A week with Aunt J!

Katherine had a very special visitor for a whole week!!! Aunt Jacki came to town to spend some quality time with the K while Stephen and I attended an event for work. We were very grateful for Aunt Jacki’s visit and Katherine loved every minute.

I’m pretty sure that it was all rowdy partying while we were gone, but Katherine’s not talking. Smart girl. I do know that we ended up with broken glass (dancing on the ottoman?), a sick Aunt Jacki (hangover? – she’s blaming an eatery called “Rolly Poly” – I call farse!) and a very tired little girl (Katherine, not Jacki).

The visit started on Monday when Jacki took her 5:30am flight from Tampa to Raleigh. We had a little AAAHHH moment when Jacki realized the flight was at 5:30AM versus PM. It was off by one little letter than meant TWELVE HOURS difference. (Thanks Chris for driving Jacki to the airport!! We recognize and appreciate that you gave up precious sleeping time!) It was a rather quiet day since I was working and Jacki was pretty tired from the very early trip up. I was also starting to “suffer” from the dreaded NC allergies that seem to befall me every spring and fall now. (What’s UP with that?? I never had such things in NJ or PA!)

Tuesday was our first day at our work event and the plan was for Katherine and Jacki to hang out at home. (In other words, Katherine was “skippin” school…. Rowdy partying… Take 1!!!) We were gone from 6:30am till 9pm for work. All we know is that the shot glasses were away and the toys were picked up by the time we got home. Any evidence of a party had been removed. :P Jacki “claims” they had chicken for dinner… again – Katherine wasn’t talkin but I think there was candy involved in dinner.

Wednesday was another day of our work event but this time Aunt Jacki called for back up (or another trouble maker?!) known as Aunt Nikki. We had to have a little talk with Aunt Nikki about going to the kids museum. The sharing issue we’ve discussed … yeah, think it’s hereditary! The pictures show that the girls had a great time…. They removed any that demonstrated anything other than that. Note: this was the day that “Roly Poly” was visited as well. Jacki was subsequently sick for the next 4 days… Poor Aunt Jacki!!

Thursday Katherine went to school so Aunt Jacki could recuperate a bit. I had to work in the AM but we picked Katherine up from school mid-afternoon to continue the family bonding! =)

Friday – special day!!! What we refer to as “SEESDOR DAY!” Time for the sisters to go have some bonding time. We sent Katherine to daycare, and Stephen to work and headed out bright and early – also known to us girls as noon. Whaaa? Come on, you didn’t just meet us! Lunch at Mellow Mushroom, cupcakes at the Cupcake Shoppe and Alice in Wonderland in 3D… AWESOME afternoon!!!

Saturday… FAMILY DAY!!! So when we were thinking about what we could all do we tried to figure out what we’re all good at and happy doing. Apparently we all excel at sitting on the sofa and watching movies – which is what we settled on. Well, everyone excels except me if you ask my sisters. They claim I have an issue. Whatever. :P I think I did quite well, thank you very much!! We played outside with Katherine (oh my… the wagon will never be the same; the 4 wheeler… the motor may have died and the tricycle… it doesn’t work so well for me with my knees touching the handle bars?!) ~ There are pictures to commemorate this event!

Sunday was the return trip for Aunt Jacki. A sad day. We were sorry to see her go and hope that we didn’t break her too badly!!! As people were asking who was taking care of Katherine we giggled slightly and replied “my (Darlene’s) sister”. They then inquired who we were worried about – We replied in unison “Jacki”. We know our girl can break ya… ‘specially if she’s in full on drama mode.

Thanks Jacki for coming to visit us & for taking care of our little princess!! We all had a great visit & miss you bunches!!! xoxo

Photos:

Scrapbook made with Smilebox

Hi Ya'll!!

