Kate's birthday, part 2.

Kate told me for weeks on end that she wanted a pink monkey cake. Here's what I came up with.





Yummy frosting!

Kate's birthday.

I meant to do a birthday update when Kate turned 3 (a month ago) and never got around to it. So I'll split it into three since it's mostly pictures.

Kate came in time for Christmas pictures, yay! ;)



a one-year-old Kate (with socks on her hands because I forgot her gloves)



I loved the little curls Kate had when she was two.



And here's my big three-year-old. These years have flown.

Now that winter is only a day away, it's starting to be cold. But we've had a long and warm fall, even into November. So we've had lots of chances to be outside, but we also had a freak snowstorm in late October. The day it struck, I had planned to take the girls with me to a tea at the church, but the snow kept me home. So when Kate had her birthday, Ginny planned a tea for her.

Kate always dresses up in as much as she possibly can; here, she has a leotard and two tutus on.



Jill picked out slippers for me, and the girls love to wear them.



enjoying a beautiful day at the park





throwing leaves on Daddy



the tea party



You know the phrase "less is more"? For Kate, it's "more is more."



resting during our walk on a lovely fall day



If one spoon doesn't work, grab another!

I realize it's been quite a while since my last post, but I've been busy! Plus, I sometimes forget about this blog. So I'm going to play a little catch-up today.

Back in November, we had to drive over to Farmington. Jon kept Jill, but I had the other two for about an hour, and let me tell you, we walked a lot. We also went in the Disney store several times, and a toy store once. But what got us through all the walking (and boredom for the girls) was the promise of The Rainforest Cafe. The food was yummy, and the thunderstorms and animals really made it an exciting experience.

















One other thing from this day: Jon at one point left me with Kate to try on some clothes, and he took the older two. Since this was after Halloween, he found this hat for the girls to try on:

Days of thankfulness, days 29 and 30.

I totally forgot about this!

29. My town. Don't laugh, but we have very mild weather here. We don't always get the rain or snow that neighboring towns get, and we're often warmer. I love any time it's sunny and warm, so I'm glad we live in this weird bubble. ;)

30. Storytime. My girls all love interacting with kids their ages, and learning more about books. For Jill, there are book discussions, and for Beth and Kate, reading and painting and dancing. I want my girls to love reading, so I love the chance to introduce them to books I may not otherwise know of.

30 days of thankfulness, day 18-28.

18. Friends. I've got some really good friends here in CT (though most of them don't live near me), and I'm so thankful for them. No one ever mentions how much harder it can be to make friends as an adult. And I have many wonderful friends online, as well. I've only met a couple of them, but I'm very thankful for them.

19. The internet. This may seems silly to be thankful for, but some days, it's my sanity! I can read blogs, catch up with friends, waste time, and lose myself for a time there.

20. Chai tea. I have a friend who recently introduced me to this delicious beverage. It's so nice to watch TV in the afternoon with a cup of hot tea warming my hands.

21. Netflix. I don't have cable or an antenna, so the only TV we watch is what's on Netflix. I've been able to watch shows that I haven't seen in years, and I've fallen in love with a bunch of new things.

22. The different seasons. While summer's definitely my favorite, I love watching them change. They all have their different beauties: the new green of spring, the vibrant colors of summer, the yellows and reds of autumn, and the cold beauty of winter.

23. Slippers. I hate having cold feet, so I wear slippers all the time. Jill just picked out a new pair for me and I laugh every time I wear them because they're leopard print. ;)

24. Zales. As much as Jon might hate his job some days, he's been employed there for six years, and it's been a good job. Plus, he buys me jewelry, so what's not to love? ;)

25. Homeschooling. I really do enjoy being able to teach my girls about so many things, from school-related things, to field trips to learn more about the world. I may not be able to teach them forever, but I love that for now, they look to me to learn about the world around them.

26. Letters. I'm not the best penpal, but I do love getting letters! And I'm better at writing them than I used to be.

27. Ice cream. Jon and I have it several nights a week. My tummy's not as flat as it used to be, but it's a nice way to connect with Jon and relax after long days at work or at home.

28. My phone. It takes great pictures, and I'm so thankful for it. It's actually replaced my digital camera!

Happy birthday, Katie!

My baby turned three yesterday. I wonder (as I do with her sisters) where the time went. I'm so blessed to have her in my life. I may not have been eager for a baby when I got pregnant with her, but she is such a joy.

She's very different from her sisters. She loves dress up (often wearing two or three or four different outfits), baby dolls, counting, singing, dancing, playing outside, cooking and baking, and trying to be just like her sisters.

Kate's not even a month old in this picture. She came just in time to do Christmas pictures. :)



Here she is about a year old at the park. I actually had socks on her hands because I forgot mittens for her!



Here's a two-year-old Kate. I loved her curling hair!



And here's my birthday girl yesterday. :D