Monday, December 26, 2011

A Kattau Christmas

The Noblesville clan arrived on Friday. In the midst of all the cooking, Blake and Marley wanted to paint. Of course, I would  never tell them no just because I'm busy! Too good of an activity!
"Oh look Blakie! Let's see what color we can make the water!"

"UNO!!!"

"How many more pictures are you going to take JoJo?"

"We LOVE Christmas (and stripes)!"

Ok...put your hand down Marley.

Hey Marley....look this way!

Blake....don't be silly! Marley...put your hand down.

"What is Blake doing???"

Marley and Layla love their daddy!

Nicholas sits down to read "The Night Before Christmas" and, as usual, patiently waits for everyone to be ready to open presents.

"Oh, these silly people. I can get into soooo much mischief."

Blake loves to wear a shirt and tie! It doesn't matter the day of the week.  So...PopPop got out a tie for everyone. Blake loved it!

Blake is ready to run for office!

Finally, it is time to open presents. Lexi gets a little help from Daddy.

Layla likes her new blouse.

"I wanted this Playmobile set my whole life!!!"

Marley and Layla love anything that has 'hair' involved.

Tom loved these shirts as a "Kattau Family" gift.

Marley likes to dress up.

The small print has a running list of all the Smith first names. Kendra and I saw these plaques at the Nappanee Art Fair and I actually remembered to order it for their family gift.

We had a wonderful Christmas! We attended Trinity UMC's 5:00 service as a family and I returned for the 10:00 service (especially since the choir sang plus I had a solo). It was a busy day.

Sunday morning, not realizing that services were changed to 10:00, I missed it. I was there at 8:30. Tom and I headed to Battle Creek for Christmas with Mother, Debra, her friend Max and her kids, my brother and family from New Mexico, and Keith and SB and their daughter and granddaughter. It was a good day.

Of course, Marley wanted to be sure that  we know the real reason for Christmas:

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

ZERO....my favorite number!

Dr. Fretz has just checked and it's clear
That no tumors have dared to appear.
I'm so happy, I'm singing!
Christmas bells are a-ringing!
"I wish you a Happy New Year!"

Yipee!!! He did say that there is one area that he does need to keep watch of but that's fine. Dr. Fretz knows what to do to scare those tumors away. I had 12 tumors in the bladder the first year and just 1 since then, so I am very lucky. My cancer is just one of inconvenience! Not even a pill is necessary! 

When I arrived at the office this morning, the place was hopping. I am always sitting in the waiting room surrounded by old men! Aren't I a lucky girl...not! When I arrive, I am always greeted by Kay and Marsha and sweet nurse Tony. They like it when I write them a poem:

To some of my favorite people in the building of 'Urol... "O gee"!
 I will not get to see you for 6 months...not 3."
"Thank you for your greetings, for your taking my co-pay.
But no tumors once again were found
So Fretz said, "Go away!"

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Twas Two Weeks Before Christmas!!!

Two weeks!!! How can it be?  But then, everything is under control. I have helped (and will help again this week) at Brenneman Missionary Church PreSchool where Marley attends) make peppermint projects with the 3 and 4 year olds and have taught them the song, "Six Pink Peppermints Til Christmas". Between this and making my own 93 Christmas cards to send out, I feel ok about what has gotten done. Being retired is wonderful because it gives me a chance to help the school and do these things that I love to do.

Kendra and the kidlets arrived for a weekend visit on Friday the 9th. It was great that they could come (Jason had to work) so we got our "kid fix". Tom and I do our best to baby proof before Lexi arrives by putting away things she doesn't need to check out. We lay heavy blankets on the stone hearth corners in case of a spill since she is walking all the time now. Oh what fun it is when the cousins get together!!!

Alexis is 2 1/2 and gets into everything. She is walking all over and exploring everything! In this picture, she is holding an angel that my sweet Aunt Eleanor Patch (who I think merits sainthood)  made many years ago and gave to me when I visited her at the farm. Now, Lexi gets to enjoy the beautiful angel.
Love the angel!
Lexi also loves the Santa Bear
Blake (nearly 7) has also become quite a writer. He spent time yesterday morning, making a list of "naughty" and  "nice" people that he knows. I'm not even going to check which side he put me on. Later in the day he spent a long time "making up clues". After he was finally finished thinking up and writing down the clues, Blake wrote a story using them. It was very, very good. Do we see another gift coming out of this little brain?
Nicholas (8) is telling me all the details about the little character he is holding. He reads up a storm. He will choose a story for me to read to him before bed and I have to tell him that if he chooses a book with names that are difficult, he has to read it to me which he does with no difficulity. What's wrong with this picture???
Layla and Marley are modeling their new clothes that they wore this morning to their program at River Oaks Church. 
Layla liked  the fact that the tights were ankle length. I guess that's the "style". She was all dressed up and ready for the party to begin. (Now we just need a party!)

Alexis and Layla love each other so much!
Marley loves her new dress. She was ready to sing this morning at church.
Nicky and Blake play so well together. Sweet little boys!
Lexi loves sitting on the bouncing ball. This is one of many activities that take place in our unfinished basement. It is not the nicest place in the world to look at but the kids sure do enjoy all the activities that  happen down there. There are a few carpeted places...under a full size swing, around the sand table (no sand), and in the "classroom" area. There are games, blocks, a big cardboard house, tricycles, teeter-totter, buggies, and the list goes on and on. I think that carpet is definitely in order!

"Wheeeeeeee!!!"




"Merry Christmas Everyone!"

Monday, November 21, 2011

Shoe!

"Shoe"

"Shoe"

"Shoe"

"Step"

"Step"

And of course, when only PopPop was in the room, Alexis decides to walk across the living room only stopping to bend over to pick up a book and continue her walk to PopPop...about 25 to 30 steps!!! Yes Lexi! I'm talking about YOU!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Pathetic!

I hate it when one of the kids is sick! It was awful as a parent and it's just as bad as a grandparent! Last week, Tom and I were in Noblesville and Lexi came down with a "bug"...temp, puke, etc...off and on all day. Nothing serious. Just felt really crummy for a couple of days. I became really good friends with Mr. Lysol. Even though Lexi was sick, she would play for a minute and then lay her head down. At one point, she got off her Mommy's lap and decided that it was PopPop's turn to hold her. But there was one problem: she couldn't wake PopPop up. She stared at him and that didn't do anything.

"PopPop. Wake up!" is what I'm sure she wanted to say.
"JoJo. Please wake him up! He needs to hold me. I'm sick!"
"Oh thank heavens!!! Hold me please PopPop! I'm sick."
"Finally! I really needed to put my head down!"
"Oh. I really needed this! But maybe I can sit up for just a minute......"
"Ohhhh. I feel terrible but what are my brothers doing?"
"I'm building something. Sorry you're sick Lexi."
"I'll help," says Blake (Harry).
 Which arms belong to which boy?
That was last week in Noblesville. Thankfully, they are all healthy now.
Tonight....right here in Goshen, IN, Layla and Marley are having a sleep over. We asked their Daddy if they could stay since it had been so long.
"I'll read you a story JoJo and Layla can look at the magazine." 
"I think my book is best" says Marley.
How old do these girls look anyway??? Good grief!