Columbus Zoo

We went to the Columbus Zoo today with some of our ward friends. It was really fun! This zoo is supposed to be one of the best in the nation. There are a ton of exhibits (so many that it can't all be seen in one day). We really enjoyed the manatees and the bonobo monkeys. Katelyn loved the aquarium and the penguins.





Here are the kangaroos. It was a really neat exhibit. We were able to get really close!


There was also one of these funny animals. It is called an Okapi. It is related to a giraffe. Pretty weird looking. It looks like a horse wearing zebra tights!

When we got home tonight, Devin said he wanted some corn dogs. I got online and found this recipe. It was really tasty.

Corn Dogs

Ingredients
1 gallon peanut oil
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons (approximately 1 large) jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
1 (8.5-ounce) can cream-style corn
1/3 cup finely grated onion
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons cornstarch, for dredging
8 beef hot dogs

Directions
Special equipment: 8 sets chopsticks, not separated
Pour oil into a deep fryer or large heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, combine the jalapeno, corn, onion, and buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once, and stir only enough times to bring the batter together; there should be lumps. Set batter aside and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Scatter the cornstarch into a dry pie pan. Roll each hot dog in the cornstarch and tap well to remove any excess.
Transfer enough batter to almost fill a large drinking glass. Refill the glass as needed. Place each hot dog on chopsticks, and quickly dip in and out of the batter. Immediately and carefully place each hot dog into the oil, and cook until coating is golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. With tongs, remove to cooling rack, and allow to drain for 3 to 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

SOOOOO BIG!!!

When Katelyn was little, we would hold her arms up and say "so big." But she wasn't; she was so little. But now I look at her and think, "She really is getting so big!"

She always has to have her necklaces on. This really makes me chuckle. When we are at home, she usually wears at least two.

Her hair is getting long enough that I can do pigtails. They look pretty cute!

She loves to explore the apartment! Sometimes this is not so great. The other day, she was checking out our lamp on the end table and it tipped off the table and the light bulb shattered. Oh, well. Accidents happen. At least she didn't get hurt!

Katelyn is an excellent dancer. Whenever she hears music, she sways and bobs up and down. Every once in a while, she'll throw in a head bang too. It is especially fun in church. Then she leads the music with the chorister! (sorry the video is sideways.)

We love to watch Katelyn grow and change, but it is hard to be away from family. We are liking it out here, but we really miss the Gem State. We miss the non-humid summer weather, the mountains, and especially the people we love. Katelyn shirt rings true-- our "hearts belong to Idaho!"

1 Year Older and Wiser Too!

Katelyn woke up on her birthday to this...

Our intentions were good. We wanted to let her know it was a special day but, I think it scared her, because right after the video turned off, she started whimpering.

We had a great day together. We had a special grilled ham and cheese dinner and then opened presents.

She did that with every present. I would open it, she would oooo and awe. She is a grateful little squirt. It was a very fun first birthday.

The next night we had a party with some of our ward members. I made some zucchini cupcakes and Devin drew ladybugs on oreos. He did such a good job!

Katelyn breathed out he candle with her nose the first time we tried. We tried again, and she did it! I was so proud of her (we've practiced)!

Thanks to everyone for making Katelyn birthday so special. We were able to talk to all our favorite Idahoans and have some new friends share her big day with us. We are so grateful for you all!

It's you birthday tomorrow....

...and we wanted to tell you how much we love and appreciate you, sweet little Katelyn Jo.

We didn't realized when we brought you home how much you would make us smile. We love to watch you grow and do new things. You are so smart and good. We love when you give us hugs and kisses and giggle like crazy when we tickle you or play peek-a-boo. You are such a wonderful girl. We especially love how you fold your arms to pray at dinner time. You remind us how important it is to be close to our Heavenly Father. You have helped to strengthen our testimonies. It amazes us that so much can change in just one year, but baby girl, you have changed our lives forever, and we will always be grateful to have you as a daughter.

Love, Mom and Dad

Katelyn's Chair

When we move to Ohio, we were setting up the front room when Devin said that we needed to get a little chair for Katelyn so she would have a place to sit. We didn't know then that she already had a "little chair".

She claimed the bean bag as her place to sit. She climbs up into it and then just flops down into the hole. Doesn't it make her look teenie-tiny?

I finally got her to do the actions for "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" while videoing her. She has done it for quite a while, but I've never been able to catch it. Katelyn love to sing songs and dance. This is definitely her favorite song!

Here are my favorites of Katelyn's Pictures. There are a few of her holding flowers, but there are more of her eating rocks, sticks and gravel that I didn't post. What a funny little squirt.

The whole time she was in this bucket, she was looking for a way out. I think this is the only time she looked at the camera!

I tickled her nose with the flower trying to get her to smell it. Cute.

Katelyn with her puppy. Classic.

Pictures

Katelyn got her pictures taken. They turned out really cute. I'll just post this one for now.

Sleep Walking

This last Sunday, Katelyn decided not to nap until after church. She usually has a nap at 9:00 in the morning and one right after lunch. We have 11:00 church, so she didn't get to sleep until 2:30 in the afternoon. We were invited to a friend's house for dinner at 4:00. This is what I found when I went to get Katelyn for dinner!

She was sooooooo tired!!

And here she is walking! The much anticipated movie!

Hocking Hills

We went to Hocking Hills National Park a couple weeks ago. I was really fun. There were waterfalls and caves. Here are some pictures of our trip.

There were some other really cool places, but the pictures don't do them justice. If you want to see them, you'll just have to come and visit us.

And because I couldn't resist, here are a couple cute pictures of Katelyn.

Messy eater!!

Look how long her hair is getting!

Katelyn Roo-Hoo Who is No More Than Two!

Here are Katelyn's best tricks. She said "Moo" so cute in this video, I chuckle every time I watch it. Devin thinks we should strip her down when she eats spaghetti and this time, he was definitely right!