Kate Elizabeth

Kate-Kate, Kate-inator, Katester

Our little Kate is not so little anymore. She has learned so much this year and is becoming a very creative artist. Just set her up with markers, crayons or paint, scissors and tape and she'll create a masterpiece...or twenty. Then she "decorates" the house with them.

She is excited to start Primary this new year and is really starting to come out of her shell more all the time.

Kate is also quite the little performer. She can pretend most anything is a stage and always demands an attentive audience. And boy, can she put on a show!

We are so blessed to have Kate as a part of our family. She can put up with Daddy's silliness, she is a great example for her little brother and sister and a big help for Mommy.

WE LOVE OUR KATE!

Kate with her favorite teddy bear, Pinky.

Joe's Christmas Lights

I talked Joe into using only about a fourth of our lights this year to save a little money on the power bill. He also took quite a few strands over to his Grandma Chandler's house to decorate for her too. I know he would have loved to go crazy with a ton more lights but I still think his lights turned out nice and festive. I think the best part is the bush on the front corner... that was done by yours truly. Actually, I think it's all Joe trusts me to do.

Christmas Day

Joe and the kids getting ready to come downstairs to see what Santa left us.

Kate and Sammy enjoyed opening their gifts. Alice enjoyed playing with the paper.

Joe and Alice all tuckered out from a fun-filled morning.

After opening presents at our house, we went to Joe's brother's house to hang out with the Chandler Family. Then we continued on to the Williams' house for a second dinner and time with the family.

Kate and Jared spending time together and Alice with Grandpa Williams.

December Sunset

We had this beautiful sunset early in December. This is the view of it from our front yard.

Snow fun

Kate and Sam with all their gear on and excited to go play in the snow.

Joe built a snow hill in the backyard for the kids to go sliding down. It ended up being even better than taking the kids to a park to go sledding because when the decided they were too cold, they could just come right inside.

Kate's run down Daddy's snow hill.

Sam's turn.

Once they had had enough fun in the snow and were too cold for any more, they decided to come inside. Kate asked if they could have some hot chocolate to warm up. I told her that would be a great idea and that I'd make some. She relpied, "Uh, Mom, do you even know how to make hot chocolate?"

Snowball Fight

Here's Kate and Sam's attempt at a snowball fight. It's not too effective and they need to learn a lot more technique but what can you expect from a 3 year old and a 2 year old?

Kate's Girls Club

Kate is at a stage where she thinks girls are great and she could just do without boys at all. So she made up a "Girls Club" which means anyone who is a girl can be in the club. She kept going and going with this idea and with the help of her cousin, Brooklyn, and her Auntie Caitlin it became a reality for her.

Toward the end of November we emailed homemade invitations to all the girls on my side of the family for Girls Club at our house. We decorated the house but unfortunately there are no pictures. Just know it was all appropriately very pink and girly.

our invitations

We had everyone bring fun activities and yummy snacks. Auntie Caitlin helped us stamp mini candy cane cards and Brooklyn taught us how to make a box out of a piece of paper and decorate them. They were all very girly.

We also got to try on my mom's old fashioned hat collection and have a hat parade around the house! What fun!

Great Grandma Gallup, Maggie (Rachael's cousin), Auntie Caitlin - and her crew Jessamy, Arwen, Faith, Melanie and Maecyn,

Grandma Williams, Aunt Emily and Brooklyn

(We missed you, Aunt Melanie and AuntMichelle!)

Thanks to all the girls who came. We had a fun girly time!

Oh, and don't worry Chandler girls...Kate is currently planning the Girls Club party for you too!