Genetics

We all know Michael's genes have bullied mine into submission when it comes to our daughter.  The only trace of my genetics in Kitty is her fiery temper.  You can thank my Viking blood for that.

In addition to her dad's brilliance, knobby knees, double joints, and penchant for all things nerd, Kitty inherited this:

Our Kitty is nearsighted!  I won't mention that I didn't believe her when she said she thought she needed glasses.  I also won't mention that I gave her the old you-have-to-be-honest-on-the-eye-exam speech on our way to the doctor.  I also won't mention that I felt like a real horse's patoot when I realized just how nearsighted she actually is.

I blame my skepticism on the Viking blood.  

Kitty was so excited to get her new glasses.  She kept exclaiming, "Wow!" as we were driving home.  Apparently she didn't realize that most people can see individual leaves on trees.

I just wish she would take after me a little more.  What's wrong with my tree trunk sized legs and whiskered chin?  Come on! Who wouldn't want hairy arms?

Oh, well...at least we'll always have our fiery tempers.

Thank you, Viking blood.

Saturday!

I revere Saturdays.  Since Michael typically works long hours during the week, Saturday is the only day that we get to see him uninterrupted. On perfect Saturdays, we go out and have adventures together, avoiding anything that can be construed as responsible or work.  

Last Saturday, we explored caverns, roasted in the sun on a paddle boat ride, ate ribs and the best banana puddin' you ever had in your life, and successfully completed an escape room. Thankfully there were 2 guys in the room with us that were big escape room fans.  They taught us the tricks and helped us to escape, thus successfully guarding our secret dinosaur research lab from attack.  I did absolutely nothing to contribute.  I wandered around the room fondling objects while wondering, "Hmmm, how are they going to get all these padlocks open?"  

It was a fun day.

The Saturday before that, we went to the Wonderworks museum.  Kitty and Michael did a ropes course - I couldn't participate in sandals - we experienced a hurricane and an earthquake, laid on a bed of nails, made enormous bubbles, and challenged each other in a game of Pacman.

It was also a fun day.

Oh, how I wish every day could be Saturday!

4th Grade!

 Kitty started 4th grade.  4th Grade!  Be still my heart.

She was incredibly nervous on her first day of 4th grade.  I think she still felt like the new kid attending a new school.  Probably because she is.  We said a prayer and I offered to walk her into her classroom to help ease her anxiety.  She thought for a moment and then said, "How about you just walk me to the front door."

I felt a bit slighted at first, a bit panicked like, "Oh, no, she's embarrassed by me already.  It's only 4th grade!" But my feelings quickly turned to pride as I realized that Kitty was standing up to her fear and nervousness.  She was being brave and independent!  You go, girl!

I was also relieved that she let me walk her to the front door.  My baby still needs me!  

Look at my tall and beautiful baby on her first day of 4th grade.

I set up a surprise for her to find when she arrived back home from her first day.  

And then she got to choose where she wanted to go for dinner.  It was the Olive Garden.  She loves those breadsticks!

We closed out the evening with ice cream because that's just what you do.

Kitty was extremely excited after her first day of 4th grade and all of her nervousness had disappeared.

It's going to be a great year.

And she's still letting me walk her to the front door every morning!

That's It

School begins ridiculously early in TN.  I mean, first-week-of-August kind of ridiculous. 

Since the bulk of our summer was spent in Idaho, we decided to have one last Tennessee hurrah before they ridiculously sent Kitty back to school.  The obvious choice was Dollywood.

But first we stopped by Soaky Mountain water park to become nauseated on the slides.  And to hit our heads on the tubes a couple of times.

Except only I did that last part because apparently I'm a doofus...hitting my head probably won't help that ailment.

We had a great time playing in the water before heading off to Dollywood to see a nighttime 3D drone and fireworks show.  Michael has been badgering me about seeing this show all summer but I reacted the same way I always do towards him.

"Oh! Are you talking?"

It turns out he was justified in his badgering.  The show was amazing.

Then we stayed the night in a hotel and got up the next morning to hit the park for realsies.    

We had a blast!  And I ate a delicious chocolate ice cream cone.  Nothing is better on a hot day than a chocolate ice cream cone.

We saw a tremendous show called A Gazillion Bubbles and enjoyed the day riding some rides and being sprayed by foam.  

It was a great way to bid farewell to our short summer. 

But seriously...who starts school the first week of August?!