City Girl Gone Country!

Kate loves to go look at Uncle Severne's animals when we go to Blanco. She really loves getting to feed them so here she is feeding the goats.

Can you say MISCHEVIOUS!!!

What is Foster up to these days? Oh MY!

What is he NOT up to?!?!?! He is my mess-a-roo! If he's not climbing up on the kitchen table and crawling in circles around the center piece, then he is putting something smaller in his mouth, showing me while making a mischevious noise, and then running off so I can chase him down! Oh MY...he is WILD! He is sixteen 1/2 months old and MISCHEVIOUS is his middle name. His only words are "mama," dada," and "ball." I kiss on him CONSTANTLY! I adore him...his has many spankings coming his way! :)

Kate as a "mommy" so she says.

If she has said it once, she has said it a thousand times...."I just want to be a mommy when I grow up." Here she is posing as a "mommy" and sitting like a "lady."

Elise and Kate

I love this precious picture. This is the adorable daughter of my wonderful friend, Amanda! Kate loves loves loves playing with Elise. I love playing with Amanda! :)

I also have to add that Kate is soooooooooooo in to dressing up right now...no, not in the typical girly-girl dress up clothes. She chooses this one skirt and shirt everytime and then adds polished nails, all of my jewelry, lip gloss, a necklace is a must, and one her many pairs of dress-up high heels! She is so GIRLY!!! Anyway, as she walking down the hall just a bit ago, she turned around to me and says, "what are you thinkin', I am so beautiful!" Oh my, I have been teaching her about the word, "humility!"

"High Nose Cow" Kate

I can't wait to post the precious pictures of the Jones boys and Kate, especially the one of Kate and Griffin while wearing the pettiskirt! However, I wanted to go ahead and write while fresh on my mind. We had tons of fun with the Jones boys yesterday in Blanco. We always love having them out and Kate loves playing with them too. They are adorable!!! Anyway, dad was telling me how he noticed Kate being the "high nose cow" with the boys as if we hadn't all noticed. She is the boss or at least she thinks so. Maybe it's a girl thing. Anyhow, dad loved how he watched her lead those boys around and explained how in every herd of elk, there is a "high nose cow" who leads the bunch....apparently Kate reminded dad of that female elk! I thought that was pretty funny...so true.

Kate's Favorite Things...Age 4

At the age of 4, Kate loves her little brother, Foster! She loves listening to music especially, "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho." She loves singing, loves making cookies, loves eating birthday cake, loves her cousin Zachary, loves her friend Hudson (all we hear about is Hudson, Hudson, Hudson), loves bouncing on her bouncy ball, loves watching "Care Bears" movie, loves playing in her tent with Foster, loves playing outside, loves visiting Pops and Kekie's house, loves ice cream, loves going to her class at church, loves her school, loves her lovie, loves to eat baby food squash and sweet potatoes(at least she still gets veggies) and many other things which I will add as they come to me.

Kate's 4th Birthday...Build-A-Bear

Kate really wanted to have a "Tea Party" this year, but we decided to save it for the fifth birthday. Instead, we took her to "Build-A-Bear" which we aren't sure why it's called that because she chose to "Build-A-Kitty." She knew exactly what she wanted..didn't take her long to choose the clothing either. She named the "Hello Kitty" that she chose "Dora Beth." She loves taking care of her babies and when we got home, she realized that she had a baby "Hello Kitty." She was so enthused about that...now she had a mommy and baby. After we built her kitty, we had dinner at Gloria's where we sang Happy Birthday and had yummy cake. She had lots of sugar that day because when we she woke up that morning, I suprised her with whipped cream topped pancakes. She loves pancakes and that isn't something we have everyday around here so it was a treat for her. She was served on the "You are Special Today" plate. The day ended with us taking her to James Avery. For every birthday, we add a charm to her charm bracelet. I got that idea from one of my very special friends and love doing it. I try to choose a charm that goes with what she is most interested in that particular year. This year, I let her choose it and she chose a microphone. That definitely went with what she is in to right now. She loves, loves, loves to sing! The other night, we had a very fun night singing Karoake together that my parents had gotten us for Christmas. That charm bracelet will one day tell a story. I still have mine that was started while in high school. I love it. Thank you Nani and Poppy for our charm and thank you Kekie and Pops for our cake and adorable new outfit. Happy Fourth Birthday, Kate!
Mommy, Kate, and "Dora Beth."

Nani and Kate (Kekie and Pops had already gone home....we hate that they live so far away)

Daddy and Kate

Kate loves stamps and as you can see, her mouth is blue where she stamped it earlier that day. I tried and tried to get it off, but it wasn't happening.

Daniel and the Lion's Den

This past week, Kate's K3 class led chapel at DC. They were precious! Tyler played Daniel and did such a great job..so cute! Kate got to hold the American flag while saying the Pledge of Allegiance. We really enjoyed going to big chapel...such a neat neat school. I think I would rather go without another pair of shoes forever (would probably take a little more than that :)) than Kate not getting to go there. I just love it.
The little Lions GROWLING!

My precious little Lion.

