The Fighter's

Kate keeps us on our toes constantly...you cannot turn your back on her for a minute (as evidenced by the following pics). She gets into everything, climbs on everything, crawls into, under, on top of everything, eats everything...and I mean everything ! I was in the laundry room (2 feet away from the bathroom) when I heard a clunk in the toilet and found this....cringing at first then using everything in me to keep from laughing. I do love her curiosity and lightheartedness...and she does make us laugh constantly with her little antics, and giant cheeky smile. As Ava and Grandpa Conover would say.... "oh Katelyn".

I can't believe it's already been 3 years since our Ava bean came into our lives on that 2005 Turkey Day. It has been SO much fun to watch her grow and learn...she truly is such a genuine sweetheart and brings an amazing amount of joy to our life. We had a Thomas the Train party for her with a few of her best buddies...complete with hot dogs, macaroni and cheese (at her request), conductor hats, lots of playing and a fantastic train cake brought by Grammy. She had a blast and just loved having all her favorite people there for her big day. Here are a few pics from her party and actual birthday!

Recommendation: Never take two children under the age of three to the BMV ...especially around lunch time. Dummy me thought..."my girls are usually good...I can entertain them for 20 minutes...no problem, piece of cake." We managed well with trains and books for about half of our long one hour at the BMV . The other half was a different story including but not limited to...Two falls and head bumps for Kate who cried ( screamed) for 5 minutes at the top of her lungs after each. A three year old who was mad she wasn't getting the attention her little sister was getting and started to roll around on the floor (yes the dingy floor) ignoring my "mom" stares and warnings. Kate coloring all over the BMV counter with a pen...as I filled out my paper work. Oblivious me...she was sitting on my lap ( and I was even thinking....oh good...she calmed down ) but between Ava rolling around on the floor, paperwork, the BMV lady's questions and coats/bags hanging off of m...

Doug and I are loving watching this sister dynamic develop. Granted...we definitely have our daily moments when it's hard to share, swat fights and attempts to out-scream/out-do each other. But we have been noticing more and more...their communication and giggles growing...in a fun, fun way. Just tonight, we were at Home Depot and Ava insisted on holding Kate's hand. It warmed my heart watching Ava take the lead holding on tightly to her sister's hand...Katelyn following close behind (wobbling in her fluffy pink coat). Other favorites lately... Ava getting down to Kate's level, talking to her in a high pitched, sweet voice, trying to teach Kate about a toy she's playing with, or a book she's reading. Kate's little legs running to keep up with big sis Ava's every move. Or the two of them jumping and giggling into couch cushions pulled onto the floor. Ava jumping or dancing, and Kate trying to do the same...not quite able to catch any air...just bouncing...

Have you ever gotten one of those "tag" things through email...where you're tagged to answer things about yourself, then get other people to respond and do the same? They're kind of fun (especially when procrastinating on other things...cleaning, catching up on to-do's!). My good friend Libby tagged me to write 7 things about myself. Thanks for thinking of me Lib! I struggled to come up with some, and realize I am not the most interesting person in the world by any means...but here it goes... 1. I have one arm that is longer than the other. My left arm is about an inch longer than my right. 2. I have been known to tell really long (sometimes pointless) stories…better known as Kim stories. I’m not the best story teller in the world. I like to include more details than not and often get off track. I also get a kick out of small little things that other people may not find as humorous and people often stare at me while I’m talking and cracking myself up (ask Doug). ...

Can it get any better than this??? Fall time fun with Grandma...

I never thought I would get Doug to that place up north, but I did and I think he enjoyed himself! My good friend Haneen rang in her 30 th birthday with friends and fam and we drove up for the celebration! We had a fantastic time...eating at an excellent little Italian restaurant (maybe the best Italian I've had in a long time) and spending time catching up with Neen & Tarek and laughing lots . And not to mention...it's always nice to have a kid free night out with my hubby!

Ava & Kate had a blast! Ava couldn't wait to get into her Thomas costume...choo chooing every 5 minutes and at one point saying to me..."mommy...what does a train say when it stops?" To which I replied, "I don't know hun ..." and tried to imitate a screeching brake noise. She very confidently exclaimed..."no mommy...it goes..." and she let out a " shhhhhh " sort of noise that sounded like a compressor releasing air. I was impressed...because she was so right! She has this train thing down pat! Grammy came to trick-or-treat, and helped pull Kate in the wagon. Towards the end Kate was anxious to walk, and once out, walked right up to a front porch, arms outstretched going " teet ", " teet ". She picked that up pretty quick (anything with food!). Here are some pics! Waiting anxiously... Us and our girls before the big night... Our little Thomas... Grammy & Kate... Enjoying their bounty... Our good friends the ...

