Big Girl Mat

Kate slept on a mat at daycare yesterday!! I don't have any pictures. I was telling Leslie that at her new school, she'll be sleeping on a mat and I was a little worried about it. She said that one of the other kids at school does so she would do the same for Kate. Kate went to sleep with no problem at all! She was so excited to tell us. She said, "are you proud of me?" She has no idea how proud I really am :)

Guess it may be time for a big girl bed afterall.

Corn on the Cob

Kate LOVES corn on the cob. It is probably one of her favorite foods. We had our sister in law and our nephews over for dinner last Saturday night and I let Kate help me husk the corn. She did a great job, even while Molly was distracting her with her ball.

Finished Product

Dunkin Donuts

I never thought I'd give in to bribery, but I have. I tell Kate that if she's a good girl at church, she can have a donut after. So, we've never not going to Dunkin Donuts after church because she really is good. Anyway, whenever we pass the Dunkin Donuts that we stop at, she says, " There's Dunking Donuts after church". Here is a picture of her enjoying her favorite donut, same as her's Daddy's :)

I just LOVE that little face :) And, yes, she's in her bathing suit. Easier to clean up after eating a donut with icing and cream.

Pop goes the Weasle

Who knew that this would be another name for the ice cream man?? Kate sees the ice cream truck and hears the song and calls the ice cream truck the "Pop goes the weasle" because of the song playing. She tells me that she's going to tell him to "SSSSSTOP!!!" and puts her hand out.

Last night, after a delicious rib dinner with Daddy, Namma and Pop Pop, and after running in the sprinkler, Kate and I decided to take a walk. When we got to the end of the street, the ice cream truck was turning in. I told the guy to meet us at the end and we'd get something. Kate was SO EXCITED the whole way home, yelling, "SSSSTOP!!" to the guy. I ran in and got Rich, and the camera and money and Kate got a Dora ice cream pop. She was thrilled, but not as thrilled as we were that we were able to catch him and have our first ice cream truck experience :) Rich got some ice cream too, but I didn't get a picture of that.

Getting her Dora ice cream

This is good!!

Chilling eat her ice cream pop

Daddy's Little Helper

Before we went on vacation, Rich decided to wash our cars. Kate HAD to join in. She had a blast showing Daddy how to clean the car. The funniest part about it is that Kate is always telling Rich that his car is dirty. Now it's clean!

Paddles!

Kate was awarded her 2nd stamp in swimming last night. She can now "paddle" on her own and also float by herself. We were so proud, as was she. She was ecstatic about her stamp! Here is a picture of her getting it! Go Kate!!! It must be all the teaching she does to her Dora in the bath tub and her turtle in the pool- she gives them swim lessons!

Bethany Beach Vacation- last beach day and Rehoboth

Because I had so many pictures I wanted to post, I had to do our trip in 2 sections. I can't help that we have so many pictures :) On Monday, we took Kate to the beach very early in the morning. We went into town and got breakfast and ate it on the beach. We went back for nap and when Kate woke up, we took her into Rehoboth to ride on the rides and then meet our good friends for dinner at Grottos. We went back to the house and rode the tram and called it a night. We came home on Tuesday. We were sad to leave, but so happy to see Molly! What a great mini vacation!!

Kate drinking her juice box in one gulp on the beach.

Namma and Pop Pop gave Kate money for the rides. Here she is getting ready to buy her tickets.Boats- she loved them. She waved at everyone and pulled the little bell. Future sailor?Firetrucks- she loved this too. You could pull a string and it would ring the bell. Daddy really wanted to ride on this car with Kate!Kate in her truck at Funland
Our family on the Merry Go Round
Rich took Kate on the helicopters. At first she didn't want to go, but once she was up, she LOVED them!Dinner at Grottos with the Episcopos. So great to see them!

Last tram ride :( We loved this thing!

Bethany Beach Vacation

Our friends John & Chrissy have a place in Bethany and allowed us to crash in on their 4th of July weekend. We had a blast! We went to the beach, rode the tram car, went into town, went to Rehoboth and at night when Kate went to sleep, we were able to catch up with Chrissy and John and play games. They left on Monday and we took Kate into Rehoboth and met our good friends for dinner, after Kate rode all the rides. It was a very relaxing 4th of July for us this year! Here are some pictures from July 4 & 5

John & Chrissy had this fun hammock for the beachPlaying in the baby pool with Daddy- Kate is showing Daddy how to do "paddles"Happy 4th of July!

Tram Ride- we did this every night through the Sea Colony Complex

Sunday morning & all set for the beach! We had donuts from the Pickled Prune, which were amazing and then set out for the beach.

Showing off our pedicures in the sand

Chillin'

Kate in her beach "shanty"

Da Plane!- Kate was obsessed with the planes with the kites behind them

Rich & Kate "napping" in the beach shanty- Kate would eat her lunch and snacks in the shanty.

Rich & Kate took a walk along the beach looking for sea shells


Kate LOVED doing this with Daddy! She collected them in the little bucket

See! We brought these home and Rich put them in a little glass jar so she can have her favorite shells from her 1st seashell collection. I love that she likes this because I LOVE to look for seashells too- in fact, in August 2002, Rich found a pretty special shell with a diamond on it and that's how our story started :) xoxo



Checking out the ocean with Mommy- we didn't pose- she just came up and hugged me from behind. My heart melted.


Curly hair girls :)

Loving our time at the beach!


All dressed and ready to go to town. We went into Bethany and had dinner and walked on the boardwalk.



Then we came back and rode the tram car. I LOVE this family picture of us!

Horses and Pools- Last Weekend

Last weekend Kate was invited to 2 birthday parties and we were able to make it to both! I didn't get any pictures from the 2nd party, but was able to get some from B's Horse birthday party! What a fun day! B's birthday party was full of activities. The kids started out by riding horses. The birthday girl was a pro and so cute and natural on the horse. Kate was a little hesitant at first, but got right up on the horse. She didn't like that she had to wear a helmet, but got over that. She rode the horse, "stum" in mouth and all. (stum=thumb).



After the horse, they did a craft where they painted a horseshoe- I don't think Kate has ever painted before, so another first for us! The horseshoe is hanging in Kate's playroom now.

After the craft, they took a hayride! Here is the bday girl with her cousins- so cute!


The party was great and Kate took a great nap. She woke up and we went to another party in NJ. So much fun- there were moonbounces, cake, food and sand art. Kate didn't stop bouncing all afternoon. What a great day!

Sunday was fun too- we spent all day outside. Kate was in the little pool and in the big pool! She has no fear this summer!

Filling her pool

Relaxing with a freeze pop in her pool

Dressing Up- again

I was sitting in our tv room and heard Kate shuffling around in the hallway, and in she comes with Daddy's hat and Mommy's scarf. When she puts my scarf on, she likes to tell us that she's "Getting warm." I love that it's the summer and she put on a hat and scarf. Mittens were on her hands too, but I couldn't quite get a picture of that (but if you look closely on the 1st picture, you can see them). I love this little girl and her fashions!