What Have I Been up to?

Well, I have been a busy lady this summer. And summer is supposed to be relaxing!  Ha! 

I had a party for Willow House and made this!  I had lots of other food too, but this is one of my favorite desserts.  Fruit Pizza.  Mmmm.  Sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting (cream cheese and sugar), and fresh fruit!  Easy and delicious! Always a crowd pleaser!

Katie got this fabulous four wheeler that she drives in the house.  Truly, its a little small for her, but she really likes it and it was free!  So, I guess she can keep it until she can't squeeze in it anymore. 

Here's Isaac.  This is my nephew.  He is about 8 months old now.  Pretty cute huh?

I love this pic.  Cute and very expressive. 

Katie truly dodges the camera.  I pick it up and she finds a way to get away.  One day that may change, but for now I'll just take what I can get.  On this day at Rochel's (my SIL) I was taking pictures of the kiddos and she decided she wanted her own moment.  It was a moment, but I got a few pictures.  I think she looks like she is 5 in this picture. 

Eli had such a cute expression I couldn't resist posting this one. Katie (almost 4) and Eli (21 months) play together SO well.  Really they can play for an hour or two and never fight, cry, whine, or fuss.  I am amazed.  I thought it would take another year or so for that to happen.  Katie has continually told me that when she grows up she is going to get married and then have a baby (glad she has the order on that one figured out at the age of 3).  Usually she says she doesn't want to marry anyone, but her daddy (we will sort that out later).  But the other day she said that she would marry Eli.  That's pretty cute, but she can't marry her cousin!

Abuela and her grandkids.  She was able to come by and spend a few hours with the kids. 

It was a good day for everyone. 

Soon, summer will be over.  Katie and I already started PreK4.  She is doing great!  She loves learning and I am so grateful to be home teaching her.  Last week we were working on words that have "ee" in them.  ALL week she showed me words with "ee" in books, on boxes, on signs, and in magazines. She was so disappointed that we don't do school on Saturday and Sunday. Hmmmm. 

Next month Katie turns 4....my baby 4? I am busy planning her Hello Kitty birthday party.  My sister-in-law is having a baby on 9-30 and I am planning her baby shower.  We have lots of birthdays in September including my mom, grandma, and 2 of Katie's good friends.  

Then I start Bible Study Fellowship too!  

WoW!  If you don't see any blog posts in September....you now know why! :)

My Pretty Little Ballerina

This morning we went to the Master's Ballet Class in downtown.  These are introductory classes offered in the summer. Katie was pitifully scared to do a recital last fall.  Fortunately these classes are just for fun.  There's no recital.  It was very hard for me to get a good picture of her from the front because she was dancing and flittering all over the place.  Here are my favorites!

I love that tutu! She looked like a little cupcake!

little ruffle butt!

All the little girls were so cute in their tutu's

again, my sweetie's ruffled behind......

making little friends....

My little ballerina! 

She had so much fun dancing.  I look forward to the next class. 

My Sweetie Pie!

Since Katie's birthday is next month.....I needed to get a picture for her birthday invitations.  So we put on a pretty new dress and posed pretty for the camera.  Let me just start by saying I took about 100 pictures in order to get these.  It is NOT easy to catch a moving target on film.  I bet when she is older playing a sport like soccer....I will be able to get a great shot because of all the training I have had trying to get her picture as a toddler.  Toddler??....whatever, she's almost 4. 

She's a preschooler!!  How did that happen?  Where does the time go? 

I love that girl!

We started preschool this week!

The teacher in me is finally able to come out! 

I LOVED being a teacher! I didn't love all the other stuff, but I loved teaching.  I really do miss it, but NOTHING compares to being home with my little girl.  I have always felt that if God gave me the ability to teach, why wouldn't I use that with my very own child.  How blessed I am indeed.  Katie turns 4 in September and she is so ready to learn.  She keeps telling me that she can't read.  It's kinda pitiful.  She is not happy with just looking at books anymore.  She wants to read them.  So, duh, of course I will start teaching her how to read.  Granted at the age of four reading looks like this; learning sights words, letter families, reading a lot of books together, and giving her all the tools she needs to start seeing letters in words, words in sentences, and then finally sentences on pages.  She is such a little sponge right now! 

Katie would like to show you her new classroom!

Here it is!  A big desk, a little desk, and lots of books!

Books!!!

Sight Word Wall

A very excited little girl!

We've had a great first week!  I will be posting our future homeschool details on EduKatie. 

Willow House

This summer I had the amazing opportunity to attend the first Willow House National Convention in Milwaukee, WI.  I got on a plane all by myself (nervous,yes) and went.  I couldn't wait to see the changes and the new products.  I was NOT disappointed!  I had a weekend filled with fun with some truly amazing ladies!   The weather was beautiful (not humid)! The first morning was the unveiling of my NEW company.  Willow House is going to become a household name and I am so excited to be a part of this great company. 

The following pictures were taken in the Inspiration House (showcase area).  I started as a consultant because I fell in love with the products.  Walking in this room truly took my breath away. 

Then I got my camera out!

If you love what you see....check out my website and make your Christmas list!

http://www.kristamelendez.willowhouse.com/

A cake I made....Do you like purple?

Yes, these roses took some time, but mainly because it had been a while since I made one.  It took a few hours....I know, I know....hours?  Yes.  But it was worth it.  Aren't they beautiful? 

That little lilac rose was my favorite!