My Dear Sweet Katie...

Katie is my thoughtful little girl. She really is sweet and loves to be close to me. After having a day of hanging out on Monday,...all day,...together,... she told me that she hadn't been able to play with me yet. At that point it was dinner time, so we decided to do dinner together. She picked the recipe and then helped me brown and season the meat. She loved tasting the fruit of her labors and it is so funny that I used to do the same thing when I was young to have time with my mom. At some point I didn't fear cooking because I was loved to help my mom in the kitchen. (Yes, mom, I know I was no use for the clean up... :) ) I remember browning the meat all the time for my mom. She really didn't have me do much else, because she had a rhythm to her cooking and getting it finished. This same pattern is forming with Katie and I. Hopefully, if I am never able to pass off anything but browning the meat, she will at least not be afraid of cooking anyway.

Katie is very thoughtful in other ways too. Because of this, her brother is being "trained" likewise by her example. Tonight when we came home with a car load from Costco, she immediately went to work helping me get everything in the house. Christian was not to be outdone, he wanted to help too. While I was getting the perishable stuff put away, Katie decided that she was going to get the last thing out of the car and into the house. She took one of the big cardboard boxes they give you, back out to the car, and pushed and heaved a 50lb bag of white sugar out of the back of our 4runner and into it and then proceeded to drag it back into the house. She just warms my heart, and cracks me up. I mean, what does she think she was doing? Good thing for youthful backs! :) And good thing that bag didn't catch on the hitch and break open... :)

Even though she can't concentrate on cleaning up her own room for more than 10 seconds at a time, her thoughtfulness more than makes up for it. (except when I really want it clean :) )