Katharine is 3!

Happy birthday to KaTHaRiNe!!! We love this little girl so much!

She is a princess in every way. Love love love her. Mom was fixing K's hair before the pic. 

(My mom apologized for the writing on the cake. She said it was the first day for the girl at the bakery, haha, totally ok.) It's my mom's birthday too. It's fun that they share a birthday, and that is also why they share the same middle name. My mom was happy to let the spotlight be on Katharine. Opening some fun lego presents.

Here's how the birthday day went... This morning, Corey Joseph and I got up early for a ride up the quarry trail. Going on a ride with Corey was on Joseph's bucket list before heading back to Ohio. Check.

We made it to the ruins, then back home for me to take Owen to his last soccer game. They played hard. Owen was goalie for the first half, and they were ahead 3-1 going into the second half. Then the other team got 3 goals right away and the hot hard battle continued. End of the game was a loss of 7-4. Owen's team was on defense most of the time. Owen played the whole second half. His games are fun to watch. He's a good little player.

At the game his coach/my friend Meghan asked if we could help watch her kids during Daniel's game. I said yes, Corey was planning to go to Daniel's game. Then I said I was going to be at home for K's bday and suggested they could come by our house. She didn't want to disrupt birthday plans, but I told her it would be great, and so she opted for that. That also got Corey out of the game, cause even though it was the last game, Corey was ok with missing it, so we just let her take Daniel. (1st/2nd grade games aren't quite as fun to watch.) Katharine was excited for Scarlet to come over!! Scarlet came in hiding a present behind her back - she brought a present for K, cute girl (and awesome mom). Katharine is 1...2...3!!!

So I met coach Meghan through soccer, and Owen and Daniel and her two boys have been in classes together at school, and then she also has a 5 year old boy that Peter plays great with, and then Scarlet is Katharine's age, so it's fun they each have a friend. After I was back from soccer, K opened her presents. 

Natalie and Peter gifted Katharine some of their stuff - plush animals and make up. I got her a few new outfits: an Elsa night gown and 2 dresses...  

...which she promptly changed into. Natalie putting on make up. 

Then she changed into another outfit to match her new Ariel shoes. Katharine and Scarlet enjoying pink ice cream.

They are a cute little duo, as cute as Katharine and Becca (pic 8).

My mom got Katharine an Elsa nightgown too, so K is very happy with her wardrobe additions. Abi texted from Brazil asking how the birthday girl was doing. I sent her the pic at the top of K's cute smile, to add to her collection of Katharine photos.

Abi said "I miss her..." 

Abi is having a good experience in Brazil though. She is going to school at "Colegio Nova Veneza" for the next two and a half weeks. Rafael's girls don't go there, but there was some other connection. 

I'm sure it will be much like the kids' experience in Chile, ha. Abi enjoying the food too. Eating chicken hearts! 

I haven't texted her much. Corey's been checking in on her everyday. She gets back on June 16th. Tonight we are doing another thing on Joseph's bucket list, which is to watch "Storks" together. That is a classic movie for Eliza's family that they quote all the time, so it will be fun. We are taking a quick break, cause a neighbor is having a "beginning of summer" smores cook out. We're half way through the movie but the mom texted that they'd love to see Joseph and Eliza and Mary, so they all ran over there real quick for a minute and we'll finish when they are back. Things are good. I'm looking forward to summer. Hope I can seize the day and use my time wisely. 

Last Day of Elementary

Today was the last day of school for the elementary kids. The kindergarten teachers asked for parents to come pick up their students, so Katharine and I started to walk to go get Peter, but after 4 houses, Katharine said it was too hot, and since we were late leaving, I turned around and hurried back home. We got Corey's car to drive over. (Corey was gone with LSN to Uptown Cheapskate to buy clothes). I picked up Peter, and then they were excited to walk past the 2nd grade door where there was a bubble machine. We headed to the back lawn to wait for the fire truck. They had lots of jackets, gloves, water bottles, etc out on the ground from the lost and found, and told people to take whatever they could use, so Katharine grabbed some disney princess water bottles, and I took some winter gloves to add to our stash. Peter was getting worried that he was going to miss it cause we weren't close enough. Katharine didn't want to go near the water spray. I found Owen, and Owen took Peter. It was cute to hear all the kids squealing with happiness. They got wet!

