Dad's Day

This year for Dad's Day, Katelynn first created a special framed picture for her daddy at preschool. As you can see, she was less than enthusiastic about this project.

Then, she told me that she really wanted to get something special for daddy to make up for the lackluster picture, and that she thought he would like some special cake balls that are sold by Nieman Marcus. Mommy researched on the internet and discovered that the Cakeball Company is located in Dallas and has a factory store front. So Katelynn told mommy to take her there, and then slept the entire way there, continued to snooze on mom's shoulder while at the store, and finished out the nap the entire way home - leaving mom to pick out everything on her own. Nonetheless, Daddy was very pleased with these heavenly treats.

Maybe someday KK will get this Father's Day thing a little better!

Proud Daughter

On Thursday June 25th, my dad showed up to work at Lockheed-Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems for the last time. After 34 years! Gene and I attended his retirement ceremony, along with my mom, brother and about 100 co-workers. These days, 34 years of dedication to one company is a rare thing. And it was neat to see it celebrated in such a special way.

Parents have lots of opportunities to beam about their kids. I know from experience now that it doesn't take much to get me excited about Katelynn's latest feats! But I think it is more rare to experience that same feeling and emotion from the point of view of being the child in the relationship.

That rare experience definitely happened to me on Thursday. My dad has so many admirable qualitites, and they were showcased in a funny but touching presentation prepared by his boss and co-workers. Many do not know that he was educated at MIT and graduated at the top of his class, because he is quite humble. He is a super smart engineer, yet is also skilled at navigating through the thorniest people problems. Gene and I have sought him for career advice numerous times over the years. He is respected and admired, and it was evident that people were sad to see him go, yet excited for him, for the happiness that his golden years will bring to him.

Selfishly, I am happy that he is retiring now while KK is a toddler, so that she has the privilege of spending lots of time with her fabulous Nanna and Pop-Pop, and will get to experience the love of her grandfather the same way that I have experienced the love of such a great daddy all these years.

Dad, congratulations on a career to be proud of, and the start of what had better be many, many years of retirement!

The Big Girl Bed

I have been soooo delinquent in posting this. I kept forgetting to take a snapshot. It has been at least two months since KK graduated to her big girl bed! It was Nanna's fault....errr... I mean idea. She let Katelynn sleep on the big futon at her house and she really liked it. Then, Gene and I also decided it would be more fair to give her access to a bathroom since she is potty trained.

We took the front off the "convertible crib" only to discover that we needed to purchase a conversion kit in order to make it level. I'm sure that kit is not cheap either. What a racket! We improvised by propping with books and maybe Gene will get around to trading them out for some wooden blocks before she moves into a regular bed...

KK was ecstatic the first time she saw her crib with the front railing removed. She practiced laying in it with a big grin plastered on her little face. There were a few rough mornings of waking at 5:00 am and refusing to go back to sleep, but once the excitement wore off she has been doing really well with her newfound freedom. In the mornings she comes out to the landing and rolls around in her blanket until I go get her. (We keep the gate at the top of the stairs locked at night to prevent any spills down the stairs.) This still gives me time to at least get my shower and get dressed.

My little girl is growing up. I guess the next big transition should be getting rid of the nighttime pacifier... but I'm just not ready for that yet!

A First - Sooner Than Expected

Katelynn is still in love with her pacifiers. For the most part, we do a good job of restricting them to the upstairs of the house. This means she either has to play on her own upstairs, or be sleeping in her room. Still, she is always looking for ways to break these rules and has become pretty sophisticated in her tactics. ("Mommy, can I put the pacifier away in the drawer downstairs?" "Mommy, can I have the pacifier for one TV show?")

Today she wanted to bring the pacifier to church and I told her that would definitely not be happening, because she is a big girl and doesn't need it when she goes out. Her response, while very simply and innocently stated, still surprised me: "Jakey gets to have a passy at church." Jakey is one of her little friends in Sunday School class.

Of course, we all know that we tested our own moms with the "but so-and-so gets to do it" tactic. I just didn't expect that tactic to surface at 2 1/2 years of age!

The Curious George Pajamas

Recently, Katelynn's Nanna found some adorable flannel Curious George pajamas on sale at Wal-Mart. KK fell in love with them, and this is all she will wear when visiting her grandmother. Never mind that it is 100 degrees outside these days...

Of course, Nanna is.... well, the Nanna; therefore she obliges her very persuasive grand-daughter, cranking down the air conditioning and running the fan in her room. Every time Katelynn knows she is going to visit Nanna and Pop-Pop, she rattles on and on about getting to wear her Curious George pajamas.

Recently Nanna found the PJ's at a further discount, and purchased two additional pairs. She gave one to me to take home and hide away for the fall. I had no intention of giving them to KK now. After all, I'm her mom, not the indulgent grandparent!

I hid them in the laundry room, in a high spot. Then, tonight Katelynn was upset that we could not find her cupcake PJ's, and I told her I would look in the dryer for them. She followed me downstairs and, somehow, immediately spotted the 1 inch edge of the Curious George PJ's that must have been visible to her.

Well, it was all over. "Mommy can I wear those Curious George pajamas?! Mommy can I wear those Curious George pajamas?!" (Very excited voice and repeat question about 10x more). Once they were on her little body, she looked ecstatic. She touched the ruffled edges of the pants, giggled while pointing out the little monkey faces, and rubbed the soft flannel. Let me tell you, this was one happy kiddo.

Guess who cranked down the air conditioning tonight?

A Plastic Cup for an Anniversary Gift?!

A few weeks ago, Gene and I saw an interesting cup at a Starbucks- a very sturdy double-insulated clear 20-oz cup, with a screw on lid and thick plastic straw. It is designed to look exactly like their disposable cups used for cold summer drinks, but sturdier and with a typical Starbucks price tag of $15. We thought it was cool and useful but didn't buy it that night... $15 for a plastic cup?? It's marketed as a "Cold Cup To Go"

Yesterday was our 11th anniversary. We usually do something special together rather than gifts. However I was heading out to meet Gene for lunch and thought it would be fun to surprise him with a Starbucks Cold Cup to Go full of his favorite tea. I brought the tea in a thermos and went to the Starbucks drive through. I nonchalantly ordered, only to be informed that "we can't keep those on the shelves" and "they are nearly impossible to find." I stopped by another Starbucks on the way to find the same scenario. Now I was lamenting the fact that we didn't snatch them up that first night we saw them!

I chattered on to Katelynn about my disappointment, which she then announced to Gene promptly upon arriving at his office: "Daddy, Mommy couldn't find your cup!" I explained the story to Gene. Then a quick search of ebay revealed that these puppies sell for anywhere from $25 to $50 online! Gene then launched a full search. He called several Starbucks and found one that had just received a shipment of the cups, and he picked up two on the way home.

We have been enjoying them, and it's funny that a $15 plastic cup now seems like a bargain! Happy 11th Anniversary to us....