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"

 

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

 

 

 

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!

 

 

Paddling… finally!

After our move to Ohio and the reality of Katie’s long legs (e.g. she’ll no longer fit in the hatch of Jeff’s boat!) we purchased a tandem kayak so we could get back on the water. Saturday was the perfect day!  We went to LaDue Reservoir (about 35 minutes away) and enjoyed a great afternoon of paddling.  This was Katie’s first time with a paddle and she did a darn good job!  She also did some fishing with her pink Barbie fishing pole with a lovely pink worm attached.  Of course.

Here are some pictures from the day. 

Katie and Jeff take off!

  

Kerri and Katie

 

A family of Canada Geese

 

Any luck Katie?

 

Fishing makes Katie hungry!

 

and paddling makes her tired!

 

 

 

Girl’s Night at the Movies

I’m not sure where Katie came up with the idea but she has been planning tonight’s event all week long.  We ventured to the neighborhood movie store and picked out two movies: Jump In! and 27 Dresses.  You can guess which one I picked!  Of course, I was pretty sure it said it was rated G but that could be related to the fact I didn’t have my glasses with me and couldn’t quite read the fine print.  Oops!  Jeff was allowed to pick out a movie too but was clearly informed that he would not be allowed to watch with us.  He picked out Simpsons:  The Movie.  Yeah, go figure.

After making some popcorn, pulling out the bed in Mamaw’s room (AKA the guest room) and finding some comfy blankets, Katie and I curled up and giggled for the next couple of hours.  It was hilarious.  Every time there was a kiss on the screen she would cover her eyes – and mine!  At the end, with one final kiss she cried out “puh-lease!”  It was one of those nights I’ll long remember – especially in a few years when she won’t want to be caught dead watching a movie with me!  I am grateful for the gift of this daughter of mine!

Tomorrow is a paddling day and a picnic.  Pictures to follow!

 

Fun in the snow!

 It has been a different sort of winter so far – some very cold days (-5 at the bus stop the other day – Jeff had bus duty!), a bit of snow (including the blizzard-like day in December), warm days (40ish), rain, then more snow…  honestly, I’d rather have the snow! 

Last Friday after school we headed out to the local snow sledding hill in the Cleveland Metroparks and had a great afternoon followed by a hot bowl of soup. 

Enjoy the pictures!

Katie and Jeff head to the hill

Ready, set, go!

Woo hoo!

What fun!

Kerri & Katie had fun, too…