Emily turns 8!!

Happy Birthday baby!

Emily had a GREAT birthday celebration this year! Of course she had to have a FROZEN theme party, and she asked to have it at G6 Air Park. For those of you not in the know, that is an indoor trampoline place!
It all started with a fun breakfast at home and some presents, and of course her annual birthday sign made by mom. Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that her birthday was also school picture day! Yeesh!
Titi came to school to have lunch with her, and brought her a Starbucks cake pop!
After school we went out to dinner at Spaghetti Factory and then more presents at home.
The following day was her friend party at G6, and fun was had by all. Lots of jumping, eating Frozen cake pops, pizza, and gifts from nice friends. Emily had her cousin Belen, and friends, Kira, Kayla, Peyton, and Grace.
The following weekend we held her family party here at home, and Emily was surprised by an overnight visit from her Auntie Mary Jo. That was probably her favorite present of all. JuJu kept that a big secret! She had a fun time with all of her family, aunties, uncles, Nana, and her grandparents! What a loving family who loves this girl so much!
Have a great 8th year baby!
Love,
Kathy

Picture day hair do

Birthday lunch at school with Titi

Thank you Titi

Birthday ice cream at Spaghetti Factory

Birthday cake pops...FROZEN

With cousin Belen

Can't have a FROZEN theme without Elsa and Anna

At G6 Air Park

Emily and her cousin Belen

Emily and Grace

Emily and Kayla

Emily and Peyton

All the party guests including Elsa and Anna

At her family party

Emily was stuck like velcro to Auntie Mary Jo

Thanks for the help reading

Two Beautiful gals

Thanks grandpa and grandma

My girl and her requested BLUE cake

Swim Team Tryouts

Backstroke try out, Coach Gomez congratulating her, and HAPPY smile in parking lot afterwards

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly. Emily tried out for and made the Our Lady of Lourdes swim team this past October.
She has been taking private lessons for 3 1/2 years, and her teacher and I realized that swimming may be her "thing" a couple years ago. So this October we decided to have her try out, and if she made it she made it, and if she didn't we would try again next season. We have lots of years of swimming ahead since she is only in first grade.
Emily was VERY nervous at first and didn't want to go in, BUT we convinced her to at least give it a try. The head coach, Coach Gomez, was also very kind and went in with her.
All she had to do to try out was be able to swim a length of the pool unassisted by an adult. If she could do that, she would make the team. Well, those of you who know Emily well, know that was going to be a piece of cake. All of the other kids trying out were getting in the pool and kind of dog paddling or somewhat doing the freestyle, but not my girl. When coach told her to get in and swim to the other end, she hopped in, turned onto her back and did a PERFECT backstroke all the way to the other end. She, of course, made the team AND had her first practice that night!
Way to go babe!

Pumpkin Patch 2014

Mommy's favorite picture

Emily, JuJu, and Mommy had a blast at our annual pumpkin patch visit this October! We rode the hay ride to get our pumpkins, Emily did the hay bale maze, she tried driving a mini John Deere, and had lots of fun petting and feeding the animals. BiZi Farms in Vancouver is always a huge success! It was even better that it was mid-October and it was warm enough for short sleeves and capri pants! YEAH!
Love,
Kathy

Future farmer???

Kind of blurry, but I love that smile

Mommy and Emily

Sweet girl

Such a beauty

I'm queen of the haystack

First Sleepover!!

In October, Emily had her very first sleepover with her friends Kayla and Kira. None of us were sure if she'd make it through the night or if I would get a call from their mom, Michele, at 2 a.m., BUT...what do you know, she did it! And, she had a BLAST!!
They got to stay up late, eat lots of snacks, go for an ice cream run late at night, and all sleep on the downstairs couch together! I only have the two pictures that Michele sent me, but they speak for themselves about how much fun they were having! Way to go babe! Such a brave girl! Now she wants more "Sleepyovers" at friends' houses and to have friends "Sleepyover" here!

At the country store on a late night ice cream run

On the way back to the "Sleepyover"

Salmon Creek Husky Run

Emily in the blue shirt giving it her all!

In October of this year, Emily took part in her first Salmon Creek Husky Run. It is our annual school  fund raiser. She did a great job of getting pledges, and even got enough to earn a Husky t-shirt and her name painted on a blue Husky paw print on the sidewalk in front of the school.
I was lucky enough that my lunch time happened to fall while her grade was having their turn running laps. So I got to go outside and see her and cheer her on, as well as capture a few photos.
Way to go BABE!!
You are a great addition to the Salmon Creek Huskies!

Getting another lap checked off

Getting tired

Whew...getting ready to have another lap checked off

Go, Emily, go

Grandparents Day September 2014

Emily invited her grandma and grandpa over for Grandparents Day. We made them a nice dinner, and she gave them her gift for their yard. A new birdbath made by Auntie Juju's friend Brenda. Everyone had a fun time, and grandpa and grandma LOVED their gift, as well as spending time with Emily!

Happy Grandparents Day 2014

September 2014

Emily and her teacher Mrs. McCarty

This year September brought a lot of new things for Miss Emily. New school, new grade, new teacher, and most of all, making new friends. She has now moved to the school where I work and started First Grade! My girl is getting so big! We had back-to-school night so she had met her teacher, Mrs. McCarty, ahead of time. That helped with nerves quite a bit for the first day. It also helps that whenever I would go to work to set up my classroom, she would see everyone in the halls, and met almost everyone before school even started.

I must say Emily ADORES her teacher, and it is such a great match. She has made lots of new friends, had a few play dates, and had some of her new friends come to her birthday party this year. Check a later post for that fun stuff!

Sorry so long in between blog entries. Life is getting busier and busier the older Emily gets. I am going to try and get caught up through Christmas before going back to work after the new year.
Love,
Kathy

First day of First Grade

Cutie Patootie

Of course a Frozen back pack

Add caption

New Salmon Creek Husky

First Day Smiles

Kira helping Emily learn where to line up

Kayla and Kira wishing Emily well

Found her desk and getting to work

First Grade school picture