 

Daniel is the shirtless that you can see at the front of the firetruck here.

I hung back with Katharine and most of the parents who were trying to stay clear. The fireman did shoot it towards us a few times, and so K cried, but it wasn't bad. 

I took Daniel and Peter home. Daniel wanted to get out at the bus stop, where there were some fun balloons to celebrate the last day. 

Owen rode his scooter home. All the kids bikes have been in the shop, but Corey was able to pick them up at 2 today. 

As for the older girls, today was the first official day of summer break! They didn't go yesterday for the last day, and they all slept in until noon. I told them last night that sleeping in like that is going to be a fine. I want them up and doing 8 things before 8. I made a paper for them to each write out their 8 things, that they can have in their summer books. Doing 8 things at 8 will earn them some money, getting up after 9 is break even, and after 10 is a fine that increases with each hour. Natalie was done with her 8 things and working on her chores at 8:30 - practicing violin at 8:40 am! Not bad for the first day of summer! Thank you, Natalie, for playing along!

Lily got up at a pretty decent hour, VERY decent for her. I was glad to see them up and playing cards with Eliza. 

It has been really fun to have Joseph Eliza and Mary here. They are leaving Monday, so time is ticking now. They wanted to spend time with the kids, so they took LSN to the Jordan River temple and they did baptisms. Before they left, Natalie was snuggling with Mary.

I thought Natalie looked really mature in this pic! I got a glimpse at what a 20 year old Natalie will look like. Her sisters scoffed and said Natalie only older because Mary is so small. Haha, I guess that might be right. I got a turn with Mary while they were gone. I was in my happy place, hiding on the dark low bunk in Sophi and Natalie's room. Pic of them at the temple - 

Natalie snatched her back after they got home.

Katharine took cues from how all the older girls are wanting to hold Mary, and decided she would like to love on the water bottles like they were her children. Three water bottle families.

Rocking the silver waterbottle baby...

She does that with the shampoo and soap bottles in the upstairs bathrooms sometimes. And the pepto bottles (3rd pic). She does it with dish soap too. So I guess really any bottles. After J&E got back with LSN, we went out on a date together with Joseph and Eliza and Mary. We went to Bandits. Bandits forgot to put my dressing in the side AGAIN. I didn't say anything, but I did make a note to self, and if they mess it up next time, I'm going to send it back. It is too much dressing.

Back at home, everyone was ready to love on baby Mary again. The kids have all been sweet and doing a good job taking turns. 

We'll soak up the last few moments we have with them before they head back to Ohio. 

Great Grandparents

Joseph and Eliza have been with Eliza's family for a funeral and burial, but yesterday they were done and so they came here to spend a few days with us, yay! It's been great having them here! They don't have a return flight, cause they might drive Eliza's car back, so that's up in the air, but they will be here for today, tomorrow and Saturday probably. I let my parents know and they came by to see Mary. This is great grand child #2 for them (Trevor and Xela have a little girl).

We got a 4 generation photo, courtesy of Katharine! (All the older girls skipped the last day of school and were gone shopping with friends, and the boys were at school, so K was our only choice. She did pretty good! Lucky for us she gets lots of practice.) 

A three generation pic with my mom before my dad came (they drove separately).

Oh, and Joseph and Eliza had this new family photo taken earlier this week when they were doing family pictures at the funeral. Beautiful!!!

Eliza seriously does not look like she just had a baby one month ago! Eliza snuggling with Mary after my parents left. 

Eliza went to take a shower, so then it was Joseph's turn. He said he'd hold her while he read his scriptures. Haha, that doesn't work, cause a newborn is actually an all natural sleeping pill! 

Precious picture though. 

Eliza started laundry and then she played princesses with Katharine. Eliza was green Elsa, and Katharine's crown was made from Sophi's old jolly rancher hair accessory (pic 3) turned into an imaginary crown. Eliza putting on K's princess shoes. 

I got a turn with Mary. I was in the front room for a bit. Precious little thing.

Then I took Mary upstairs and K was looking at me to see if I'd share...

Hmm. I think you'll do an ok job... and I'll watch you. Ok, here you go!

