Goodnight, Katie

Every evening, Katie comes into my room and we read together and talk about the day together. Then it's off to bed. One night when Katie was leaving my room, she carried her stuffed animal in a creative way.

Sometimes it's easier to have my hands free!

One More Game

After our first game together, Katie wanted to play one of her favorite games - Monopoly, Disney Villains edition.

I'm so happy I got this game for Christmas!

Katie's Choice

We didn't do anything big for Katie's Gotcha Day this year because one of our dogs was pretty sick and needed a lot of attention. Instead, I let her choose something to do a week later. For her Gotcha Day though, I let her choose what she wanted to do at home, and of course she chose a board game!

I always have fun playing games!

Trying the Carrots

After Katie pulled out the very little carrots from our garden, she decided she wanted to try eating them.

I washed the carrots as well as I could.

This was our full harvest!

I wasn't sure how they'd taste, but they tasted like regular carrots.

A Surprise

After planting flowers, we headed to our backyard to clean things up for a new round of planting. We were very shocked to see that the carrots had grown over the winter months. We waited all summer last year to find carrots, and they never showed up. Katie was so excited to pick the carrots and see what she got!

This was my first time picking my own carrots!

We laughed and laughed when we saw the size of the carrots that came out!

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year, we put flowers in our planters. We don't put them in the ground anymore because the rabbits eat them all!

We were happy to get some color around again!

Flowers make us happy.

I loved this pot!

We planted flowers in our small planter too!

A Walk

When Katie goes on a walk with any of us, she always speeds up at the end and leaves us in her dust!

I'm usually ready to get home by the time I'm getting close!

A Gotcha Day Gift

On Katie's Gotcha Day, we got home to a present from Garyldine, Jim, and Aunt Jody.

I was so excited to find a package!

Thank you so much for the cupcakes and gift card!

An Old Friend

We hadn't seen our favorite neighborhood cat for the longest time, and we were starting to worry about him. It made us so happy one evening to run into him!

I love this cat so much! He is the friendliest cat ever!

An Afternoon Out

My sister gave Katie and me tickets to Hamilton for Christmas. Katie had never seen the show in person, but had most of the lyrics memorized from watching it on Disney Plus. When the day of the show came, we were both excited. 

 

We loved the show!

More Art

Katie wanted to show me some more of her art that was hanging on a bulletin board.

I loved the vase I drew (on the purple paper).

After the Concert

After listening to Katie sing in the choir, I went to meet her, and she was enjoying her friends.

I was so happy that I had some friends in choir with me!

A Concert

Katie signed up for before-school choir this year. After working for a few months, it was time for her concert. She was feeling back to herself except she had a frog in her throat. It made singing harder, but she pushed through!

I thought I was going to be late, so I walked in as quickly as I could.

I got inside with time to spare and found my friend to sit by. I was excited!

Feeling Worse

After one fever-free day, the fever came back in full force. Poor Katie spent most of her next day on the couch. She had a sore throat, fever, upset stomach, headache, and cough. She took a Covid test just to be sure. She didn't have that, but she felt awful.

All I wanted to do was sleep.

Sharing with Sadie

Katie had to stay home from school for a day because she had had a fever the day before. She was at Jennifer's house, and she was talking to Jennifer in her office. She had to share the couch in there with Sadie.

Sadie wasn't sure she liked having to share the couch, but she made room for me.

A Surprise

After Katie's nice, warm Spring Break trip, she came home just for it to snow in mid-April. That's something we weren't expecting at all!

I had to go outside to see the snow for myself.

The snow was so heavy that there were lots of trees breaking and falling all around the neighborhood. When we went outside, we could hear constant cracking sounds!

"Gotcha Day" - Eleventh Anniversary

It's another special day - the anniversary of the day I first met Katie face to face in the hallway of a Chinese hotel. It remains so fresh in my mind, and I hope it always will.

Click here to see the video.

Coming Home

Time for the plane!

Thank you Brandon, Kathy, and Kai for the most amazing trip!

Time for the Airport

 After such a busy few days, it was time to head back to the airport.

I couldn't believe it was already time to head home.

We got a yummy snack of French fries and ice cream before our trip.

Back to the Hotel

It was time to go back to the hotel for a meal before heading to the airport.

It was always fun to eat in the hotel room.

The Cable Car Museum

Katie got to go to the Cable Car Museum next.

Heading Out

While they were waiting to go to the airport to come home, Katie headed out to explore San Francisco on foot with everyone.

I was happy to explore the city for one more morning!

The Last Morning

 In addition to packing their bags for the trip home, Katie and Kai made time to play. They decided to test who had the quickest reaction time.

Finishing Out the Day

After a big day, it was time to go back to the hotel for dinner and relaxation.

We were tired after our big day.

Each night I called home to chat for a bit.

Last Few Photos of Japantown

Katie loved every moment in Japantown.

This was in Japantown Peace Plaza.

Just the two of us having some fun!

Police Car

It was time to pretend to drive a police car.

We had to wait in line to get to the police car.

Kai got to "drive" first.

Then it was my turn!

Japantown

Katie was so excited to go to Japantown!

I was so excited to look for stationary and pens to buy!

A New Favorite Treat

Katie got to try bubble tea on her trip and loved it!

I love the pearls in the bubble tea!

California Academy of Sciences

Next up was another fun place for Katie...California Academy of Sciences.