new words

Kate is picking up words like crazy right now.  Last week, she learned no.  I knew it would only be a matter of time before she figured it out, but man, do I dislike that word now that she's using it.  At first, she would just walk around repeating it over and over, like she was getting used to it.  But now she uses it in context and everything.

One day last week, she was pulling on a table runner and a metal lantern was about to drop on her head, so I asked her to stop several times.  Once it got dangerously close to the edge, I came over, slapped her hand and told her no.  She proceeded to laugh and then walked around slapping things and saying no.  The next day, she started doing it in her high chair, so I took a video.  I'm laughing about it now, but it was so not funny at the time!

our bubble girl

Kate loves bubbles.  It was one of her first 20 or so words and as soon as she sees a bottle of bubbles, she goes nuts.  I'm pretty sure she could blow and pop bubbles all day.  We got out her BIG bubble wand on Friday when my parents were here and had so much fun.  I love hearing her say 'bubbles' and 'pop', and she's constantly asking for more (with sign language - thanks to Lincoln Hammer for teaching her that!).  It's so incredibly cute to watch her blow bubbles and to watch her chase them and squeal in delight when she actually pops one.  Such joy!

first ice cream of the season!

Friday was a beautiful day in our neighborhood, so after a fun day of playing outside and a yummy grilled dinner, we went to Houseman's with my parents for our first ice cream of the spring.  Kate is so smart that she sat in the middle of the table, and just spun herself around, trying bites of everyone's ice cream.  She didn't like mine too much (moose tracks), she kind of liked my dad's (Traverse City Cherry), she liked Matt's a little more (mint chocolate chip), but her favorite by far was grandma's (triple chocolate).  She is so my daughter:)

Happy weekend, everyone!

pack it in

Kate loves to play in her boxes.  The other day, she filled one of them up with all of the things she wanted to play with and then somehow got herself inside too.  She cracks me up!

Andy & Sam visit:)

Andy had a class at the seminary last week, so he and Sam (and Burley) made the trip to Michigan together.  Kate and I got to hang out with them for a while on Monday.  Kate and Burley had quite the reunion...unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures.  Kate and I also had a lunch date with Aunt Sam on Wednesday.  Andy's class was done on Thursday, so we all went to Frederick Meijer Gardens to see the butterflies and the sculptures on Friday.  Kate had such a fun time! There were different butterflies again and Kate is becoming more and more aware of them and loves watching them fly around.

cutest picture ever:)

On Saturday, we spent the whole day with my family and Adam came to town too.

Kate decided she was a big girl and would rock in grandma's rocking chair all by herself.

She begged for bubbles all day, and Aunt Sam was kind enough to oblige her:)

We had a dance party with Uncle Adam:)

Then we celebrated Andy and Sam's birthdays at The Green Well.  We got Andy AppleTV.  He was very excited:)

peek-a-boo

It was so much fun to get to spend a few days together, we can't wait to see you again!

rainy days

We had 14 straight days of rain in April - the rainy-est in history.  Grand Rapids is quite flooded right now.  We're grateful to live on higher ground and to have a dry basement.  Being stuck inside while it rains hasn't been the most fun, but we're hanging in there.  Here's Kate post-nap and very happy to be eating a snack:) She's the cutest.

John Ball Zoo!

A few weeks ago during my mom's spring break we had a nice day, so we decided to go to the zoo.

We got to watch the penguins get fed, we saw lots of fish, some nasty snakes, the petting zoo animals, and some really fun monkeys.  A lot of the animals were still inside or at their 'winter location', but I'm sure they'll be coming back soon.

on a roll

all kids do this at some point, right?

Easter at the Farm

We spent Easter with the Pridgeons this year.  Friday was a beautiful day and we got lots of playing outside in before getting in the car for the 2 hour trip.  Kate stayed awake the whole way in the car and went to bed fine once we got there (that's big for her!).

We got to see lots and lots of family, many of whom we hadn't seen since Christmas! Kate had fun playing with her second cousins, Hadley and Tatum.  She went on her first trip to Ray's and loved playing with her uncles and the dogs.  She couldn't get enough of them.

talking to the dogs outside:)

hugs for Hadley!

"here, Hadley, play with this egg!"

sharing Uncle Bri's water at Ray's

feeding Aunt Barb a french fry

love for the dogs:)

We are bad parents - we never took a picture of Kate in her Easter dress...oops! She was cute, I promise:)