Kate

So, what are my kids up to these days? And who are they? They are my everyday challenge to speak the truth, ask God for wisdom, laugh, sit down and read, and read, and read some more.

Kate -- She's four. People can't decide whether she looks more like Josh or me. Well, people can decide, they just don't agree with one another. I can even see that her hair is much like mine and our eyes peas are in a pod. But others won't be dissuaded and think she is the spitting image of Josh. She still loves many girly things, but has started to experiment with favorite colors other than pink. She recently chose light blue, and was thrilled to know that it could be called "robin's egg blue." Her day starts with breakfast, morning chores, and sometimes a few errands with mom. She buckles herself in her booster seat, unbuckles herself and can unbuckle little 'sis, too. Talk about helpful. I don't think I've pushed her helpfulness to its true limits yet -- yesterday she, of her own accord, gave Rachel a bath, and got her dressed (with a diaper on!). She isn't a big eater, but eats a good variety of foods. Loves shrimp, steak, salad, sprite, and anything sweet. After lunch, where she most often chooses meat sandwich over peanut butter & you name it, she normally spends a little time with me doing school. We started talking about sounds and letters earlier this year, and she just ate it up. She still loves us to read to her a lot, but she's learning it can be fun to do on her own, too. I overheard her reading out loud to herself this afternoon through a crack in the door. But, one of my favorite bonuses to her reading is her SINGING with us at church more, even when she hasn't memorized the particular hymn or all of its verses. I just love singing along with my family and praising Jesus together in a different way than before. We try to read a non-fiction "science" book during our school time, and do a bit of handwriting practice as well. Lately we've talked about frogs, butterflies, Antarctica, snow leopards, fables, fairy tales, and have really enjoyed that video buzzing around about the octopus in camouflage. She just recently began taking violin lessons from her Auntie Jen -- and she so excited, although you wouldn't know it to see her during her lessons. She is very serious and soaks it all in. This is how she moves through much of life -- with her eyes wide open, and pretty quiet in "new settings." An analytic mind accompanies those observant eyes, and so I get some real doozies from her! "Why is it okay for people to lie about where David's friends were? Is that okay?" Umm, really? I have to get into the ethics of Rahab's lie with my four year old? Between school and dinner time, she spends her free time dressing up and pretending to be Jane, Beauty, Rapunzel, Susan, Laura or Marta. Most of these dress-ups involve a pair of my shoes, a scarf or two arranged artfully as either long hair, a bonnet, or a baby carrier. By the time dinner comes around, she is really ready for Dad to get home. She is loves to recount the day sometimes in extreme detail and sometimes she just glosses over the highlights. Nighttime has developed into a better routine of late. One story, one song, and prayer. And a kiss. The hardest part is figuring out which book to choose! 

Well, so much for part 1. . .part 2 will focus on the cutie pie two year old!!