Garbage Hauling Fashion

Once again I am tired so this will be a quick post.  Tomorrow is garbage day, so I had to tote the garbage container to the curb.  Katie decided to join me on her bike while I drove the golf cart.  For some reason, this major event required a change of clothes before beginning our adventure.  Below is her garbage hauling outfit.

In case you are interested in replicating her look, you will need one black velvet hat with a red ribbon and red flower, one tiara, blue shirt and black nylons.  However, the outfit does not require any pants, skirt or shorts because in Katie's opinion nylons are pants.  Miss Confident and Outgoing has no trouble showing her barely concealed Disney Princess skivvies to the world, but I do so that is why I cut the picture off at the waist.

Pieces of Surprise

Rick left this morning for Dayton.  We were on our way home from MOPS, when Rick called to inform Katie that he left her two surprises at home.  She was to only open one.  He also said, "Mommy might have to help you with it."  Below is a picture of the surprise.

My question is who the heck is going to help Mommy?!  No directions were included.  The best I can ascertain is that it is a dinosaur, but is it one or two?  Rick, I hope you are having a good laugh about this one.  As for Katie, after looking at the items spread on the coffee table she put the pieces back into the envelope and said, "Mommy, let's open the other envelope."

Sunday Afternoon Update

Katie already has three black stripes on her yellow striped belt. When she practices Tae Kwon Do, she has such strength and determination. You can tell some of the kids really don't want to take Tae Kwon Do. Their movements resemble those of a wet lasagna noodle and their "ayes" are barely audible. Then there are kids that like TKD, but are to self-conscious or shy to really bust out with strength and purpose. Now Katie, she just has one of those TKD personalities. Matter of fact, Katie has never been one to hide in the folds of my skirt. She is an outgoing and gregarious child and we tread very carefully on that personality trait in fear of squashing it. Her enthusiasm and confidence will definitely help her in life. Of course there can be a downside, such as overly self-confident or reckless, but Katie seems to have established a balance.

Saturday I went to a baby shower, which was a good way to spend the morning. Rick doesn't have to leave for Dayton until Monday, so we actually have him for two days this weekend! Earlier today I was training my grape vines by lightly tying them to the arched trellis. Katie requested some string and began weaving it through the hasp on the trellis' gate. She told me that she was tying the gate closed to keep Daddy in so he could never leave again. The trellis arches over the sidewalk and the rest of the front yard is wide open, but to Katie, her daddy was sufficiently confined to the home.

Last night Katie was zipping around in her Barbie Jeep while I watered the flowers and Rick did his outside, evening chores. Katie loves her little jeep and the sense of independence that it affords her. She is allowed to go down to the shop and up to the gate by herself. She is not allowed to do this while walking, so she is constantly on the go in the Jammin' Jeep. Anyway, last night Katie finally stopped long enough to let me take a picture of her.

This morning Katie granted us a live singing performance of all of her greatest hits.  Rick and I were in the living room and we could hear her in our bedroom.  We were cracking up.  Just look at the expressive body position and face.

No, she's not an attention-loving, all-eyes-on me ham!  (Yeah, right.)

This afternoon, Katie wanted to ride her bike.  In the picture below she is modeling the lastest in bike riding apparel.  A bridal veil, ballet leotard with attached skirt, fairy wings and white sandals.  She also requested that I paint her fingernails and toenails with dark blue nail polish before going outside.  Instead of being an Easy Rider, she was a High Maintenance Rider.

I hope that you are enjoying the last Sunday in August.  Once again, where did the summer go?

The Walking Wounded

A cold front has moved into the area so the high will be 85 degrees.  After 60-70 degree weather in the U.P. 85 seems like an upgrade.

