Just a Girl in her Mask

Katie loves trying on different face masks. Her favorites are the ones she chose with the animal faces on them, but she likes to try ours on too.

You might as well make the best of the situation you're in!

Yummy Food

Katie was eating a snack at my sister's house, and Sadie thought the snack looked awfully good!

Sadie was very well-mannered while she tried to convince me to give her some food!

Taking Pictures

When we were taking the pictures for Katie's Gotcha Day, we had barely walked into the wooded area, and a bug flew right by Katie. She wasn't very happy about that, but the pictures I took of her reaction were some of my favorite.

Did you just see that bug? 

It flew right in front of me. 

This was my best smile while I was trying to keep my eye on the bug.

"Gotcha Day" Photos

Katie usually gets her pictures taken each year on "Gotcha Day," but with the closures, her photographer wasn't working. So we did what we could and went outside to take a few pictures with my phone. Then whenever it's safe, she will go back for pictures with Cameron.

Reading a Little More

Katie loves to read and draw before going to bed at night. Partly, she loves doing those things. Partly, it helps her avoid going to bed for a bit!

I love this magazine. It has such fun stories in it!

Spring Flowers

Out of everything blooming in the spring, Katie probably loves rhododendrons the most.

I just wish the blooms lasted longer!

Time for a Mask

For the foreseeable future, face masks are most likely going to be needed. Katie wanted to choose her own masks, and she has been pretty excited about wearing them.

 I picked out a 3-pack of masks. I got a bear,...

...a dog, and... 

...a cat.

Schoolwork Distraction

Sometimes it's hard to stay focused on distance learning when there's a cuddly cat next to you.

 General Washington is my study buddy!

Twins

My sister, Jennifer, always joked with Katie that she was going to dress like her and buy the same clothes. Katie didn't think much of it until Jennifer walked in dressed as her. I didn't think Katie would notice right off, but as soon as Jennifer rounded the corner, Katie started reacting!

I couldn't quite believe it when Aunt Jennifer walked in! 

I was questioning if this was a good idea or not! 

I became even more shocked when she took off her pullover and had the same shirt on underneath! 

I tried to act like I didn't like it, but I admitted a few days later that I thought "it was kind of cool."

Enjoying Her Letters

Katie loves the letters she has been receiving from her pen pals. She reads them multiple times or maybe hundreds of times and often takes them to bed with her.

I love to read things more than once!

Trying to Save a Caterpillar

When it was time for our yard to be mowed, Katie spied a caterpillar in the front lawn. She decided to pick it up, create a habitat for it, and try to rescue it.

This was the caterpillar I found in the yard. 

After doing some research, I started to make a habitat for it. 

It looked pretty happy! 

The last thing I added was a little stick that it could crawl on.

Good luck, fella! 

Look Who's Back

Katie's friend appeared again, and with that, Katie's happiness level rose!

I love when I get this surprise visitor! 

I wish I could take this cat home with me!

Capturing Spring

When we've been on our walks, we've been trying to get pictures of the beautiful things that bloom in spring. On this day, Katie was making herself laugh. She had just finished some school work, where her music teacher asked her to respond with a "thumbs-up" picture to show him she was done. She thought it was so funny to continue with her "thumbs-up" pictures.

It's the little things like this that make me laugh! 

I just kept going with my joke!

Another "Gotcha Day" Surprise

On her "Gotcha Day," Katie got to decide what to have for dinner. She chose McDonalds, and she got a surprise. She was accidentally given two toys with her Happy Meal instead of one. It was almost like they knew it was a special day for her!

I had two characters from the Trolls movie in my Happy Meal!

"Gotcha Day" Gifts

The gifts I got for Katie for her "Gotcha Day" arrived a little late, but she seemed to enjoy them late as much as if they had arrived on time!

 My first gift was a set of miniature Maneki Neko Chinese cats for different kinds of good luck.

I also got a book to teach me about China! 

Finally I got a Mulan doll!

A "Gotcha Day" Surprise

To celebrate Katie's Gotcha Day, Garyldine dropped a surprise off in the driveway for Katie to pick up. She was so excited about it!

Thanks for my balloons and gift cards! It's so nice of you to always think of me on your birthday! I hope you had a Happy Birthday!

"Gotcha Day" - Ninth Anniversary

Nine years ago today, Katie was placed in my arms for the first time in a hallway of a hotel in China. It has been nine years of joy and adventure!

Happy Gotcha Day!

Playing Time

It's always important to take some time to play during the day.

I like to play at the dining room table a lot, and the cats like to relax close by me.

General Washington loves to be in the window sill.

Mr. Limpet prefers to sunbathe on the floor!

A Yummy Treat

When Katie's friend, Kai, went to Hawaii, his family thought of Katie and sent her a yummy treat!

Thanks Brandon, Kathy, and Kai for my Hello Kitty chocolate!

Word of the Day

It was time for Katie to build her next word for the neighborhood.

 I believe in goodness!