HOME WITH KATE

On Monday morning at 9:00 our sitter called us to tell us that Kate was running a high fever. Of course it was Monday and I was just getting my kiddos at school settled in for the day. To top things off Scott and I had found a nail in my tire on Sunday and had dropped my car off at the tire shop before school, so I had no car. Scott left work to get Kate and pick me up to go and get my car. Don't you just love a "Manic Monday"??? I finally got Kate to the doctor where they did a flu and strep test. They said that she tested "slightly positive" for strep so off to the pharmacy we went for our antibiotic. It took me all day and into the next morning to finally get her fever down. But, as is always the case with our little wonder, one dose of antibiotic, and she is on her way back to the wild child that we live with everyday. I stayed home with her on Tuesday, because nothing is better than a momma's touch. That afternoon, I was getting something out of the icebox (i love that word) and Kate was trying to climb in. The phone rang so I left her to her devices for just a minute. Whoever was calling caused me to go to the computer to look something up and when I went in the den to check on her, Kate had brought a 6 pack of yogurt into the den to use as a stool to stand up a little taller in front of the TV! I wish I could have gotten her picture quicker, but she had step off her perch thinking she was going to be in trouble. Check out the picture above.

BEACH TRIP

MLK weekend has sparked a tradition of many moms loading up the cars and heading for the beach for some time that feels much more like college than the everyday "mommy duties". Those of us who have been have switched the acronym to mean Mother's Leaving Kids (sorry Dr. King!) This year we had 17 lovely ladies in attendance - only one was not a mommy yet and she may keep it that way when she sees what craziness sometimes comes from being one. We had cheerleader stunts, group dances and more laughs than you could ever count. Our "Hostess With the Mostess", Tonya Barber even made every one of us our own special t-shirt which you can see in the picture show that is attached. Speaking of pictures, the great thing about taking them with your own camera is that you are not in them!!!! Don't worry, I was in plenty of Tonya's. Luckily for me I don't have links to them to attach to this blog! We also had our own personal DJ, "DJ Mitz" (aka Mitzi Olson) spinning the dance tunes on the iPod!! I am so thankful to know this precious group of girls and to call them friends. Thank you Tonya for inviting us all!! I'm already looking forward to next year!!

SUNDAYS ARE FUN DAYS

After Kate got up from her nap today (and Scott decided to lie down for his), Kate and I went outside to conquer the rugged terrain of our cul-de-sac on her 4-wheeler. This was her first ride outside. She has finally mastered pusing the gas and keeping it going steadily instead of bucking like a bull. However, she sees NO need in actually steering the thing (see pics). So guess who gets that fun job?? -- you guessed it, ME! She had a grand time on her ride and then we took a quick walk around the cul-de-sac. Much better than going to the park (for me anyway -- no carrying a kicking, screaming toddler to the car who doesn't want to stop sliding or swinging!!)

KATE RIDES...NOT AGAIN, BUT FINALLY!!