Mrs. Conner and Kate...she is fabulous and we are so grateful for her.

Foster and Pops...Luckenbach

The last time we were in Blanco, we went with Pops to get some food for the deer feeders. As we were leaving the house, Pops says to Foster, "cowboy up Foster, we're going to Luckenbach." Of course dad had a lot to say about the hat Foster was wearing...he didn't seem to think that was a hat for the hill country...not sure why??? Foster had a great time and Pops wanted a pic with Fos in front of Hondo...the original of the Luckenbach store. I would imagine dad had lots of fun in Luckenbach, growing up nearby. After stopping in "uptown Luckenbach" for deer feed, we visited dad's cousin who has built his home into a cliff in the hill country. It is magnificent and has so many neat things all done by the owners. The hand carving up the staircase, ceilings made of wood from Utah, and beautiful green ivy gazebo type entrance to name a few. We had a nice visit as his wife as she was putting up what looked like hundreds, maybe thousands "Christopher Radko" ornaments...beautiful!
The famous "bar" in Luckenbach.
One of many of Kate and Foster's trips up to the barn..they sure love playing up there. Pops kept Foster for us and loves that while they were in the barn, Pops asked Foster, "where are the elk?" Foster answered with a grunt and a point right at them. I am sure Fos will have many hunting trips with Pops. Pops loves to walk Foster around and talk with him about the birds. Dad is an avid "bird watcher" to say the least!

Mommy and Foster

I just love this picture!

Oops...a little late Christmas

Every night before bed or even before our naps, Foster gives Kate a kiss. This is just one of the many he has given Kate. His kisses went from a large open wide mouth kiss that was most definitely slobbery to a closed mouth kiss with a precious kissing sound...mmmmm. I love it. He loves his big sister and we are constantly reminding her of her important job as a big sister..her example and the fact that God chose her to be his big sister out of all the sisters in the world...God chose her!

Kate and Mommy after making our christmas gingerbread house. Kate loves to do this each year. I am sure Foster will help us next year.

Lily and Kate...precious.

Christmas Pajama Party

"Girls" and "Boys"

We got to be a part of such a neat tradition this year! We had so much fun at the Christmas PJ party at the Edmonds where everyone wears their christmas pajamas. All the kids gather in the garage to create their own christmas ornament that will be a part of our Christmas trees forever!!! This pic is of all the kiddos from each family, exluding sweet Caroline (she didn't want her pic made) and Foster who just couldn't stay up any longer. These three families are just about three of our favorites!!! We love them all! We are grateful that we got to join them!

Kate, Caroline, and Halle decorating their little ornaments.

What special ornaments. Kate decorated all four and she got a little happy with the glitter! I think we might start collecting it now for next year!
Kate decorated Foster's ornament too.

Christmas In Blanco

Kate's favorite things....walkie-talkies and her baby, Lucy.

Kate's favorite thing...her baby named Lucy.

It's time to start opening presents from Kekie and Pops!

Zachary, Graham, and Kate having fun watching the Christmas Parade in Blanco.

Foster enoyed it too and what is special is that he is named after my grandfather, Foster Carroll who was born in this house over 100 years ago and lived there his whole life. I always said I would love to name my son Foster! My dad's middle name is Foster as well.

This pic was taken in the barn where my parents had a Smith cousin Christmas. In the background behind my dad were pictures hanging from when my dad and his cousins were children enjoying Christmas around the very same fireplace that we enjoy today. In addition, there are several framed and enlarged letters to Santa written there by some of the cousins who attended....one of which is now in her late 70's.

Kate loves playing with cousin Zachary!

This is the wonderful litte home where my parents now reside, where my grandfather was born and raised with ten siblings, and where my father was raised with four siblings. My parents are making this into a bed and breakfast. It is very cozy and cute with lots of history. They have done a lot of work so if you ever visit the Texas Hill Country, look them up. They would love to have you! You will have a great time only if you are ready for a beautiful country setting in the hills where the simple things in life are enjoyed! Kate loves to go visit and as you can see, she and Kekie are making cookies together. Her favorite part of course is licking the beaters! We had a great time with my brother and his family.

Dallas Christian State Game

Matt suggested that I wear his DC High School Jersey and so Laura and I both wore our husbands jerseys. They were the studs back then....they still are!!! :) We had fun caravanning down to Temple where the Chargers Won State! We enjoyed watching Collin Edmonds play for a little bit and Laurie yelling as loud as she could to hit somebody during the play he was in the game. We will look forward to seeing him play the next two years!!! Fun Times!

Foster, Daddy, Kate, and Poppy! The kids did great!

Kate, Caroline, and Hudson playing while the chargers were winning! Go Chargers!

Kate in Mrs. Conner's Class

They each decorated their "coat of many colors."

Kate and some of her preschool friends singing one of the 90 songs that Mrs. Conner has taught them. We love hearing those songs and she truly has taught them 90 different songs this year and the year is only half-way over.

Mrs. Conner's Crew! I am so glad Kate is a part of that crew! What a blessing!

How Precious...Kids Under Construction!