Gosh, it’s been so long. What’s happened? Well, Katherine left for her first year of college yesterday. It was tough loading up the car and dropping her off at her dorm… Ohhh, wait. It hasn’t been THAT long. :P

At a little less than three months shy of her second birthday Katherine has begun to show her personality. A little girl who loves to laugh, tease and I think sometimes gets joy in taunting me. No, seriously; she snickers. Little turkey.

So a little bit about our little girl:

She loves a little choreography with her songs. Her favorites right now: Miley Cirus’ Party in the USA (SO funny), Row Row Row Your Boat (also referred to as “rowrow”), Itsy Bitsy Spider (issybissy) and I’m a Little Tea Pot (She uses her own “sign” for this one: She puts her hands in fists, up under her armpits. – Oh yeah baby, oh yeah.) I’d post videos of the songs but many are of her in the bathtub where she gets the most pleasure from singing. I mean, who doesn’t? So, I can’t post noody video because then I’ll be arrested for child pornography and I’m not so much up for that. Thanks anyway. =)

She is quite the chatterer. She tries to repeat everything you say (eeek) and “reads” her books to herself and others if given the opportunity.

The parental annoyance of the moment: The Trick or Treat book… It’s STILL going. Seriously I wish the batteries would die already. My ears bleed every time I hear “ding dong TRICK OR TREAT”. By the time the batteries die it will be trick or treat time again. What kind of robo batteries did they put in that thing anyway?

Katherine has also “found” the TV. *sigh* I knew it would happen but I thought we could put it off. She apparently gets to watch videos at school which was her introduction. Now, at home, she’ll bring you the remote and try to say “Backyardigans”. It comes out more like “yardigan”. And there is only ONE episode that she’ll watch. “Flower Power” In true Mommy style I’ve given her, her own “flower power” magic wand(s) that she runs around the house yelling “flower power” with. Really quite amusing… Until she gets you in the face with it thinking she’s turning you into a flower. It happens on the cartoon why doesn’t it happen for her? Really quite confusing actually.

We are rapidly approaching a mouthful of teeth. Amazing really considering she didn’t have a single tooth till her first birthday. We’re very grateful (and blessed) that the teeth have come in with no real trauma. Quite a little trooper she is. Her teachers say she’s the only kid they’ve ever met that likes oragel. And she does. She asks for it. Crazy kid!

Favorite foods these days are bananas (OMG does she LOVE bananas), grapes, strawberries, oranges, peaches, pizza, ravioli, tortellini and macaroni and cheese. She is a fruit lover – but not a veggie lover. I do try though! There are veggies on her plate just about every night.

Her favorite toys include her rocking chair (LOVES it), her shopping cart, baby stroller and kitchen set. She also digs her balls and babies. If she could (and she tries to) carry a ball, baby, book and cup of milk she’d be the happiest kid ever. :P

Her sleepy time “loveys” are a stuffed mouse (from the book “Taking a Mouse to the Movies” – Kohl’s Cares for Kids book/stuffed animal) and two books. She LOVES books. She gets a new book just about every week. She takes books to bed and sleeps with them under her cheek. Librarian?? Curious. Favorite books these days (for reading – not for annoying Mommy :P) are: Rainbow Fish, Hippos go Berserk and Fifteen Animals.
We’re looking forward to getting Katherine outside and getting her on her tricycles that she got for Christmas (yes… there were multiple), her wagon and her 4 wheeler.

Each day is something new and I love it!

A few photos:

Digital scrapbook personalized with Smilebox

More presents?! I LOVE this Santa guy!!

At least that’s what we *think* Katherine was saying on OC Christmas morning! We’re still debating whether it was “St. Nick” who delivered the presents on the 7th or whether it was Santa… I think we might have another year before we really have to have to figure that out!

In either case, Katherine again had quite a Christmas. There really were moments when I didn’t think it would all fit in the car to come home with us. And we packed light. (No, for real – we did! I swear!)

OC Christmas brought a giant art tables, another tricycle, a shopping cart, musical bathtub toys, stuffed animals, clothes, an old lady who swallowed a fly (among other things) and more toys. The girl cleaned UP!

