Easter Bunny Visit 2012

Today was the big day! Emily had her annual visit with the Big Bunny himself!
She did great! She was a little nervous at first, but went right up to him and sat on his lap and hugged him! Way to go babe!
Love,
Kathy

Spring at the Zoo!!!

Our personal tour guide, Miss Emily

OK, what a difference two days make.  Two days ago I did a post about the snow and two hour late start to the school day, AND today I am doing a post about spring time at the Oregon Zoo!

We had a BLAST today with Emily! My girl LOVES any kind of animal and enjoys every time we go to the zoo. I must say, this zoo membership I bought for the year has become a new favorite, and Auntie JuJu gets in free when she goes with us too!

We got there when they opened today at 9:00 a.m. and left the zoo at 1:45 p.m. Let's just say Emily took a GREAT nap when we got home! She did so well riding in her stroller some of the time and walking beside us the rest. Never once did she run off, etc. My girl is REALLY growing up!  Emily was our personal tour guide! She had the zoo map and would look at it and point to the animals to go see next, and we did see them all before the day was done. Emily was very comforted by the fact that the cute napping polar bear who had a surgical wound healing last time we went, was feeling all better today! Such a caring girl! We had a nice lunch, and Emily even got to pick out a new toy at the zoo store. After much deliberation, she picked a baby lion in a little purse...totally cute! She has officially named the lion "Baby," and it is in bed with her and Doggy as I type!

She loved all of the animals, especially the lions, orangutans, and elephants. Her favorite thing today was the zoo train ride. Many of you know how much she adores TRAINS!!! Even though it was only a 15 minute ride, she LOVED it!!!

Enjoy the pictures from today, and enjoy seeing the smiles on the wee one. May you be blessed by her smile as we were today!

Love,

Kathy

Is that the CUTEST polar bear EVER?

Mommy's favorite!!!

Beautiful eagles!

So cute and playful

Young baby elephant playing with his toy, so cute

Emily loved these guys

The King and Queen of the beasts!

One of mommy's favorite photos from today

Nap time

What a beauty

Auntie JuJu loved these fellows

Bright and windy, BUT loved eating outside

Happy girl on the zoo train

This is the face after hearing the train whistle!

Bright sun and new toy lion

Emily's friend; he always comes up to the glass

My little orangutan

Loved the lions

Mommy's favorite animal at the zoo!

Spring SNOW!!!

March 22, 2012

Yes, the title of this post does sound like an oxymoron, but alas, it was true today. We awoke to snow...yes, on March 22nd, we had enough snow for a two hour late school day!!! Are you kidding me?? SNOW on the second day of Spring??

Needless to say, Emily was very excited to see the entire ground covered in white. Since we didn't have to hurry out the door, we got to take our time getting ready before leaving for the day.

After getting her in snow boots and a winter coat (that just sounds so wrong for March), we were off to school! I heard later from her teacher that every child in the class had to change into their alternate clothes in their back packs because they all got to go out and play in the snow.

Enjoy the pictures from today.  Let's hope it is the last of the snow for a very long time!

Love,
Kathy

Emily ready for school

Taken from Emily's school

King's Way parking lot

Pretty "Spring" trees

Emily's Giving Heart

Precious girl

Just a very quick post about my little darling's giving HEART!  When she was trying to put on a pair of dress-up shoes tonight, they were too small. So Auntie JuJu, who was here babysitting, asked if she would like to give them to another child who may not have any. Emily then proceeded to go methodically through her toy bins in her toy room, and choose about six other toys to give away as well.

Now, for a little girl who came from a world where she had nothing to call her own, and then have so much, it has been hard for her to learn how to share, let alone give something away that is hers.  I could not be more proud of her than I am right now. When I got home from my inservice, she told me and showed me right away what she had chosen to give to other kids who don't have as much! My girl is maturing and growing up right before my eyes!

I love you loveybug, and your spirit shines through your heart!

Love,

Kathy

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2012

Hello All,

St. Patrick's Day Lass

I wish you all could have been here this morning as Emily awoke and found that a tricky little Leprechaun had visited our house!! The squeals may have been heard all over the neighborhood as Emily found tiny green shamrocks all over the house...that messy, naughty leprechaun left them scattered down the hall, in Emily's room, in the kitchen, living room, and all over mommy's couch! Emily had a BLAST finding them all, and was great at picking them all up and playing with them. The best part was after we read the note the sneaky little leprechaun left; she searched all over the house searching for the treasure that he left for her.

