Milestones

So I don't have any pictures to post, but we've hit some new milestones this week that I want to share:

• Katherine's new favorite song is about 5 Little Monkeys swinging on a tree, teasing Mr. Alligator "You can't catch me! You can't catch me!" Along comes Mr. Alligator quiet as can be and SNATCH that monkey right out of that tree! She does all the little motions. It's hilarious!
• We took Katherine on her first hike to North Mountain Saturday morning with some friends. We took the easy trail around the mountain and she walked about a 1/3 of the way while Geoff and I took turns carrying her the rest of it... to be expected... The WEATHER WAS PERFECT and it was a lot of fun.
• In the car on Monday, Katherine figured out how to say "X" rather than "Eck."
• She made her first peanut butter and jelly sandwich with only a little help from me to flatten out her butter knife. The bread was a little manhandled but still edible.
• She can officially take off her sleeper pajamas, start a DVD, and open a fruit roll up by herself.
• She can practically draw a circle by herself.
• She never wants to get in the car or get out of the car when it's time. She loves to sit in the drivers seat, push all the buttons and pretend that she is charge.
  
• She tells me "Relax Mom, Calm down" all the time, because that is what her father tells her to do when she's screaming or talking up a storm.
• I've decided she screeches like the wraithes on Lord of the Rings.
• We've been attending story times and going to the park faithfully.
  
• Barney is the top movie of choice this week.
• Favorite books are the If You Give A... Books. We have the If You Give a Pig a Pancake and If You Give a Moose a Muffin, I rented If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake from the Library. I think she just likes that all the animals have 2-yr-old A.D.D. and constantly move to the next activity on a whim.
  

I have started working out again in the mornings before Katherine wakes up and it's WONDERFUL! Getting up early was the key to what was missing in my life... taking care of myself. So far when I get up at 5:15am, I have been able to do cardio and weights, read scriptures and have breakfast before Katherine wakes up... Life is good. I got to host book club, go to an auxiliary training by LDS Family Services on Conflict in Marriage, and go to the movies with the girls this week. We saw When in Rome... I gave it a B- but a laugh.

Most importantly, we dodged a bullet this week. Geoff's work had announced potential lay offs earlier in the month and Thursday night they announced the projected numbers: They might let the bottom 353 ppl go at the end of March. Geoff is #388 so we are safe by 35 positions. The budget is still being negotiated and we hope that means nobody will be laid off, but it's relieving to know we're in the clear... for now.

Our neighbor Jason works for the same department and was not as fortunate, His number is in the 200's. He came over Friday afternoon to see if Katherine could play because he needed some cheering up! So he and Katherine played with some homemade play dough I just made. They laughed and chased each other around and he felt better in no time. She truly is everyone's antidepressant!

We love you guys. Feel free to call call any time. We love to hear from you.