I love you Daddy!!!

Katie says a special Happy Father's Day to you. We both love you very much Matthew! :-)

The Graduate

Today Matt's little brother Jake graduated from L.C. Byrd High School. He finished in the top 10 of his class and is headed to UVA in the fall. We are all so proud of Jake and his many accomplishments. Below are a few pictures of Jake and some of the family on his special day.

Me and Matt - waiting for Jake and the other graduates to make their grand entrance.

Matt and Rob inside the Seigel Center. Katherine and Claire couldn't make it today....we missed you guys!!!

Coral, Bob, and Jake - celebrating after the graduation ceremony. Me, Matt and Jake. YAY! :-)

Baptism

On May 23rd, Katie was baptised at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Matt and I were so pleased to have our family present. Special thanks to Katie's godparents Aunt Katherine and Uncle Rob, as well as her greatgrandmothers for making the long trip. Also, Aunt Sally....your purse was probably the only thing that kept Katie from making a complete scene during the church service!!! :-) Below are a few pictures from the day.

Water Weekend

This past weekend was a WARM one in Richmond. Katie kept cool with some water activities. On Friday Matt and Katie met Aunt Katherine and Cousin Claire at the Stony Point fountains. We weren't sure how Katie would react, but she seemed to enjoy it. Plus....she got to break in her new bathing suite from Grandma Brammer. She's getting warmed up for our Memorial Day weekend beach trip.

Cousin Claire was impressive! She managed to run in the fountain, out of the fountain, around the fountain....and never actually get wet. :-)

On Saturday we headed down to the "Riva" house to hang out with Popa, Abu, Uncle Rob and Aunt Katherine. Katie experienced her first boat ride....and it went really well! Thanks Uncle Rob for the smooth ride.

Couldn't resist posting this one....cute couple looking good on the boat! :-)

Visitors and Going Mobile

Over the past couple weeks my dad and grandmother, Katie's grandpa and great-grandmother, have been in town visiting. Katie has thoroughly enjoyed all the special attention, and seems to be thriving while they're here. Below are a few of the latest things Katie's been up to...

1. Crawling


2. Cutting 4 new teeth on top. 2 are already through the gumline, 2 almost there.


3. Pulling up on anything/everything she can find.


4. Getting a sore on her forehead which got infected....and as a result required her to take her 1st anti-biotic. This whole issue could have been avoided if she didn't have the stinky, sweaty helmet...ugh!


5. Eating finger food....primarily just puffs and Cherios.


6. Clapping

Katie is at a phase where she loves to have a cabinet, basket, or bag full of objects which she pulls out one by one and examines (usually by putting it into her mouth). She especially likes to bang the objects together, or throw them on the ground. Below are a couple pictures of her playing in the pots/pans.

Playing outside at the park...

Bath time continues to be one of Katie's favorite parts of the day. The picture below and the video were taken right after her bath a few nights ago.

Trip To The Farm

Yesterday the Barnes crew packed up and headed to the farm. Uncle Sam and Aunt Nancy were visiting from Minnesota, and had never met Katie. We had FABULOUS weather, a good lunch, and some fun outdoors. Below are a few pictures from the day.

A picture of Coral playing with miss Kathleen. Can you tell Katie likes to stand these days??Cousin Claire and Katie sitting on the moss. This was the best picture of could get of these two. At 2 1/2, Claire doesn't sit still much. :-)
Ganny and her boys....Wish I had gotten Aunt Billie in this picture!!!
Me and my girl. Katie loves to sit on mommy's shoulders~~ and pull my hair~~OUCH!

So good to see you Aunt Nancy, Uncle Sam, Aunt Billie, and Great Ganny!

Katie's First Easter

Katie, Matt and I spent Easter weekend at my parent's home in Patrick County (PC). PC is about as low-key as it gets, and after a stressful couple of months at work I was grateful for the opportunity to go back "home." Bear with me on this picture happy post - sometimes this country girl just misses the country! :-)

On Friday Grandpa Brammer wanted to give Katie some pointers on farm life. April is the time of year when we start planting the garden (and hoping/praying it doesn't frost). In the picture below, I'm not sure my dad has ever been happier....he's got his granddaughter, his dog, his truck, and the first seeds of the year in the ground!

Saturday we went walking/hiking in one of my FAVORITE places in the world - Rock Castle Gorge. Matt says its "the place I go to recharge my batteries." He's right....I always leave there happy. Just like her mom - Katie loved it. She kept watching the water rush over the rocks and giggling.

The water was pretty cold, but we at least let her get her toes wet...
Two happy girls at the end of the hike! :-) What's that I'm wearing...its the Moby. What would I do without the Moby?!?!?!

On Saturday evening, Grandma Brammer - against my instructions - gave Katie a couple bites of chocolate cake. No wonder I can't get her to eat her green vegetables!!! :-)

On Sunday Katie opened her Easter baskets (thank you Aunt Mary Lynn) and we went to church with great-grandma. After church, my cousin Angela and her children Allie and Brayden joined us for Easter lunch. A few pictures below from the day.

Great weather, family, food, and fun on Katie's first Easter weekend.