Katie’s Thoughts on Mom

K2 and George Washington at the Smithsonian, January 2009

Katie and I took a few moments for her to answer a couple of questions about Mom…  pretty entertaining!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Do your homework and no fussies! (Can you tell we are getting ready to do homework?!)

2. What makes mom happy?
Snuggling with me

3. What makes mom sad?
when I’m doing something wrong

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickles!

5. What was your mom like as a child?
like me!

6. How old is your mom?
I forgot!

7. How tall is your mom?
(with hand measuring at her forehead) I forgot that too!

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Snuggle

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Just take a nap (that is certainly true for the past 10 days!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Being a writer

11. What is your mom really good at?
Car racing (we have the slot car track set up)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Uh, you’re not very good at soumersaults (not true, now cartwheels are another story!)

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Work at the office and you are a preacher

14.What is your mom’s favorite food?
Salad

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
I like your sermons

16. If your mom were a Cartoon character, who would she be?
The mother that picks flowers (”What show is that from?”  ”I just made it up!”)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Games

18. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you always give me hugs

19. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He is funny

20. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
The Amish country

 

A Star from the East…Or Christmas is Over!

Greetings long lost friends.  Once again, the PD Christmas missive will not be hitting your mailbox anytime soon.  We could say it is our effort to reduce, reuse and recycle but truth be told, we just didn’t get to it.  I know, you are shocked! 

I thought about having each of us list some of our favorite memories of 2008 but Katie-who-lives-in-the-moment looked at me like I’d lost it.  I didn’t even try with Jeff. 

For the record, 2008 was fabulous.  Plenty of challenges.  Plenty of fun.  Plenty of travel.  Plenty of family and friends.  All in all, a great year.  So here are some pictures of the Advent/Christmas season. 

Hard at work!

Ta-da!

 

Kerri's birthday in Chagrin Falls

 

No shortage on frosting in the PD household!

 

Katie and her Build-A-Bear "Hannah Montana"

 

Long time no post!

Greetings faithful readers.    I promise that our Christmas letter is in process and will soon be posted.  Heck, we’re going all out and putting up some pictures too! 

Until then… check out this post

http://christinekane.com/blog/word-of-the-year-wonder/

 

We really are alive!

How many posts have I begun with the phrase “it has been a blur!”  Since our vacation in August, we’ve had one free weekend up until last week.  Katie’s 8th birthday, kicking off the new year, 3 busy weekends at church, 2nd grade homework, short-staffed… yep, it has been a blur!  So here are some pictures – enjoy!

 

Mom, Katie, Kerri and the Whittier Daily News!

Katie and the Pillsbury Doughboy!

Prepping for the Birthday Party - That would be a Jonas Brothers CD!

Anthony, Katie and Morgan

Surprised by Mrs. Blankson

The birthday girl!

The gang!

A post party concert by Hannah and Miley

A favorite gift was her restaurant-style dinner cheques upon which she loves to take dinner orders! Here she is -- Katie the waitress!

Jeff had the chance to go to the OSU game last year and this year was my chance. Oh. My. Gosh! What a kick!

So we've had a snowy Easter but really, a snowing Halloween? October 28, 2008

 

Tonight’s Comedy in Casa de P-D

I can’t begin to capture the roaring laughter that Kerri and I shared after I came back downstairs after tucking Katie in for the second time.  It’s not unusual for her to wake up, come down to see us, then go back to bed.  Yeah, we’re softies.  But tonight was different…

She came into the living room and obviously had put bright pink lipstick on.  It was spread carefully on her lips and strangely on the tip of her nose.  Fearing parental rebuke (she didn’t go to bed with lipstick on…), we ended up having a conversation tonight about lying.  But that’s not the funny part.

In the attempt to “get at the bottom of it” and discover what kind of lipstick-bearing alien might have entered her room and afixed the adornment to her face, she quickly folded and told me what happened.  Her confession and my observation were simultaneous.  You see, she has several posters of the Jonas Brothers hanging on the wall next to her bed.  Her favorite one is a solo image of her sweetie, Joe Jonas.  The confession:  Yes, she had put lipstick on in order to kiss her poster.

There it was.  Pink lip prints all over Joe’s face.  And a noticable “hole” in one of the pink images — where her nose had rubbed against the poster and thereby unknowingly adorned another portion of her face!

The girl had lipstick on her nose from kissing her Joe Jonas poster.  I could hardly contain myself while tucking her in (yes, after the talk about trust, telling the truth, and how I will love her no matter what she tells me).  I came down the stairs, turned the corner into the living room, and busted a gut telling Kerri the whole story.

My life as a father.  Who’d have ever imagined?!?

 

Funnies

A week ago was Katie’s party and this past week was the beginning of 2nd grade.  Lots to write about and pictures to post, but I had to capture this conversation.  My mom left last night after being with us for all the fun.

Me to Katie:  “I’m going to call Mamaw, do you want to talk to her?”

Katie to me:  “I’m too tired Mom. Mamaw wore me out.  She did baby-sit me for that one day Mom!”

I know that will come as a surprise to my mom and I sure hope she had a couple of good naps today!  Love you Mom!

 

Katie turns 8!

We really can’t belive that Katie is now 8. We were in Montreat for her birthday (not the first time she has celebrated her bday in Montreat!). What a great day. After opening gifts (restaurant order forms, new pens and pencils (with her name on them!) and a guitar!) we hiked Lookout Mountain. This was Katie’s first time and she did great! The plan was to go swimming after but the pool was closed (darn chemicals!) so we did some rock-hopping, enjoyed some ice cream at the Huck and then went to Mellow Mushroom for pizza. Here are some pictures – enjoy!

Hannah Montana watch out!

May I take your order?

Starting the trek to the top of Lookout Mountain

Yes, she is hiking in a skirt!

We made it!  Assembly Inn in the background

Big smiles!!

Taking in the view

 

 

 

Snapshots of Summer

Wow.  It has been a blur of a summer!  Here are a few shots to bring you up-to-date.

Camp Rock Party!  Oh, the dancing!  This shot was obviously taken during the serious part of the movie!

Reading has been a BIG thing this summer. 

After an afternoon with Kristin, her hair and “make-up” stylist.  Can you see the pink eye-shadow?

Check out those braids!

 

Ahhhh

I think this may be the first day of quiet in way too long!  Jeff is in Atlanta for a D.min. class and Katie is off to day camp.  As we loaded up today to head off she said to me “Mommy, you get to have some quiet today since your chatterbox will be gone.”  It appears that Katie has a very keen sense of herself and her mom! 

 

Schools out… for Summer!

We are settling into the summer routine and loving it!  Afternoons at the pool, cooking out on the GBE, sleeping in – at least a bit.  Life is good! 

I overheard Katie telling one of her friends “last week when I was in first grade…” Yep, she is now a second grader!  How did that happen?  On her last day of school, Jeff and I had a great time shepherding her class through field day.  What a hoot!  Here are some pictures… enjoy!

Katie and her best buddies

The height difference between Katie & M. made this a tough one!

But they had fun!

Katie and her teacher – she is wonderful!

And a toast at the bus-stop with S. to celebrate!