Katie had a doctor's appointment today.  Her four-year appointment was before our vacation, but I opted to have the vaccinations postponed until after we traveled.  She got four booster shots today--MMR, chicken pox, DTaP and polio.  I knew it was going to be traumatic and it was.  Up to this point, she has cried during shots, but was able to get over it quickly.  Today, she whimpered all of the way home.  She informed me that,"Ladies (the nurse) don't give big girls shots.  Only babies."  She is also stated that she is not going to the doctor's again this week and that today is not a good day.  Although the injection sites--both thighs--are sore, it is the thought of the shot and the memory of that pain that has her appearing to be the walking wounded.  Since her last round of shots, which was two years ago, she has developed the ability to psychologically be hurt by pain and has also developed a drama queen persona.  Right now she is eating a fudgesicle and watching Tinker Bell:  The Lost Treasure in our bedroom.

Which reminds me, a new Tinker Bell movie, as well as a new Barbie movie are coming out.  Also, Disney is re-releasing  Beauty and the Beast in a Diamond Edition.  They are all supposed to come out in the fall.

When we drove into Abilene, I had plans on going to the library, McDonald's and then to Tae Kwon Do.  However, I left my wallet at home.  I have almost done that so many times, so now I am going to put a little note on my visor that says, "Did you remember your wallet?"  I don't know about Tae Kwon Do today.  Her legs are sore and I don't want to irritate the injection sites.  Typically soreness is somewhat relieved by movement, but I don't think that is the case with soreness from shots.

I leave you with a picture from our vacation.  My mom made this huge doll that Katie took a liking to.  She carried it around, spoke to it, got it ready for ni-ni (removed its shoes and socks) and it even went for a car ride.

P.S.  Have any of my blogger friends noticed problems with blogger?  For example, after I add a picture I cannot use the return key until I click the left mouse button.  I also have problems when I type a carriage return.  I checked the HTML and there is nothing out of sorts there.  All I know is that it is irritating.

Dad, Mom, Katie and I

We're home and we're tired.  However, Katie is the only one remedying that situation.  She is asleep.  I want  to post a few pictures before I turn out the lights.

 My mom and Katie.  You know my mom does not have wrinkles on her face.  She looks pretty good for an 85 year old woman.

My dad and Katie.

My mom and I.  Katie took this picture and did a good job.  Please disregard my no make-up look.  I was on vacation so I was entitled to sport the low maintenance look.

My dad and I.

Well, I gotta dash or should I say, gotta drag myself into bed.  Ciao!

Blackberries, Backwards Pants and Joy

Katie and I have been picking blackberries.  My mom had some leftover dough from pasties, so Katie and I made a pie.  Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough with the camera and my dad dug into it.  So here is our partially eaten, home made blackberry pie.

No matter how hard we tried to convince Katie that the zipper of her shorts goes in the front, she was insistent that she had them on correctly.

This picture looks kind of weird because her lower body seems to be facing the camera and her upper body appears to be facing away.

I leave you with a picture from the other day.  It's a joyful Katie on the beach.

The Lake

Today the sun made an appearance after a cloudy morning, so we headed for Eagle River and The Lake.  (Lake Superior for the non-yoopers in the group.)  It is so good to stand on the shore of a major body of water.  Because I grew up here, I don't consider a lake a lake if you can see the other side.  It's just a big pond.  I am a snob that way.  Anyway, Katie got to swim and play in the sand.  The pictures below captured the highlights of our afternoon at Eagle River.

Mom and Katie.  Dad was sitting at a picnic table.

Here is Katie getting her feet wet.  The waves lapping on the shore--the roll in and drag back of the water--had her a little apprehensive.  Every time I bring her to the Lake, she is like that for the first two minutes.  Of course it is not very long before she is frolicking in the frigid waves.

Frolicking, flying, having fun.  Lake Superior, as I have eluded to, is a very cold body of water; however, Katie didn't show any of the usual signs i.e. blue lips, shivering or goosebumps.

Katie and I.  Note her sassy pose.

 The obligatory sand castle.

Buried in the sand.  She couldn't stop laughing so the sand kept cracking and sliding off of her.

