a spring day

Spring is finally here! I know this because my daughter's wearing shorts practically every day and we play outside a lot these days. The most fun is when we get to go to the park. Have I mentioned how much I love my park, Little Mulberry? It has awesome trails for walking or jogging and a great playground for the little ones. I've convinced Josh quite a few times to take a family outing to the park. Mom exercises, and dad & Kate play! We've even met up with our friendly neighbors, the Johnsons, a few times. Another wonderful thing about the spring is the sunlight. Because of various predilections of mine, beginning as a teenager, I've heard people say of me that I must be part cat. I love basking in the sun! (Of course, the main reason that I'm part cat is that I love rubs. . just ask Josh). So, when the sun is out, Liz is a happy lady.

Last week, Lydia came over to play with Kate. We played outside, ate outside, and even read outside! During naptime, Lydia helped me dry dishes, and start the preparations for supper. She soon became inspired by the measuring spoons and the empty box of muffin mix to create her own mini-muffins. Side note: Those little jiffy boxes make great play kitchen boxes. They are just the perfect size!

Outside after supper, Josh snapped a few pics of the three girls reading on our blanket.

Josh was practicing with the fly fishing rod in the backyard. Kate and Lydia both were quite enamored with watching the casting back & forth, back & forth.



I'm not sure exactly why this one is fuzzy, but here's Lydia with three books spread out (open) in front of her, reading another book. What a silly girl! One of her favorite books at our house is Corduroy. She has renamed the main character, a lovable stuffed bear who's "always wanted to have a friend", Cordurator.
Kate sports this move sometimes. I'm not quite sure what this pose is supposed to represent. Hugging or keeping something to herself? It's just a funny Kate pose. She has another where she puts her hands behind her back and walks -- looks quite self important!


Kate "helps" mommy pick some of the few blooming flowers we have in the yard, some perennial dianthus. She says "flow" and then sniffs every time she sees a flower, whether it's in a picture of in real life.

Lydia was so interested in Uncle Josh's practicing that she got a stick & pretended to cast as well. How cute is that?????

Kate sayings:
"di-sgus" -- disgusting
"ta-stee" -- tasty
"khaki" -- Kathy (as in my mom, Grandma Kathy) She starts saying Grandma Kathy anytime we're in the office b/c we usually talk to my mom via skype on the computer.)
"no" -- for awhile, this was her only response to questions, even if she sometimes meant yes, but this week, she's picked up. . "ya."
body parts:
"tee"
"no" -- nose
"eye" -- which she frequently gets mixed up with I. When I ask her to repeat I love you, she points to her eyeball!
"bell-bell" -- belly button
She knows where her head, hair, mouth, belly, belly-button, feet, and toes are (plus the other words she can actually say)
She says "tee-tee" for toothbrush. And something similar for Katie "ta-tee"
"nak" -- snack
"Je" -- Jen. Finally, she's learned her auntie's name!