Katelyn says. . .

This morning I have been busily trying to get packed for a trip and also trying to get the house cleaned for my sister to come back with us for a visit. Of course, Katelyn isn't cooperating!

From downstairs I heard something going on upstairs so I called, "Katelyn, what are you doing up there?"

Katelyn: I can't tell you.

Mom: Are you getting in trouble?

Katelyn: Nope, not yet. In a minute though.

THANKS FOR THE WARNING!!!


This is a fun picture of her with her new scooter that her friend, Erin, from Rexburg gave her for her birthday. Of course she is in jammies!

Katelyn says. . .Friday

My friend, Mandy, is one of my blogging inspirations! Every Friday she does a "Flashback Friday" and I look forward to reading them every week. So - I thought I would copy her and indulge in a "Katelyn says. . ." Friday. It's probably more for my record keeping than for anything else, but they are pretty funny!

My First Food post!

Rarely do I cook (ok. . .I could end the sentence here) something that is worthy of taking a picture and posting, but I was so excited about our Father's Day dessert that I had to share.

Patrick loves cinnamon rolls, but I wasn't in the mood to cook all day so I found this recipe on Erin's cooking blog. It's called Cinnabon Cake! It was really yummy and looked good enough to take a picture of!

One word of caution - because cinnamon rolls can be easily justified as a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert item, you might find yourself eating the entire thing bite by bite like I did!

My Sweet, Sweet Baby Boy

Just so we can remember that we really do have two children now, I thought I would post some pictures of Jake! He is as sweet as ever. Right now his 3 year old sister cries and whines a lot more than he does. He is getting more fun everyday as he smiles and laughs and notices the craziness that is going on around him. I told Patrick the other day that I wish I could freeze him right at this age because he is so sweet and so cuddly. Patrick, on the other hand, isn't opposed to him getting a older, mobile, and able to grip a golf club.

The poor kid still sleeps in a pack & play. We haven't set up his crib because we still need his room to be a guest room. He is touching both ends of the pack & play so the move to the crib will be shortly. Also, please don't turn me in to CPS, but he wakes up the very second I lay him down on his back or side but will sleep for hours on his tummy. SO - desperation says he sleeps on his tummy!
Still chubby and I think he's trying to lean away from Katelyn who was trying to steal the corner of his picture!

We bought this double running/biking stroller with Katelyn hoping we would soon have another child. I'm not sure how much he likes it right now, but he pretends to! (Yes, Katelyn is wearing a nightgown and pajama pants in the middle of an 85 degree day!)

Saturday Adventure

We finally had a Saturday with no storms so we had an "adventure". We went to a place called Morton Arboretum. There was a HUGE children's garden where Katelyn was able to run, splash, climb, and play.

What a fun day!





This was a tadpole pond that the kids could wade in and catch tadpoles. I'm not sure if you can tell, but Katelyn has the funniest look of astonishment on her face. What a good dad to catch tadpoles. Needless to say, mom didn't make it into the tadpole pond!



You might wonder if we take Jake on any of our "adventures". The answer is - yes, we do - he is just such a good baby that he hangs out in his stroller and doesn't make a peep so his picture doesn't get taken often!

Soccer camp

This past week Katelyn was in a little soccer camp. It's her first experience with anything athletic or coached. I'm going to reserve my judgment on whether or not she has any athletic ability until she's a little older. Let's just say she very much enjoyed running outside, picking dandelions, playing ring-around-the-rosy with her friend Emma, and acting like she couldn't hear her coach calling for her attention!

She did look very cute in her little shin guards and thought she was pretty neat to have her own soccer ball.

I think if Patrick wants her to be a soccer player we might have to spend a little more time at home with this one!






Her VERY patient coach with a VERY cool British accent!

Our Fabulous Father!

ANY MAN CAN BE A FATHER
IT TAKES SOMEONE SPECIAL TO BE A DAD!




I suppose when you enter into the marriage contract you can make yourself feel pretty confident that you have found someone you love to be with and want to spend the rest of your life with. There is, however, no way to be certain what kind of a father that person will make. I am happy to say that Patrick has surpassed any and all expectations I had for the kind of father I hoped he would be!

The best part of our day is when daddy comes home. The best part of our week is date night (Friday) and daddy day (Saturday).

Happy Father's Day to our handsome prince, bike riding, golfing, dancing (with Katelyn), story reading, adventure seeking, providing, loving, and kind father! We love you and are so grateful you are ours!


Happy Father's Day to Grandpa Pocock and Grandpa Brad as well! We are so grateful for everything you do and have done for us! We think you are great and love you very much!

A Wonderful Weekend in Wisconsin

I'm a little slow in getting this posted, but we were able to spend the first weekend of June in beautiful Lake Geneva, WI. Patrick, along with several people from his firm, rode in a Trek ride to raise money for cancer research. Patrick took on the 62.9 mile distance. It was a really cool even and even Lance Armstrong rode in it!

We were so excited to have Grandpa & Grandma Pocock there with us. It was a wonderful weekend!

Here are a few of our highlights!



Katelyn enjoying ice cream with Grandpa Pocock & Dad.


We stayed at a hotel with an indoor waterpark. Katelyn is a little fish in water and had no fear of the big green waterslide!


Katelyn was a cheerleader for the riders that were crossing the finish line. She had a great time clapping and dancing with Grandpa & Grandma.


62.9 Miles and still smiling! Way to go, Babe! We are so proud of you!


Patrick rode with a friend from our ward.


We also went to the Jelly Belly factory! YUMMY! We went on a little train tour and bought lots of treats.


And last, but not least, we stopped at the Chicago Botanical Gardens on the way home. Here's Katelyn modeling the flowers!


Cute family! Thanks for coming to visit Grandpa & Grandma!!!

Random Updates & Lots of Pics!

It's been awhile since I've updated so I thought I would post some random events from our house!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Kevin and Katie ended up being in town over Memorial Day weekend because Katie's grandmother passed away. We were very excited that they were able to come spend some time with us. Katelyn LOVES playing with and teasing Uncle Kevin.

We went to a fun and yummy dinner at Domo 77 (Katie's favorite) and then went back to our house for some fun with sidewalk chalk!










Katelyn LOVES her little brother. Sometimes a little more than he likes!



Growing up way too fast!



Katelyn and her cute little princess friends Emilee & Bekah.



A Saturday spent at a free zoo.

On a side note - at one time in my life I might have been guilty of judging the mother who had a screaming, tantruming toddler in the store. Those days are long gone. Today it was me! Katelyn had such a dramatic tantrum in Walmart that she was literally sprawled out on the floor in utter despair. I wish I could say that she was agonizing over being told she couldn't have a candy bar or even a Barbie, but no . . . she is scarred for life because the "meanest mother in the world" would not buy her a digital camera!

Oh, I really do love her! She brings much excitement and opportunity for learning (mostly patience) into my life.