I have quite a confession to make.....Twas the night before Christmas and Scott and Kate and I had just returned from our friends, the Powells' house. Kate drank some milk, jumped in her jammies and went down for a long winter's nap. Scott and I, on the other hand, had more to do. Just before leaving for the Powells, Kate spilled an entire cup of juice on the floor. We wiped it up and Scott wanted to mop the entire floor right then. I, on the other hand, convinced him that we could mop once we got home (especially since I was in charge of bringing the corkscrew to the party and it would be frowned upon for me to be late, if you catch my drift!!). Well, after we cleaned up that mess and prepared our brunch for the next morning, we went up to the bonus room (Santa's workshop) to get things ready for the big day. Scott worked on blowing up Kate's jumping gym and I started putting together the 4 wheeler. We were both so proud of our handy work when we were done. (I must insert that I am the normally the Jasper who puts most things together around our house. That's because I don't mind reading directions.) Well, sometimes even the best "readers" can have trouble with some not-so-clear directions. Needless to say, on Christmas morning when we put Kate on her 4 wheeler (which she thought was fabulous) for the first ride, the crazy thing wouldn't work. After much looking-it-over, we figured out that I had put the back wheels on the wrong sides of the toy. The little grooves on the wheel that the gears turn was in the wrong place so it just sat there spinning out!! Well, of course I was exasperated and felt like I had totally ruined this big day for her. Luckily for me, Kate's attention span is quite short and she lost interest quickly. So Scott and I set about the simple task of taking the back wheels off and switching places. Sounds easy, but not in actuality! To get those things off, you literally had to break the toy which rendered it out of commission!! Thank goodness, I had saved the instructions. I fretted until the "toy parts place" opened back up on January 2nd!!! I told the customer service rep my plight and he happily sent me the parts I had to destroy in the name of "fixing" the toy. Well, the parts arrived today and Kate had her first official ride tonight. I'm sure we will have fun telling her this story someday. The good news is that she now thinks she has a new toy again. After she tired of riding it for about 3 minutes she went on to playing with something else. Scott and I left the room and came back to find her standing on top of it watching Blue's Clues. Maybe she was channeling her inner Evil Kanevil!! Check out the pictures below.

EASTER COMES VERY EARLY THIS YEAR

We don't know how it happened, but we had a little visit from a very cute little "bunny" this evening. I was on the computer, trying to make a cute header for my blog (still unfinished!!!!) and Scott and I were talking when into the room hops this precious little "rabbit" (complete with Daisy ~ her duck that is attached to her pacifier! ~I know we need to get rid of Daisy, but Kate sure does LOVE her and has since she was 10 weeks old!!). I bought these ears when Kate was an infant and she has never let them stay on her head for more than 2 seconds, so you can imagine how funny it was to see her "hop" in with them on. She was quite impressed with herself as well. She kept telling Scott, "Help me put my hat on"!! Bless her, she is cute. I know for a fact that someone's daddy told them the other day that the Easter bunny is watching since Santa is finished for now. Sharea, tell Casey that he is right because one of his helpers hopped down Stacy Cove today!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I cannot believe another year has come and gone. Our New Year's Eve was very uneventful. We made a sparkler run, picked up takeout, and went home and played, just the 3 of us. Sadly, when we went outside to light our sparklers, I couldn't get my camera to work. All I wanted was one picture of Kate and Scott with the sparklers. I kept saying, "I don't know why it won't work!" Well, I finally figured out that the battery had gone dead!!!!! (I resolve in 2008 to do a better job of keeping a watchful eye on that battery situation!) We didn't use all of our sparklers, so maybe one night this week, we'll "recreate" the sparkler scene!!

As today marks a new year and new adventure, I am reminded of the many undeserved blessings God has bestowed upon me. Normally, I spend the beginning of the New Year making resolutions, that sometimes fall by the wayside (on January 2nd!!), but this year I am more aware of all of the wonderful things already happening in my life. I am most thankful for my Saviour who is always there when I need him (and even when I don't even know I do) and for the forgiveness he granted to us all by shedding his blood on the cross. To say that I am thankful for the blessings of Scott and Kate and our immediate and extended family would be an understatement to say the least. To my closest friends, Bunko Buddies, teaching partners, and church friends, I am grateful for your continued friendship. To Kate's babysitter, I cannot say how much it means to me to be able to go to work each day and do the job I feel called to do and not worry for a minute, confident that you treat my baby like you would your own.

Now, just because resolutions weren't first and foremost on mind today doesn't mean I don't have some. Instead of having a list, this year I have one simple resolution: to be the absolute best me I can be (doesn't sound hard, but you say it, but I find it a challenge). I find it fitting that the verse of the day was "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) I look at this year as an opportunity to change those things that are less than desirable and to celebrate those things that were already good. I hope that I will spend more time lifting others up and being a bright spot in someone else's day. My goal is to be the kind of person that my daughter can look at and be proud of. For those of you who know me best, you can appreciate why that is so important to me personally. It is my prayer for each person reading this that you too will have your best year yet and that you will blessed beyond measure. Happy 2008!!!