Meet Katharine Marie

For some reason, my daughter walks around the house singing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." Or is she whistling it? I can't tell since her "s" sounds like "th."

So my husband, Brian, is pretty popular with the kids in our neighborhood. All the children think he's pretty cool. In fact, several of our friends' children have asked their dads to become policemen like Brian. I guess it's true that you're just not appreciated by your own because his coolness factor doesn't impress his own children.

Katharine asked him, "Dad, can you be a baker and not a policeman?" It should be noted that Cake Boss is her favorite TV show, with Ultimate Cake Off a close second. She called for me the other night after she was already in bed. I rushed in, thinking something was wrong. She said, "The new Cake Boss is on tonight at 9. Don't forget." After being reassured that it was set to record, she drifted peacefully off to sleep, all worries at bay.

This is my six year old (almost seven).

2011: the early months

Time has completely flown by and there have been so many wonderful and new things to experience in the last few months. Here are my top 15:

1. Going to Grey Lodge Bird Refuge with the Gale's and the Fry kids.

(see the birds we startled into flying away)

(seriously? using sticks as rifles?!? boys!)

2. Mommy (Amanda) quit her job after more than 7 years at the DA's office. Woo hoo!!!

3. Katharine lost her first tooth and got her first visit from the Tooth Fairy!

4. Our First Blue Eyed Baby!!!!

5. Stitches for the Second Time (under his chin) 6. Eating Rice Cereal for the First Time
7. Family Bowling

8. Eating Vegetables

9. Daddy (Brian) switched to the graveyard shift and his days off are now Tues., Wed., and Thurs. Not so much fun for family outings.

10. Going to Old Sacramento with Grandma, Grandpa, the Fry's and (half of) the Watkins' on Free Museum Day

Why do little boys like climbing and jumping so much?

11. Sitting Up

This is the fat, happy baby we love!

12. Katharine read her primary talk all by herself without any help for the first time!

13. Jacob is mobile (sort of)

Jacob gets constantly pushes up on all fours, lunges forward, and falls. He hasn't quite mastered crawling but somehow manages to move all over the room.

This should be on the front of an exercise video!!

14. Elizabeth: "Mommy, I made a wish on the star."

Me: "Don't tell me what you wished for or it won't come true."

Elizabeth: (in a whisper) "I wished to be Ariel."

Good thing I already warned her that her wish might not come true, huh?

15. Jacob turned 7 months old today. Where does the time go?

Elizabeth-isms

A few of my favorite recent quotes from my four year old philosopher:

1. Grandma, I have an idea. I've been thinking that when I wear my new princess pajamas, I should wear my princess underwear to match.

2. We watch the ball drop. The bal lis a timer and when it drops, we get to yell "Happy New Year" and jump up and down and then it's bedtime.

3. Daddy, when Jameson grows up, he's going to be a policeman and when Jacob grows up, he's going to be a policeman, too. (Brian)- Are you and Katharine going to be policemen, too, when you grow up? (Elizabeth)- No, we're going to be lawyers.

4. Mommy, pretend you didn't ask me to get the blanket for you. Here you go, Mommy. I got the blanket without even having to be asked.

5. Christmas is about giving. I like giving and I like people giving to me.

6. Wouldn't it be cool if we were all giants and couldn't fit in our car?

Here Comes Santa Claus ....

St. Nick's Day is celebrated in the Hopper home. Brian has fond memories of the holiday from his few childhood years living in Germany so he started the tradition in our family before Katharine was even born. This year, both Katharine and Elizabeth remembered and asked us when they got to put their shoes by the fireplace. This is what they woke up to on the morning of December 6th:

Tree decorated with almost no help from the parents. These munchkins did an awesome job! They're modeling the Christmas pajamas that St. Nick brought them.

Welcome Winter!!

Where has Fall gone? So many wonderful things have happened in the last few months that I've decided it would be way too much work to update my blog. So instead, I will do a quick recap and then move on.

1. Trick-or-Treating with four kids was awesome. Jacob slept the whole time, Elizabeth slept half the time, Jameson whined most of the time, Brian came down with strep throat and Katharine stayed out late with Mommy and we had a blast.

2. The whole family got strep throat, but Mommy got it the worse and was laid up for a full three days.

3. Katharine likes First Grade most of the time and has discovered the joys of jump roaping.

4. Elizabeth loves preschool all the time, especially the play room with dress-up clothes.

5. Jameson tells us every day that he has "school morrow" while wearing his backpack- usually with socks and underwear and nothing else.

6. We took a WONDERFUL trip to Utah for Thanksgiving and got to spend a week with the most amazing people in the world and playing in the snow.

7. Autumn decorations packed up and Christmas (all twelve totes) unpacked and displayed.

8. Mommy went back to work last week. I'm pretty sure it's harder on me than the kids, but they're not too happy either.

9. Christmas Tree up in the house and soon to be decorated.

10. We got to meet the adorable, beautiful, amazing TJ Watkins!

Saying Farewell

We will always love you, sweet Dakota.

Thank you for enriching our family.

Dakota Marie Hopper

2000 - 2010

Fall 2010... so far

I love Autumn and all the wonderful things it brings. This has been a very busy Fall for the Hopper family so we're going to share a few of our favorite things.

1. Grandma and Grandpa Hopper came to visit!!

2. September 19th was a special day- We celebrated Brian's birthday with so many loved friends and family who joined us for Jacob's baby blessing.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

3. Our annual trip to Apple Hill with Grandma and Grandpa Jones and the Fry's. Mommy forgot to take pictures after the first stop. My sister took a bunch, as did my mom. Maybe they'll share with me??

4. Elizabeth celebrated her 4th birthday at BounceU and we had a BLAST!!!

5. Bishop's Pumpkin Farm!!!! My very favorite fall hotspot.

We've been five times... and counting!

Trust Brian to teach his kids to lay on the train tracks.