Legos

Just like dolls, I don't think Katie will ever get tired of playing with Legos. When she gets a Lego kit, she likes to build it according to the directions, but after that, she likes to mix and match all of her Legos to make her own creations.

I usually build a few different businesses out of Legos on the dining room table. 

I decided to build a Sweet Shop and a Pet Salon.

Playing with Dolls

Katie has loved playing with her little princess dolls again this summer. She has spent so much time creating new stories for her dolls to act out in their castles. She has some castles that fit the dolls, but she has also been using her magnet pieces to build new castles for them.

It's best to play with my dolls when the dogs are in their kennels. 

Then I can spread everything out as much as I want. 

I liked having my magnet castles!

Writing

Although you can catch Katie playing with toys quite often, you can also catch her writing and drawing almost just as often. She loves to write notes, make lists, write reminders, and anything else that involves writing.

Are you watching me write? 

I like to think a little before I write things down.

Practice, Practice, Practice

One of Katie's new dance classes this summer involves some acrobatics, and the students try to complete a bridge. Katie could easily get her body in the correct position, but she has realized that it's really hard to push her head off the floor and hold it. She's determined though. She'll get there!

I never realized heads were so heavy!

Princess Dance Camp

This summer, Katie took part in a week-long Princess Dance Camp. She was very excited about it because one of her good friends was also signing up. Each day, the girls got to dress up as a different princess, practice ballet, and complete arts and crafts. She had a really good time.

I was really excited to have a Belle day!

My friend, Rose, and I both wore a special dress!

Each day we got to practice a special dance.

I always love to curtsy the best!

I was also excited to wear my Elsa leotard.

At the end of the week, we got to perform our special dance for our families. My mom recorded it but somehow recorded it sideways.

After our dance, my friends and I all got a present from our teacher, Ms. Moriah. I loved Princess Dance Camp! 

Dance Recital Pictures

Katie had some pictures taken before her dance recital and during her dance reciatal this year. Here are part of the pictures that were taken.

Spring School Picture

As I was going through some old pictures, I realized that I never posted Katie's spring school picture.

I was excited to be able to write my name for my pictures!

A Portrait

One afternoon, Katie worked hard to draw my portrait. I loved it!

I think it looks just like my mom!

Interior Decorating

When I was over at Jennifer's house, I walked into the bedroom that she had set up for Katie, and I saw that Katie had decided to add artwork to the walls. How did she choose to attach the pictures? Well, Band-Aids, of course!

I'm a problem-solver at heart. Band-Aids were the perfect solution!

Making Popsicles

Popsicles is one of Katie's favorite hot weather treats, but she's also kind of picky about what kind of popsicles she likes to have. She likes the Outshine Tangerine Popsicles because "they taste like real oranges!"

A little while ago, Katie had seen something that showed how to make homemade popsicles, and she really wanted to make them. She didn't know the recipe for sure but wrote down what she thought she remembered and showed me the recipe. She basically wanted to cut up fruit and mix it with lemonade and freeze it.

I wasn't sure about how they would taste but told her we could try it. Since we didn't have any molds, we had to make do with some shot glasses I had gotten at the Dollar Tree for a math activity and toothpicks. They weren't the best holders but they did the job.

In the end, Katie waited patiently for her popsicles to freeze. She thought they were delicious the first time she tried them, but then she told me that I could have the rest because they weren't as good as her tangerine popsicles from the store. She had fun making them though!

Since I didn't have the recipe with me, I wrote one for my mom. 

When I was done, I read the recipe to her. 

We started by cutting up oranges and putting them in the cups. 

Then we add the lemonade and toothpicks. I couldn't wait to freeze them! 

They finally froze, and I got my first taste! 

Yum!

A New Dress

Katie was so excited when our friend, Kathy, found a new dress for her. She loves Princess Elena!

Thank you, Kathy! It's perfect!

Helping with the Dogs

Katie is always willing to help us walk the dogs. Even though they are little dogs, they can be strong when they are leashed together, so Katie always wears the leash on her waist.

Enjoy the sun, dogs!

Off to the Library

One of Katie's favorite places to go in the summer is to the public library. She very carefully picks out lots and lots of books. It's fun to have new reading material.

I like to take lots of extra accessories as I get ready to go to the library! 

There are so many books to choose from!

A Quick Lunch

Katie and I were out with my mom when we decided to stop for a quick lunch at Starbucks. It's always a favorite!

Grandma and I like to share food and funny stories! 

Preparing for the School Year

Katie is so excited for the next school year to begin. She's particularly excited to make plans for my incoming kindergarten students. She has started planning out all of the lessons that I should teach across the curriculum. At this point, I could probably just put my legs up and let Katie do all the behind-the-scene work for my classroom next year.

On this particular night, Katie escaped to the kitchen table and quietly worked. I assumed she was coloring, but she was publishing a book for my class next year. She's so thoughtful!

I was struck one night with lots of teaching ideas, so I had to explain them to my mom. 

I couldn't wait for her to start using my lessons. 

I was telling her about the circle book I was going to make. It was going to be an emoji book! 

I surprised my mom with this flap book I wrote, "Who am I in the Zoo?" It was inspired by Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. I love that book! 

I made my book with animals hiding under the flaps. 

When you open the flaps, you could read about the animal.

I tried reading my book upside down like teachers sometimes do. It's harder than it looks!

Marble Fun

A few weeks ago, we went to the dollar store, and Katie got some marbles and a pool noodle. We decided to cut the noodle in half to make a track for her marbles. She had fun watching the marbles race down her track.

I couldn't believe how fast the marbles got down my track. Later on, I discovered how to slow them down a little bit.

Helping with Dessert

We decided to make Chex Muddy Buddies for the first time this summer. Katie wanted to help, and it was the perfect recipe for her. She helped with the shaking part when it came time to cover everything in powdered sugar. She decided to have a contest with my mom to see who could shake the bag the best. I think they both won!

I had to shake the cereal hard to get it all coated in sugar. 

I kept checking to see Grandma was done. 

We had fun helping my mom make this recipe!

Jewelry Designer

Near the end of the year, Katie was given a huge bag of beads from one of my friends at school. She has had so much fun beading ever since. She loves to make necklaces, bracelets, and headbands.

I made this necklace for my mom.