Taking the Tricycle Outside

After seeing her tricycle out the front door, Katie wanted so badly to take it for a spin. She would point to the tricycle and say, "Please, please, please!"  We waited for the rare, dry day and took Katie to try it out.

The only hard part of getting Katie ready was getting her helmet on her head.  As I've mentioned before, Katie doesn't typically like things on her head unless it's her idea. I told her if she wanted to ride her tricycle outside, she needed a helmet.  I tried putting it on, and the straps were too long. I shortened them a bit, and then it was even harder putting the helmet on the second time. I finally got it on, and it felt tight enough. Katie immediately tried to take it back off until I distracted her by telling her we were going outside to ride the tricycle. 

Katie had so much fun outside. The only hard part about the whole thing (other than the helmet) was trying to get her off the tricycle when it was time to go home. She wrapped her legs tightly around her tricycle, so I couldn't lift her off. (Smart girl!)  Eventually, she got off the tricycle, and when she went inside, she proudly pointed to the helmet to show Grandma her, "Hat! Hat!" 

I went to check out the pictures. It was then that I had to laugh at her helmet. I was so proud to get it on her head, but the pictures showed me how crooked the helmet was. I guess her mom needs to figure out how to work a bicycle helmet!

This is so much fun!

 I think I'm doing pretty good with Aunt Jennifer pushing me!

Let's just keep going and going! 

My helmet isn't even bothering me! 

My helmet feels a little crooked though. 

Thanks for my tricycle, Aunt Debby!

Always Be Prepared

Katie wanted to ride her tricycle in the house one of the days after Christmas. Aunt Jennifer offered to push her around the house, but before Katie got on her tricycle, she made sure to put some cereal and a cup on the back of it. I guess she wanted to be ready for emergencies!

That's a great shelf for my important supplies!

Christmas Afternoon

After a very busy Christmas morning, Katie had a relaxed afternoon. She took time to play with her toys pretty equally, and she stayed happy the whole day long.

I took some pictures of her coloring in her new sketch book that afternoon.  I always like to watch the hand that Katie chooses to use. I'm pretty sure that Katie is going to be left-handed because she tends to use that hand more often. However, she still uses her right hand a lot and seems to have equal control with both hands.  I wish I had equal control with both of my hands!

I'm going to start with my right hand. 

I guess I'll use my left hand now.

The Perfect Chair

The other night, Katie came back from our walk and found the perfect chair!

A Computer Case + A Step Stool =  A Perfect Chair

It's even better with both feet up!

Customer-in-Training

The other night, Jennifer and I took Katie to the grocery store. For the first time, she used one of their carts that was just her size. She has never loved grocery shopping more. She felt very important pushing the cart through the store and carefully placing the groceries in her cart.

Sometimes as we're leaving the store, she won't want to let go of some of the groceries, and it can be tricky checking out. We discovered that when she's the cart pusher, she feels very responsible. When we got to the check-out that night, she very nicely handed us everything in her cart. She was very proud of herself!

 I'm ready to go shopping!

Let's go check out the fruit and vegetables! 

Do we need any apples? 

You have to be careful when you put groceries in your cart. 

I think I'm ready to go!

You Look Cold, Bingle!

The other night, I found Katie next to Bingle with one of her famous blankets (kitchen towel). Just like she does with Chloe, she decided that Bingle needed to be covered up with her blanket. Bingle just loved it!

I bet you want this blanket, Bingle! 

This will feel so good! 

Let me help you straighten it out. 

Now I'll use my magic wand to grant you a wish! 

What do you wish most of all? 

You can't wish for me to leave you alone!

Katie's Giant Feather

Last year, Katie got a really big feather clip from Garyldine. I put it in her hair the other day. Then I gave Katie my iPhone to let her see herself and take pictures. She thought the feather was pretty funny!

What is that on my head? 

Let me just fix my hair! 

One more hair touch-up! 

This feather is funny! 

Everyone needs a feather on their head!

Merry Christmas, 2012!

Katie had a terrific Christmas this year! Unlike last year, Katie wasn't a bit overwhelmed by all of the commotion that comes with unwrapping gifts. I thought she might be tired after a late Christmas Eve night, but she was a trooper through and through.

Katie was thrilled when Santa brought her a table and chair set that was just her size along with a shopping cart. He also brought her some sketching paper, crayons, colored pencils, and blocks.

Katie played with Santa's toys as we ate breakfast, and then she helped pass out the gifts. She went between playing with her Santa toys and opening gifts.  Katie was happy to get more books from Grammy Noreen and Grandpa Joe and a  tricycle from her Aunt Debby. Before she tried her tricycle, she had Winnie the Pooh test it out. When she saw how happy it made him, she climbed on and spent a good part of the day riding through the house. When she wasn't riding her tricycle, she was making and serving tea with her new tea set from Aunt Jennifer. It was a good day!

Oh my goodness! Santa came! 

I just don't believe this!

 Look at this chair! It's little like me!

I have groceries in my cart! 

Would you like some, Grandpa? 

I'll just use my cart to take my things in the living room. 

Before I do anything else, I have to draw a picture! 

I've never seen anything like this, but it looks like fun! 

You have to wear the helmet, Winnie! 

It's easy to deliver presents when you have a cart. 

I found a microphone! 

Hello Kitty! Meow! 

Everyone else is in the living room, but I'll just stay out here and enjoy my table. 

You can have some too, Winnie! 

My mom moved my table in the living room, so I could be part of the family.

I know this song! 

Thanks for my card, Grammy Noreen and Grandpa Joe! 

I got up here all by myself! 

I'm moving! I'm moving! 

I think I'm getting the hang of this!

Christmas Eve Celebrations

My parents, Garyldine and Jim came over for Christmas Eve, so we could celebrate together. We had our usual pizza and exchanged gifts. Katie had done her own Christmas shopping for everyone at the dollar store and was excited to give everyone their gifts. It was fun to see how much more excited Katie was for the Christmas traditions than she was last year!

I can decorate Winnie with one hand and hold the presents I picked for Grandma in the other! 

I picked out a book for Garyldine! We even put her picture in it! 

Chloe liked the monkey I got her! 

Jim looks funny in the glasses I got him. 

Well, he looks good when he poses like this! 

Garyldine and Jim gave me a flashlight to shine in everyone's eyes! 

I also got one of my favorite instruments from my music class!
My very favorite gift was that Garyldine, Jim, Grandma, and Grandpa gave me more music lessons, so I could keep learning about instruments!