The TERRIFIC Two's!

Well, it's summer time and boy does it feel like it! To start off the season, Kate celebrated her second birthday with a small party at her place. We actually had it a few days early on Memorial Day, so friends and family could take advantage of the day off to attend. Then on her actual birthday, mommy and daddy took the day off for a "Day O' Fun" with Kate. We went to an animal park where guests enter a large fenced property and walk among the various animals. There were deer, pigs, goats, peacocks and much more to look at and touch. We ALL had a blast!

It's hard to believe Kate's already two years old! She's a walkin' and a talkin', singin' and a dancin' and of course letting us know when she has something on her mind. We've been going to our neighborhood pool on weekends, which she loves. She and mommy have also been taking swim lessons together (they're for Kate). She's very vocal to her teacher about what she will and won't do, which everyone finds amusing. She's really coming into her own, which is a joy to see. All in all, she's a fine little lady!

So, that's what's new. Here are some recent pics.

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Fun outside with the
water table and...

BUBBLES!















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"It's your birthday, it's your birthday..."












Opening a few goodies...













...and putting them together.





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Oh boy, SAND!









"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!"





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YELLOW RIVER GAME RANCH











We got to meet and feed and meet and feed
(...and feed, and feed...) all kinds
of animals, up close and personal. SO COOL!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

It's been a little while since an update, but here goes.

Kate took mommy and Mimi to Ohio to spend Easter with her cousins. They had a fun time playing the piano, coloring Easter eggs, sporting their new dresses and goofing off.

Daddy stayed behind with the pets to get some house painting done. During this time, a big storm rolled through and uprooted a HUGE tree in the back yard. SO, the tree removal people were called right away to take the dangerous tree down before Kate and mommy got home. "Shew..."

Since then, we've been enjoying the great outdoors, as you can see from the pictures below.

ENJOY!

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EASTER IN OHIO




"What would you
like to hear?..."








Easter morning.










"PRETTY..."






PLAYGROUND TIME











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"OK, now I'm in
charge of these..."





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Checking out the new bird feeder and bubble fun!











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"You add more water ... like ZISSS!"











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Looking cute.








"You WILL bring
me some juice!"

WINTER FUN!

Well, winter is almost gone and we celebrated with another snowfall this past weekend! Truth be told, it was only a dusting but we'll take what we can get. We all had fun for about ten minutes, before Kate got too cold (OK, we did too...)

Kate has been "no kidding" talking for a while now and springing new words on us almost nightly. It's great when she can actually tell us when we're doing something wrong or when she's ready for bed by proclaiming "Teeth...teeth..." (she always brushes right before bed).

Some new favorite phrases are her answering a question with a loud "Yep!" and when anyone leaves the room, her equally loud "Bye, see ya'!"

Anyway, she's a real hoot as you can see below. Enjoy!



FUN WITH SCOOBY (our dog Toby was hiding...)











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"I can change my
OWN batteries!"





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MAKING VALENTINES








"Gotta' sign it!"






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WATCHIN' TV
WITH FRIENDS





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BIG FUN IN THE SNOW!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Well, Kate's second holiday season has come and gone. It really is fun when she's more aware of what's going on. Given the number of pics to look at, I'll keep it short.

On Thanksgiving, her Ohio relatives and Uncle Jeff were in town, which is always a treat for all of us. Kate and a friend rode the RICH's Pink Pig, but she seemed to not care too much about it. She also visited her Mimi's friends at Rhodes Bakery, where she whipped up a batch of ginger bread men (it was pretty easy to spot the one's she made). We spent Christmas Eve at Mimi and Poppi's place and Christmas Day at our house, where we invited family to stop by for a bite to eat and to watch the kids play.

Overall, a very fun time and we can't wait until next year! Enjoy the pics!







"All the leaves are brown..."











"...and my nose is cold!"








MAKING COOKIES AT RHODES BAKERY












THANKSGIVING DAY




















GETTING THE HOUSE DECORATED












CHRISTMAS EVE























CHRISTMAS MORNING




"Santa came!!!"






"Just like Daddy's!"











more cool stuff...



















LITTLE PEOPLE VILLAGE (a big hit...)