A Hula Hoop

Katie recently came home from Garyldine's house with a hula hoop. It's funny how she always finds these new things when she spends time there!  She has found many uses for the hula hoop. She loves to balance the hula hoop in between two pieces of furniture. Then she stands in the middle of it and turns her whole body in circles.

She also figured out that the hula hoop could easily be used to "rope" her favorite things together.

I roped Chloe, Bear, and Meow Meow together! 

This is fun! 

Do you like my remote, Chloe? 

I can't believe Chloe jumped out of my hula hoop!

Meow Meow is upset about it too, so I have to pet her.

A New Hiding Place

Katie found a new place to hide the other morning. She thought she was pretty sneaky!

How did you find me under here? 

Don't you love hiding?

A Surprise Gift

Jennifer had eaten lunch with her friend, Michele, and she came home with some surprise gifts for Katie. Katie was thrilled to get some different stuffed animals. She was especially over-the-moon to find some cats. Her favorite cat is a light colored one that she carries with her quite often. She has named it Meow Meow. If you don't treat Meow Meow exactly right, Katie lets you know!

I love this cat! I pet it all the time! 

I'll call you Meow Meow! 

Mooooo! 

Maybe I'll let you hold the cow, but you can't have Meow Meow!

A Grown-Up Book

When Katie spent some time playing in the basement, she found some books and decided they looked good enough to read!

You're not going to take these away, are you? 

I read something so surprising that it knocked me over! 

I think I'm ready to get up now. 

Have you read what's in here? 

These are pretty good!

Chinese New Year - Year of the Snake

When Chinese New Year comes around, I like to acknowledge it with Katie. Since she's so young, I don't do a lot yet, but I anticipate doing more as she gets older. This year, I bought a book for Katie about Chinese New Year. She liked looking at the pictures and learning some of the new words in it. She also came to my school to join one of my former students as she shared about Chinese New Year.

I like to dress her in some traditional clothes. One of her outfits this year came from our trip to China. She had it on the other night and decided to celebrate by playing her instruments for us.

I'm ready for the new year!

Another outfit was a gift from my former students and her mom. I couldn't believe how generous they were to buy her the dress!

 I love playing with the pattern blocks in my mom's classroom!

I can't believe you have a dress just like me!

Her last surprise outfit was one that one of my friends gave her before she was even home from China. I was shocked that it still fits!

It still fits, Nina!

A Chinese Lantern

Jennifer's friend, Kathy, sent a Chinese Lantern home for Katie for Chinese New Year last weekend! We turned on its light and turned off the house lights, so Katie could enjoy it in the semi-dark. She had a lot of fun "walking" her dog.

I can walk the dog. 

He likes to jump! 

I wonder if Kathy has a dog like this too. 

 I'm sure glad Aunt Jennifer has friends!

You're easier to control on a leash than Chloe! 

Thank you, Kathy! Happy New Year!

Happy Valentine's Day, 2013!

Katie celebrated Valentine's Day by coming to my school to hand out Valentines. While she was there, she became the class entertainer. She discovered that it's lots of fun to make kids laugh. The more the 2nd graders laughed, the more Katie performed for them. For being a shy little girl around adults, she is not the least bit shy around kids!

Katie also made her first hand-made Valentine for me this year. When she went to Story Time at the library with my mom, she had the opportunity to design her own Valentine. She was very proud of her creation!

Katie's Hand-Made Valentine