Library Fun

About a month ago, I decided it would be a fun idea to go to the library!  I needed to get a library card and I thought Katie would enjoy it too.  Thank goodness it all worked out - you have to be 4 years old to get your own card...whew!  She had such a fun time going through and picking out some fun books to read.  And she was pretty proud of her new card too.

 I tried to make a point of it to read these library books at least every other day while Jack was napping.  We did a pretty good job...but she always chose the same books each time, so there were definitely books we didn't get to.  Oh well!  Her favorite was The Man With Bad Manners.

As it got closer to return the books, I remembered they were having a fun event at the library.  So we decided that would be the day we went!  Here are what pictures of the kids look like these days (if I am lucky)...

 They were having a Touch A Truck event!  Here Katie is up in a firetruck...

 And in the scoop of a humongous bulldozer...

 This is the tire of the same bulldozer - huge!

 And she  loved pretending to drive it too!

 She was driving the dump truck here...the men that own it taught her how to honk the horn.  She thought that was the most amazing thing ever!

 And she was so excited to find a "bulldozer" that was just her size!

 They also had Chick Fil A, a mobile pet adoption, face painting, etc!  She thought it was hilarious to see the CFA Cow at the library!

 And what did she decide to get painted on her face? A spider!  Even with pictures of rainbows and butterflies and ladybugs!  Oh my.

 After we finished doing all of that fun stuff, we went into the library for more fun!  I think Katie absolutely loves putting the books in the book return!

 Then it was time to pick out some more books!  She is so random about the books she chooses.  But she loves it.  And it is a fun, free thing to do!

 I love this picture :)

Well, we can mark one thing off our summer bucket list!  So glad we got library cards!  Now I can't wait to go for storytime and a craft sometime soon!

Favorite Children's Books

When I saw Kelly over at Kelly's Korner was going to do a link up with you favorite children's books, I got so excited!  I have a problem with buying books.  I don't often buy toys for the kids, but I have trouble saying no to a book - I want them to love reading!  So we have lots of books.  And by lots, I mean LOTS!  They are scattered all around - so that makes them more available!  We have them in Katie's room, Jack's room, the playroom/sunroom, the bonus room, and even the living room! I always have good intentions of making our collection smaller - I will go through them and if we don't really read them, I will set them aside to take to a local used book/movie/music place.  Well, when I do that, I usually end up buying even more kids books!  These are a few pictures of our book stashes along with a stack of some of our favorites right now.

I also have a huge stack of books to use as surprises when Katie has a week getting all her stickers...I can think of about 5 regular books and probably 10-15 early reader books.  I love that my kids are so entertained by reading a book - and I hope that love for reading and learning stays with them for a long time!

I can't wait to visit some other blogs and get ideas for some books to add to our collection - remember?  I have a weakness for books :)

Reading + Writing

I think Katie is going through a developmental storm...she is learning and doing new things on a daily basis!  Makes me so excited for her, but it also makes me realize that she is a little girl - no more baby or toddler here!  She has been showing signs of wanting to learn how to read (the very first steps, of course), wants to learn more about telling time, and is writing letters - especially her name!

We have been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar at bedtime the last couple of weeks.  Of course there are nights Katie prefers to read her library book.  Or nights where she is just too exhausted to read.  But that has been the overall winner for a while.  Well, we went to read it recently, and guess who read it!  If you guessed Katie, you guessed correct.  Now I use the term "read" loosely...she recited the book to us.  But she got every.single.word right.  The only thing she had a little confusion with was a few of the days of the week.  Brad and I were astounded!  She has done this with the last few books we have read regularly at bedtime.  Does this mean she is ready to start working on sight words?  Or reading early learner books?  Or does she just have a really good memory?  One thing is for sure - I was very impressed!  And I want to take advantage of her momentum and eagerness for books!  I bought the first two collections of BOB Books at Costco the other day and will start on those with her soon....

She also has been doing some good drawing!  On my birthday card, she drew her first "stick person"...she said that is mommy and hair on top and arms out on the side and the two circles are - yep, you guessed it...boobies - and then the big circle in the middle is my "butt" - bellybutton - and then legs!  I almost wet my pants I laughed so hard!  But it was probably my favorite thing I got this year - Katie's first real person drawing!  And I love it!

 When we went to my mom's house to celebrate, Katie said she wanted to draw her a picture too!  So she drew this person with hair and arms and legs and a bellybutton.  And the squiggle on the right is an apple.  And then she wrote "Cee" at the top for Cee Cee and then signed her name at the bottom.  Wow!

 And after too much TV was watched earlier this week, I got Katie a pen and paper out and suggested she practice writing her name.  And she loved it!  This was one of the times she did it.  And she did it all herself...she would do one letter and then spell her name to realize what was next and then write that letter.  Amazing! 

I am one proud momma...and I know I need to capitalize on her eagerness for learning and art and all that!  Art is definitely one of her favorite things to do, so drawing and coloring are always out "go-to" activity!  And she does love reading books too.  I can't wait to see all of the things she will figure out and learn over the next few months!

A Few Randoms...

• I went to look back at my 20 week picture with Katie and didn't have one!! There is a 19w4d picture and then a 21 week picture.  I couldn't believe it!  I guess I will have to take another one next weekend so I do a "compare the belly pics" post!
• Do not buy candy at the store in the mall - I wanted some Sour Patch Kids (yum!) and payed almost $3 for the equivalent of what I could've gotten for a dollar at Walgreens.
• I am a sucker for BOGO - I went to Motherhood Maternity to buy some new maternity jeans (BY MYSELF - pure bliss!), and the clearance section was BOGO, so I got 4 tops! But hey!  I only payed for 2! :)  And I get tired of wearing the same things over and over when I already don't feel terribly attractive - yay for new options!
• A pregnant woman in a grocery store is dangerous.  Even if she has a list.  I went for milk and some items for a recipe for what I'm taking to a Super Bowl Party and ended up spending $91.  What extras were included? Cheese-Its, Lemon Perrier, Chex Mix, and Raspberry Tea.  I also got some things for Katie (popcorn, donuts, bananas, "brownie cookies"...).  Oh my.
• I am almost finished reading my second book of the year - Water for Elephants!  Not too bad for this early in February!  I am debating what to read next - maybe start the Hunger Games? Or Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? Do you have any suggestions?
• I love hearing Brad and Katie playing - I just got home from the store and they are playing upstairs.  I think it is supposed to be "quiet time", but I hear lots of giggling!
• I don't care who wins the Super Bowl.  I am more excited about the commercials and the food that people are bringing.  Oh and our friends too :)