That is what Katriel calls her music class at co-op.
We do, in fact, sing, “Bah-bah-bah” in the class.
She is dancing with her buddies from church, Levi and Janessa.
Katriel
Celebrating Three
We’ve had the joy of celebrating third birthdays now for six children. Every birthday for every child is special. I grew up having MY birthday celebrated each year with our extended family and friends. Although there is usually a good deal of work involved in throwing a party, I’m never tempted to ignore their special event. The kids look forward to the fellowship. And the cake?
Soup, chili, salad, bread. It was yum on a dry, but chilly day.
Johanna had a lot to say to Mrs. Mrs. Fuhrman.
Katriel enjoyed her gifts. Well, maybe not the clothes that much. Somewhere in the last five kids I stopped worrying about how my little ones respond to gifts of clothes. People get it.
She got into “reading” the cards, as well.
A Bob and Larry cake. I *think* all six kids have had this at least once.
Tabby and Poppy.
No more babies in our house. Yup. It makes me tear up. I’ve been SO tremendously blessed.
Our Katriel is THREE!
It’s been extremely busy around here. But we know how to slow down (mostly) and enjoy a birthday!
As we were planning Katriel’s birthday, we determined she’d like a Bob and Larry cake. Then days before she said she’d like an Elsa and Anna cake. I did not have the time for an Elsa and Anna cake for her party, and I somehow convinced her that cupcakes would be the perfect thing for her actual birthday. She told me she wanted yellow and I could make that happen. Then. When I was at Walmart (I’m always at Walmart) I saw Elsa and Anna cupcake papers and decorations. Woo hoo. I could meet her request! Sort of. Hanny and Tabby helped me make her cupcakes the night before. 
Our family tradition is to wake up the birthday child with a song. Katriel had other ideas and was the first one up that morning! We hung out downstairs until it was time for the other kids to get up. I’m not even sure we sang. We had a yummy breakfast of strawberries, yogurt and Cinnamon buns before we headed to CBS. 
We stopped for a photo before we left. She wore her new bunny dress. She loves bunnies. 
When Nan came in the morning, she brought Katriel a Figaro book and a new Taggie. 
I had my camera at CBS for other purposes, but I did peek in her class to see her. 
The big kids had skating and then we all skipped our Wednesday evening activities so that we could celebrate our little girl. Nan and Nene picked up the pizza on their way over. 
And then some gifts. Puzzles from Mom and Dad. 
Johanna made her a telescope. 
And wrapped up her Figaro and gave it to Katriel. 
She got some clothes and more puzzles and then she opened some Playmags that the whole family found favor with. 
Then cake. There is always cake. 
My sweet baby. How did she ever get to be this big!?
She’s self-confident, and a little bit bold. She has such a BIG personality. 
Her grumpy face
Someone learned how to make a grumpy face.
It’s a lot like this one from 2004…
Katriel’s haircut
It was a busy Wednesday. She’d needed a cut for quite a while. It’s just so hard to fit that kind of thing in. After we dropped off Marie, Tabitha, and Johanna at their program and Stewart at choir we headed to our friend’s salon. Only we didn’t know our friend didn’t work there anymore. Oops. And I didn’t know Katriel would fall asleep in the van on the way there. Oops. But as I scooped her out and gently woke her, she was intrigued by the idea. She sat so still and silently took it all in. Then when we went to pay she was offered a lollipop. And she found her voice. And she chatted all the way home about the experience.
Christmas Adam
I can’t find the photos my mom and sister sent me from their annual Christmas Adam sleepover with the kids…
All six kids went over for day-time fun, and the oldest 5 slept over. They ate treats, watched movies, played games, and took selfies. John and I used the time to cook and wrap. We picked up Katriel at 5 for some mall fun.
I think she got a mouthful of mustard.
I got my twice-a-year-treat: food court Chinese. Yum.
We took a spin on the carousel. She picked a horse on the upper level; but then when it started to move and she waved down to daddy she got a little nervous.
We had fun poor out attention on just one little girl. She ate it up, too.
At the mall…
We squeezed in a wee bit of Christmas fun tonight. Around 3PM we piled in the car, picked up Tab’s sweet friend, and headed to the mall. The littest two met Santa where Johanna told him she’d like a dog. A plastic dog. “That’s all I want.”
Heh. News to my ears. 
I confess I don’t exactly know what my little ones think of Santa. He shows up in the Rudolph movie, but not in too many of our conversations. We’ve certainly never suggested he invades our house every 12/24. But I don’t recall ever having a heart-to-heart about him.
After that we poked around the toy store for a few minutes.
This is the conversation I heard as I followed Tab and her friend around:
Hal: let’s find the girl aisle
Tab: look for the pink
Hal: that’s how you know
Tab: yeah it’s better…
My helpers
The girls helped me with pizzelles by eating the parts I cut off.
Christmas Caroling
My outdoor photos did not come out, so I can’t show you how much fun we had meeting up at church with friends, walking to a nearby neighborhood, and singing on doorsteps and driveways.
The weather was mild (yay!) and the time went by too quickly.
We headed back to church for some snacks and additional singing. Marie opted not to join us and stayed home with Dad who was working on a home repair. The rest of us had a blast and are looking forward to next year.
Dayspring Disciples 