June 2009 - family road trip to Oregon

Katie Hope with her traveling tea set. She is an excellent traveler!

(asleep 20 minutes later...)

Katie and Momma having tea at the Tea Parlor in Junction City, Oregon.

What a sweet girl! She was very proper and careful with her tea cup.

Picking daisies down the road from Great Grandma and GrandDad's house.

Lunch at Mo's in Florence, Oregon with Grandma Linda, Daddy and Momma. Katie's first visit to the coast.

After visiting the Sea Lion Caves. Grandma Linda couldn't resist buying Katie a souvenir hat to commemorate the day.

Katie and Momma running to chase waves at Driftwood Shores, Florence, OR. Katie's first time seeing the ocean.

Was fun until...Katie was knocked over by a wave. Then she only wanted to see the water from Daddy's arms and wrapped in a towel.

Katie and Great Grandma Phyllis, two silly girls having fun!

Katie's visit with the alpacas at Dancing Rain vacation house, Great Grandma and Granddad's neighbor down the road.

Thank you, Diane, for graciously allowing us to visit your sweet and curious alpacas! Katie still talks about them.

Katie playing pinball in the cabin.

Katie Hope - May 2009

Boulder Farmer's Market May 2009 -

Katie and I often visit the farmer's markets throughout the summer. With her long blonde hair, big brown eyes and precocious demeanor Katie usually attracts the attention at many different stands. She always enjoys accepting the samples offered at each booth. This specific market is fairly large (it encircles a whole city block) so we bring her wagon to collect our fruits and vegetables. This particular day Katie caught the attention of a kind grandmother who owns a floral booth. The lady generously gave Katie this huge and beautiful peony flower as a gift.

Notice Katie's tongue of concentration. :o)

Going to Home Depot (first Saturday of every month) to do the Kids Workshop with Daddy. The workshop projects teach the kids tool skills and safety. As of December 2009, she's collected 8 projects which also come with a pin for her smock and a certificate of completion. Here she's the image of the modern woman - going to Home Depot with her baby Alice and pink purse.

Princess moment - Katie asked to wear her favorite blue dress to church one morning. Then asked momma to put her hair up in a princess-bun. It took lots of hairpins but was well worth it, her hair is fun to play with!

Katie singing in the bathtub one night

A short clip of Katie singing in the bathtub one night. Was too cute and fun to miss!

Video of Katie riding her tricycle

We had an unseasonably warm day and when I returned home from work I found one of our walkie-talkies in the kitchen waiting for me. I called Katie and Doug while they were at the park to hear that Katie had ridden her bicycle the whole way there (block and 1/2, or so). What an exciting moment to get a quick video of Katie coming...and going on her little bicycle. We hope you enjoy it also!

Katie helping Daddy

One day Daddy-Doug put up a coat hook at Katie's height so she can hang up her own coat. Katie decided to help! They work well together and have since started doing monthly projects at our local Home Depot. So far, they have made a trinket box and 2 different bird houses (one to hang on a window with a plexiglass view to watch the birds nest and a traditional birdhouse to hang in the backyard).

St. Patrick's day March 2009

Katie and our favorite babysitter, Cayla, who also enjoyed a face painting while waiting for the parade.

(above) Katie's face painting provided by a street vendor. Daddy took her to get this treat while we were waiting for the parade to begin.

(right) Katie, Daddy and Momma snuggling with hot drinks (hot chocolate for Katie) on a chilly St. Patrick's day in downtown Denver awaiting the parade. Thanks to some wonderful friends from church we were able to be perched on the curb right in front of the Celtic Tavern. We were sure to bring a few blankets and a couple of seat cushions to sit on.

Katie playing 'dress up' and 'Fancy Nancy'

A couple of fun photos of Katie playing 'Fancy Nancy' ( a children's book character who loves feather boas, flowers, bows, ribbons and anything that sparkles ). Her ensemble is complete with sunglasses and purse thanks to a Christmas gift from Aunt Stacey, Uncle Ken and Cousin Brayden.

Here is when Katie was enjoying being in jammies but still trying on Momma's shoes.

Between Christmas and New Years

Katie and I took a day between Christmas and New Years to visit the Denver Zoo since we've had a family membership there since last year. Here's Katie posing with the bears statue, she liked them because they were 'just her size'. It was unseasonably warm this day so we were able to roam around without our coats on for the later morning and early afternoon. We took along Katie's wagon to carry our coats, snacks and lunches. Our last visit of the day was to see the Feline house where a lion approached the window at the same time we did. Katie was fascinated by this big cat!

December 2009 (cont.)

Pictures of Katie with some of her favorite Christmas gifts; a CD of Bible songs, Little Ballerina Dancing Book, her first camera (Momma and Daddy can now officially reclaim our cameras) and her desk/art easel.

December 2009 - Ballet Recital

(Below) Katie's December 2009 Ballet Recital at the Westminster Dance Festival. We were SO proud of her! (Katie is the 2nd in from the left, blonde hair with pigtails, pink tights/tutu and purple shortsleeved leotard).

(right picture) Katie's pre-dance picture, complete with curled pigtails and pink bows. These bows were changed right before the performance. Another ballet-mom made special matching hair ribbons for all the girls.