Oh, um, pictures? Yeah… about that. You see… Remember Stephen gave me an iTouch at RC Christmas?! Well, I loved it soooooo much I bailed on my cell phone provider, of I think it was 13 years, and joined the AT&T bandwagon so I could live in iPhone heaven. What does all of this mean to you? Well… I kinda forgot I HAD a real camera and only used my cell phone camera. Good pictures when your “object” isn’t a crazy woman tearing open presents. I’m sure there’s an “app” to fix my incompetent ways – but alas, I haven’t really looked for it because I’ve been too busy playing skeeball. (SO fun!) So the pictures… a little lame. Stephen took some with his “real” camera but I haven’t seen those to be able to share them with you. Maybe someday (hint hint) I’ll get to copy them from his card so I can share them with you. Until then – you’ll have to view my blurfacedmesses.

We were in NJ for 3 days and it was a busy three days! We arrived on Christmas Eve – which made for a really long day for the whole family. Up at 3:30am and onto driving. I think we got back to the hotel around midnight. But it was a fun night for all. Katherine got to see all of her cousins and loved playing with her cousin Tasha – Girl power for sure! =)

Christmas Day we took Katherine to church. We didn’t go to Allentown this year – we decided to go with Stephen’s Mom and to see the Metropolitan – who came “home” for Christmas. For those of you who aren’t OC… Christmas+Metropolitan=LONG SERVICE. No wait, SERIOUSLY long service. Especially for a 19 month old. She did GREAT though. We did have a few moments of squealing but all in all for 2+ hours in church she was very very good. Partly due to the folks sitting/standing behind us keeping her entertained (Thanks Gerry!!!). Stephen was called away at the start of service to hold a candle or something for what seemed like 90 minutes. Katherine kept looking and calling for daddy – who I had to keep pointing out and saying he’ll be back. Fortunately, she didn’t take off down the aisle to go get him!!

After church we went to Stephen’s sister, Patty’s house for her annual Christmas party. Good food, great people & great fun! In addition to the siblings and nephews & niece we were able to spend some time with the Medvigy’s (Rose & Gerry and Nancy & Gerry) and Aunt Helen, Aunt Olga and Stephen’s Mom. It was a very nice day. We were still recovering from a long day before so we were back to the hotel by around 7:30-ish in time to put little miss to bed! She was quite sleepy!! =)

Friday was a day of food. For real. I thought I’d bust!!! We met our Best Man for lunch. He got to meet Ms. K for the first time! She loved her some Mr Kevin! Within minutes she was trying to “tickle” him. Quite the flirt my girl is. After a great lunch & long overdue catch up with Kevin we headed to Mastori’s to meet my brother and his girlfriend Amy for dinner. Yeah – meal to meal. That’s how we rolled… LITERALLY!!! Another great time catching up and of course – good food! (I’m not sure we’ve ever had anything BAD from Mastori’s!)

Saturday was our big trip home… We’ve now decided that leaving in the middle of the night does NOTHING to help us with regards to Katherine. If we leave at 3:30am – she’s awake at 3:30am and doesn’t go back to sleep. No matter how hard I beg. (and yes, I’ve been reduced to begging – and it doesn’t work.) I’ve even tried to “demonstrate” sleeping – all she does is yell “ma ma ma ma ma ma ma” until I open my eyes and look at her – then she waves. Delightful. (you may think it’s cute… at 4am when I’m sleepy – not so much so cute!!)

Monday was Katherine’s first day in a her new classroom. The blog post picture is from her first day. Daddy wasn’t able to join us at school that day so we took a picture to show him… That was her waving to Daddy!! She’s doing okay in the new room, but I’m eagerly awaiting our invite to go to the new school!!

Christmas photos… (if I get some more I’ll post them later!)

Make a Smilebox photobook

Other January photos:

Make a Smilebox photobook