After Katie sufficiently froze herself we headed to Copper Harbor.  There is a gift shop in Copper Harbor that has been around longer than I have.  It is in a red building and on the northwest corner of the main intersection.  When I was a child, I always got a root beer stick from the store.  Today I checked if they still had them and sure enough.  Besides the stick, I ended up buying three nesting, steel, mixing bowls that are hand painted with white and red enamel.  (See below.)  They are so pretty that they make me want to whip up some potato salad or jell-o.

This evening after our pizza dinner, we headed over to my Aunt Fern and Uncle Al's home.  Katie was her usual nosy self and inspected their home from top to bottom and inside and out.  She was also very blunt if she found a speck of dirt or a scent she did not care for.  Katie was itching to check out their pond, so my Aunt Fern took her for a walk part way around the pond.  I am sure Katie talked my Aunt Fern's ear off.  When they returned to the gazebo, Aunt Fern advised us that a friend (imaginary) had joined them.  Celissa is very short and was naughty, but Katie didn't give her any spankings because Celissa was a little bit good.

Well, that was my day.  How was yours?  I bet I was surrounded by more beautiful scenery and had a more relaxing day than you did.  Nah nah, nah, nah nah!  Til later . . .

From The Great White North

Katie and I arrived in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) Wednesday evening.  There has been a few hiccups along the way, but  nothing major.  One of the hiccups was the car rental company, Thrifty.  I usually rent from National, but they didn't have any cars available for the Hilton Honors Reward program, so I ended up going with Thrifty.  All though the girl at the counter was very sweet, my Hilton certificate was a first for her and just confused her.  They also did not have a car seat, so she borrowed one from Avis.  She informed me that Avis charges $60 for the car seat.  Well, that's not my problem, I am renting from Thrifty.  Second hiccup was that we arrived at night.  I was going to drive the 2 hours to my mom and dad's, but I could feel a headache coming on.  Added to that was the fact that the lo-beams on the rental car seemed lacking.  Either my SRT8's are really bright or the rental car's are really dim, but regardless they threw about as much light as two flashlights with dying batteries strapped to the front bumper.  I had a hard time seeing more than a few feet in front of the car.  I was going to be driving through deer and moose country and didn't want to do it in the pitch black of the U.P., so Katie and I got a hotel room in Ishpeming for the night and started out for my Mom and Dad's early Thursday morning. 

The weather has been rainy and cold.  Well, cold compared to Texas.  Like a fool I packed Texas summer clothes and not U.P. clothes.  So I had to purchase a long pair of pants for both Katie and I at Pamida.  The temperature at night is in the 50's and during the day, mid 60's to 70's.  Today, Sunday, we are supposed to see the sun.  Wahoo!!  Below are a few pictures from our vacation so far.

Katie's attire for a U.P. "summer" day.  She doesn't wear this much clothing in a Texas winter.

Katie crying because I told her she couldn't play ball with Grandma any more.  My Mom was tired and Katie was devastated.  This is after my Mom played with her for about a hour.

Katie and her Grandma with a doll that her Grandma made.

 As usual, we celebrated Katie's birthday with a cake, hats and singing.

My Mom and Katie

"All my backs are packed. I'm ready to go..."

Yesterday I got our suitcases out of the Missile Base.  I decided to start packing while Katie is napping.  Both suitcases are in our master bedroom.  When I flipped open Katie's, I discovered that she already packed.

 

I have no idea when she did this, but she actually did a good job.  She had her tops and bottoms, but my underwear.  I guess I'll be wearing the same outfit for a week, but at least my skivvies will be clean.