Katharine loved it. Here's a video I took of little Aunt Katharine. Cute cute little girls.

So that's been fun. Corey finally got a turn holding Mary tonight. 

He's in a little bit of denial that we've entered this stage of life, so don't call him grandpa! But he's good with Mary being here, evidence by comments like "She can stay" and "Well Joseph, this is getting serious!"

A few other notes about today - I went on a hike/walk this morning. I love our canyon. I explored some familiar spots and a few new places. I also diverted some water off the trail near the 2nd bridge to help us bikers be a little less muddy. I think it might be fun to go up and shovel around a little bit to try and clean/dry up some other muddy spots.

I spent an hour and a half dilly dallying around on my hike up, but then it only took me 20 min to get back to the car. I had to be back around 8 to get the boys off to school. I'll be glad when summer is here and I don't have that. So 90 min up, then 20 min from the 3rd bridge to the 1st. I was jogging and feeling pretty good with myself. I felt fit and like I was making good time until... I tripped. 11 min in, after avalanche hill after the small pipe. It hurt!!! I was glad no one was around to see. I yelled and hobbled for a minute and then was walking it off. I walked the last 8 min to the car while I grunted and tried to breathe. I've assessed the damage and I hurt my left knee cap the worst, next is right hip, then right knee. Ouch. I kinda talked to myself saying "Now we know, no more trail running!!" I'll prob do it again though. Oh, also today I also beat my time of last week for a center plank, which was 3 min 3 seconds. Today I held it for 3:33 min in my closet, oh yea. I was inspired by a grandma who held a plank for over 4 hours. (For a guy it was 9 hours 38 minutes 47 seconds!!) I'll keep working at it and maybe break her record in a few years, haha. I don't think I'll try to break the guy record.

I went to the doctor today for another blood draw. I'm feeling fine and didn't feel it was necessary, but I'm trying to follow doctor's orders. I have been taking my pills and vitamins. I spent a good chunk of time today working on summer binders for the kids. I've taken the "summer booklets" up a notch. 

Last night I bought 3 ring binders and different color paper and cardstock for this project at the store. I've been working on it for several hours - printing up 8 copies of some things if each kid needs them (reading log, 8 before 8 paper, music practice log, book of mormon reading chart...) and 4 copies of a few things for the older girls (personal progress goal papers). I want to add a summer bucket list too. And a summer service checklist! I'm keeping the booklets in the front of each binder, cause that has their money register, which I have not made a copy of yet for the binders. 

Katharine has been next to me playing with legos. She really likes the round 1x1 studs. She'll make a "picture for you!" or will make a phone, and any other imaginary thing. She'll stack them up and play with them quite intensely for hours. 

She's our favorite.

Cousin Seth is Home

Our nephew Seth came home from his mission today. Two years later, and Katharine is a big girl! She doesn't remember Seth, I'm sure, but that's ok! We'll get a photo anyway. The poster we made for Hyrum is a new "missionary returning home" airport scene must have. I should probably get it laminated.

Seth was serving in the Chile Santiago East Mission. JeNeal passed away shortly after Seth left. She had her accident two years and two days ago, when Seth went to the temple for the first time, and that was kind of a domino effect that led to her passing away two months later in July 2023. So it was tender to see Seth and Wayne greet each other and give each other a hug, this time without JeNeal here. 

Corey served in the Chile Santiago West Mission, so Corey is excited to have a fellow family member who loves all things Chile like Corey does. 

Chi-chi-chi le-le-le!

Lily came with us, Soph and Natalie stayed at school to sign yearbooks, even though yesterday they said they wanted to come and miss school. I didn't ask the boys if they wanted to come. I just knew that there are exciting things happening the last week of school for them, so I didn't want to bother their fun. After the airport, Corey and Mel went with them to eat at the Red Iguana, and I headed back home with Katharine and Lily so we'd be there when the kids got home from school, and that was what we did this afternoon. Abi left for Brazil early this morning. Corey took her at 5:30 am, her flight left at 7:30. Ethan and Bella are home and little Alvie is a cutie pie. 

And my roses are in bloom! Yay

They look beautiful. 

They are here to welcome summer. Two more days of school, then we're free for a few months, yay.