"I am learning how to spell"

That's actually the title to a song by Jeanine Brady that I grew up singing, a very catchy tune. Kindergartner Kate is definately learning how to spell. And being a girl, she loves to play school, color, draw, write notes, etc. She's become a good reader in all day Kindergarten (level 1.8 or so), but she's still in the experiemental/phonetic spelling stage. Yesterday she wrote the word "SGOOWOWLE". Tyson said "what does that say?" And she said "school (duh), I sounded it out!"

Kate getting a photography lesson from Sue Thulin at the Pinewood Derby.

Sweet, sweet girl.

I'll enjoy her while she's young and sweet.....

Mom and Kate picking flowers.

Tooth Two

It seems like that's how it usually works, lose a tooth and they all start falling out... I didn't expect it while she was in preschool still. This time I had to help her pull it out. After it was hanging by a thread for a few days. This time her cousin was there, who also had a loose tooth. So while they wore matching shirts I oragelled them up together and the wiggled away. Finally, after Kate's was out Megan said "Wow, I can't believe I was here for this!"

In all of the excitement, Kate subsequently lost the tooth, so had to write her fairy friends a note. It read. "Thank you for the dollar. I lost another tooth. From Kate. To tooth fairy. I love you. I see you." I'm sure the tooth fairy will deliever after that!

A Tooth Fairy Sighting!

It was a dramatic and exciting event when Kate discovered that she had a loose tooth. Of course Paige was sure she had one too, so I wiggled hers several times that evening too. Kate was surprising tenacious about trying to pull it out. She said "I just can't stand it in there anymore, I want it out." But after a oragel treatment and lots of tugging, she decided to wait... until Grandpa volunteered to give it a wiggle! And we all know Grandpa loves to pull teeth.

Sure enough they got it out and then came the tooth fairy.Kate woke up in the morning and said "Mom! I heard a sound in the night! It was fairy wings. And I saw them! There were three of them in pink and blue. They were tiny like a button and had sparkly wings and they had wands in their hands!"

I of course was amazed at how many details she could remember from a nighttime visit. When she questioned why they didn't take her tooth that she had hidden in the pocket of her sleeping bag I told her that it would have been a pretty big tooth for a fairy the size of a button!

She was thrilled with her dollar and excitedly spent it the next day on a Costco hotdog, after holding out 10 cents for tithing. Of course Bradley had to inform her about how dumb that was since Mom would have bought the hotdog anyway!

First Day of Preschool

It's a long story, but to summarize, it was 6 months of agonizing over two different preschools and then on the last day of summer vacation a new opportunity fell into our laps and we finally found the right one for Kate. We are so grateful. Kate attends Miss Ashlee's preschool. She has met great new friends and it is just right for her. It's 12:30-3:00 M-Th and I started carpooling the first week, hurray!

And Paige loves it too, because there is a park right next door.

Kate's New 'Do'

She really did it. At nearly 5 I would have never guessed she would have done such a thorough butch to herself, and her toy dogs, and her friend, but she did. Rick commented when I came home about how quiet she and Ella had been. Later when they walked downstairs, Kate with a pillow over her head, we noticed Ella's short bangs. Kate hid herself for about a half an hour. I didn't even want to see what she had done because I had gone upstairs and had seen the ginormous pile of hair in my bathroom. Admitedly, I wailed for a good long time, and then I decided I had to stop so we could both move on. Kate had broken blood vessels under her eyes she had cried so hard. She knew by then it wasn't good. Apparently she started with the animals and Ella in her room and then she moved onto my bathroom to do her own in the mirror. She said she wanted to make her hair look cute, but it didn't work out. So then she tried putting a poodle on her head to cover it up so we wouldn't notice. It just fell off so she went to a pillow. Well, then we went to headbands and giant flowers.

And it would make me so mad when people at the store would compliment her on her cute headbands!

She had cut only a small chunk off the sides, but the beautician said we needed to cut the length off. She originally cut it straight off the back just above the shoulders. I had wanted an A-line, so I mistakedly took her back and asked for it to be re-cut. That was one of the most horrifying hours of motherhood for me. When an obviously inexperienced hairstylist cut and cut and cut her hair 3-4 more inches off the back and sides. Well, I got my A-line! So now, not only was she butched in the front, she was butched in the back. GREAT! Good thing she's adorable, with a fun personality! We're hoping it's all restored by her baptism. And all I want for Christmas is her bangs back!