Promised Update

Yesterday we were road warriors.  In the morning, we had a MOPS play date at the Jump Around.  The Jump Around consists of a huge room filled with air castles and air slides.  Katie got to play with her friend Zoey and they literally ran, bounced and slid for 1 1/2 hours.  After, we picked up a box at the post office before heading home.  We had three hours of "rest" at home--I had a 101 things to do--before we headed back to Abilene and Tae Kwon Do.  Last night was the Belt Ceremony, so Katie and I sat in the lobby of Chip's and ate a snack to use up the time between 5:20 pm and 6 pm.

The belt ceremony was very interesting.  Each name was called and the advancing person was paired up with a Black Belt person who served as a witness to their advancement.  They sat facing the Black Belter and were instructed to remove their old belt and place it behind them because that skill level was now behind them.  Then they put on their new belt.  Katie was paired with a boy who was about 10--yes a Black Belt at 10.  I couldn't see Katie because she was in the first row and I was in the back of the room and I was too busy taking video that I didn't get any pictures.  I tried to take a picture afterward of Katie with her new belt, white with yellow stripe, but my camera was goofing up and all the pics were out of focus beyond Photoshop repair.  But for Rick's sake, here she is with her certificate and new belt.

Going off track here, I think my camera needs a good internal cleaning.  The auto focus and white balance are out of sync.

Back to the topic at hand.  We finally headed home and a list of chores, which included watering plants, cleaning the pool, etc.  Once those were done, it was time for bed.  Katie got to zip around Corinth West in her Jeep.  She makes me chuckle how grown up and cool she tries to act.

This morning was the doctors appointment that I posted about earlier.  A quick stop at the grocery store and now we are home doing laundry and I am trying to chip away at my To-Do list.  Kate and I leave tomorrow afternoon for Michigan.  If it was a normal vacation I would be excited, but I will be busy cleaning, shopping and cooking for my Mom and Dad.  It is interesting how relationship roles change between the parent and child.  I now feel like the parent to them.

The closing photo was taken while Katie was waiting for the Belt Ceremony to begin.  Katie tends to gravitate towards brothers and sisters.  Perhaps it is because she is an only child.  Regardless, this boy and girl are turning into her Tae Kwon Do friends.

Doctors Appointment

Katie had her 4 year doctor's appointment today.  I opted to make a separate appointment for the immunizations since we fly to my parents tomorrow.  I don't want to deal with any reactions 30,000 feet in the air.  Anyway, my point is that this is Rick's Tuesday picture.

Katie is sitting on the exam table waiting for Dr. Capra.  Dr. Capra has been her doctor since the start.  The picture reminds me how much she has grown.  It cannot possibly be four years ago that she was an itty bitty and Nurse Linda would stretch Kate out to measure her.  Today Katie measured 41 1/2" tall and 41 1/2#.  She is in the 90th percentile in height and weight.

Promised Rick

I really needed to get to sleep at a decent hour tonight, but that didn't happen.  In a previous post I promised pictures from today's play date.  I also promised Rick that I would post some pictures.  However, because I am tired and tomorrow needs to start early I can only keep one promise.  And when it comes down to it, keeping my promise to Rick outweighs any to my other readers...maybe that is reader.  Anyway. . .

 Weeeee!!

Aaaah!!

Getting ready to take down Mr. Ben and she can do it.

Happy birthday Team Chip style.  Five round house "kicks" in the butt--one for each year and one to grow on.  Mr. Kyle is kicking and Mr. Ben is holding her up while  Ms. Karen looks on.  There is a little back story to this.  Today when we were waiting for Katie's class to begin, they did this to a girl in the older kids class because it was her birthday.  When her class ended and no one kicked her, she was so depressed.  Ms. Karen walked by and noticed Katie's little sad face and I explained that Katie had her birthday on Saturday, so Ms. Karen called Mr. Kyle and Mr. Ben over.  The little sad face was soon replaced with a big, gap-toothed grin.

Rick's Monday Picture

I had a few moments so I thought I would post a pathetic picture from yesterday.  As you know Rick left for Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon.  Here is Katie waving and sobbing as her Daddy drove up the driveway.

