Kate's 1st Birthday

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Kate who turned 1 year old last week. I still find myself looking at her all the time and thinking "I really have a baby girl!" I'm not sure that feeling will ever end because she has been a pure joy to raise. She wins me (and everyone) over with her sweet smiles. She loves to eat and get attention. Kate can already say mama, (J)ack, baby (while pointing to herself), avocado, hi, bye (while waving...and smiling).
I was excited to celebrate her first birthday with a tutu, girly balloons, and a super girly cake, None of the boys had any kind of dessert until their first birthday cake. We tried so hard to have that be true for Kate as well, but she managed to get it twice.

Swiped some frosting off her daddy's birthday cake while sitting on his lap

found a brownie in the trash ... very proud of herself

The birthday outfit

 

The "cake smash", or in her case the "princess-like delicate picking at the frosting".

and the proud parents :)

Thanksgiving

 We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving this year. Everything (except the turkey) got done really early in the day this year. It was nice to have a peaceful and restful Thaksgiving day. I have grown to love reflecting on all that I have to be Thankful for. I am, and have always been, the most thankful for the wonderful people in my life. This year, I am thankful that the Army selected Dave to pursue a PhD next year. There is so much to look forward to in the next phase of our life. I can't wait to see what is in store for our family.

This is what my table looks like these days with four little turkeys around it.

It was Kate's last first holiday. I wish she could just stay this age forever.

Tim and Chris actually ate off plates (without throwing them or any of the food) for the first time on Thanksgiving. What a wonderful gift!

This is a video of Jack singing his Thanksgiving song the next day. Also note the flowers above him ... getting them for me was all his idea.

Halloween Pictures

I hope everyone had a great Halloween. Dave and Jack carved pumpkins. Jack had preschool on Halloween and they had a cute little party. Jack wore an awesome frog costume that my brother and his wife got for him. The pictures don't even do it justice. At night the costume sparkled and people were stopping on the street to take pictures of him. I have never gotten so many comments!! We went to a friend's house for Trick or Treating - Chris fell asleep on the drive over and Tim made it clear that he did not want to dress up. I didn't make him. Kate had her first Halloween where she wore an orange tutu during the day and dressed up as a Cup-Kate at night.  Here are some of our pictures :)

Preschool Halloween party

Costume Parade (Jack is the frog)

The Cup - Kate

Jack is 4!

Our Jack is 4! I am so proud of Jack. For those of you who don't see him much, let me tell you what he is all about. He is a happy and super smart kid who has all the imagination in the world. When he isn't playing imaginary games with his toys, he is pretending to be some kind of animal (usually bird or dinosaur). Jack is a charmer. He talks to all kinds of people no matter what their age. He fearlessly walks right up and tells people about anything he did, saw, has in his hand, or learned about. Most people enjoy it because of his zest for life and astounding vocabulary. He loves music, books, dinosaurs, animals, going outside for any reason, shopping, strawberries, peaches, soda, Curious George, preschool, and his family. 3 was a magical age that I will miss so very much, but I have learned with each birthday brings new special things too.
We went to visit my parents to celebrate Jack's birthday. Some very special people joined us including my brother, his wife, our friends Bill & Kim, and the Lopez family. My mom also invited about half the town. We had a great time.

Birthday dinner at our all time favorite hibachi place - Yamatos



Jack picked out his own decorations



pretending to be a dinosaur

looking so interested at Grandpa

Chris in the cool tent my mom set up for the kids

Tim



my brother and his wife

I'm already starting to get the "are they triplets?" questions

Kate's Princess Room

If Kate had been first, or even second, her room would not have been painted pink. I know that much for sure. Pink, princesses, bows, and dresses are pretty much Kate's life. Those are all the things that I thought I was going to miss by not having a little girl, so I am all about bringing those into this house with full force!
We finished Kate's room and moved her in about three months ago. That's right, my room and my belly are a baby free zone! Here are some pictures

Here is my best attempt at the whole room

 

Some detail shots

bedding

mirror

lamp and newborn picture

bow holder - princess, bows, and pink all in one spot :)

First Day of School

Yesterday was a big milestone for Jack.. It was the first day of preschool.
He has an October birthday which means that he had to wait longer than most kids to go to school. Jack has been SO READY for SO LONG. I am not sad to have him away from home 9 hours a week (like I thought that I would be) because I know how much Jack is ready for some more organized stimulation.
The night before school started, I put Jack to bed and lied down with him for a while. I was watching him sleep and thinking about our amazing journey together. So far his entire life has been with me, but now he starting a piece of his life that is just his. Not that I won't be heavily involved in all aspects of his life, but his journey through school is one for him to make.
I could tell you 100 reasons why I think preschool is important, but I will just touch on a few. While I do sing songs with him, take him to the park, and teach him things like colors, letters, and numbers, Jack will get exposure to things that I am not able to give him. At this preschool they do crafts, organized games, science, and go to Chapel to learn Christian teachings. He will have to share things like toys and glue sticks with people outside of his family. Jack will figure out how to make friends (that I didn't pick for him), how to get along with all types of people, and what it is like to have teachers.
It is just a darling little school that makes me smile when I drive up.



Before class. Jack picked his shark shirt and blue shorts to wear for the first day

Giving his friend Keegan a hi-five after their first day



victory!

 

Ok Mom, I'm done with these pictures

me and my boy!

Jack used to call it a "dake" when Dave and I would go on a date. Now, I use the term "dake" to refer to Jack and I spending alone time out some where. After the 1st day of school, we went on a dake to our favorite "fried rice" place in town.

sorry this is a blurry cell phone picture