So Far in May

Dear Kate,

We are wrapping up spring and gearing up for summer.  We've had lots of rainy weather, then a random hot day, then a couple cold days, so we are making the most of it, and, as usual, staying busy.  You are busy as a bee with doing whatever it is your sister is doing.  She can be swinging on a cabinet door (which she gets in trouble for) and low and behold, you go an pull a cabinet door out and swing, too.  Keeping up with two of you this summer is going to wear a momma out, but it sure will be fun.  

Know what else is fun?  Dressing you two alike.  I can't even remember where we were going, maybe just school for Sister, but nonetheless, I had to take a picture of the two of you.  Maybe next time I'll try not to take it in the direct sunlight...

We've also had some fun drawing on the sidewalk.  We don't have too much traffic at all on our street (since we are at a dead end), so it's nice to sit on the front porch while you two draw in the front yard.

You also got to spend a weekend at Mimi's house, without Mommy - that's when it's extra fun or so I hear.  Mommy and Daddy had a costume party to go to on Saturday so Mimi said she would take you for the weekend vs. us paying a baby sitter two million dollars for the long night that we would have needed her.  And, to top it off, she kept you until Monday!  Here's Mommy and Daddy dressed up.  The theme was "Futuristic" (your Aunt Amy's crazy idea) and so we tried to be as simple as possible (read = cheap and normal as possible), so we went for the Hunger Games charactors Peeta and Katniss.  And no, Daddy is not trying to stab me.  That's just part of his costume...

Here's your even crazier Aunt Steph dressed up and apparently playing the role of some alien from some movie called Fifth Element.  I let her be in her own world...

You got to tag along with Mommy for Sister's Mother's Day tea at her school and all the little girls loved playing with you.  You are SOOO ready to start school next year.  Also, you are ready to surf, apparently.  This is your new way of riding "in" the shopping cart.  What's crazy is my choice is either strap you in teh correct (and safe) way and let you scream the whole time or let you ride like this and be in and out in no time.  So far, I'm with choice #2, but don't tell anyone.

Sister had a loose tooth and had to go to the dentist.  Because she did such a great job there, we went to Sweet Cece's.  Girly, you LOVE you some sweets.  I mean, like crazy love.

That was Tuesday.  On Wednesday we had to eat dinner out and we (the 3 girlies!) chose our favorite, Mexican!

Sister had her last soccer game and you were spreading the love to Daddy.  He was super excited to get hugs all morning from you.

And after the game we took a quick trip to Target.  Daddy thought it was all fun and games until he had to push the big boat around Target with 2 kiddos in tow.  I think he got a little feel for Mommy's trips with both of you :)

We took our first trip to the zoo this year with Anna and Jacob.  It was your first time to really walk around and enjoy those animals and man alive, do you love animals!!  And climb like a monkey!

 You loved petting all the goats in the petting zoo...

 And we even made it over to the farm animals where you got to see cows!  We opted for a photo right outside the farm, where it was strangely quiet.  Apparently this was the "let's go to the zoo on a field trip" day because SOOO many schools were there!

 Silly faces!!

 We had so much fun with the Porter's and know we will be back there with them sooner than later (the baby camels are coming!!)

We also have a zoo in our backyard, or at least a farm, or at least cows.  And you LOVE said cows.  Every time the door opens, you say "Moo?" and 90% of the time I have to say "No Moo's today Kate" but this one day, there were moo's!!! We were all super excited, even if it meant Sister was a bit late for school :)

 We also went to story time this past week.  It was supposed to be "If you give a mouse a cookie" but for some reason they switched it up on us and read a book about a puppy.  Either way, you were more interested in the surrounding toys :)

 That same day, you found a blue marker...

 And decided to eat it...

 Not cool Kate, not cool at all.  What is cool is your Aunt Carly (Daddy's little sister) graduated from high school.  What's NOT cool is your other aunt, Aunt Amy, and her decision to get t-shirts printed with Carly's face on them.  Or at least in my opinion...

Thankfully we did not wear them the entire time, well, most of us did not.  And Carly LOVED everyone in their shirt.  Here's all your Clark aunts and uncles in the infamous shirts.  What's funny, or rather sad, actually, is 3 people asked Papa Larry how she died...

You did not go to the graduation though.  It was late AND in White Bluff, so Miss Lauren watched you and Sister.  Then the next day we rolled out to Mimi's house where Mommy went to another graduation - your cuz Kateland...

Again, you and Sister did not go and instead got to stay and play with the greatest babysitter in the world, Bebe.  She really is awesome.  She even brings a 'project' to play with.  This time, edible play-doh!  She reminds me of Kristy from the Babysitter's Club.  Don't worry, you will know those books eventually :)
On Saturday, we went to John Michael's soccer game that morning and then to Emily's HOT softball game later that day.  It was our first dose of summertime hotness and I was not prepared.  I did put sunscreen on, but clearly not enough, nor did we drink enough water!  You however, ate 2 whole hotdogs at the ball field!  AND, I looked down and saw Mimi was just holding her cup of diet coke and you were just drinking away.  I screamed "MOM!" and she realized what she was doing and yanked it away from you, claiming she just thought it was water (even though we didn't have water in cups!).  We laughed (sort of) and then 5 minutes later I look down and Mimi is holding the cup of coke AGAIN for you!  I really screamed at her this time, and took it far away.  She just has this instinct to give you whatever you want.  I can't believe you were actually drinking it.  Sister hates the taste of anything carbonated, but apparently you are going to be the kid who will drink anything!  Good news is you didn't get enough to keep you up, or maybe you were just that tired, because we went straight home to take a nap and let Sister stay with Mimi.  At least I know Abs won't be drinking Diet Coke!

I eventually had to wake you up and throw you in the bath because we were meeting Papa Rob and Gramma for dinner at the wildest, craziest place I have ever been - Incredible Pizza.  It was insane.  People everywhere.  Video games everywhere.  Go Carts, Bumper Cars and even miniature golf!  Oh, and a huge pizza/whatever else you can throw on there buffet.  Mimi warned me about it, but man alive, this place was huge.  Thankfully Gramma took you under her wing, and by that I mean she followed you around while Mommy and Sister and Papa Rob played games :)  She said you just wondered from one thing to another to another to another, never looking back.  When I left there, which was WAY later than I assumed, I felt like I had been in a casino for 8 hours.  I am convinced they pump oxygen in that place...  

It ended up being a VERY late night for us all but we made it home and into bed eventually.  Sunday morning came and we headed out the door by 9.  Daddy grilled yummy hamburgers for us on Sunday and we enjoyed the afternoon/evening.  This week - we prepare for the beach!  And then there we have it, May will be gone.  

Summer is going to be so much fun little bit!  Can't wait for the beach.

Loves you!