California

We went to California for 4 days a couple of weeks ago. Above are some photos of Kate. We had a blast. We spent one day in Santa Monica. Kate did not want to leave the beach. She had so much fun, and the weather was gorgeous the entire time we were there.

We stayed in Beverly Hills and walked the streets of Rodeo Drive, Beverly Drive, etc. Lots of fun. One night we even walked to the Abbey in West Hollywood for dinner. Kate was the only kid there, so she had a ball getting so much attention. She took photos of many of the patrons, with my iPhone, so I had fun looking at those the next morning. I am still laughing at how many of the photos had pictures of people waving away to Kate. What a nut.

Anyways, it was a fun trip.

Dancer

Kate just finished her summer dance class (tap and ballet). She loved it. She starts ballet again in the Fall. She dances around the house constantly, and has many performances for us. Perhaps I will video-tape one of those. To the far left is Kate in her dance leotard, and of course she has to do a curtsy on the way home in her white dress. Mel and I are both tom-boys, so it is funny that we have such a girly child.

Michelle and Hero

Okay, we just went to California for 4 days and then stayed in downtown Chicago the following weekend, so our friend Michelle ended up keeping Hero for over a week. The great news is that she spoiled him rotten and the bad news is that she spoiled him rotten. :-)

As you can see from the photo, he now wants nothing to do with his dog bed. He now thinks he is a person and belongs on the couch. Mel is quite pleased, as you can also see in the photo. He also thinks that when it is nightime, he should be going to bed with us. Talk about crowded!! Me, Melanie, Kate, Bart and Hero. Wow, let's just bring the 60 ants up, too.

Now I know why he is so excited when he sees Michelle, as he is obviously treated MUCH better at her house. Next, he will be on the computer buying us plane tickets so we will leave again.

Young Tiger Update

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhikjTtSqt8

Here is the youtube video, with a little clip of Kate doing her punches. She just got her yellow-striped belt, so of course she is already asking when she is going to get her black belt.

The Ants are Coming!!

Here is Kate, getting ready for her ants. She has two Ant Condos, and we connected them with a little tube. Kate wants them to be able to chit-chat and have meetings, so we connected them.

She has 60 ants coming in the mail, and she is already busy coming up with names and worrying about how she is going to care for 62 pets (including Bart an Hero). I will be sure to add more photos once we get them and they are tunneling.

New Bed

We FINALLY bought a new bed for Kate. Of course, Mel thinks this is a waste of money, since she always insists on sleeping with us. She had her little toddler bed for over a year, and I think Hero and Bart used it way more than Kate.

Then, the nerve of the little rascal... Yesterday morning, she comes downstairs and tells me that she did not sleep very well the night before. Me, all concerned, asked her why. She replied that I was crowding her too much in bed. Me, the crowder. I cannot believe her. I just laughed out loud and told her that we are going to be sure she has LOTS of space in her new bed. I suspect no more complaining about the crowding.

I hope to have an update soon about how Kate is sleeping through the night in her new bed. Wish us luck. We bought her a trundle bed, and I hope Mel and I do not end up sleeping in the bottom trundle.

Kate

Okay, this is just a new photo of Kate that I like.  I actually just got her hair cut pretty short today, so it does not look like this, now.  She is taking ballet, tap and tae kwon do right now.  She is supposed to have her hair up, which she hates.  What kid loves having their hair in a bun?!?!  

So, here is Kate before the hair cut.