Sarah The Kate

I still haven't gotten the scanner to work so this is the first picture of Sarah Kate I have. It was taken at my sister-in-laws wedding when Sarah was almost 19 months old. Do her sisters look like her?

Where do I start with describing Sarah Kate? Sarah Kate was born on March 5th 2002 in Logan, Utah. She was 10 days early and weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Since that day she has grown up to be a beautifully fun girl. Being our first Sarah Kate was quite the adventure. There's nothing like the excitement, nervousness, and anticipation of your first child. Sarah Kate didn't disappoint.

Thanksgiving 2004

2 1/2 years old

Grandpa Holderness' 80th Birthday Party.
Sarah's 3rd birthday (that's why she got to wear the boa.)

Sarah is probably our most outgoing and friendly child. She loves to be around people and she can make friends wherever we go. This has been a challenge for me some time because I'm a very shy, reserved person (most of the time), but it's been good for me. I remember a time in the Pentagon Mall in Washington DC when Sarah Kate was maybe 1. We were down in the food court having lunch when we notice Sarah Kate was waving to and keeping someones attention on the top floor (3 floors up). When we looked up we noticed it was a group of young males, smiling and playing with our daughter from so high up. She could always pull people in, get and keep their attention, even from a young age.

May 2006

4 years old

Sarah is also a people pleaser. She tries so hard to do what's right that sometimes it can get her into trouble. At school last month the class using rubber bands in their art project. Apparently the kids were flipping them all over the classroom. Mrs. Ramos had told all the kids to stop flipping the rubber bands around and then she sat down at her desk. When she wasn't looking the kids started flipping the rubber bands again. Sarah Kate took it upon herself to tell Mrs. Ramos what the kids were doing. Then for some reason, according to Sarah, all the kids were very mad at her. They called her a tattle tail, and didn't want to talk to her. She was so confused because she was only trying to do what was right by telling Mrs. Ramos what was happening. She didn't understand why the others were mad at her, they were the ones doing the wrong thing. It was kind of funny and sweet to see her innocence. She's just so determined to do what is right that sometimes she doesn't stop to think before she acts. We're working on the brown nosing.

One of my favorite pictures of Sarah Kate
December 2006 (4 1/2 years old)

Sarah Kate would have to be the chicken of the family. She wants so much to be brave, but she just really isn't. She used to gage what she could or would do depending of if Ben could/would do something. On some things I think she's give up this idea because Ben now does stuff she's not brave enough to do. At the playground last summer Ben and Kenny were climbing on the top of the monkey bars. Sarah Kate really wanted to do it to. Kenny has a philosophy that if the kids can't do something on their own then they shouldn't be doing it. He, or I, of course, are there in case they fall or decided they can't do something on their own, but we like time to feel confident in what they're doing. Sarah climbed on top of the monkey bars and was straddling them looking down at Kenny and said, "I don't know why ANYONE would ever want to do this." She wants to be brave, but instead is super cautions. As a baby it was frustrating at times (it still is even though now she's a big kid) but we've never had to worry about her wandering off, falling in a hole or a swimming pool, or anything else. She just extremely careful and caution in everything she tries to do or she won't do it.

Getting her Green Belt in Karate

Feburary 2007 (Almost 5 years old)

We like to call Sarah Kate our science girl and she loves the nickname. She loves rocks, flowers, animals, almost anything science. She's funny because when we take her to Toys r Us she gets more excited over the science isle than the doll, barbies, or any other toys. She's a collector. She loves to collect rocks, and seashells, and feathers, and anything else she can find. She is also very interested in how everything works. Since she first learned to talk one of her favorite words has always been why. She wants to now why something happens or how something works. She's definitely going to keep me on my toes, which is good.

Just before kindergarten 2007
5 1/2 years old

Other than that, Sarah Kate is, well Sarah Kate. She loves school, her friends, and her siblings. She's a wonderful big sister who loves to help me, most of the time. She's getting to the age where she's wanting some more one on one time with Mom and Dad and she's starting to have less in common with her sisters. She still loves to play with Ben and I feel very fortunate that my kids get along so well and love each other so much. She still shares a room with Ben because neither one of them want to split up. I think we'll let them stay together for a few more years, as long as they want to.

Sarah Kate and Ben

December 2007 (5 1/2 Years Old)

Sarah's an excellent student in school. She's excelled so much this year and is now reading well into the 2nd grade level. She started her accelerated math work at school (basically that's math at your own pace) and she was the first one in her class to hit the 50 point mark even though she started months behind some of the other kids. She loves to learn and is picking up on things so quickly. It's been so much fun watching her learn and grow this year.

Summer 2008
6 1/2 years old

I feel so fortunate to have Sarah in my life. She is such a delight and such an amazing child. She seems so perfect in so many ways that I'm constantly in awe at my luck in being her mom. I can't wait to see what kind of person she's going to become, but at the same time I don't mind waiting. She's already growing up way to fast.