our new little bundle as well as trying to wrap up last minute details for the holidays. But I am ready to catch my few readers(very few I am sure) up with some pictures and stories. So hang on as I have a few posts coming up. First up is a new found talent for my Katie Bug. Katie and I have gotten ourselves into a rather good routine in the mornings. I get both girls up at the same time and they get dressed and have their breakfast. So once Stephanie is on the bus, Katie and I have about and hour before we have to leave to drop her off at school and me at work. So, I usually sit down and work on my Bible Study and while I am doing that Katie generally will join me at the table. She has become quite a good colorer staying in the lines and just really producing some very good pictures. Now though, she has found a new love of puzzles. She likes to put them together and is very good requiring little help. So, here are her latest creations.

Just like Uncle Ben

I found Katie in the sun room on Tuesday and this is what I saw. She loves to play dress up and sometimes she can come up with the silliest outfits. She is so much like my brother Ben it is scary. Her demeanor, character and her ability to just enjoy life is almost a carbon copy of Ben. All of these make her such a sweet and loving young lady and she is really turning out to be so much fun.

Katie's first week of Cubbies

Ok. We have embarke.d upon a new year of AWANA. Stephanie has been in Cubbies for the past two years and did wonderful. She memorized her verses and amazed us greatly over the past two years She has now graduated to Sparks where Chris has moved up with her to help in her class. Last year Katie was in Puggles, a new AWANA group for 2 year olds. I was one of the leaders in Puggles last year and grew so attached to many of the kids in there that I decided to move up with them this year to Cubbies. Now, Puggles was great, but there was not any scripture memorization for the 2 year olds. So, now that we are 3(almost 4 actually) Katie is having to memorize scripture. So, knowing what a challenge Katie is I figure that this will probably be a tough year, but I am definitely going to give it my best with her. Last week was our first week to actually have to sit down and learn verses and this particular week required her to memorize 2 verses(shortened) and the Cubbies motto. Katie already has real issues with sitting still and focusing. So, I am already thinking that is probably going to be a very touch year for us. The first day we sit down to work on our verses and what is Katie doing while I am trying to teach her the verses, just guess? That's right, she was hanging upside down on the couch and all I can think is how this child is so different from her sister and how this year will be the death of me! I just know that my child will never learn the verses and I will look like the worst mom/leader for not teaching my child the verses! So, maybe by now you are wondering how the week went since we are now in our second week. Well, I must say that I did keep working with her despite her constant inability to stay still and the result.....Sunday morning on the way into Sunday School, guess what Katie was doing? You got it, telling her daddy and I all her verses for that week. I was so proud. I guess that even if she does hang upside down on the couch she is still retaining something!

Katie's first day fo 3-K

I do realize that I am over a week behind on posting this. However, I must admit that quite frankly I somehow managed to let this important mile stone for Katie slip past the blog. I certainly did not meant to. Katie happily went off to 3-K last Monday and was very excited. She has the same teacher this year as Steffie had for 3-K. When I was called by the teacher just to give me the info for the upcoming year, her exact words to me were 'I can't wait to get my hands on her'. Since you are reading my blog, I will assume that most of you probably know about my sweet Katie Bug. However, I am sure that you also know that I have always said that she beats to her drum, wears me out etc. No doubt teacher wanted to get her hands on that sweet Katie Bug. However, while I have no doubt over the teacher's ability to handle my 'too much to handle girl', I am not sure that she knows just what she is in for. First day of school I dropped Katie off with specific instructions to her teacher that should Katie misbehave, for I knew inevitably that she would, that she was to write me a note. I get home from work that day and what do I find, but a note. I carefully and expectantly read the note and find these words. "Katie was pretty good today. The only problem we had was that I had to get on to her for being too bossy." Now, to that all I have to say is no way! Not my Katie. I can't imagine where she could have gotten that from! So, that was the first day and so far I haven't received any more notes. I just hope that we can keep it that way!

Finger?? Painting

This would be Katie's rendition of finger painting. I on the other hand would call this more of a hand/arm painting project. She had a great time though and did pretty good keeping her mess contained, thankfully.

Nap Time

Last Sunday, I had a chance to lay on the couch for a little while before we left for church. Katie crawled up there with me and this is what happened. It was too sweet not to capture.

The untamed monkey

Can someone please explain to me why it is that my Katie bug suddenly acts like an untamed monkey whenever it is time for devotion. I know she is a bit of a wild child(or at least that is what I like to call her), but she was trying to climb on my head tonight. Seriously people...that is just not right. I think there is something wrong with her.

katie on the balancing beam

This was taken at Stephanie's birthday party. We didn't get Stephanie, but we did get Katie. Both girls start gymnastics tomorrow. It should be lots of fun.

