Happy 3rd Birthday Katelyn!

We had a fun time celebrating Katelyn's birthday party at Going Bonkers this year! My mom, dad, and sister were able to come up from Austin for the festivities which made the event even more fun! Instead of gifts, we collected boxes of markers and Spanish children's books to donate to Children's Medical Center. These are just a couple of the many things that they are in need of.

Daddy and Katelyn going bonkers!

Video clip of the kids singing Happy Birthday to Katelyn (most of the song, at least!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24e6U5Sy9ts

On Katelyn's actual birthday (Tuesday, August 24) we started off celebrating as a family by eating cinnamon rolls and fruit salad. We put a little candle in her cinnamon roll and sang "Happy Birthday!" That afternoon we made our weekly visit to the nursing home to join in their monthly birthday celebration (it just happened to fall on Katelyn's birthday this year!). Dave was able to go with us and see some of Katelyn's "special friends." That evening we invited a few of our neighbors over for a popsicle party!

Video clip of Katelyn on the morning of her birthday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1m8n9CbGL8

Blue Bell...the Best Ice Cream in the Country!

For those of you who don't know, my husband has a mild obsession with Blue Bell ice cream. When it goes on sale, the McCurdy family makes an event out of going to the store and choosing which kind(s) we will purchase. It's the little things in life....

So, when one of my friends texted me last month (thanks Kimberly!) and told me that the local Blue Bell distribution center was partnering with a Christian radio station to give out free Blue Bell ice cream treats along with tours of their freezers, I knew it would be a fun time for the whole family! And I was right! We stepped out of the hot Texas weather and into a - 20 F ice cream wonderland (aka freezer). Although they told us, "Take your time and stay in there as long as you want," we were ready for the heat again after a couple of cold minutes. :)

Here are some pics....

Enjoying our ice cream treat--Katelyn with her "push up" popsicle and Dave with his "bomb pop."

Dave and Katelyn with one of the Blue Bell employees

Katelyn taking her place on the ice cream distribution truck

The freezer! This was only a small portion of the ice cream we saw. I'm so proud of Dave for not bringing our ice chest and trying to sneak some home.

Katelyn saying "Burrr!" in the freezer

Family Vacation!

We decided to take a little family vacation this summer! My mom has told me that when we were little, many of our family vacations consisted of going to visit.....family! Imagine that! Accommodations....free. Meals.....free. Help with the kids....free. It's a brilliant idea, really. In addition to visiting family on our vacation, though, we also threw in a trip to Sea World because, you guessed it, kids under three are FREE (love that!). Since Katelyn was due to turn three on August 24, off to San Antonio we went! Below was our schedule o' fun for our week-long family vacation:

Friday, July 23-Monday, July 26: Destination Waco

Our fun times in Waco with Dave's family included taking his mom and grandmother out to eat at Outback Steakhouse and taking Katelyn to a local spray park.

Yummy lunch at Outback Steakhouse

Katelyn playing at the spray park

Katelyn lovin' some time with her Granny!

Monday, July 26-Tuesday, July 27: Destination Sea World-San Antonio

We enjoyed the water park, shows, roller coasters, food....you name it, we did it! Katelyn LOVED every bit of it, and if you click on the link below, she will be happy to tell you all about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i7jTbgGTvc

Below are more pictures from our Sea World experience!

Sea Lion show

Katelyn barely met the kiddie roller coaster height requirement, but that didn't stop her from being completely fearless! She rode this coaster three times!

Katelyn and I are seated in the car at the far left. This coaster was even a little scary for me!

Shamu show

Shamu jumping out of the water

Chillin' with daddy

Down the kiddie water slide with daddy!

Wednesday, July 28-Friday, July 29: Destination Austin

Our fun times in Austin with my family included quality time with my parents, sister, and brother-in-law. Another highlight was a side trip to Krause Springs--a natural-fed spring pool with waterfalls, rope swings, a butterfly garden, and lots of wind chimes (which Katelyn has really been into lately)...a very magical place just outside of Austin in Spicewood, TX! I actually went there quite a few times growing up and have very fond memories! I even had my birthday party there when I was in high school! :) We had a blast!

And the Fruit of the Spirit is....

As we were getting ready to go on a family walk this morning, I was putting my shoes on and Katelyn was sitting next to me. She began to sing this sweet song about the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is on one of her CD's that we listen to, but we haven't heard this particular song in quite some time. What is so fun about this song/CD is that it is a kid's CD that I bought for myself when I was in college to help me memorize scripture (it worked!), and now it is one of Katelyn's favorites! I love how the Lord sows truth into our hearts (and the hearts of our children) in such special ways. He is good!

In case you can't understand the words she is singing. below are the "lyrics" to follow along with the video. Click here to view the video!

And the fruit of the Spirit is joy
And the fruit of the Spirit is love
And the fruit of the Spirit is peace and patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness......gentleness and self control.

Katelyn's First Bowl!

No, Katelyn is not just now eating out of a bowl, but she did just have her first bowling experience at her friend Brodie's 4th birthday party!! She was such a cute little bowler, and she actually managed to hit a few pins while she was at it!

Don't worry, the balls were pretty light, and Katelyn is pretty strong!

They had this awesome "ramp" that little ones could hold the ball at the top of and send it rolling down the lane. Katelyn was a big fan of "the ramp."

And down the lane it goes...no gutter balls at this party, bumper pads all the way! Gotta love that!

Surprisingly, she was very patient when it came to waiting her turn. :)

Again, patiently waiting her turn...

3rd Annual Great-Granny-A-Thon!

We had another successful Great-Granny-A-Thon this year! As a reminder, this is a trip that involves me, Katelyn, and both of my sisters going to visit our grandparents in Beaumont and Houston (Katelyn's great grandparents...thus the name Great-Granny-A-Thon). Below are a few pictures as well as links to more pictures from the trip! Thank you Mom and Pop and Granny for hosting us again!

First stop--Beaumont to see Mom and Pop (my dad's parents)!

Katelyn loved pushing this little gardening stool around the back porch...

Next stop--Houston (Pearland to be exact) to see my Granny (my mom's stepmom)!

We went to play and have dinner at the home of one of my Granny's friends. She fixed a wonderful steak dinner and her pool/backyard was so fun and relaxing (with lots of water toys for Katelyn to play with)!

We also went out a boat in Galveston Bay (belonging to another one of Granny's friends!) to have dinner, watch the sunset, and enjoy an awesome fireworks display!

Links to more pictures:

My pics: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2BZNmLds1YsTi
Brittany's pics: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0UYtnLRmyZuQA

Katelyn's New Shirt!

Here is a picture of Katelyn proudly displaying her new shirt!



Due date: February 13! So....Happy Valentine's Day to us! :)