Today is jammed packed with activities and as I wrote, I had a few moments but now I must dash.  I'll post pictures from our MOPS play date at the Jump Around later.

Doodlebug's 4th Birthday

Yesterday was Katie's Birthday.  She started the day with a walk to the gate with Rick and I--or that is what she thought.  As we passed the main parking area, she gasped and ran to her new Barbie Jammin' Jeep.

So Katie is now mobile.  We have such a long driveway, as well as a road to the Quonset Hut and the Missile Base that she has a lot of room to roam.  Rick and I let her go by herself and she is quite proud of her independence.  It just cracks me up when she comes back from the Quonset Hut,  I can see flashes of pink through the trees and hear the tires crunching on the road.  Then she comes into view, her radio is playing, she has on sunglasses and she casually waves without taking her eyes off of the road.  She zips by the house and heads for the gate.  Rick gave her driving instructions and she does very well; however, she has been driving the golf cart for some time now.  The first time that she went up the driveway by herself, Rick and I stood in the parking area and waved.  I mentioned to Rick that in 15 years time, we will be standing here and waving at her as she heads off for real to college.

We had her birthday party at the Grace Museum.  The second floor of the Museum is the Children's Interactive Museum and there is a room off to the side for birthday parties.  We rented that room.  It was a little stressful because they only give you 30 minutes to set up your party.  Thankfully Page got there early and she was able to fill balloons with helium while Rick and Katie went to pick up the pizza.

This above picture shows the decorating 99.9% done.  The only thing I added after this picture was balloons to the kingly chair in the left corner.  The room is set up pretty well.  They have a private entrance to the Children's Museum and a small little kitchen with island.  (See last picture)  Unfortunately, their refrigerator was removed because it quit working; however, I had brought a cooler with ice from home.  We got Katie's cake at Sam's Club.  It was a Barbie cake as you can see below.

Five of Katie's friends attended the party and five of her friend's were not able to attend.  The girls had a great time playing in the museum and staged a show for us to enjoy.  One of the little girls, Emma Claire, just cracked Rick and I up and not just once, but a quite a few times.  The picture below is after Zoey sang to us--she did a really good job.  She took a long, swooping bow and is oblivious to her little sister Emma Claire who is twisted up in one of the backdrops.  This picture makes me laugh.

Because we over did it on the food and cake, Rick found a father and daughter in the museum and invited them to the party.  The father's two football playing sons met him at the museum and also helped with our abundance.  Even so, we ended up with half of the cake left which we dispersed to our neighbors.

Below is Katie opening her presents. Don't you like this shot of everyone's back?  Man I was a really crappy photographer yesterday.  This picture also makes me laugh.  Six young girls......and Rick.

Katie, Rick and I thank our party guests Page, Zoey, Maddie, Emma Claire, Denise, Taylor and Tanna for helping us celebrate Katie's fourth birthday and for their generous gifts.  From Taylor and Tanna she got a Barbie and a Barbie Bathtub Swing and Slide; from Zoey, Maddie and Emma Claire she got a art tote bag filled with items to color, to write notes and hair clips and bands to spice up her hairdo.

Katie also received in the mail a bevy of gifts from family.  Gaga and Pop Pop got her a remote control car that she can decorate herself--she has been eying that car in Wal-Mart--and other toys and drawing pencils and markers.  From her Auntie Maryel she received money to spend at Wal-Mart; from Auntie Margie and Danielle she got a Birthday Girl Doll, stuffed cow and princess crown; from my parents she received more money to blow at Wal-Mart or put in her savings account; from her cousins Courtney, Ally and Lindsay, she got a box filled with Disney items, such as an outfit, sunglasses, a cup.  It was funny when she first opened that box.  There was a huge Disney plastic bag which was used as packing.  Katie grabbed the bag out of the box, hugged it and danced around the room with it.  She loved the bag.  Rick had to tell her he was pretty sure the bag wasn't the gift and the gifts were still in the box!  We got Katie a few other gifts like a Ken Doll--she's been wanting a boy doll--a Moxie doll which is like a Bratz doll and a Barbie electronic travel game that looks like a Blackberry.  I apologize if I forgot any gift.  As a side note, the list of gifts is for my benefit and my memory.  I will eventually get this blog turned into a keepsake book.

