Happy Birthday Katie

Dear Katie,

You are amazing. You amaze your daddy and I everyday. I know that it is said all the time, but we can't believe you are four today! Time has gone by so quickly.

Some things you are interested in:

School-within the past few months you have really gotten into school. You LOVE doing your preschool workbooks for letters and basic math. You have enjoyed co op preschool at TCC for world geography and science. You can recognize just about every letter uppercase and lower. You can count way up there as well.

Play-you are creative with just about everything in your room. Lily and Magnolia still take center stage amongst your dolls and they need lots of attention. You are a great little mommy to them and they are learning from you too! :) You recently have gotten into coloring and staying in the lines on a lot of your pages-great job. You also love to do art with glue and scissors. You are working and loving playing with Owen. Though you can be somewhat of a mommy towards him, you often are reminded to be his sister and then you all play so well together. I think you will be friends forever if you always serve each other.

Conversations-you can really communicate with us just about everything you mean. There are plenty of days when you mix up things-which is super cute-but you are definitely trying to grow up and be big! You have your opinions which lately have come out strongly, but you still work on listening to us and doing what is best at four. You are trying hard to ask people good questions and to listen and learn from others.

Clothing-you are currently wearing a size 5T and are very aware of what you like. :) You love to wear dresses, but will wear whatever is right for the occasion. Meaning you wear work clothes for working, or dress clothes for daddy dates or dress-up clothes to dance around the kitchen (which is still one of your absolute favorite things).

A few favorites-chicken fingers, coconut ice cream, hummus, water, OJ, almond milk, pizza, fruit, most veggies...actually there isn't much food you don't like! Oh except you don't like more then one piece of pineapple at a time-you think it can hurt your mouth...
Hello Kitty, Jessie-Toy Story 3, art work, pink and purple, Angelina Ballerina books, Annabelle and Fanny books, Jesus Story Book Bible, Curious George, Clifford, Gigi books-you really enjoy reading and the library, Disney music, Worship songs, are other favorites...

Sleeping-you still take a nap occasionally though most times we limit it to only 30-45 minutes or it puts your bedtime way late. You go to sleep around 8 and wake up around 7. You are enjoying your new 'wake up clock' as you are a big girl to get out of bed by yourself.

Your personality is still a go go kid. You are passionate about helping me out and serving others. You love to help other little kids with their jobs or play with toys. One thing right now is that you 'teach' your brother many things like saying new words. Maybe you are a teacher at heart like your mommy/daddy. You are still slow to warm up in social settings and if there are to many kids around you would rather just observe what's going on-instead of jumping in to play with strangers. You have worked very hard at making friends, even strangers at the park. You will introduce yourself, ask that child their name and then proceed to ask them to play. Many times you have come away from the park with a 'new friend'. You have an independent streak in you and have prayed really hard to be obedient. Your room is always messy, though we clean it up every night. I think I can say that you enjoy having everything out to play and you play with it all! Sometimes your changing table for your dolls is a table for your restaurant. Or other times your stroller is a bed for Magnolia/Lilly. You love to ask questions and have started to tell us, 'I love you', numerous times. You also share this with others like your friends or Ms. Laura yesterday.

Friends-Laney (even though she is in SC), Catie Beth, Riley (who just moved into our neighborhood), Elleanna, Mercy, Chrissa, Kylie, Anna W, Kai, Melia, Issac, Ann, Preschool kiddos, Owen your brother!...

I am sure there are many many other things that define who you are, but all in all we LOVE you to the moon and back. We love you like crazy. We think you are the best 4 year old in the whole world.

Love,
Daddy, Momma and Owen

Thought by Elyse Fitzpatrick on Gospel-Centered Parenting...

Thoughts for me to remember...

*Rules are a way to ignore doing business with God.

*When I am depending upon the holy spirit to change a child's heart...we pray more...we depend more...we live out grace and gospel, not by rules.

*not kids that are outwardly compliant when their hearts are hard as nails.

*I don't want to teach our kids that God is impressed by outward conformity that has nothing to do with their heart...that's scary...

*Parents are made desperate to pray...for the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

*Religious obedience is not necessarily the fruit of saving grace.

*If my children were put in a Mormon family would they experience any different in teaching? is there gospel in my house...TRUE gospel...


Here's an interview with Elyse...great thoughts to ponder

Look who stopped by!

Yep...straight from KS to NC....Ms. Aunt Brandi and Mr. Silas....Yay!

