525,600 Visits...

Dear Kate,
We're back!! Back at the zoo that is.  This time we met Nona, Papa, Christopher and Ellie! I know it seems bizarre that we are here, yet again, but both you and your big sis love it, and it's free (we have a membership), and it's SUCH nice weather and that's all going to be gone way too soon, so, here we are...
The monkeys were hoopin' and hollerin' like no other today.  You loved watching them swing from limb to limb and even were imitating their noises.  When we had to move on, you bursted into tears...

 But you cheered up when I got you out of the stroller to go through the reptile/fish/whatever else exhibit.  You and Christopher loved Mr. Ray and I think he had a liking for the two of you, too.  He kept swimming and bumping his face to the glass, right where you were standing!

 While in the exhibit, Nona said "You have a lot to keep up with" pointing at you running one way and Abby climbing and/or running the other.  I didn't have time to reply because I had to chase you down, but my response would have been "Yes.  Yes, I do" :)
We walked around the back loop, watched your sister on the carousel, and finally made it to the playground!  You and Kipper enjoyed the beautiful day being swung high and low!

 After the zoo, Nona and Papa and the gang were heading to get ice cream, but I knew what was going to happen when my crew got in the car...

We did not meet them for ice cream, but we did grab dinner at Jason's Deli and your sister was kind enough to share some of her chocolate ice cream with you.
Happy Another Trip to the Zoo Day!!! xxxooo

All Weekend With Just Mimi

Dear Kate,

This past weekend Mommy and Daddy went on a little getaway by ourselves while you got to stay the weekend with Mimi! Daddy and I took a little drive through the mountains...

 

And watched our Vols play a little football.  We even got Sarah to wear orange!!!! 

While we were having a fun time in East Tennessee, you and Mimi and Sister had a BLAST in Nashville.  Friday you headed to our new favorite spot, the zoo!  

According to Mimi (and the pictures she took), you loved the playground!  Mimi said you did a couple face plants because you would climb and then flip over!  She also said you LOVED the goats this time! What??!  Apparently, you wanted to pet them and brush them, too.  You are very fickle when it comes to those goats...
After the zoo, Mimi took you to none other than the candy store!  I mean, it was Friday and that IS what we do on Friday.  I'm going to guess you all went to bed early Friday night!
On Saturday, after eating donuts for breakfast,  of course, y'all decided to run a few errands, eat at CFA, and head to the park!

I'm pretty sure you had a blast at the park, too!  Mimi sure knows how to make a fun weekend, doesn't she.  I'm pretty sure a trip to Sweet Cece's was in there along with another early to bed night :)  On Sunday, Mommy and Daddy came back but Mimi had so much fun with you that she decided to just stay Sunday night, too!  A fun weekend with Mimi all to yourself (i.e. Mommy wasn't there to say no to the donuts, or candy, or ice cream, or who knows what else that she's not telling me!!)  Love you sweet Kate!

Beefaroni

Dear Kate,

Not to brag, but Mommy is very good about having a nice, healthy family dinner every night of the week (except Mexican Fridays and whatever we do on that Saturday).  I'm so good, I currently have a meal planned (and groceries bought) for every night of the week until November 10th.

I so wasn't kidding... 

But every now and then, like on Wednesdays when Daddy's not going to be home and we make a last minute decision to go to the zoo super late in the afternoon, I have to throw that calendar out the door and make something quick.  Well, beefaroni and avocados it was and man alive, did you love it!  

You also loved the bath afterwards :)
Man, you love some beefaroni!!! You ate the entire can and would have eaten more if I had any to spare! At least the avocado helped balance things out, sort of... Loves you messy thing!

A Quick Trip to the Zoo

Dear Kate,
On Wednesday, we did something Crazy, yes, with a capital "C". We did a spur of the moment trip to the zoo!  Okay, it's crazy for your mommy who plans everything weeks in advance.  While you were taking your morning nap, Sister and I were trying to decide what we'd do when you woke up.  We were bike riding out, park going out, and just really wanted to enjoy the VERY nice day.  Then I just decided - let's go to the zoo.  It will be late when we get there (Mommy likes to get to the zoo when it opens) and we'd just jump in the car with whatever we have on (Mommy likes you and your sister to match!) and we'd go to the zoo!  So... You woke up at 1ish, I put you in the high chair and gave you a few minutes to eat your sandwich and then we jumped in the car.  We were walking in the zoo by 2 and what a treat!  It was SOOO not crowded and because it was such a pretty day, the animals were very active.  We even got to see the zookeepers working with the elephants and doing tricks.  Also, Mommy let you run around and enjoy the zoo, since, you know, you can walk now and all :)

You also climb...

We first had to go to the elephants, per your sister, but then we ventured into the birds.  Abs chose that over the carousel (or so she said, but she later begged to ride that, too) and she was such a brave sister because she let the bird get on her arm.  Of course "let" should be used loosely because she wasn't really happy about it and I made her smile for the picture before I moved the bird, but look how brave she is!

You had no worries with chasing the birds!

The goats were another story.  You weren't real fond of them and would not let me sit you down.  Your sis, was opposite.  I bet we stayed in there forever...

You loved walking around the reptile/spider/really gross things building...

And we followed up with watching flamingos and then seeing the tigers go in their cage and roaring really loud.  The zoo closed at 4, but we didn't walk out until 4:30.  So so so glad I just went with it and we took this fun trip to the zoo!  You had SO much fun and who cares that you didn't match your sister, at least for one day :) xxxoooo

My Sweet Monkey

Dear Kate,

Enough said.
Love you!

A Few Things

Dear Kate,

In an attempt to document the daily part of our lives, I give you "the day we went to the mall."  Really, it was a day Mommy got to put you and your sister in "coordinating" outfits and act like we had some where to go but really we just had to run some errands! But you sure are a cutey pie!!!!

And here's 'the day we went to the park' also known as "a beautiful afternoon and Mommy could NOT let it go by without us enjoying it somehow!

 Ahhh, and the day I like to call "Oh my word, I cannot leave you alone anymore in the playroom!!!!"  

 That's right, I came upstairs to find you on top of the table.  I kind of flipped out a little, and not just because of the mess that was the playroom, but you were just standing up there, chillin, kind of laughing at yourself.  Since this day, there have been several other attempts to climb on top of that table, some failed, others successful, and one hard crash to the floor.  Maybe you will learn your lesson before you break an arm????

And look what a big girl you are!  Finding yet another something to climb up...

PS - This may be TMI, but this is my time in the bathroom.  Yep, you and your sister and me, all taking care of business.  At least I had my phone handy :)

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!