2016 in Review

It's always fun to look back and remember some of the experiences of the past year.

January 2016 - I had the chance to take a picture in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle with no other people in the picture besides Aunt Jennifer and me. 

February 2016 - I planned my first President's Day celebration. Who cares about Valentine's Day when President's Day is just around the corner? 

March 2016 - I got a letter and pictures from President Obama after I wrote to him! 

April 2016 - I walked to the top of a very tall waterfall! 

May 2016 - I went searching for fairies, and I'm pretty sure I found them! 

June 2016 - I graduated from Pre-K. 

July 2016 - I met Aunt Debby, and we had lots of adventures together! 

August 2016 - I went on a long car trip and visited two presidential libraries, two national parks, and Disneyland! 

September 2016 - I started my life as a kindergartner. 

October 2016 - I went on a rock hunt! 

November 2016 - I went to London and visited lots of palaces!

December 2016 - I made my first snowman!

Building a House

One afternoon, Katie decided to make her own house out of her table. She made sure to include a mailbox, so we could write and deliver letters to her. She also included a doorbell, so we could ring it when we brought her a letter. She was very happy in her new house.

I set up my house with a bed, a play area, a table, and a TV (iPod). 

As soon as I had my own mailbox, I started getting letters!

The Season of Giving

One afternoon before Christmas, Katie went to the table and quietly worked away on a secret project. When she was done, she showed me she had made me a special surprise for Christmas and had wrapped it. She gave me instructions not to open it until Christmas. However, she was so excited about it, she couldn't wait any longer after about an hour. She instructed me to open the gift right then.

I made a special gift for my mom. 

After I had her open it, she was so excited to see that I wrote my own Barbie series of books!

Dr. Katie

One morning, Sadie mysteriously hurt her back leg and started hobbling around the house. Katie went into "pet vet" mode and began taking care of her and diagnosing her. Her care must have worked because Sadie was back to herself the next day.

As soon as I heard about Sadie, I put some latex gloves on and taped down the fingers so they would fit my hands. Now I was ready to examine her! 

I asked Aunt Jennifer to read a book to her while I looked at her leg. 

I put a homemade ice pack on her - a baby wipe covered in a Kleenex. 

Then I made my diagnosis. Sadie had a sore spring leg. 

I made care instructions for Aunt Jennifer and explained them to her. 

Here is my List for Dogs that made Sadie all better.

Another Snow Day

Not long after our first snow day, a second snow day hit. Jennifer offered to take Katie sledding on the hill next to our house. The dogs came too. It was fun!

Before we went out into the cold, I decided I needed to make some clothes for my bear. 

Now she was ready for the cold air! 

On our first sled ride, my mom was in charge of holding the dogs at the top of the hill, but they were pulling so hard, she had to let them go. They were happy to catch up to Aunt Jennifer and me. 

The dogs wanted to keep exploring the snow instead of coming back to us. I thought it would be helpful to howl at the dogs so they would come to one of their own.

The second time down the hill I made Aunt Jennifer go in front!

It felt like a winter wonderland. 

I had never made a snowman, and I really wanted to make one. Since we don't get a lot of snow, I just made a small snowman and used a rock for a hat, leaves for arms, and small pieces off a plant for eyes. 

When we got back to our driveway, I decided to use my sand toys in the snow to make snow castles. 

I loved how they turned out! 

I kept building until I had created a whole neighborhood.

Merry Christmas, 2016!

Katie, like most kids, was very excited for Christmas morning. She had been asking Santa for one thing in particular this year, Snuggles, My Dream Puppy. She had talked and talked about Snuggles and let me know every night that Snuggles gave her "happy tears" whenever she thought of the puppy.

When Katie woke up, she wanted to head down to see if Snuggles was waiting for her, but she had to wait for Grandma to get to our house. Luckily Santa remembers that grandparents sometimes want to see the action, so he left a present for Katie to look at upstairs before she went downstairs…a presidential Barbie set.

When Grandma came, Katie ran down the stairs and was so happy to find Snuggles, a stocking, some drawing paper, a science kit, and a Barbie Dreamhouse. She was one, happy girl!

Once Grandpa arrived, we had a gift-unwrapping-bonanza! It was a fun morning, full of excitement with a day in front of us full of discoveries and playing!

I always love Barbies, especially when they have similar interests to me!

I couldn't believe when I went downstairs and found Snuggles, My Dream Puppy!

She was as cute as what I imagined.

After enjoying Snuggles, I emptied my stocking and found an Uno game.

Santa must have known I've been wanting to do science experiments lately!

Grandma and Grandpa got me a Winnie the Pooh dressed for winter! I loved him!

I was so excited to get a lip gloss truck from Uncle Jeff, Aunt Grace, Ian, and Eva!

Sometimes it was fun to just watch other people open gifts.

This was the present I made for my mom. She loved it!

How did my friends, Nick and Marie, know that I love Legos and Frozen?

Santa sent me a special cup that was in honor of Disneyland's 60th anniversary.

Aunt Jennifer gave me a special My Little Pony set that I was so excited about.

I was pretty happy to get this book from Uncle Jeff, Aunt Grace, Ian, and Eva!

Santa left me another special gift too…a new Frozen nightgown.

Grammy Noreen and Grandpa Joe sent me some books and this calendar. I love using calendars and counting down days until our next big event!

I was happy with all of my gifts!

I broke into my new science kit to do an experiment.

I carefully added water to a penny in one vial and lemon juice to a penny in another vial. Then we waited ten minutes. I made a prediction that the water would clean the dull penny and make it shiny!

I showed Aunt Jennifer and Grandma and had them make predictions too.

I was wrong. The acid in the lemon juice cleaned the penny better than the water!

Aunt Jennifer played a lot with me and my Barbie Dreamhouse. She is the most fun to play dolls with because she's so funny!

After playing dolls, Aunt Jennifer checked to see if all of my spaghetti from my game, Yeti in My Spaghetti, would fit on my head. It did!

I got ready for my bedtime stories in my new nightgown. First, I read some of my books from Grammy Noreen and Grandpa Joe.

Then I read a story from Aunt Debby's book, and my mom read it to me too.

Before it was time to go to sleep, I looked at my Look and Find book. I love to find everything!
Merry Christmas!