I think you could say....the kids LOVE these two (especially when Silas pulled out the phone with games on it :)

Oh goodness...you guys make a sweet couple. :)

Okay so the girls match...isn't' it the cutest outfit on Katie??--thanks guys! And Silas...I posted your silly photo...

Yummmmmmmmmy-Goodberrys!

SOOOOooooooo, glad to see you all! Have a blast at the beach and we will see you shortly!

beautiful

I've kept up with having flower in the house most weeks...it really does bring a smile to my face to have fresh color around! And this time I was blessed to pick these from our peony bushes in our back yard. They were amazing. So THANKFUL for flowers...simple treasures.

How could we bless Ms. Aunt Brandi?

I asked the above to Katie....

We could give her chocolate, and a nice towel...interesting. :)

Always a joy to ask a child a question!

will you by my hair cut helper girl?

Katie took care of Bullseyes need for a hair updo...

She spent a lot of time trying to comb and put in the right bows and ribbons...

She did a great job...Ms Aunt Brandi you would be proud!

Fashion...Tips #1 & 2 (these might be my only tips!)

So everyone that has checked my blog for even a few times might recall my fashion woes. With lots of help from friends and ideas-Real Simple Magazine-Wardrobes that are beautiful, wearable and simple-this time, I have two tips that I have found helpful!

#1-Your closet should consist of 1/3 pants and 2/3 shirts.

I have always been drawn to fun pants so my closet is definitely upside down in this area. This past week I got rid of a lot of pants that I wear infrequently and the ones left are the ones I really do wear and enjoy!

#2-When buying a shirt it should have three ways to wear it.

For example...a new shirt I just bought has a skirt, jeans and shorts that it can be paired with-keeper!

--anyone have more tips? :)

Owen's opinion of room time

see those tears....awwwwww

Katie is playing and graciously listening to Owen work through room time

Strong opinion

I wanna get out.............

please? do these beautiful big eyes make you want to get me out Momma?

still having a good time in her room

does it work if I throw books over the gate?

what if I climb up the gate to get out?

the last 2 minutes he gave up and just stood at the gate and to think we have been working on 30 minutes of room time for a few weeks now! This is a passionate little guy. :)

Owen, room time for you is not fun. But we love that slowly you are working at contentment and playing with your toys without Katie or us. (even when Katie joins Owen all is not always well...it's the gate, the boundaries are so tough for him!) We know you LOVE your sister and life is life is just more fun outside the gate (sounds like a lesson in there :)...little boy we know that this character trait you are learning is well worth it. Keep striving to trust your Momma and Daddy as we train your heart in life. You can do it!

Introducing Eisley Noelle Padgett

Eisley made her entrance into the world this past Tuesday....and she is ADORABLE. Rebecca and Kenneth are part of our small group and though Rebecca was over due by 10 days-whew, everyone is doing well!
This couple are the ones that produced the CD-The Joy Eternal...which if you haven't checked it out on ITUNES, we HIGHLY recommend it!

We got the blessing of having Rebecca and Eisley over for a few hours yesterday while the new mommy took a shower and just got some time by herself...and that means we got to hold a new precious baby for awhile!

And these are Katie's comments-she was over the top Mommy helper :)....hghhhjkkjhbk bjvhjqgbheddo pc/katie--hgj gh gkgklthggughjjhjjaklsdjkfadslfjadls ijigji l nbi kiklmbv knhbkmm-ummmmm....I think she liked Eisley!

captured!

Cutie pie kids!

Keep smiling, be silly....

Love scrunched nose kisses from my little boy.

Awww...hugs

Look at the camera....or eat your shirt and be a monkey

Katie it looks like you are done with this photo shoot? Owen, you look deep in thought.
I look tired. Perfect!

Work that updo!

My beautiful girl

Sweeeeet hugs....

One shot worth framing!

Cary B and I got together yesterday...We hung up a white sheet, made sure the kids were full and then spent a few minutes trying to capture memories. It lasted about 10 minutes, but WELL WORTH the time... Thanks Cary for capturing life right now. I can't wait to see any good photos of you and Joel! :) Thanks friend! (now if I can just send a few to be printed....shutterfly??? Anyone have other good printing suggestions?)

Over and Over again

Katie and I have been practicing the making of her bed each morning....over and over again....she hadn't taken any initiative to do it herself until this morning! She was SUPER proud of herself to make it WITHOUT any help from me. You go Katie! Very nice job. :)

Lollipops

Loving lollipops, sunshine and springtime.