The Build-A-Bear Experience

Katie had a gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop, so we took her there to pick out a stuffed animal. It was her first time in the store. She had a really good time.

I chose to make a cute puppy instead of a bear. 

We had to wait in a long time to get the puppy stuffed because there was a birthday party happening there. I tried to be patient though. 

I was excited when I finally got to the stuffing station. 

I got to control the stuffing that came out with my foot! 

After it was stuffed, the worker had me do some tricks with the heart before we put it in the puppy. 

After she was all sewn up, I took her to the bath station and fluffed her up and brushed her. 

Then I got to choose a leash and a dress. I picked a pink dress for her! 

I took her to the dressing table, and then...

…I named her Puppy Pie! 

Time to go home, Puppy Pie!

Spending Time in the Basement

Katie likes to go in the basement sometimes and play with her toys that are stored down there.

I always love to spend time at my vanity. 

I was trying to comb my hair and add make-up to look like Moana! 

Afterward, I drew a picture of Ariel. Sadie may have chewed the handles off of my old wooden rocking horse, but I can still use it like a desk!

A Published Author

As mentioned in the fall, Katie spent part of her summer and part of her fall writing and illustrating a book about getting Bailey and Sophie. She did this with a Crayola kit. We sent her book off to be published, and after a long wait, Katie finally received her published book. She was so excited to get it and share it with her friends!

I was excited to open my box and get the first glimpse of my book. 

I couldn't believe I was a published author! 

All of my hard work was worth it!

A Bottle Volcano

Katie got her science kit out again, and my sister, Jennifer, helped her with the volcano experiment. Instead of actually making volcano, they just used the beaker and recreated lava. Katie loved it!

First, I had to mix baking soda and water. 

Then I had to mix vinegar with red food coloring. 

I got to use my eye dropper to combine the liquids. 

Then our bottle volcano starting bubbling and bubbling. It was so much fun!

Six Years Ago

Six years ago today, I woke up to the magic of a late February snowstorm. The snow was too deep to drive in, but it was fun to take a walk through the neighborhood streets bustling with happy kids full of laughter.

Six years ago today, I visited an adoption rumor website and saw the rumor that I had been matched with a baby from China. When you adopt from China, families are matched based on the date that China receives your paperwork. This rumor site said people with my date had been matched. I had been waiting five years. Could this rumor site be true?

Six years ago today, I spent the day with hope and wonder. Would I hear from my adoption agency? I had a hard time focusing on anything. I didn't say a word to my family in case it wasn't true. If it was true, I wanted to surprise them.

Six years ago today, the hours drug by as my phone sat silent. I assumed the rumor website had been wrong. Then I checked my email, and saw an email from my adoption agency confirming that I had my referral.

Six years ago today, I waited for my phone to ring again to hear the details of my referral. I was bursting to tell someone, but I still wanted it to be a surprise, so I was now as silent as my phone.

Six years ago today, my phone finally rang. I heard about a little 5 1/2 month old baby. I learned how to pronounce her Chinese name. I learned how to pronounce her orphanage's name. I heard she was healthy.

Six years ago today, I was finally able to tell my family about the referral and the long wait of the day. I waited with them (not so patiently) for the pictures to be emailed to me from the agency.

Six years ago today, I ended the day with the magic of family. I don't think I can ever forget the day that I lived six years ago today.

Katie - Referral Day Picture

February 24, 2011

Playing with Princesses

One morning, Katie decided to spend her time with princesses.

 I thought I better give Elsa a bath in my kitchen.

Then I spent some time with Anna and Elsa. 

I turned my kitchen into Elsa's palace. It was fun!

Time for Science

Katie loves using the science kit that she received for Christmas. It's so much fun to see her excitement and to watch her mind fill with the wonder of science.

Before you start any science experiment, you need to get your supplies out! 

We were going to mix colors with water and food coloring! 

We put red food coloring in one vial and yellow food coloring in the other vial. 

Then I slowly added some red water to the yellow water. I know that red and yellow make orange, but I've never seen the mix happen with water. I wasn't sure if it would work the same way.

I swirled the two colors together, and... 

…it did turn orange! 

It was completely a new color! 

As I got my supplies out for the next experiment, I told my mom the story of my magnifying glass in my room that I was sure had moved by itself. 

When I tell stories, I like to use my hands to make my points seem even more important! 

I couldn't believe how the magnifying glass could move by itself, or by a ghost! 

You've gotta take this seriously! 

After my story, we moved onto the Dancing Raisins experiment. My mom poured some Club Soda in the beaker, and I learned that carbon dioxide makes bubbles in the water. It was fun to watch the bubbles! 

I'm ready to start. 

We added more club soda to the beaker, and I used my tweezers to put five raisins in the same beaker. 

Once the five raisins were in, I ate the remaining raisins. 

As I watched the raisins, bubbles started to cover them, and then they started to dance! 

We were having lots of science fun! 

Our last experiment was trying to mix the "Un-mixables." I was most excited to finally use my funnel! 

We put water with red food coloring in the vial. 

Then we added some cooking oil to the top of the water, and I shook it up to try to mix them together. 

As it settled, I saw the thin layer of oil go back to the top. 

My mom added more oil, so it would be easier to see, and I shook and shook and shook it. 

Then I waited. 

It really does keep separating! I love science!

President's Day, 2017

Just like last year, Katie was looking forward to celebrating President's Day again. Unlike last year, she didn't want to celebrate our current president. When I asked her what her plans were for the day, she told me that she wanted to ignore "him." She just wanted to pretend he wasn't the president.

I knew I wanted to wear red, white, and blue for the day, so I chose my 4th of July outfit. 

I wanted my mom to take a picture of my hair ribbons, so I turned around and thought I should turn my dog around too.

Even though the day wasn't necessarily about the flag, I thought I should sing, "You're a Grand Old Flag." I can remember most of the words most of the time.

I respect all of the presidents - almost. When I sing, I just can't add someone's name. After all, I was pretending he wasn't the president.

My mom always surprises me with new books on President's Day! I was so excited! She even got me a Hillary Clinton book since I was pretending "he" wasn't the president.

My mom asked me to show her my favorite new books. When I held these up, she told me to point to my favorite president. You can see where my finger landed.

One of my gifts were White House pictures for my View Finder. 

I let Grandma look at my pictures, and... 

…then I looked at them again! 

After looking at my pictures, I got my sticker book out and started putting the presidents in order. 

Later that afternoon, I went grocery shopping with my mom. While she waited in line, I pulled out my Barbie phone to talk to my friend. 

While I waited for dinner, I decided to pose like this. I've been doing this lately, and it never looked familiar to my mom until... 

…she read my George Washington book today! I wasn't trying to look like him, but I guess I sort of do!

The best way to end the day is with a birthday cake for President Washington!