That was our day of fun.  Rick left for Pittsburgh after being home for 34 hours.  Katie was very upset when Rick drove up the driveway.  Then Katie and I had to run into Anson and while we were in the Dollar General Rick called from the airport.  Katie repeatedly requested that Rick come home.  I finally took the phone.  Her little pleas were breaking Rick's heart.  Katie and I leave for my parents later this week and Rick's plane and our plane will be like two ships in the night.

Birthdays always get me reminiscing.  The day she was born seems like a life time ago.  Sometimes I wish she was an itty-bitty again so I could just hug, kiss, hold and carry her.  However, then I realize that when she is a teenager, I will wish she was four again, so I best enjoy here, now, today.

I'll end with a few more pictures.

Katie's official 4th Birthday Picture.

Zoey and Katie
"Let them eat cake!"  (Contrary to legend, Marie Antoinette never said that.)

 A view of the kitchen area of the room and also of the father and daughter who helped us consume the food.

For Katie,
We hope all your wishes come true.  We love you more than the sun, the moon and the stars
                                                         Love Daddy and Momma

Battle Plan Redo?

Let me start off by stating in my defense that a long time ago I figured that arguing about what Katie wants to wear is not worth the aggravation.  It's just one of those battles I won't fight.  Most of the time Katie does a really good job on dressing herself and then there are some days when I think I should reconsider my battle plan.
 

Last night was a low cricket night in the house.  Tonight is another story.  I just found two in the guest bath, two in the living room and two in the kitchen.  However, one of them in the kitchen had no legs, but he was still alive and kicking, so to speak.  So that is your cricket update for today.

On the Katie front, today was the second day in a row that she did not attend Tae Kwon Do.  She has been struggling to do good things and not bad things.  She missed Wednesday because she tried to bite my hand when I grabbed hers in an attempt to foil her escape in Dollar General.  Thursday, she did it again when I attempted to get her off of the Fairy Garden's swing, so no Tae Kwon Do.  I pray that God can give her the strength to resist the urge to act out.  I'll let you know how that works out.

Tomorrow I need to register Katie for ballet lessons, which start after Labor Day.  Rick and I tossed around whether to enroll her in light of her recent attitude.  Because the classes start later, we decided to do it.  If they started tomorrow, we would not sign her up because we would be rewarding her for her bad behavior.

Below is Rick's picture for Friday.  Katie with her gap-toothed smile and her kitty towel from her Auntie Maryel.  Speaking of gifts in the mail from her Auntie Maryel (hey, that is like a poem!),  Katie also received two bottles of Love's Baby Soft perfume.  The first time she tried it I caught her applying it like bug spray.  She was quite the fragrant little girl so a shower was in order.

Goody Package

Today we received a goody package from my sister Maryel.  The gifts inside were thank you gifts for our hospitality when my sisters came to visit Corinth West.

Katie received perfume, hair bands, a pink cat towel and two wrapped gifts.  The wrapped gifts I am going to save for Saturday, her birthday.  I got a pony tail!  Not a real pony's tail, but one for a human head that Avon sells.  I look so smart in my faux hair.  Rick also got a gift, but I'm not going to tell him what it is.  He'll have to wait until he is home.  (Nah, nah, nah, nah)  Below are some pictures for my sister and Rick.

"Rah!"  Katie with her Kitty towel on her head all though she was acting more like a tiger.

Here is my ponytail. You can either wear it as a layered ponytail or . . .

. . . flip it the other way for a one length pony tail.

And of course Katie had to try on the pony tail.

