Recap of the week.

Sorry for the delay in updates.

On Sunday, we were officially reunited with Katherine (and Papa). My dad brought Katherine to us so that he could stay and help us pack up the house.

Here is the official recap.

Sunday
Dad, Frank and I played and played with Katherine. Then we started the packing process. Basically, it was all out war with the house. We started packing immediately. Since all of the dishes and pots/pans were packed we had to eat out, oh darn! It gave us a chance to eat at all of our "old haunts". We hit Baja Grill.

Monday
Frank went to work. (it was the first day of the official conversion.) He is a Senior Account Manager in the Elite PCS team. It is as important as it sounds. I am so proud!!!! Katherine went to play with her friends at Darla's house. I packed as much as I could pack. Dad spent all day changing the tires and replacing the breaks on the Mazda. I truly hope that all daughters have the dad that I have and husbands have a father in law that Frank has. My dad is in a word...awesome! That night we went for chinese food at Pei Wei.

Tuesday
Dad and I packed like crazy. We took breaks only to rest and have a little lunch. We packed as much as we could til we dropped...actually dropped! Katherine had a great day with her friends and Frank had a good day at work. We went for a true steak dinner to thank Daddy for all he had done. Prairie House is a hole in the wall steak joint that is YUMMY!

Wednesday
Same bat time, same bat channel. This time though, we went for seafood.

Thursday
This was the BIG day. Our Al's Firefighter Mover's arrived and had all of our belongings in an 8x16 Mobile Attic portable storage unit. These guys did everything in 4 hours and with a professional manner. Dad and I were able to do many other things while Tim the fireman and Donny the fireman were doing some heavy lifting. By 6:00 p.m., Frank, Dad, Katherine and I were all at Grandma Kathy's house to relax. (I attached the links of the storage and movers because they rock! Use them if you need 'em)

Friday
Frank and I did some last minute things at the house...and it comes down to this.

1. Our house is officially empty!
2. We are at Grandma Kathy's house and everything is unloaded.
3. We are closing on the house on Monday at noon. (we even get lunch!)
4. Life is good! I have a glass of wine and Frank and Katherine are swimming in the pool!

Thank you to all that have helped us....we couldn't have done it without you!!!

Goodbye 5940 Hillview, hello new adventures!!

Gardening

Melt my heart...these are cute.

After being away from Katherine this long....I miss her and I am ready to have her home.

The saga continues

This is a briefing of Friday.

A little late but still have news to report. After another breakfast of pancakes and BACON we started our day. Katherine and Papa tusseled over the last (literally) bite of bacon. It was pretty funny. She had helped me cook it and thought the whole plate of bacon was hers.

We spent ALL morning playing in the sandbox, pulling weeds, playing in the sprinkler and in the little swimming pool. Katherine loves the flowers and her "trees" which are sticks she picks up out of the yard. She plants them very carefully in any little patch of mud she finds.We saw a butterfly, a mouse, a lizard and watched the bird who has made a nest in the wreath on the back door. I think it is a wren. There are 3 eggs in the nest. We had another picnic lunch then with little argument
went down for a nap.

After her nap we watched Word Girl and Arthur. Papa went in to run a few errands and came home with stickers and crayons. I have now several Van Katherines around the house. Fortunately we caught her before she found the blank walls. When Papa came home, he fixed hamburgers on the grill. YUM. We all ate very well. After supper Papa and Katherine rolled and chased and played until Papa was pooped. Her new game is to run from you over everything so we made several trips up and down the stairs to "catch" her. Bedtime wasn't too big of an issue because of the many trips up and down the stairs. Oh, did I mention Katherine had trouble settling down. Papa and Mimi were out like lights.

Saturday will probably include a trip to the fruit stand and lunch at McDonalds.

Oh one thing I forgot. Katheine was helping me put the towels away yesterday and decided to go potty. What she didn't check out was the cabinet door standing open. She has a loveley L shaped bruise on her cheek where she collided head on with the edge of the door. We growled at the door and she continues to do so every time she goes into the bathroom. Can't say that I blame her. Oh the woes of being short!

Take care--more news tomorrow. Mom

Another great day!

Here is the synopsis of Katherine's day. My parents are pretty good at blogging! (maybe better than me. :) )

Well we have had another busy day here in the country. Katherine has kept us both busy all day. She started her day around 8:30 helping Mimi make cakes"(aka..pancakes) We spent the morning playing in the rain, digging in the sandbox, watching the dump truck deliver sand in the front yard for the new sidewalk that Papa is making and running back and forth from the back porch to the potty.

After a picnic lunch a nap was in order. It took a while but Katherine finally napped. When she got up we picked out a pretty dress and put her hair in pigtails and went in to eat at Farm House. Before we got our food Papa said ,"Lets say the blessing". Papa asked if she wanted to say the prayer. She immedietely bowed her head and said, " Mama, Daddy, Mimi, Papa, GaGa and Betty AMEN. ( Papa and Mimi had to choke the tears..so...sweet. )She ate every thing on her plate and the pickles and part of
the salad from Mimi's plate.

