Helping to Shovel Snow

After two days of snow, I heard that our snow might be turning into freezing rain, so I decided to shovel the driveway again. That way, if we got ice, at least it would be a thinner layer of ice. Katie decided that she wanted to come out and help me shovel. She did help me hold handle on the shovel for awhile, but then she decided it was more fun just to play in the snow while I shoveled. She liked throwing snow on the newly shoveled driveway, and she liked to try to throw snowballs at me. The snow was still powdery, so the snowballs continued to be handfuls of snow.

It's more fun to play with the snow than with the shovel! 

I love to get handfuls of snow. 

It's especially fun to throw it on the cleared off driveway.

I had fun throwing "snowballs" at my mom.

Making New Friends

When Katie wasn't out in the snow having fun, she was often watching out the window as the neighborhood kids went sledding down the hill by our house. She would watch them for awhile, and then she'd knock on the window to get their attention. When they'd look up at her, she'd wave and say, "Hi, kids! I'm Katie!" She was so excited anytime one of them would wave at her. "I did it! I did it! That kid waved at me!"

After waving for awhile, Katie started knocking on the window and showing the sledders some of her favorite animals. I'm sure they were more than impressed!

 Knock, knock!

Hi, kids! I'm Katie! 

It was fun to watch them sledding. 

This is Giraffe! 

This is Horse! Neigh! Neigh!

A Sled Ride

On Thursday night, Jennifer went to walk my mom's dogs. Katie and I waited a little while, and then we went out to meet Jennifer. Katie decided to ride in her sled.

We have a fairly good-sized hill as we're exiting our neighborhood, so we walked to the top of the hill. When we got to the top, Jennifer waited with Katie while I went back down the hill. That way, I could catch the sled when Katie got to me.

Jennifer gave her a push, and the sled slowly came down the hill. It would stop once in awhile and need another push, but Katie was happy. I expected that she would have slid down faster, but it was actually the perfect speed for her to be coming down the hill on her own.

After we walked back to our house, Jennifer and I took turns sledding with Katie on the hill next to our house. It was a faster sled ride - at least when Jennifer was in control of the speed. When I rode with Katie, I slowed things down a bit. And that's why Katie likes to sled with Aunt Jennifer more than me!

 I'm off to find Aunt Jennifer!

 Aunt Jennifer went with me down the hill by my house. We went fast. Then she pulled me back to the top.

I had fun sledding on my own!

Lots of Snow!

By late last week, we knew we were going to have some snow that stuck to the ground. On Thursday, I got out of school early for the storm. By the time I got home around 1:00, Katie was running all over the house so excited for snow. Ever since we went to Leavenworth in December, Katie has been checking the weather out the window to see if there is any snow to go sledding again. Every day, she would find the same thing...no snow. Sometimes she'd just go on to her next activity. Sometimes she'd sit on the floor in a pretend sled with pretend snow and scoot across the floor. You can imagine how thrilled she was to look out the window and see a good amount of snow flying through the air.

I finally got her calmed down enough to take a nap. When she woke up, we reminded her that it was snowing. Back to the window she went, and this time, she found magic.

It wasn't long before she got to go out in the freezing cold wind and snow and explore. Her happiness far outweighed any coldness!

It's everything I've been dreaming of! 

These were my first steps out in the snow. 

I tried to make a snowball. 

The snow was powdery, so I just threw handfuls of loose snow. 

This never happens at home. I wanted to take it all in. 

When the wind came up, it was freezing! 

My mom found the sled we bought in Leavenworth. 

I didn't go downhill, but my mom pulled me around the street. I loved it! 

I always like to catch some snowflakes on my tongue! 

Chloe loved the snow as much as me!

A Snowflake!

Early last week, our weather turned cold, and we were shocked to see some snowflakes falling from the sky. For two days, we would see flurries, and then the snow would quickly disappear. Even though nothing stuck in those two days, Katie loved to stand in front of the window dreaming of more.

It's fun to see even a few snowflakes!

A Genuine Princess Dress

Since Katie has loved dressing as a princess lately, I took advantage of a good sale and bought her a princess dress to wear. Of course, it was delivered while she was sick, so I didn't think she'd want to even put it on. I was wrong though. Her new dress changed her whole attitude and gave her a new energy. She wanted her dress on right away, and she quickly added her ballet slippers to her outfit. As soon as she was dressed, the dancing started. She put on quite a show!

The extra bonus was that her dress had gold glitter on it. After putting it on and dancing, she was covered in glitter, I was covered in glitter, the whole house was covered in glitter. Katie was happy. She knew that Tinkerbell had just visited and left fairy dust!

I feel so glamorous! 

This dress just calls for dancing! 

I wonder if the world would be a happier place if everyone wore princess dresses. 

I try to extend all of my limbs when I dance. 

Even though I was having fun, my cough would still sneak up on me. 

I loved my flowers too. 

I invited Giraffe to dance with me because he's a talented dancer. 

I couldn't contain my joy! 

I learned to hold my dress up as I was going up and down stairs. 

My Winnie the Pooh music player was providing my dancing music. 

I asked Aunt Jennifer and Grandma to take a picture with me.

I ended my performance by singing some of my favorite songs.

Chinese New Year 2014: The Year of the Horse

Chinese New Year began on January 31st this year. I was so happy that Katie still fit in her dress that her friend, Ina, gave her last year!

Happy New Year!