Remember when Dr. Hull told Mommy and Daddy that my tantrums would get longer? 

Remember how some of Mommy's friends with older toddlers commented that they have experienced the tantrum lengthening firsthand? 

Well, Mommy and Daddy can now officially join the ranks of parents who have survived a tantrum-o-rama!

What would spark such a tantrum from a cute little Bug like me, you ask?

Only this fabulous pool...

Once it appeared to my wondering eyes, I did not take kindly to being told that I had to eat dinner before being able to play in it.  In fact, as soon as I was carried from Gramma and Grampa's backyard back into their house, I quickly became a Kate-a-saurus!

Seriously, how can all of my grownups not give in to a face like this?  I even signed "please"!

Thankfully, those grownups do know how to help me firm up from a meltdown.  Once Grampa whisked me outside, I was able to morph back into a Katie Bug.

(In case you're wondering, he took me to the front yard.  I really did have to wait until after dinner to play in that pool of perfection.)

Memorial Monday

This post is going to be a bit of an emotional sandwich.  Somber at the beginning, silly in the middle, and sad at the end.

I hope you have all had a fabulous Memorial Day!  I'd like to thank my friend,Vanessa (a reserve Marine), for posting the following status on Facebook this morning:

It bothers me when people celebrate this holiday for the wrong reasons. Many people close to me have gone overseas & thankfully have made it back, but it's the ones who have made the ultimate scarifice my heart really goes out to. Just please remember why you're all having your cookouts & what not so freely today.

Great reminder, 'Nessa!  My family did take time today to remember men and women all over the world who have given their lives so that others can live in freedom.

We also took some time to enjoy each other's company and celebrate the (unofficial) return of summer.  This evening, Mommy, Daddy, Auntie, Mimi, Poppy, and I all went over to Gramma and Grampa's house for a yummy kabob dinner and some splishy splash time!  Of course, every visit to Gramma and Grampa's must start out with a thorough inspection of the contents of their toy box.  I am happy to report that everything was in working order!

(Thanks for the cutie dress, Zsa!)

After dinner, we headed outside for that aforementioned splishy splash time.  Here I am executing my carefully planned approach to the activity pool...

and we have contact!  It didn't take me long at all to figure out that this thing is a blast.

It even doubles as a water fountain!

In between splashes, I enjoyed chillin' in the big people lawn chairs.  I'm really into sitting in big people chairs right now!

 I sure am going to get a lot of use out of that water wonderland this summer!

On a much heavier note, Mommy was saddened this morning when she found out that the father of one of her former students passed away over the weekend. This man was a wonderful daddy, and Mommy knows that his family is very heartbroken right now.  They have been in her prayers throughout the day today...and she knows that they would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for them, too.

Sunday Best

Whoowee! We sure did have one busy Sunday around here.

This morning, Mommy made a return to teaching preschool children's church after an 18 month hiatus. She was asked to be the teacher on the 5th Sunday of the month, so she'll actually only be in there 4 times a year. Sounds easy peasy, right? She thought so, too...until about 9 o'clock this morning. That's when she started to get really nervous. Turns out there was nothing to be nervous about, though. She got right back into the groove of things, and the 3, 4, and 5 year old kiddos followed suit.

This morning's preschool lesson came from Mark 10:13-16. Mommy really enjoyed teaching about how Jesus loves children and singing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Jesus Loves the Little Children" with her students. Her favorite part of the morning was asking each student if Jesus loved them and watching smiles spread across their faces as they confidentally answered "yes".

After morning worship, we headed to a campground a few miles away from our church for a little Memorial Day picnic. It was hot, hot, hot out there! Gramma helped me cool down with her nifty little spray fan.

Even though I was sweating profusely and my face was super flushed, I had a great time playing with my friends and exploring the great outdoors.

Nap time was calling, though, so I had to bow out of the picnic a little early. Mommy and Auntie were burning up, too, so I don't think they really minded making a quick getaway.

After everyone in my house (puppies included) took a nice nap, we loaded up the car and headed to Dallas to meet Aunt Zsa and cousin Candace for an April/May/June birthday celebration. Mommy took the camera along, but didn't manage to get one single picture of our time together. She'll have to borrow a few from Zsa...Zsa never forgets to take pictures.

I hope your Memorial Sunday was just as fun, but not nearly as hot, as ours!

The Change

In response to the guesses as to what big change is coming to my house:

Sometimes Mommy thinks she's going to pull her hair out with the two doggies who already live in our house...so I won't be getting a new pet anytime soon (although Daddy would love to have a weimaraner).

I can't pull my own pants off yet and don't go for very long without a wet diaper...so Mommy's thinking I'm no where near ready to potty train.

And I loooove my crib and haven't tried to climb out of it...so no big girl bed for me in the foreseeable future.

The big change coming to my house is that Mommy will be going back to the classroom fulltime next school year. <------That's not a period.  It's half of an exclamation point.  Because the fact that Mommy will be going back to work has been very hard on her...but she is starting to get excited about the challenge.

One reason this change is so huge is that Mommy's 6 years of teaching experience have all been in the same district, school, grade, and classroom.  When she goes to work in August, though, all that will (say it with me, now) change.  She'll be in a completely new grade, in a new school, in a new district, in a new city.

 For a Mommy who greatly values routine and continuity, that's a whole lot of new!

Change is Coming

Can you guess what big change is coming to this Bug's life?

(No, it's not that!)

Sleepover

Last weekend, Mommy and Daddy's young adult group took a little camping trip.  Since it was a "no children allowed" trip, I got to spend the night with Mimi and Poppy for the first time...and boy did they wear me out!  Mimi and Poppy kept my schedule so full that I didn't even have time to miss my parents.  Here are a few of the fun things we did:

Went to the Dallas Zoo...

 

where I rode a carousel for the first time...

and used my trusty Dallas Zoo map to help Poppy navigate.

Met "Aunt" Tara, Preston, and Ian at the fountains of Uptown Village....

where Preston decided I needed a faux hawk...

and I had a screamin' good time playing in the water.

And played at Mimi and Poppy's house, where I tried on Poppy's shirt...

explored the fountain...

got lots of cuddle time...

and chilled in the sink after my bath.

Thanks for letting me stay with you, Mimi and Poppy!  I had a great time!

Two. Two. Two Firsts in One.

Mommy and Daddy decided that today was the day for my first ever haircut!

I know, I know. You're probably thinking, "Haircut? What hair did they cut?"...and those are two very valid questions. However, a plethora of hair is not required to necessitate a little snip of the scissors. All it really takes is a fine layer of uneven locks. Locks like these:

See that big yellow taxi I'm sitting in?  I was super excited about that thing!  Sitting in it was so much fun...until the hair stylist pulled out the water bottle.  And I turned on the water works.

(Cooper was right.  That thing is scary!)

Thankfully, Cool Cuts 4 Kids keeps a nice stock of suckers for just such meltdowns.  Which leads us to my second first of the day...my first ever taste of candy!

That thing was distracting and delicious.

In the end, I walked out of the salon with a slightly shorter, but much more even, hair do.

I'm thinking this is the look for me!