We then went to the church and she played in the nursery while Mimi and Papa had a meeting. The highlights were the big trucks on the playground that she could play in the dirt with. Daddy do we see a pattern here? (Maybe she will own a trucking company)

After the meeting she helped us find our way back home playing the "Is this Mimi and Papa's House" game.

After a snack and 4 books she is reading herself to sleep again. She even reads like Mimi using different voices. So... fun to stand at the door and listen. She has all of her Mothers tricks up her sleeve...I am thirsty, I am hungry, I'm sceered..I want milk. It takes me back a few years.

I don't know exactly what tomorrow will bring but I am sure we will stay busy. Mimi is tired and going to call it a night. At least it is dark outside and I don't feel too bad about going to bed.

I'll send a picture or two tomorrow.
Love you,
Mom

Pictures!

Helping Papa Garden Getting a drink from the hose
Cooling down after a long hard day!

Mimi and Papa

Mimi and Papa are keeping Katherine this week. Here is the daily synopsis....pictures soon


Hi there,

Well we have had a really busy and fun day. Katherine and Papa and I started working in the yard around 8:45 this morning. Katherine was a lot of help. She dug in the dirt, pulled weeds, picked up leaves and drank out of the waterhose (which seemed to be the big hit of the morning). She and Papa looked at the big truck that stopped in front of the house. She followed Papa just about every step he took(even in the mud). She had a picnic lunch then after Papa let her watch several of her favorite shows she took a nap(so did Papa and Mimi). After her nap and a snack we played on the porch some more then Papa found the "beach" and she swam and splashed and played for an hour. Mimi cooked supper and she ate and ate. We had pork chops, cucumbers, tomatoes and cantalope.--all of the vegetables were from Papa's garden. Yum!! She ate and ate and ate. I have never seen a child eat so many vegetables.

She has now heard about 6 stories and is upstairs in bed reading her farm and fish book. She could hardly hold her eyes open but she is still fighting it. Her new favorite story is Mimi's rendition of "The Wide Mouthed Bullfrog".

Mimi is now enjoying a glass of wine and hoping she can make it til the sun goes down. Hope you are having a good time. Love you, Mom

Father's Day 2008

What a wonderful Father's Day! Katherine blessed Frank (both of us really) by sleeping until 9:15 a.m. nice...

We packed some of the house before heading over to Grandma Kathy's house.

Once there, Frank and Katherine swam and swam and swam! Kathy and I headed out to see the Sex and the City movie. It is a great film! Katherine took a nap while we were gone so Frank was able to watch the US Open Golf tournament in solitude and quiet.

This evening, Katherine and Frank swam some more. Then after a yummy steak dinner, we all headed for bed.

Frank is such an awesome father. He is so loving and caring. When someone tells me how lucky I am that Frank is a good husband and father, I agree 100%! Katherine and I are both so blessed to have a wonderful man in our life!

Speaking of, I am also blessed to have my dad. He is thoughtful and adoring. My dad loves me unconditionally, Katherine as if she walked the moon and Frank like a son. What more could a daughter ask for?

Thanks, Frank and Dad, for being amazing!

Some thoughts on Mommyhood

I'm always reading parenting magazines about how great moms come up with great organizing ideas or creative toddler activities. They are always thinking "outside the box."

While these wonderful, engaging toddler activities are happening, the moms are busying themselves with a 1 minute spa treatment and volunteer thank you notes. There children give hugs and never scream, "NO!". That is not our household. I don't think those homes or moms exist.

I cannot and will not create healthy organic breakfast while making my own recycled paper. Instead, I give Katherine a banana and make lists on the back of junk mail envelopes that I will most likely lose.

I cannot and will not bathe my child in eco friendly bubbles while cleaning the bathroom around her with earth friendly cleaning products. Instead, I grab May's issue of Parenting, ditch it for a novel and read while she bathes. I celebrate the fact that our housekeeper will be here in a few days.

This is where I reach today.

It's 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and I am still in my pajamas. Katherine is watching the 2nd hour of television. My house is a mess and only half packed for our move in 2 weeks. I have a To Do list that keeps growing and is never finished.

From an outsiders point of view, I might be considered a lazy mom or indifferent to my surroundings. It might be even true. I don't think outside of that creative box.

However.........

Katherine did eat a healthy breakfast and has remained happy all day. She is actually dressed. (we'll breeze past the fact that she is wearing the same blue dress that wears almost everyday). She has also successfully used her potty and not had any accidents. She is learning her colors and numbers while watching Mickey Mouse Club.

I finished reading May's issue of Parenting, only June and July to go~! (why I already have the July issue, I don't know). I won't read it until September anyway so I don't have to worry about missing the organic, glutose free, wheat based 4th of July cake recipe. At least, I have packed some things and my house is only messy and not filthy. BIG difference.

So maybe I'm not indifferent.

Maybe I'm not lazy.

I'm just thinking outside of my own box. Of course, I have to pack that box now.