Happy Thanksgiving

If you're spending too much time worrying about what you're making for Thanksgiving dinner, or Black Friday deals, don't forget what Thanksgiving is all about.... Here's Kate's version that she got from preschool yestereday.

It reminded me what I am thankful for. Happy, healthy, sweet children.

Princess Party

Happy 4th Birthday Kate! Like all the 3-4 year old girls, Kate was so excited to have a Princess Birthday Party.

We were lucky enough to have another beautiful September day to celebrate with several of her friends, and cousin, Megan.

We played 'girl, girl, princess', 'pass the slipper', 'pin the crown on the princess', and 'princess and the pea'. Then we had a princess treasure hunt to find the party bags of girly goodies. The girls loved the games and Kate loved all of her presents.

I made a cake full of princesses per Kate's request.

What a beautiful, fun girl. We love you Kate, we hope you always stay this sweet.

Final Moments of Summer Fun

The snails were out one night, more than we've ever seen. Bradley, Kate and Jeff caught 14 easily. They had a great adventure in the dark. Luckily we snapped a few pictures, because by morning they were all gone, but not forgotten.

Kate recently learned how to write her name, and thus is autographing everything. This being our cooler.

I let her play in the van one day during a baseball game and when I got back in she had written 'mom' on the steering wheel. Great. When I inquired she replied, "well, it's yours." What could I do but laugh (to myself of course, as to not give permission for future misdeeds).

It was a summer of nighboorhood hot tubing. All the boys would throw on a suit and go from tub to tramp, back a forth. It was great to keep them active and busy.

Then there was the afternoon that Bradley let Kate do his hair. It was actually quite cute. I'm sure he'll love this picture in 10 years!

It was definately time for the Kent School District Teachers Strike to be over. Get these kids in school!

Kate's First Talk

Today Kate gave her first talk in primary, on baptism. We have opening exercises in the chapel so it was up at the podium with the microphone. At first when I told her about the talk she said "no, I think I'll just give a prayer or something." (which I can only imagine what she would come up with to say. I'm sure she wouldn't want help since she knows well how to pray). Then I told her that in our family we get a candy bar for giving talks. After that she was all for it. We practiced a few times. The first time, instead of repeating what I said, she just finished the sentance. But she got it after that and she did it all. It was very cute. And amazingly enough she was so proud of herself that hasn't even remembered about the candy bar...yet!

My Little Storyteller

This afternoon Tyson was frantically looking for the neighbor's mail key (he's been taking in their mail for 2 weeks). It had been in the van this morning. I told Tyson to take it from Kate and put it away. When we got home from baseball the neighbors had arrived home from their cruise so we started looking in the van for the key. Kate said she had put it in her pocket and lost it at the ballfield. The last thing I wanted to do was take four kids in the pouring rain to look for the lost key. After about ten minutes of agony we found the key right where it was supposed to be. So, Tyson forgot, and Kate fabricated a story. Not her first....

After the ordeal I brought Tyson in to read this email that I got from a friend this week. It gave us some comic relief.

Summer Classes for Men at

THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVELOF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM

Class 1 How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2 The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself? Round Table Discussion. Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3 Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice. Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4 Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics. Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5 Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?Examples on Video. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginningat 7:00 PM

Class 6 Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.Help Line Support and Support Groups. Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7 Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right P laces And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.Open Forum Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours. Class 8 Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.Graphics and Audio Tapes. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9 Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined

Class 10 Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?Driving Simulations. 4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11 Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.On-line Classes and role-playing Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12 How to be the Ideal Shopping CompanionRelaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13 How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late. Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14 The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

Anyway, yesterday Kate had done her hair in pigtails with barretts. She walked to the Gealtas house, when she got home she replayed this conversation.

Rebecca: "Kate your hair looks cute"

Kate: "I did it myself"

Rebecca: "Wonderful"

Tyson said it wasn't true, I asked Rebecca, sure enough, there was no conversation about her hair!

Today at baseball she showed me a red mark on her hand and said "Did I get this at the zoo when a panda bit my hand?" She didn't get me on that one atleast!

