Must Be Some Bulloch

Last week we had some amazingly beautiful weather. I know all kids like to be outside, but Kendi love, LOVE, LOVES it. I had the back door open so we could enjoy the fresh air and Kendi was going inside and out. She had told me that she was making a bed. I assumed she was just playing with her dolls. After she had gone completely quiet for a while I went out to check on her and I found her asleep on the porch.

Yes, she is drinking from a bottle. We are trying to break a lot of bad habits that were formed when I was really sick. Kendi gets constipated and this is the fastest way to get fluids down her. She must be part Barnes too. hehe. She actually just told us yesterday that she wanted to be a big girl and get rid of the bottle, but then when bedtime came she told us she wanted to be a baby again. I'm happy to report that she went to bed without the bottle. I think we will try to get her to give the bottle to the Bottle Fairy tonight.

Kendi also told us yesterday that she wanted to learn to read. The fact that she understands what reading is and that she knows she will learn how amazes me. I'm feeling a bit inadequate with the speed that Kendi is developing intellectually.

One Year Older

We celebrated Kendi's birthday yesterday. We had so much fun. Jared took the afternoon off and we took Kendi to the park for a picnic. Kendi enjoyed wandering around Park Discovery. She didn't care to play on the slides or the swings she just wanted to explore everything. After the park, we took her home to have a nap before her party.

Kendi loves Care Bears and it was easy to have a Care Bear themed party. She had some cousins and some friends come to play games. Then the rest of our family members that could make it came for cake and ice cream.

We had each of the kids' pick a Care Bear Tummy Charm to have painted on their faces.

We really took advantage of Jared's artistic skills. He also painted a Care Bear poster to play "Pin the Tummy on the Care Bear." We had so much fun getting ready for this party.

Kendi picked Harmony Bear.

While each of them took turns having their faces painted, they colored a tummy symbol to play the game with. They also went outside and played "Had a little Care Bear and He Won't Bite You" while we waited for the rest of the family to come for cake and ice cream.

Kendi is definitely spoiled.

Kendi and Aunt Stacia share a love for shoes and clothes. Stacia spoils her thoroughly. Look at how happy Hope and Halle are for Kendi. They are amazing cousins. I was impressed by them because Kendi has had issues lately with giving instead of receiving.
We tried to make the birthday party as home made as possible. This cake turned out okay and was a ton of fun for Kendi and I to work on. She loved being able to lick several sets of beaters.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this day a special one for Kendi. We are very blessed. I had many mixed emotions on this day. All of a sudden three seemed like such a big number. I'm really enjoying the stages that Kendi is in right now. I seem to always be saying this. But it seems that so much will be changing in the next month. I just want to enjoy Kendi right now.

These Last Few Weeks

One really great thing about Kendi is that she knows when she is tired. Her favorite place to lay down and take a nap is on the floor by Jared while he works. She has to have this blankie that my Gma Koami made for her. Kendi calls it "the one with all the colors."

After the last snow storm, Jared took Kendi out to play. They started to build this snowman together. Kendi was singing a song that went like this: "Snowman, snowman, snowman. . . Had a very shiny nose."

Jared spent a lot of time on the face. When he was done, Kendi looked at it and said, "It looks kinda freaky." We laughed because we've never heard her say freaky before.

Kendi entertained herself by throwing snowballs in the water and then running down the sidewalk to see them pass through all the holes. When we had to back the car out of the driveway she got upset and said, "Don't run over the snow. I won't be able to play anymore." We had to explain that it would melt before we got home anyway.

Kendi does a great job and dressing herself. I love the outfits she comes up with.

New Paining by Jared

Jared is working on TWO paintings this week. One is a commission for a friend. Its of a little boy with Christ. He is still priming the canvas and getting a model for that one.

The other is a still life for next years calendar. This picture is just a color study of the real thing that he is just barely starting now. He won't finish this color study so I'll post the real thing as soon as it is done. Color Studies are fun because he doesn't stress about them and experiments with them a little.