Hello, New Friend!

Katie's goal these days is to look for the cat she met recently on every walk we take. She comes across him at least half the time.

Hello!

Observing Clouds

While Katie has been learning at home, we try to tie our walks a little to the learning. On this day, the learning circled around clouds. On the walk, Katie sketched the clouds in the sky, and we talked about what we know about clouds. Later, Katie did some art and tried to replicate the section on the sky that she had recorded on our walk.

We chose to look at clouds on this day because we had more than a complete gray sky! 

I used lots of cotton balls to try to match my sketch. Drier lint came in handy too. 

I thought it looked pretty good in the end.

Another Walk, Another Cat

I mentioned earlier that while we have been staying at home, we like to get out for fresh air and go on walks. On this walk, Katie met another neighborhood cat, and she fell in love.

This cat loves to hang out by the bushes. 

I love this cat! To me, he's like a combination of Mr. Limpet and General Washington! 

Ever since this day,  I look for this cat every time I'm out, and I find him a lot!

It's always nice to get out for fresh air! Does it look like I have something weird growing out of my head in this picture?

Time with her Cats

One of the best parts of staying home all day every day is that Mr. Limpet and General Washington get all sorts of attention from Katie!

I love to spoil my cats! 

They usually love each other. 

Don't they look comfy? 

Helping Her Mom

As a kindergarten teacher, I am currently providing some lessons for my students, while I'm also trying to help Katie with her work. Katie loves helping me with the kindergarten work. Sometimes I use her to try out the lessons to see how they work out. She also has fun coming up with lesson ideas and making samples for the kindergarten kids!

We went on a walk and tallied the number of people we passed. 

When I got home, I counted my tally marks. 

Later, I wrote a sample book called "Signs of Spring," so the kindergarten kids could see it!

Who Needs to Work?

Every time Katie tries to work, somebody comes for a visit.

My mom doesn't like that cats on the table at all, but sometimes it's called for when the cats gets lonely!

Fashion Design

We're all doing different things to entertain ourselves during this quarantine period. Katie is pretty good to entertain herself. She has started using some of her time to design dresses again.

I think it's so much fun to make so many dresses that look so different from one another!

A Snapchat St. Patrick's Day

Of course, Snapchat came out for the recent holiday!

St. Patrick's Day Mail

While celebrating St. Patrick's Day at home this year, it was so nice to get a piece of joy in our mailbox from my friend, Noreen!

 Thank you, Grammy Noreen!

Schools are Closed

Our governor made the decision to close all schools for six weeks in our state. As part of our "school at home," we take walks throughout the day for fresh air. Sometimes we just enjoy the time together outside and sometimes we tie educational things into our walk. One of the things that Katie has loved the most about this time though is meeting all of the neighborhood cats. She has a special connection with cats.

This first cat I found was so fluffy and soft! 

It liked to run back and forth on my legs! 

Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands

With the outbreak of this virus all over the world, we have been focused on washing our hands often and well. Before our school was closed, our school nurse visited classrooms and taught proper procedure for washing hands. Katie is an expert!

I was every part of the surface of my hands and wrists. 

I also make sure to get the soap under my fingernails. 

I try to stay as clean as possible right now.

Getting to Jennifer's House

Katie was happy to go to Jennifer's house later that afternoon because she got more snow at her house than we did!

I was excited that I could pick up a clump of snow at Aunt Jennifer's house!

Can't Get Enough

Once we got back into the house, Katie kept staring at it through the window. She knew it probably wouldn't last long, so she enjoyed it while she had it.

I think snow is so pretty. 

General Washington liked to watch the snowflakes falling as much as I did! 

A Walk in the Snow

It didn't take long before Katie wanted to head outside to experience the snow. Even though we didn't have a lot sticking, it was pretty fun!

We didn't have a ton of snow, but we had enough to make everything look pretty. 

I asked my mom if it was snowing hard enough to see the snowflakes in my hair! 

Might as well try to catch some snowflakes! 

Happy snow day!

A Snowy Surprise

It was such a surprise to go the whole winter without seeing snow and then get a snow surprise when it was almost spring.

 I'm happy anytime we get snow!

Before School

Before going to school, Katie loves to spend time with the cats.

Usually in the morning if you find me, you can find the cats. 

General Washington is pretty shy, but he feels safe with me!

Playing Around

Katie played with my phone again.

Why is it so much fun to use filters?

A Drawing Contest

When we were at my sister's house, Katie challenged her to a drawing contest.

I don't think Aunt Jennifer and I ever picked a winner, but we had fun!

Repitition

There are certain times during the year that we don't end up doing a whole lot. That seems to be the recent weeks for us, so I apologize for repetitive pictures. It seems that most of Katie's time at home has been spent doing similar activities.

I can't help that I have really loved my reading and writing lately!

A Reflection

Sometimes you've just got to take a minute to check yourself out in a mirror!

I love having a hanging mirror in my room!

Just Hanging Out

I love this smile!

Just having fun with my toys!

Exploring Science

Katie received her book order at school, so after school, she and her friend had fun experimenting with some of the science things.

We like to take turns when we have something new to make or do!

If She's Not Reading...

If she's not reading at night, she's writing. It makes my teacher heart happy!

I have lots and lots of ideas for my journals!

Nighttime Reading

This is one of our favorite times every night.

I love books!

Her Activity Book

Katie has a big activity book from Costco full of all sorts of fun things, but for the most part, she uses the blank back of the pages in the book instead of the prepared activities. She usually lets her imagination flow.

Someday I might do the word puzzles and mazes in this book, but... 

...for now, I'll just create my own graphic novels.

Big Hair

After Katie slept in her braids all night, she had some big hair in the morning!

I combed my hair out after I took the braids out, and... 

...I was left with some big hair!

Graphic Novel Craze

Katie loves her graphic novels. With this love, I'm so happy that they have such a wide selection for readers now.

I go through graphic novels like wildfire!

Lego Fun

Legos provide hours of fun and imaginative play!

My legos are one of my favorite toys at Aunt Jennifer's house!

Coming Down the Ladder

Coming down a ladder can be a big enough effort by itself, but Katie always makes it a little more difficult by traveling with lots and lots of stuff.

It wasn't until I was halfway down the ladder that I realized that it was hard to move when you're balancing so much!

Starting a New Series

Katie loves finding a new book series to love. She recently started reading The Land of Stories series. So far, so good!

This is a long book, but it definitely grabbed my attention!