A Sick Kid

This is what a sick Cate looks like. She is miserable today. On top of have a nasty cold, replete with cough, runny nose and aches... she has a nice rash on both legs. But she is a trooper.

Here, Cate is showing you a special gift she received from Santa Claus. REINDEER FOOD!!!

It came via USPS via Apple Valley, CA. I think something is afoot. First of all, why is Santa using USPS? That's just weird. I would think that Santa would go with Fedex. Second, APPLE VALLEY? I find that hard to believe. I can't imagine that Santa has a reindeer food factory in Apple Valley without David and Donna knowing about it. Maybe if they have some time they can try to find out where the food is being made. It's probably right in their own back yard!!!

By Special Request

I really like this picture of Cate

Essential Cathryn

Cate was the cutest darn bumble-bee ever!!!

This was her first trick-or-treat. She did great. We only took her to three or four homes, but that was enough for her. As you can see, she was eating her candy before she even got home.

I don't think she is like Sara and Caroline, who will throw away 3/4ths of their candy because they don't don't eat candy like normal kids. Their WEIRD. In a good way, I mean.

On her way! Such determination. She had a plan, and she knew that she would have to concentrate if she was going to stick to it!

Her first trick-or-treat EVER!!! It was really exciting. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a pumpkin-carving knife.

She went for chocolate the first time.

On the way home, she pulled out a cherry-flavor Tootsie-Roll lollipop.

Hand-Me-Down

Just a couple pics to update everyone on how BIG Cate is getting.

The first picture has her showing you her pretty pigtails. She did them herself. Okay, not really. Sara did them for her.

Cate "Phelps" Penman

Here is a a little video of Cate learning how to swim with all of her clothes on! Jacket, shoes, everything. It's the final step in teaching her how to save herself, should she fall into the pool.

She is a little fish, and loves being in and around the water.

Potty Training News

Before I forget, Cate has decided that she wishes to use the toilet from now on. Well, perhaps not just the toilet. She also wishes to use the rocks around the pool, the front lawn, the patio, and perhaps the pool, but we hope not.

Seriously though folks... She is potty trained (daytime only). She has had only ONE MISTAKE, and that was the first day (which was a week ago). She hasn't had a single accident since. Amazing kid. Really. We should probably have her tested for some higher-learning classes.

We do need to let her know that peeing in front of the neighbors will need to stop at some point.

We love our happy baby

 

Rituals

Cate and I go out to the mailbox every day after I get home from work. Cate likes for us to sit on the front lawn and open the mail. It's a little messy, and I hope I have the sprinkler timers set correctly, but I like that Cate has her rituals. She has others, too:

1. A popsicle after dinner
2. Swimming with dad (usually before we get the mail)
3. Sesame Street at 8am sharp
4. The gym with Mommy (almost every day!!!)

 

Cate puts on a show for her father

Cate and I stayed at home this evening while Maggie, Jennifer and my mom went to the Chandler Center for the Arts to watch Caroline and Sara perform with the Kimberly Lewis School of Dance. That's okay, because Cate put on quite a show for her dad.

I know I am her dad, and that would probably exclude me from being able to be a non-biased judge of her talent, but this girl is a sure-fire superstar-in-the-making.

Here are a little clip of Cate showing her mad skills...

Clean

Cate just finished her shower. She loves to shower. She is happy now.

Jennifer Plays with Bruce's Camera P. I

Cate found that Sara's Uggs fit PERFECTLY.

Cate practicing some moves she watched on "Flashdance".

Brody M. Kirby is born...

But Cate is still out there entertaining the troops...

Baby Gots New Shoes

 

Cate has joined the granola-eaters.

Here's the really insane part... They are about the same price as Crocs!!!

There's more comin'!!!

So many great pictures have been taken in the last few weeks that I am looking at posting MULTITUDES on one of the internet picture sites (e.g., snapfish, Picasa, etc.). When I do that I will post in the blogs to let everyone know.

In the meantime... Cate is letting everyone here know that, "SUPPER'S READY!!!"

Blending In

Maggie, Cate and I are all alone this weekend. The girls are with their Dad.

It was SO nice out today that we spent some time in back. Maggie gave Cate some strawberries to eat. Cate used them to try to camoflage herself. Look closely at the picture of the flowers below. See if you can find Cate.

A New Direction

The 15th Dalai Lama?

A New Home for Cate

The last couple times we went to Costco, Cate HAD to play in this playhouse. Well, we couldn't bring Cate to Costco every day to play in their house, so as they say, we brought the mountain to Mohammed. Is that what they say? Perhaps we have it backwards.

Anyway, it's really cool, and Cate loves playing in and on it.

It even has a window planter for real flower pots!!!

Doesn't it look like Cate is in an old-time schoolhouse in this picture???

Here is a picture of Cate stretching, just like Mommy. Really, that is what she is doing. Maggie and Cate do their stretching exercises after Maggie works out, and now Cate does it on her own, even if Maggie isn't stretching with her.

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I posted anything on/in Cate's blog.

Cate and I are at home playing with Daisy today. Maggie is getting her hair spruced up. Maggie has a big race tomorrow and wants to look especially sharp crossing the finish line. She knows that her husband will be snapping away on his camera.

So here we are, Cate, Daisy and Dad, playing in the backyard today. It is really awesome how wonderfully Daisy plays with Cate. Dogs (boxers in particular) really have a gentle streak in them around babies and small children. Rarely does Daisy knock Cate over anymore.

Cate plays catch with Daisy all the time, and as she is growing up, she is becoming more attached, and more affectionate with Daisy. It is really sweet. I'll have my camera on me one of these times that Cate walks up to Daisy and wraps her arms around her with a big hug.