We clipped it on the top of her head.  Doesn't she look like a kid out of a 1950's sitcom?

Thanks for the presents Auntie Mary!  Side note:  Katie took the pictures of me.  She is getting really good with my camera.

Flying Heart

Katie just informed me that she has the wrong heart.  I asked her where hers was and she said, "Daddy has it and I have Daddy's."  When I inquired how that happened she said, "My heart flew up in the air and Daddy caught it."  In addition, it was a result of Daddy reprimanding her from running away from me after Tae Kwon Do.  Her heart was red when she ran, but now it is pink.  So Rick, please return Katie's heart.  She has been a super-duper good girl this afternoon.

The Annual Convention

Here's another cricket mystery.  I keep on finding crickets in the guest bathroom even though the door to that room is always closed.  Sure they could fit underneath the door, but why do they all choose that room?  Is that where the Annual Crickets of Corinth West Convention is held?  Seriously, I am stumped.  It is not like it is a dark room for it has a window.  I already checked around the window and I don't think they could get around the screen.  Anyway, if you come to visit don't forget a fly swatter.  You will need it if you need to use the bathroom.  And don't think of using the master bath.  I haven't cleaned in there yet and the master bath is my oasis and even Rick and Kate have to ask to use that bathroom in their most pleasant voice with sugar on top I often say, "No!  Mine!

Camel With A Broken Back

I am having one of those days where the everyday challenges are too much for me to handle.  Kind of like a day where the last straw breaks the camel's back.  I guess this fragility is a sign that I am getting weary and over loaded.  Katie didn't act good or extremely bad today; however, I am fed up with her not listening to me and me having to repeat myself.  I am tired of yelling and all the negativity that it brings into our home.  She doesn't respond to a stern warning or logic, but does so to yelling.  Some days all I seem to do is yell.  I have no idea if this is normal, but before Katie I rarely, rarely yelled.  Further frustrating and maddening is that sometimes when I yell at her for doing a no-no, she smiles and almost mocks me.  She is a head strong little girl and on occasion can be lippy.  Anyway, like I said, today the last straw was loaded and things need to change.  Since reprimanding her or yelling at her is not creating an impression and because the yelling is negatively affecting my life, we have informed Katie that she will not be going to Tae Kwon Do tomorrow and each day that she cannot manage being good.  Rick also informed her that there was to be no swimming this evening.  Matter of fact, he wants to drain the pool when he gets home.  Rick puts a lot of time into skimming, vacuuming and keeping the pool crystal clear and clean.  He does it for her and frankly right now he believes she doesn't deserve to have good things.  I'll miss the pool, but if it drives home a point then I will buck up.  I pray for strength to keep our stance and stricter rules.  We need to deal with this now rather than when she is a smart mouthed teenager.

Speaking of Tae Kwon Do, I remembered to bring my camera to Tae Kwon Do.

In the above picture, the kids are doing one of their warm up excercises, which is called butterflies.  They sit crossed legged, flap their legs and then touch their nose to their toes.  The arrow points to Katie.  You will also note the two boys not doing the butterfly.  Those are two of the students that just cannot listen.  I dislike when Katie is positioned next to them or other disobedient students because they are such a distraction and bad influence.  In this class there are about five students that regularly get reprimanded and forever are goofing around.  They even took one student's belt from him two weeks ago because of his behavior.  Ah-ha!!  Here's a bright side, clearly some of the kids in her class have worse attitudes than Katie so there is a little glimmer of light for which to be thankful.

Today they did a new exercise.  They took a large bungee cord circle and looped it around two students.  The students stood with their backs to each other.  The goal was to pull hard, get to their punching bag and give it a kick.  Katie's first time she tied with her opponent.  The second time they paired her up with a much older and bigger girl and I knew she won't win that one.

 The above photo is an action shot of Katie kicking her bag.

So that was my day.  I look forward to our comfy bed, a little TV and a few Fudgsicles.   Ciao.