It's Potty Time

Yea! It's time to potty! (get it? potty, party...haha)

Katherine has successfully mastered the potty. She also knows when to tell me she has to go. I am so proud of my BIG GIRL!

Thus ends Booty Camp 2008 and all potty talk.

:)

Katherine and I took Mom to lunch today as a big thank you for being such a big help in potty training. Mom was such a wonderful help to me! Thanks so much for being a wonderful Mimi. She also helped me pack up all of my wedding china for our big move!

After lunch, Mom told Katherine it was time for Mimi to go to Mimi's house and Katherine to go Katherine's house. Poor dear got so upset (Katherine not Mom). She just sat down in the booth and started crying, "Mimi, Mimi...I stay with Mimi." It was pitiful. Once we got home and distracted by Barney (save me Lord Jesus), all was better.

Katherine is taking a well deserved nap now and I am taking a well deserved rest on the couch. Next, I'll be working on more packing. *yawn*

Booty Camp - Day 3

We are at 100% success rate today!

Woo Hoo!

We got some of our ideas from the Booty Camp segment on the Today show but modified to fit Katherine's personality. :)

Booty Camp

Day 2 of potty training.... we are making quite the headway!

I'll spare you the specific details, but we have had a 60% success rate so far.

Story Time!

My dad is camping this week, so my mom decided to come stay with us this week. She got here yesterday. Frank fixed his famous meatloaf. At least he claims it is famous. It is pretty awesome....I'll give him that.


Anyway....


Today, Mom and I took Katherine to her to the doctor so we could check on her ear situation. Turns out here was fluid in her ears. We got some medicine so all is well now. Katherine was so good during the visit.


As a reward, we took her to Barnes and Noble to get her a book. We got there in time for Barnes and Noble Story Time! They read a book and then do an activity. They even give out snacks. So Katherine and a dozen of her toddler friends sat with goldfish and listened to "Me and the Sea Serpent". After the story, they made their very own sea serpent. It was a lot of fun and Katherine really enjoyed herself. She again, was very well behaved! She also made quite a beautiful pink and purple sea serpent.


We had lunch and went to a quilt shop afterwards. By the time we got home, Katherine was ready for a nap. So were Mommy and Mimi!


Here are some photos of Story Time!

Finally! an update!

OK, here goes. I'll just do it in categories....

We have sold our house! We close on June 25. This means that we have a lot going on in terms of getting the house "ready" due to the inspection report. Nothing is really too major. It just takes time to get it done.

Speaking of that, our new house will be ready by the end of August/beginning of September! Woo Hoo! I can't wait.

On to Frank.

Frank got a big promotion about 2 weeks ago. He is now on the Elite PCS team. This was a big moment for him! The interview process was tough and he was sucessful! We are very proud of him. He has also been busying himself with stuff around the house.

Now on to me.

I have finished my first year of teaching! YES! It has been quite a year and I am glad it is over. I, unfortunately, did not win the Intern of the Year competition. I have to say, though, it was a wonderful and exciting process. I do know the teacher that won and she is an amazing teacher. That was somewhat of a comfort. I am now busying myself with the wonders of being a stay at home mom. My big accomplishment today was getting Katherine down for her nap on time. Yea me.

Now Katherine.

Wow! She has really come a long way in the past month. She is now sleeping in a big girl bed. We also understand what she says when she talks. Just yesterday, we were singing Donald's Farm (Old McDonald) and I chose pig for the animal. Katherine looked at me and said, "Good job, Mommy. Good choice!". OK, so that just tells you I'm a teacher. I am forever telling her she is making a good choice or not a good choice. :)

On of her favorite activities now is "painting". She gets a paint brush and a bucket of water and "paints" the concrete. It is a pretty awesome and clean game....keeps her occupied for a while. She has also now discovered her love for the movie, "Finding Nemo". Her other pastime is pointing out big trucks and choo-choo trains at any given moment.

We also figured out the situation with her stomach virus. Turns out, it wasn't a stomach virus but rather a double ear infection. She is recuping just fine. We've gone through 2 rounds of antibiotic and I am taking her to the doctor on Tuesday. She really is a pretty good patient. She doesn't get too fussy just quiet and very still. That is how we know she might have a fever. What truly stinks though is that it limits what she can do. She can't really go swimming right now and we had to cancel our trip to Austin. I really wanted to take her to see Grandma and Nana but Katherine's doctor objected to her traveling to different climates too much. bummer. Like I said, though, we are going to the doctor on Tuesday and all should be fine.

On other news...Darla's husband, Dave, was put in the hospital for blood clots in his legs. Thank goodness, they are taken care of and he is back home. Keep the Boswell family in your prayers.

I hope this update satisfies everyone for a while. Now that I am out of school, they should be more often and more thorough.

I know!

I know! I know! It has been waaaay too long since I've updated. There is no need to fret any longer though... I am working on a wonderful, detailed update that will be up soon.

Oh...P.S. I finished my last day of school today!!!!!!!!!!