Fun Times

Who needs toys when you have ribbon, tissue paper, and boxes? Christmas is going to be a lot of fun this year.She likes bath time when she can just spin around on her belly to get at the toys.
Last Friday, Samuel decided he, Katelynn, and I should be pirates for the afternoon.
And then he decided he should be the photographer instead of me. Not a bad shot for a 3-year-old.

The Camping Clan

Mike, Jenn, Samuel, Liam, Jen, Katelynn, Tucker, Anne, and Paul

(and Bailey and Hannah, of course)

6 Adults, 3 Kids, and 2 Dogs

This past weekend, we took Katelynn on her first camping trip! We spent two nights at the Gold Basin Camp Ground in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest with our good friends the Belks and Clarks. I wish I had taken pictures of our tent, but you'll have to do with just a description: pretty much I brought the nursery with me! We borrowed this giant 8+ person tent and fit in our blowup mattress, her pack-n-play, AND the bouncy chair from Ikea that I disassembled and brought to feed her in. It was pretty awesome. Here's Katelynn playing on her blanket in an attempt to prevent her from eating rocks. (The band-aid is not a result of a camping accident; she scratched her face just before we left on Friday.)
In the high chair waiting to eat. She got to try pancakes and a grilled cheese sandwich this weekend. Both were a hit.
Katelynn also went on her first hike with us this weekend. 1.6 miles round trip up to a fun little lake.
Tucker helped Samuel play in the lake while Katelynn and I watched from the shore.

Liam had lots of fun in the mud.

Thanks to Casen and Spring we recently acquired an ice cream ball. The boys (Samuel and Paul in this picture) had a good time kicking it around to prepare some delicious vanilla and chocolate for us.
All in all, Katelynn did pretty well. We are a little sleep deprived because she would only sleep cuddled with us (so much for bringing the pack-n-play) but we enjoyed ourselves. Jenn Clark has the group photos on her camera, so I'll post those as soon as I get them!

Happy Birthday to the Clarks

Katelynn got her first invitation to a birthday party, so we enjoyed an evening at Carkeek Park this Sunday. Liam is turning 1 and Samuel turned 3, and since their birthdays are only two weeks apart, they got to share a party. Samuel was very excited by the Cars' cake.

I think this may be the only 1st birthday I've been to where the kid didn't cry when given a piece of cake.

Katelynn was a little tired by end of the evening and needed some snuggling with mom.

Only 5 more months 'til we'll be having our own first birthday party!

Some Photos

Why chew on my toys when I can chew on my toy box?

I like polar bears just like my mom!
I'm not sure what's better: the tag or the mirror.
An engineer in the making??? Uncle JT promised he'd teach me...
I got a cool new floaty toy!
But mostly I liked the towel.

New Friend

Katelynn got a new friend last week. Welcome to the world Josiah Shalom Rice! Born July 2nd at 9:50 PM weighing 7 lbs 2 oz, and measuring 20 1/2 inches long. I forgot how tiny newborns are!

Montana Part 1

This summer we are going to Montana three times! Two times for siblings' weddings and this past week for our 10 year high school reunion. While that event was a bust, we had a good time hanging out with our families. Here's Miss Kate playing at the Bagel company with Uncle Casen.

And playing with Uncle JT at my parents' house.

Apparently we played a lot because here we are playing with a bunny that I made in middle school sewing class.

Katelynn LOVED my mom's cat Wesley. She would get super excited every time she saw him. And he is one patient cat, as evidenced by his lack of clawing her despite the fistfuls of hair she pulled out.

Chillin with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Joan

Growing

Despite the fact that getting miss Kate to drink her bottle is quite the chore (and that's an understatement), she is still growing very well. We had her six month appointment and shots this morning, and she got weighed and measured. So at 6 months 12 days, Katelynn is up to:

Weight: 15 lb 4 oz (28%)
Height: 25 1/2 in (32%)
Head Circumference: 17 in (66%)

Which means she's got a big head for her little body. Must be a lot of brains in there. Her weight has gone from 5% at birth, to 19% at 4 months, to 28% now, so she is growing good. The doctor also commented on her slightly advanced motor skills. You go girl!