Sweet Katherine, you are 20 months old! The big highlight this month was your first visit to Disney World. And you added so much joy and magic to our vacation. You exude joy in everything you do, and it was extra special to experience your joy at Disney World.
At 20 months old a few of your favorite things are shoes, pacifiers, books, throwing things in the trash, swinging, playing outside, ice cream, princesses, dancing, and horsey rides from daddy.
You have turned into a princess lover since we got back from Disney World. Anytime you see any princess, you point to it and say, "Ella" I think maybe you're trying to say Cinderella, and that's what you call all princesses. you find princesses all the time now- on friends' cups, clothes, the tv, pictures. It's so cute. I hope you continue to love them. You also love to wear princess dresses and can't be left out when Elisabeth and her ffriends are wearing them.
Another thing you've recently become obsessed with is Elisabeth's tap dance. You ask to watch it on my phone multiple times a day, and you always want to wear her tap shoes while you dance. It's adorable watching you try to imitate all the moves. I laugh every time. I think you'll be ready for dance lessons in a couple of years.
Anytime we ask you to smile you close your eyes, scrunch up your nose, and say "cheese." It's so cute, but sometimes I'd like a picture of you with your eyes open.
You're talking all the time. Some new words we're hearing a lot are "mine" "ice cream" "okay" "bubble" "trash" "tap shoes" "bow"and "paci- da-see." You also mumble with the right annunciation when you're saying "I don't Know" or "Here you go." I'm starting to hear you say two word phrases like "Hi Momma" or "Bye Dadda"
You go down for naps and bed so easily. You like to have your pacifiers, a cup of water, and a blanket, and you immediately snuggle up and tell me night night. You take a good afternoon nap everyday and sleep from about 7:30 each night until about 7:00 the next morning.
You are a wiggle worm, an d I'm constantly chasing you. You run off when you know I'm trying to catch you or when you're wanting to get away with something. You're an ornery little girl and can be sneaky at times.
You love your siblings so much. You always give them hugs goodbye when we drop them off at church, and are always asking to pick them up. If you can't find them, you ask where they are. You get so excited whenever we pick them up from school or church. You also mimic everything they do and refused to be left out. I think you're going to have a great summer having them home with you all day.
You hate being confined and refuse to ride in a shopping cart unless I bribe or force you to sit. When we go on walks in the evening, we're usually pushing an empty stroller because you want to run with your siblings instead of riding in the stroller.
You're a picky eater and a great snacker, ha! You love milk and ask for it often. Some of your favorite foods are mac and cheese, yogurt, cheese, eggs, veggie straws, goldfish, popcorn, cookies, grapes, and apples.
You are growing up so fast and want to be independent in everything you do. It makes me happy and sad at the same time. I'm proud of your maturity and growth, and I'm planning to soak up all the babyness left in you this summer.
In the middle of a crazy May with vacation, dance recitals, and end of school activities, Matt and I celebrated thirteen years of marriage. We squeezed in an anniversary date with dinner, bowling, and a walk, and we’re looking forward to a couples get away in October to really celebrate.
We had a great time at dinner reminiscing over another wonderful year of marriage. Life keeps getting better with Matt by my side. He asked what I would change about the last thirteen years and I honestly couldn’t come up with anything I would change. I feel like I’m living my dream with the most wonderful husband and happy, healthy children. I love the life we’ve built in Broken Arrow. I’m just so grateful.
At dinner we also talked about our favorite moments from year thirteen. It’s certainly been a wonderful year
We had a fun night at Elisabeth's dance recital. We took a break from dance in the Fall of this year, but we restarted them in January just in time to get ready for the Spring recital. She got to do ballet and tap this year, and her recital dance was a tap dance. She was so excited to perform. She's an outgoing, dramatic girl and dancing on a stage in a fancy costume wearing makeup is pretty much her dream.
She had dress rehearsal Saturday morning, and she danced great
We took a few photos before we left for the recital.
I love, love, love being a Dance Mom to this special little girl. It's so special to watch her doing something she loves.
Nathan was not as excited as Elisabeth and I were about her recital, ha! He ended up being fine, but he was a little grumpy before we left.
Elisabeth was in the same class as her good friend Audrey. It's always fun to have a friend in class- fun for the moms too :)
Elisabeth did great during her dance. I'm so proud of her. All the other girls did wonderful too. I was a little shocked at how well all the dancers did, not just in her class- but in all of the classes. Everyone danced, and no one ran of the stage crying.
The final bow is always a fun moment too. Everyone clapped and cheered while all the little girls had beaming smiles.
I think Elisabeth was as excited about her surprises after the recital as she was about dancing.
We celebrated a wonderful year of Pre-K with special graduation ceremony with my big girl.
She was so excited for her special day.
She sang some special songs she had practiced throughout the year
Then her teachers gave her a Bible and all the kids got to move their tassels :). Elisabeth had some really great teachers this year. I'm so grateful for the way they love their students. It's special that she attends preschool at our church, because she sees both of her teachers often and always has to stop and say hi to them.
She learned so much this year. She knows all her letters and sounds (upper and lower case), can almost count to one hundred (she needs a little help sometimes), and can write her name so legibly now- even though she still complains that I gave her too long of a name. Her handwriting has improved too. She's a bright kid, and I'm always so proud of her.
Elisabeth also made some wonderful friendships. She was in class with her best friend and formed so many other great friendships throughout the year- and maybe even a little crush on a boy in her class. She always talked about her friends, and was so sad anytime she had to miss school. She cried on one of her snow days when I told her school was canceled.
I also treasured the two days a week I had at home with her. She was a great errand buddy, and we always tried to have some special girl time while Katherine napped each day. She matured so much over the year, and I'm going to miss her big time when she's in full time pre-k next year.
Pre-K is always a special year full of forming sweet friendships, fun activities- the Christmas programs, pumpkin patch field trip, zoo field trip, and singing and visiting the grandmas and grandpas at the Baptist village. She was blessed with a wonderful first year of school. I'm hoping she's stays as excited about school as she was this year and is always eager to learn.
