Aunt Jennifer, the Teacher

Katie has always liked it when she is being carried, and we give her the chance to turn off the lights. Jennifer decided to make it easier for Katie to turn off the lights and on and off and on and off….  Katie is having a lot of fun with her new trick!

I'm so happy that Aunt Jennifer showed me how to reach the light switches! 

First I turn all of the lights on. Then I turn them all off. Then I start all over again. 

I need a short break to get some nourishment.

Breakfast with Friends

Katie was enjoying her breakfast with her favorite bear and her favorite bunny. My mom happened to be babysitting and found Katie's set-up pretty funny. She has been very proud of putting her own shoes on lately. I guess she decided that it was important for Pooh Bear to have some shoes too.

Grandma, I found shoes for Winnie!

Even a Singing Cow Needs to Look Pretty

Katie has recently rediscovered the singing cow that my former piano teacher gave her. It sings the ABC Song, which happens to be one of Katie's favorites. The other day, she had her cow out, singing with it. Then she decided that she needed to add some beauty to the scene, so she got out her glamorous jewelry to share.

I'm going to spread the bracelets out, so you can make a choice of which one to wear. 

I'll be really careful to spread them out just so. 

I'm all done. Make your choice, singing cow!

One More Side to the Story

You may remember the earlier post of where we dressed our cat up in the reindeer costume...

It's still humiliating!

I never wrote about Chloe's reaction though, which probably made everything worse for Bingle. Chloe was very interested in the new thing on Bingle's head. It looked like a nice, soft dog toy. She would run over to Bingle, bite the reindeer hat, yank it off Bingle's head and run off to chew on it. I'm sure Bingle didn't like it, but it was pretty funny to watch!

What is that on your head, Bingle? 

This is a great toy!

The Chronicles of Cousin It

In the mornings, Katie sometimes thinks she's really funny by creating a new hair style.

What do you think of my hair? 

I shook my head really hard to get my hair to fall like this. 

Are you ready to see who's under here? 

Peek-a-Boo!

Black Friday

My family usually never goes out to do serious shopping on Black Friday, but we often go to get a few things if we can find them. If we can't, it's not really a big deal. This year, my mom, Jennifer, Katie, and I braved the mall.

I insisted on bringing my flower with us. 

Grandma and I have fun watching the people in the mall.

Look at all of these books! 

I helped to straighten out these piles. 

 I found some more fun! 

Shopping takes a lot out of a girl!

Thanksgiving, 2012

This Thanksgiving, my parents, Garyldine, and Jim came over to have dinner. Before they arrived, Katie was really excited because she discovered the joy of the extra dining room table leaf. I had brought it upstairs to put into our table, but Jennifer was busy working at the table. I didn't want it to fall over and hit Katie if I leaned it against the wall, so I laid it flat on the living room floor. It made the perfect stage and chair for Katie. Since it can be easily washed, I let her have her fun.

I love having something new to stand on! 

This is a great stage for dancing.

Ta-da! 

You try it, bear!

This year at dinner, Katie chose not to eat any turkey, stuffing, or potatoes. Instead, she had a few green beans, some vegetables from the vegetable tray, fresh blueberries that Garyldine brought her, and part of a roll. She's definitely a fruit and vegetable girl!

Katie felt lucky when Garyldine and Jim got to the house because they brought her a flower and a Thanksgiving card.  Those two things provided lots of entertainment to her over the next couple of days.

Uh-Oh! My flower broke. 

Will you fix my flower, Garyldine? 

I love to sniff my flower in an exaggerated way! 

Flowers are beautiful! 

Who else would like to admire this flower? 

Grandpa, did you see my flower?

After everyone left, Katie had fun with her "toys." Sometimes I wonder why kids ever need toys from a toy store. As fun as they are, Katie has just as much fun using everyday items and her imagination!

I found my favorite pot! 

I'm just settling down to do a little reading. 

I love my new toy. (It's the cardboard roll from the foil.) 

C'mon, Chloe! March, march, march!

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Our night before Thanksgiving was pretty busy. First, Katie helped clean the kitchen floor to help prepare for our guests on Thanksgiving.

I can't believe that I just cleaned this with my toothbrush the other day, and I already have to do it again! 

Looks perfect!

Then while Katie was doing some Christmas shopping in a catalog, she was surprised with a Thanksgiving card from Grammy Noreen and Grandpa Joe.

Dear Katie... 

I love my card!

She did a little more Christmas shopping in her catalog.

I found a funny gift for someone! 

Let me look a little longer.

Then Jennifer and I had done some last minute Thanksgiving shopping, and we returned with a surprise for Bingle - a reindeer costume. She loved it as much as most cats would love it. Katie had fun watching her though.

Bingle, you turned into a reindeer! 

Oh, the humiliation. 

Where did Bingle run off to?

I'll pet you and make your feel more confident about your antlers!

After Katie's bath, we started reminiscing to last Thankgiving Eve when Katie sat in the large pot that we mix the stuffing in every Thanksgiving.

I didn't have very much hair then. 

I'm ready to start cooking!

We started wondering if she would still fit. We didn't think she would, but there was no harm in trying. Turns out, she still fit! She had lots of fun sitting in the pot and having Aunt Jennifer spin her in it on the floor.

I love this pot!

After Katie's turn in the pot, she decided to give other things a turn in the pot.  This night as Katie considered what she was thankful for, she was thankful for…cleanliness, mail, pets, pots, and fun!

My polar bear needs to try this. 

I added Winnie to the pot. What else can I add? 

I replaced my big bear with catalogs. 

This has to be the best toy ever! 

Look at my collection!