She was running and giggling and looking all over the house, and then finally discovered a pot of gold in the...wait for it... BATHTUB!!!

There were some play gold coins and some gold covered chocolate coins...nothing like a few pieces of chocolate for breakfast! :-)

After all of the hoopla was done, we all had a nice breakfast, then got ready to go shopping. We found Emily her first pair of little girl heels for her to wear with her Easter dress and her next step up car seat. A BIG GIRL seat! Man oh man, does this wee lass think she is IT in her new seat! She even has two cup holders now and has already used them!

We all had a great day, and we hope you all had a Happy St. Patrick's Day as well with your families!

Love,

Kathy

Mess left by the Leprechaun

Look mommy...

Found the treasure in the bathtub

Emily's "Pot of Gold"

Note from the leprechaun

Always has to have one silly face picture

Sweet girl!

My girl in her BIG GIRL seat!!

Goodies with Grandparents 2012

Nana, Emily, and Grandma Becki

Today was a very special day in the lives of three extraordinary people. Emily's school had their annual Goodies with Grandparents Day. My dad and his wife Sandy, Emily's grandpa and grandma, are out of town, so Emily had Nana (my grandma) and Grandma Becki from church attend in their place.

I've heard from all three people that today was GREAT!! I received a text and e-mail from Becki saying how wonderful it was, along with pictures she took in order for me to see what went on, as well as Emily telling me in her words what happened, and a very nice phone conversation with Nana tonight about how much fun she had! Like I said, three extraordinary people!

There were goodies, play time, singing, an overall time of joy celebrating our grandparents, and lots and lots of LOVE!!

My grandma told me tonight how proud she is of me and all that I have been able to do for Emily to ensure she have a better life. I told her thank you so much, but that I really believe that all of our lives have been enriched and blessed by Emily. She is one special little girl!

I'll leave you with some fabulous pictures from today! Thank you so much Grandma and Becki for being there for the wee one today! Love you both!

Love,

Kathy

Love you Grandma Becki

Love you Nana

All Smiles

Performing for the grandparents

Playing with Grandma Becki

Nana in Emily's classroom

My FAVORITE photo of the day!

Hearing Aid Day

Enjoying her post appointment goodie

Today Emily's life changed forever, in a positive and good way...she got her hearing aids, and has worn them for a total of six hours since receiving them at one this afternoon. I know her life changed two years ago the minute we became a family, and it changed again today. Both of these changes, I believe, will make her a stronger human being and make her spirit and her wee little soul more compassionate towards others with each passing day!

I couldn't have dreamed for her appointment to go any smoother. She was so brave and such a trooper. She played in Rachel's office while Rachel went over everything with mommy. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the information on how to care for them, wash them, air them out, put them in, take them out, change the batteries, how they work, what to expect from Emily, etc.

Then it was Emily's turn to sit in the chair by herself in between mommy and Rachel. Rachel put them in, sized the tubing that hooks from the ear mold to the hearing aid, and then let Emily sit for a few minutes and see what she thought. She was all smiles, grins, and giggles. At first Emily started talking real loudly, and seemed to be noticing every sound in the room. Rachel asked her some questions about what she could hear, and then tried different tones of voice to see if Emily could hear them and all was A okay. I asked if Emily would talk loud like this for long and she said usually kids do for a day or two, but the wee one did only for about 40 minutes.  Then mommy got to practice putting them in and taking them out. Emily then played some more while mommy and Rachel talked over some more details, and mommy learned how I will listen with Emily's aids once a week to make sure they are working.

Rachel said that most kids will only last about one hour on the first day, but to just keep trying more each day. I am SO PROUD of her six hours today. She did ask periodically today for mommy to take them out, but I convinced her to try it a little longer. She did great!! I have taken them out and put them back in two times today and it's pretty simple. Now I have to show her teachers tomorrow when we go to her school at circle time for a visit and for her class to see.

After her appointment today, we went to the bookstore, and she got a new Belle and Beast book and a brownie bar with M&M's in it.

My baby's life changed today, and if her bravery and spirit today are any indication of the kind of woman she will grow up to be, I couldn't be any more PROUD!! She is a fighter and so resilient! Mommy loves you babe!

Love,

Kathy

Cutest right hear EVER

Darling left ear

Enjoying her goodie

Yummy!!