3 going on 16 and beyond

Today Kate decided she wanted to drive so I told her she would have to be 16. As she got dressed and did her hair I kept telling her she was getting older (6, 8, 10 etc). It worked great she giggled and giggled while usually she has a hard time getting dressed in something I choose. And at Costco she was telling all the 'sample ladies' that she was 16.
Kate: "Do I have to sit in a carseat?"
Mom: "Of course."
Kate: "How will I get a car?"
Mom: "You'll have to get a job to earn money, and then buy a car."
Kate: "No, I have a better idea, Dad can ride in the van with you, and I'll drive the car."
I'm sure her entitlement attitude will not be changing in the next 13 years. I just want her to stay the cute little girl she is right now, in the little pigtails she put in herself tonight.

Earlier this week the boys told her she could be in Sydney's family if she married Logan. Her eyes lit up!
Kate: "Mom, I'm going to ask Logan to marry me, and then I'm going to kiss him!"
Kate: (a few hours later, lying on the couch looking forlorn) "Mom, I want to ask Logan to marry me, but I think he's going to say no."

She did sound three today though as she pointed out the gatorade at Costco and said "let's get some alligator mom."

Duck, Duck, Goose!

This morning Kate was playing with her duck that she got for Easter last year. She decided we should play Duck, Duck, Goose, which I thought was going to be a little difficult with just the two of us. But of course she had a great plan. We played with her new bunny and her puppy. We had a great time chasing each other around the family room with stuffed animals in our hands. I love how much fun she make believes.

This is how she really wanted the picture taken!

TAGGED! Sixth folder, sixth picture

Last spring we put all of our digital pictures on our external hard drive to create more space on our computer, so my 6th folder, sixth picture was just last June. A time I don't mind forgetting... look at those bangs! Kate went through a spell last spring when Bradley was her beautician (twice). Kate all packed and ready to go to a friend's house.

Sleeping Beauty

Rick doesn't always put the kids to bed when I'm gone for the evening, but they're usually asleep when I get home. This was Kate's latest. Can you tell she's been winning the war of what to wear lately????? Actually she's usually dressed up like some sort of princess or ballerina. Sleeping Beauty being her favorite because of her pink dress and 'blong' (long blonde) hair, like Kate's. At church today Kate pointed out "There's the princess" during sacrament meeting. A neighbor girl that wore her homecoming dress to church last year. And last night she found the Lawrence Welk show on TV and loved watching the princesses and their princes, as she called them, dance and sing. (Gotta love those matching peach tuxes!) I hope she never leaves the princess stage, it's wonderful.

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Because Kate is turning 4 this year she became a Sunbeam the first Sunday in January. She gets to go to Primary with the big kids. The looks adorable in her crown that says "I am a Child of God" You're growing up sweetie, we love you.

Kate, Kate, Kate

She is so full of one-liners I could spend all day recording them. Last week we had leftover cupcakes from the ward party. Kate said "I want crosting. You know like Crosty the Snowman."
This week she woke up and said "I need to wear a coat today because it's really cold and soggy outside." Well, in Seattle it is soggy alot, but actually we've had very little rain this month, it was really just foggy outside.
Last night I reminded her she got to wear her costume to school. I had told her the day before. I thought she would be excited and talk about what she wanted to wear. Instead, my sassy little 3 year old said "Mom, you've told me that like 5 times!"

Happy 3rd Birthday Kate

Our little sweetie is growing up! Today she celebrated her 3rd birthday with her cousins. She was thrilled with her Barbie cake and all of her presents. She is a very fun and easy to please girl. Thanks for lighting up our lives Kate.

First Day of Preschool

Kate, Sydney Gealta, and teacher Tia Cragun.
Having fun already.

Kate still has 3 years before she goes to Kindergarten (darn September birthday!). But I signed her up for a little preschool called Mom's Day Out. It's at a local Methodist Church. It's just one day a week for 3 hours. I thought it would keep her busy since her brothers are in school all day and she gets a little bored at home all of the time.

When I told her that her teacher would be Tia Cragun, our friend and neighbor, she said, "What? Tia isn't a teacher, she's a MOM! I want a teacher like Bradley." (?).

She loved the first day and told me all about it, including that she had not touched anyone as I had instructed her. Then a few days later she said. "The boys go to school all of the times. I want to go to preschool all of the times."

Kate vs. White Ink Pad

This is Kate after having fun with my white ink pad (I knew better than to leave it on the stairs) a few weeks ago. Today her brothers tattooed her with markers. She's got dinosaurs and tigers on her back. When I yelled out to the boys to stop doing it she said "NO, don't tell the boys to stop drawing on my back, I like it." Rick is hoping her love for ink on her body does not carry into her teenage years!