Kate is a character and is constantly doing things to crack us (and herself) up. Tonight at dinner she grabbed the top of a Tupperware container and started smashing her face up against it, and then would make a gargling sound or say " buuue " (her sound for blue), cracking herself up the whole time. My favorite was when she did the gargle sound while licking the container, nose smashed, eyes darting side to side...priceless image for my head! While all this was going on, Ava was having the cutest conversation with Grandma & Grandpa Conover ...talking about going to "Toot- Toot's " this weekend...her favorite train restaurant outside Toledo, and telling them about her day. Every once in a while she would say...."grandpa...see Kate" and hold the phone up to "show" grandpa the face smashing show Katelyn was putting on. Here's a shot of her on the phone tonight...so grown up having real phone conversations now:-)

We carved our pumpkin today. Ava named him Harry. She wasn't so sure about the sliminess of the pumpkin seeds and left most of the scooping up to me, but was particular about what shapes to use for the face and repeatedly said..."we're making a jack-o-lantern " and "Happy Halloween Mommy":-) When we were finished she asked if we could carve another one...so I think she enjoyed it, despite the sliminess.

A Fighter family favorite...Buckeye football Saturdays. Not much gets better than this on a beautiful October Saturday, especially when spending it with family and friends. After an 11 hour night of sleep (yes we...including Doug & I...went to bed at 9 last night and slept until 8 and it was wonderful!), woke up to coffee, cartoons, newspaper and anticipation of a fun football Saturday. Doug was most eager of all...totally giddy. Our great friend Dan was nice enough to share one of 2 tickets to the game...5th row, 50 yard line. Amazing seats for one of the best games of the season against #3 Penn State! We ventured down to campus around noon for a tailgate with good friends. Uncle Robert and his father in law Jim, made it in for the tailgate and game which was an added bonus! Ava is totally into OSU...loves getting dressed up in her Buckeye gear and today asked for "bows like a cheerleader". Throughout the day you could catch her yelling "go Beanie" and singing ...

Here are a few pics from today. We had a great one! Nature hike at Blendon Woods this morning with my good friend Kristin and her mom's group. Ava loved the nature center and all the "stuffed" (aka taxidermy ) animals in it. Kate squealed at the birds and squirrels in the bird viewing area. A few other fun moments from today: Ava & Kate's fascination with their toothbrushes. Ava loves hers because it sings a 2 minute thomas the train song (which she knows all the words to) and I think I heard that song at least 25 times today. Kate just likes to sit with it hanging out of her mouth. Not sure why, but all I know is it keeps that kid still for more than a minute and I'll take it! Ava trying to show Kate the ropes...gently (and sometimes not so gently) with a sweet little.."come on Katie Kate" (her newest nickname for her) and a hand on her back/outstretched hand. Love it! The girls in the back seat doing the motions to "if you're happy and ...

This season I have just been extra aware and thankful for the beauty that surrounds me. Not only have the radiant orange and red Autumn sunsets and the beauty of many colored leaves caught my eye as they often do this time of year. But in the usual season of harvest and giving thanks, I have been especially thankful and aware of the blessings that surround our family. Fall…change. Things happen to stir us up inside. To force us out of our comfort zone to reflect. 2008 has been a year that has stirred us up! It has been a happy year with many, many ups, but also a bumpy year…probably the bumpiest yet, beginning with the death of our dear Pastor Dave after his long battle with cancer, departing our much loved church family to follow our hearts to a new church, illnesses/hospitalizations/hard times for some of our closest family members. All of these things caused our insides to turn. For us to feel out of control and helpless and a little off balance. Stiff feelings as humans to grip and...

Well...now we have proof that we have a daring bruiser on our hands. Kate got her first set of stitches (and hopefully her last) this past Saturday after taking a spill onto a wooden chair at our friend's Buckeye party. At first I panicked slightly inside after seeing my child's head gushing, but after some clean up and a band-aid, we made a calm call to Grandma Barb (aka nurse Barb) and then the pediatrician who advised we hold off 1/2 hour for some of the swelling to go down to determine if stiches were needed. During which time, Katelyn forgot the whole episode, walking around with a bandaid across her forehead, playing with the other kids and hamming it up with the adults. At Children's, they were wonderful. No shot to numb the pain (thank God!) but a new gel to do the trick. We snagged some pics of Kate with the "gel" concoction/bandage on her head...they had to provide "extra" reinforcement as she kept tearing the band-aid off, so it looks worse th...