Team Garner

Catching Up

2012-02-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

I realized this morning as I sat at the kitchen table drinking my coffee that I hadn't posted anything since January and now it is almost the middle of February. Needless to say I have some catching up to do. About three weeks ago I decided to make a trip to Billings, Montana to attend my cousin, Kyler's Commission ceremony. My grandma also has Alzheimer's and is declining very quickly so I wanted to get out and see her again as well.

Reading her new favorite book on the plane

My cousin from Mexico was also going to be there and we hadn't seen each other in a long time. She is the closest thing to a sister and when I spent 6 months living with her in Cancun we became very close.

While I knew Jeff could handle both girls, I thought I would take it easy on him and only leave him with one. And although I had to buy a ticket for Katie and Carly would have been free, I knew that traveling with a 3 year old would be a lot easier than with a 19 month old. So I quickly made logistical arrangements and everything fell into place. Katie and I left early on Thursday morning and returned late Monday night. It was a wonderful trip and I am so glad I went. Now if only we all didn't all live so far apart.

Three generations of Schmitz girls, wish it was 4 (miss you mom)

Breakfast with grandma....grape juice (watered down of course) and Kt's first doughnut

Being so patient and well behaved during a lot of visiting

Thank you Aunt Kim for having so many wonderful new things to play with including this adorable rocking chair that was just Katie's size.

All dressed up for the party

Dianna (aka the girl in the red coat according to Katie)

Couldn't help but cry during this part of the ceremony. My younger cousin Konner, giving the first salute to his older brother and now Officer.

Cunkle Kyler and Konner (a mix of cousins and uncles)

Cousins

My wonderful Grandma Nats (my childhood nickname for her Natalie) with her great granddaughter. My mom would love this picture. We definitely missed her during this trip.

I love this picture! Uncle Rob (mom's other brother) reading to Miss Kt.

It was such a wonderful trip and a big thank you to Janice and Papa and Grandma for helping out so much while I was gone. As always we couldn't have done it without you!

Self Portrait

2012-01-26T06:10:00.000-08:00

Last week when we were snowed in I had to pull out of all my preschool teacher ideas and this was one of them...the full size self portrait. I traced Katie on a long sheet of paper and then let her do the rest.

She loved it and was concentrating very hard. When little sister woke up from her nap she of course wanted to color too.

Checking out her hand compared to big sisters.

I love Carly's expression in this one. Katie had just accidentally torn a hole in the paper....oooooohhhhhh

The finished product is proudly displayed on the pantry door.

Snow Days

2012-01-17T07:25:00.000-08:00

We are having our first big winter snow event this week and the girls are having so much fun. Of course it seems like it takes just as long to bundle them as it does to actually play outside.

Carly trying to wave bye to mommy even with all of her layers on

Sledding is so much fun, especially when mommy or daddy is pulling the sled. Katie didn't love it at first but out little daredevil, Carly sure did.

Then we built a snowman but Katie insisted on it being a snow lady because of a book we had recently been reading. She is complete with her tiara and blue easter egg eyes.

And no snow day is complete without some hot chocolate to finish it off.

And today we are on day three of our winter wonderland and the snow lady hasn't melted. Since the weather people are calling for two more days of snow it looks like our friend is going to hang around for a while.