Product Runway

In the spring Mom and her co-workers participated in an event called, Product Runway.  Product Runway is a fashion show where area interior designers create clothes out of various types of interior finishes and furniture.  Mom and co-workers partnered with a local tile company and created an awesome flapper dress.  Their theme was inspired by the Jazz Age and the Great Gatsby!  The team designed and assembled the dress themselves.  It was a fun night and they even won the People's choice award!

Katie making her way down the runway!  The dress is made
of glass and metallic tile. 

with our People's Choice award!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Pops!

Mom and Pops celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary in April.  Every year we try to go out for a nice dinner to celebrate.  This year was no exception.  We had great weather for the evening and we ate on the patio of a local restaurant called Cozy's Cottage.  Our dinners were delicious.  Of course no celebration is complete without a dessert, we shared a delicious triple chocolate cake!

The cake was so yummy!

Here are the three of us, enjoying the evening out!

Get your 'stache on!

This year Cincinnati and Great American Ballpark hosted the 2015 MLB All-Star game.  In preparation for our night in the spotlight Cincinnati was all decked out!  Mr. Redlegs and his great handlebar mustache became the logo for the event.  All around downtown mustaches were placed to get the city ready for our big night!  Mom, Pops, and I planned a downtown adventure to see all of the decorations and they let me bring my friend Avery along!

Our adventure begins, where else but Fountain Square.

Countdown clock!

There were several of these "pictures frames throughout the city!

First mustache was at the Westin Hotel!

Avery and I decided we needed to change up our poses at each 'stache!

Same 'stache, different side.

How do we look with a mustache?

The Scripps building as Mr. Redlegs!

While we were downtown we also visited Smale Park.  Cincinnati has been working hard on expanding the parks at the riverfront.  This year at Smale park they added a carousel, splash pad, and some other fun interactive elements.

A ride on the new carousel.  Each animal reflects something unique about the city!

Another 'stache; another pose!

Mom and Pops!

Looking out over the river and the rest of Smale park!

The splash pad at Smale.  It was a little chilly but that wasn't going
to stop us from running through the water!

The last 'stache in front of Great American Ball Park.
 And we saw a wedding party have their pictures taken too!

We wrapped up our adventure with ice cream!

Tae Kwon Do

This summer I have taken up a new activity, I have started practicing Tae Kwon Do!  I wasn't sure I would enjoy it at first, but my mom took me to a one-on-one session with Master Martin and I realized I loved it.  I really enjoy the classes and after one month I tested to be promoted to the next belt, white with a gold stripe!  I am really home in the next few weeks I will be able to test for my gold belt.

Getting ready for my test!

The form Chon-Ji, in order to earn my gold stripe, I need to do the first half.

I also broke a board as part of my test!

The presentation of my new belt!

When I went in for the one-on-one session with Master Martin, I had the chance to break a board.  Here is the video of me breaking my first board!

Zoo Camp

Once again I enjoyed a week of Zoo Camp and a week long vacation at the Portman's house.  Megan and I were in the same class again this year and it was Katelyn's first time at Zoo camp too!  The first part of the week Maria and Sarah were home, but later in the week we had Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bob to ourselves!  It was a rainy Zoo camp this year but still a lot of fun!

Some of my favorite things were petting the animals that came to our class.  Going on our daily zoo hike and seeing the different animals.  I learned that there is a type of opossum that is really big!

It was so rainy the week of Zoo camp, we thought about wearing our swimsuits!

In the past we would find an animal to have lunch with, may days
 we had lunch with Moe, the sloth, inside where it's dry!

Being at the Portman's also means braids!
 Sarah was sure we all had braids!

As usual Zoo camp wore me out!  Mommy stopped by the Portman's on 

Last Days of School!

The last days of school were busy ones!  There was an honors assembly at which the 1st graders were recognized for their academic achievement and learning Scripture quotes.  Mom and Grandma came to the assembly to celebrate with me!

Mom picked me up on the last day of school and we celebrated a great year by getting ice cream!

Just Dance!

In May, finished up another year of dance with a recital!  It was a great show!  I had two routines, one ballet and one jazz.

What better way to celebrate a great recital than with ice cream!

Seven!

I had quite the birthday celebration this year, the festivities last for a whole month!  I had a family party, small party with friends, went to see The Lion King, and birthday shopping with Grandma.  I think next year I am going to try and stretch the celebration out for two months!

Since my birthday fell on a school day, I was able to take in treats for my classmates and at morning prayer my birthday was announced and I received a blessing from the rest of the school. 

On my actual birthday Mom, Pops, and I went to see the Broadway show, The Lion King.  The show was amazing.  I really enjoyed the music, dancing, and the costumes!  A couple of my aunts gave me birthday money so I could even buy a couple of souvenirs from the show.  I got a new bag and some bracelets.  

This year I had a small friends party/sleepover.  I invited three friends one from pre-school, one from Kindergarten, and one from first grade.  We had lots of fun!  We played Twister, had a dance party, drew all over the driveway with sidewalk chalk and blew bubbles!  It was a great party!  

Snow Day!

In mid-February we celebrated President's day with a day off school!  Then we had a snow storm and cold temperatures and we ended up having the rest of the week off too!  I spent Monday with a friend, Tuesday home with Mommy, Wednesday home with Pops, and Thursday and Friday with the Portmans!  It was a great, unexpected break, but in the end, I was ready to go back to school!  We have had a few more snow storms since!  It snowed last night and is pretty cold today so no school for us today!

One of the good things about all of the snow is the chance to play in it!  Pops and I had a lot of fun building a snowman last week.  He went through a couple of name changes in the process, but everyone, meet Bob!

adding some finishing touches! 

Assessing my work!

Bob and me!