A Reminder

We had a wonderful day today in the Lord's House. Dr. Gray Allison is with us for a revival today thru Wednesay. We will spend the entire week in the book of Jude. I didn't realize that one little book was so packed full. We only did 4 verses today! Anyway, all that aside...We have been giving the girls an allowance(allotment as Chris calls it) each week for completing their chores. They have to put a portion in their piggy bank to save, they tithe a portion, and they have a portion to spend(or save if they wish). Stephanie is old enough to go to children's church where they take up an offering each week. She gives her tithe during that time. Since Katie is too young for children's church, we go and pick her up at the end of each service and bring her in to give her offering.(our church takes up the offering at the end). Today, while the offering was being taken up and the praise team was singing, I saw Katie lift up her hands. You see, the praise team and other members of the congregation were lifting their hands up in praise and worship to our Lord. So, naturally Katie did what she saw them doing. The Bible calls us to be imitators of Christ. Katie had no idea what she was doing today, but it struck me that she would just automatically do what she saw others doing. I was quickly humbled to realize that I have a very importan job to do. I must imitate Christ because my daughter is going to imitate me--Oh how often I am reminded of that in the speech and mannerisms of my girls! I praise that Lord that even though Katie had no idea what she was doing, she is learning at a young age what it means to sing and give praise to the Lord.

Making biscuits

Katie helped mom make homemade biscuits this weekend. She was a real trooper and didn't complain one bit about the mess that she was getting all over her hands. Stephanie on the other hand politely declined the offer to help make biscuits.

Katie's chores

Recently Chris and I developed a chore chart for the girls to keep track of what they did. The chores are all things that they had been doing all along, but it was time to keep a record of it so that we could reward them with there 'allotment' money. We have done a terrible job of checking it off the chart, but I keep track and make sure that they do what they are supposed to in order to earn their money. They are too excited to get their money and to have it divided up so that they can give their tithe and then put the money in their piggy banks. I must do a better job at the checking off on the chart, but the girls are doing great with their part.

Here is a picture(I know it is rather bland-no pun intended), but I wanted to show you what a great job Katie does at setting the table. Mind you she does all the counting etc...I'll take pictures soon of Stephanie making her bed and post them too.

My Never Bothered/never phased Katie

I went away for the weekend this past weekend and while I was gone Katie and Chris had the stomach bug. Katie started it and so in an attempt to keep Stephanie from getting sick, Chris wouldn't allow them to sleep together(a reasonable request in my opinion) Anyway, upon putting them to bed Chris left, but not really...he was listening outside their room. Here is how the conversation went... 'Stephanie, will you sleep with me?' No Katie because daddy said I coudln't. Stephanie, please will you sleep with me? Okay.' As Stephanie climbs in the bed and gets comfortable, Katie discovers that daddy is watching and says, 'Stephanie, look who is looking at us'. ... This is so Katie. Never phased, bothered or otherwise upset. She just goes with the flow and doesn't seem to be too concerned with whatever comes her way....Even a spanking!!!! Kids are so different.

Birthday Girl

This was the birthday girl's picture that I took on her birthday. I have really struggled with this birthday. Something about turning 3 just means that you are no longer a baby anymore. I have often asked Katie to 'stay just the way she is' She tells me that she will, but when she turned 3 I asked her about is and she just told me that she had to turn 3, but she would still stay the way she is. I just love this age and I hate to see it pass so quickly. But, I know that I am not the only one that feels this way. I love you Katie Bug!

Katie's party

We had Katie's party on Saturday and I think that everyone had a good time. Since this was a 3rd birthday party, many of her friends had never been to a birthday pary so this was a first. We had some that clung to their mommies, but all in all everyone particpated and had a great time. Katie's most favorite present was a package of Dora panties. She opened them and took off running. I assumed that she was going to change into them, but instead she headed straight upstairs to put them in her drawer. She left all the rest of the presents and all of her friends right there in the floor. I guess she figured it was her party so we would all wait on her. She was right. Katie was joined on the table by L.C. as we all sang Happy Birthday to her. Just as it was time to blow out the candles, L.C. did it for her. It was funny for all of us, but not so for Katie. I was exhausted after the party, but everyone said that they thought it went really well. I sure hope so because I felt like it was just chaotic. But what's not chaotic about a birthday party, especially for a 3 year old.

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No Nap

Since we went shopping today, Katie didn't get her nap. I decided that I would make the girls 'rest' until Chris got home(only about an hour or so). I sent Stephanie to my room and Katie to the couch. I put a movie in for Katie and my plan worked. She fell asleep. I'll wake her up in a few minutes and at least she'll have gotten enough sleep to make it to bedtime tonight.