Katelyn's birthday was actually while we were in Europe. I prepped a bunch of stuff before I left, and Nana really pulled off a feat making her feel loved and appreciated. Happy 8th, Katelyn!
Date w/ Nana
On the Saturday before her big Monday-birthday, Nana took Katelyn to Build-a-bear, Cheesecake Factory, and Claire's.
BirthDAY
I had asked Brennan hang the birthday banner on Sunday evening and put this bag at her breakfast spot. Inside the bag was pink icing and sprinkles for her birthday Eggo waffle. There was also another gift bag with her school treat and napkins for her class. There was a t-shirt and headband to wear for school that day too.
We called - from Barcelona between our Parc Guell and La Sagrada Familia tours - to wish her a happy birthday right as she was waking up in the morning.
I included animal crackers for an afterschool snack with more of the strawberry icing. I also threw in gummy bears, since they are her favorite.
Baptism Weekend
The day after Ryan & I finally got back from Europe, Papa and Gpa & Gma arrived for the weekend. I was in no condition to host, but they were patient with me and it all worked out.
The highlights were a lot of pizza (purchase by my husband who knew I had no energy or brain power for a grocery trip or cooking), some card playing, and a couple trips to the neighborhood pool.
Her baptism was Saturday morning. Luckily, I had done most of the planning before we left (printing the programs, taking photos, picture frames), and the rest Gma & Nana helped with (Crumbl cookie order, last-minute grocery trip). A lot of church friends from both wards came to support her, and even her student teacher from last year and a friend from school too. Gpa & Papa gave the talks, Brennan & Ethan gave the prayers, and Gma & I were the the witnesses. Nana was the chorister, and Collin played interlude piano music while she changed. Ryan, of course, performed the baptism and confirmation.
Afterwards, we went to lunch at Texas Roadhouse, as she requested, followed by a trip to the pool.
Since it was Labor Day weekend, everyone stayed for Monday as well. I booked us tickets to the limestone cave here 10 minutes away - Cascade Cavern. It was ok (with having been in Slovenia the week before, not much could have matched that). Brennan had an anxiety itching attack less than half-way into it, Collin started running a fever about 10 minutes after that, and Grandpa had an asthma attack on the 100 steps out after the tour. Yeah, it didn't go too smoothly.
Afterwards, we stopped for ice cream and Mexican treats at Snow Heaven.
On Tuesday, Nana & Papa and Gpa & Gma all flew home. Ryan returned to work, and all the kids returned to school. Sigh. I hope I can get a routine going here soon for myself too!
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Ok, a little about my baby on her 8th birthday.
Booster Seat
First off, we was so ready to ditch her booster seat in the car. She's been the only one needing a car seat for a couple years now, so she kicked that thing to the garage floor as soon as she was allowed. I will say that it is so weird to not have any car seats anymore. With such a large car, I hardly feel justified in being a mom without also needing child restraints in it. So weird.
Soccer
Katelyn is now playing Academy soccer. They practice for 90 minutes twice per week and play 10 months of the year. She started the beginning of August, and she'll only have December and July off. She has games all over San Antonio and Austin, sometimes with more than one game per Saturday. It's a lot for her (we've have yet to have a single day under 100 degrees since she started), and it's a lot for me (the practice soccer fields are 30-traffic-filled minutes away, and the game fields are 60-90 minutes each way depending on the week). As the baby, the older kids also have places and activities to get to, so it has been a burden already, to say the least. I pray she works hard, learns a lot, and loves the game.
Third Grade
She's in 3rd grade this year, which is the first year that state testing begins. She is working hard with review packets for each unit, homework each night, and Challenge Lab extension projects. Her reading-aloud is still very stilted and rough, but her comprehension is nearly perfect, so we are letting her read to herself for her daily minutes in order to avoid the constant battle.
Friends
This girl has more friends than all her brothers combined! Everyone loves her - the old, the young, her peers. There must have been 50 people at her baptism! She very politely spoke - of her own choosing - with each person and thanked them for coming. She smiled and took pictures and politely accepted gifts. It was just about the best thing to watch! I'm not wizard of friendship, so I am taking lessons from her now. Go Katelyn!
Happy Birthday & Baptism, my little princess!
