Emily's 6th Birthday

Happy Birthday! Mommy LOVES you!

My girl is 6!!! She is so big now and loves telling people that she is six now not five! As I sit here and type these words, I can't help but think about the sacrifice her birth mother made to LOVE her enough to want a better life for her. I'm sure that this woman is thinking of Emily today too, the day she gave birth to my sweet precious girl! Words will never be enough for me to express my love and gratitude to a woman I shall never meet, for granting me the chance to be mommy to the most WONDERFUL girl in the world!

Emily has been fighting a cold all week, and is really trying to get better before her big party this weekend! She feels the worst in the a.m when she wakes up and then again in the evening before bed! Poor darling has a cough and severely stuffed up nose! We shall ride this one out just like all the rest!

She woke up today earlier than usual and was feeling kind of puny until I reminded her she was 6! She in turn replied, "Now? No more 5?" Well, once she figured out that she was really six today she was all over it! Before leaving for school she got to open a card and two small gifts from mommy, as well as mommy getting a cute picture before we were off.

Sweet Auntie JuJu was kind enough to bring the birthday treats to Emily's class today and also take a few snapshots for mommy to see!

Tonight, JuJu, Mommy, and Emily went to Panda Express for dinner where the Big Girl ate her fill of pot stickers and noodles. Then afterwards, we all watched her new movie from JuJu, Pocahontas II. She also received another gift from mommy, a new pair of shades with blue circles on them, her favorite color and shape, as well as a panda purse that Mommy got for her while in China.

I think the darling had a good day and is now trying desperately to go to sleep, but is a bit wound up! More to come after the big party on Saturday!

Love,
Kathy

Passing out treats at school

Ready to celebrate with her school friends

Emily and her friend Quinn

Gabbing it up with her buds

Heading out to recess

JuJu and Emily

Ahhh...sweet card JuJu

Can you tell by the smile...she LOVED the gift!

Mommy and her big girl!

New shades and Panda purse from China

NUMMY dinner, Emily's favorite Pot Stickers

Birthday Festivities Begin

Birthday Girl!

Yesterday Emily had her first of many birthday celebrations in recognition of her turning the BIG 6!!!

We enjoyed the company of lots of our family members, yummy sandwiches, cake and ice cream and some very lovely gifts for the BIG GIRL!!

She was very excited to see Uncle Mike, her cousin Makena, as well as Nana, Grandpa and Grandma and many more.

She loved her new big girl purse (no more princess purses unless playing), big girl boots, and CUTE clothes! Thank you so much everyone for helping to make Emily's birthday a wonderful family event! She loves you all!

Probably the most fun she had was sitting on Uncle Mike's Harley. She knows that she gets to go for a ride when she is tall enough to reach the foot rests. Yesterday she got to sit on it, and that seemed to be enough for now! BIG SMILES!!

This week she'll have a birthday celebration at school, birthday celebration with Mommy on the 10th, and a HUGE PARTY next Saturday with all of her friends! Be sure to check back for all the juicy details in the life of a soon to be 6 year old!

Love,
Kathy

Cousin Makena and Emily

Fun with Uncle Mike

Grandpa helping to read her cards

New big girl purse

Having help reading cards

Loving her Grandpa

Thank you Grandpa for helping

WOW...6 candles

Gotta grow some more...

Emily LOVES her uncle Mike!

All tuckered out after the big party!

First Day of School September 2012

Hello All,

Happy girl off to Pre-K

Today was Emily's first day of school, as well as mommy's first day back to her own class of second graders. I am happy to announce that the little lady had a glorious day in Pre-K and loves the kids, her teachers, AND that she is in the "Big Kid" class. She had a great morning getting ready, woke up happy, ate a great breakfast, even posed for pictures for mommy, and we headed out. Once at school she even willingly posed for a couple more photos, and then we headed to class. She was excited to put her nap things away in her new "Big Kid" cubby basket; no more bags like the "little kids". After a big kiss and lots of hugs, she was off and playing with her friend Payton.

When I picked her up this afternoon her teacher said she had had a great day and only had to be reminded twice about staying with the class...not too bad after all of summer away from the routine of school. She even got to meet Miss Jeannette's daughter Melody, who is in second grade at King's Way and is also adopted from China. Miss Jeannette is heading back to China in November to bring home her new daughter Jillian who will be six. How lucky for Emily to have this teacher!!! Praise the Lord! We then headed to the store to buy some butterscotch hard candies, Emily's new favorite, because everyone was so proud of her!!! After almost falling asleep in her dinner, she is now in bed at 6:20 p.m.  Yes, you heard this right...6:20 p.m. Boy, that school business can take a lot out of a girl!

Now to back up a little.  Last night was Emily's Back to School Night.  So after JuJu had babysat all day, since mommy was at work, we headed over to King's Way Christian School to see her teacher, her friends, play for a few minutes, and of course have a treat, which was shaved ice. It was the CUTEST thing ever when she saw her friends and they saw her. They all went running to each other, screaming each others' names, hugging and kissing and saying "I missed you." Too PRECIOUS!! She got to play with a few toys, see how her classroom was set up, where her cubby was, which already had papers for mommy in it, and see where her new nap basket was. Then she headed outside to wait in a very long line for her and Payton to have their shaved ice. After they sat down to finally begin eating their treat, more and more friends came to join them, all after receiving hugs from Emily.

All in all, her last two days have been busy and full of new friends, old friends, new teachers, new class, new routines, and being away from mommy again after all summer off. We may have a few bumps in the road this year as to be expected, but I must say she is really growing up!

Enjoy!
Kathy

Doggy had to make at least one shot!

Ready to go in. Such a big girl now!!!

Miss Jeannette

Miss Chris

Sensory table at back to school night

Puzzle time

Emily and her friend Payton enjoying their shaved ice...orange flavor

"Quinn, I missed you. How are you?" Enjoying some friend time.

Emily's weekend...what a HELPER

Enjoying her lunch at mommy's work

Well, it is that time of year when mommy has to get her classroom ready for the upcoming school year. I am blessed to have Julyn as my sister as she is always willing to help me out. That comes in even more handy now that I have Miss Emily to bring along with me.

We spent 4 1/2 hours at my school on Saturday and 3 1/2 hours there today. My girl is a real TROOPER! She was helping collate papers, hang things up in the windows, carry book baskets, giving her ever so important opinion on furniture placement, and most of all having fun!  She got to watch movies in mommy's classroom, eat lunch in her new favorite space to eat (the cubbies), and play with some toys from the first grade area over in mommy's class, all while JuJu and mommy worked like busy bees setting up for the new class of second graders. Emily had fun visiting with mommy's friends and co-workers, AND playing on the playground at mommy's school!

Saturday, after helping at school for so long and being SO GOOD, we came home for a little break and then we were back out again to go school clothes shopping. THANK YOU grandma and grandpa for the money. Emily helped pick out eight new tops and seven new pair of pants for school. She also has four new pair of shoes since she continues to grow like a weed!

After school clothes shopping last night we got an ice cream cone, and Miss Em enjoyed her bright blue flavor!

Today at church the service was held outside! It was a beautiful summer morning, and as the music played and people sang, many of the children in the congregation got up and danced (Emily being one). She also had a blast sitting with her buds on the lawn.

All in all. a great yet busy weekend!
Love,
Kathy

Emily's new school clothes...thanks grandma and grandpa!

Blue ice cream tongue!

Fun with friends at church

Annual Blueberry Picking

Emily and Kira

Today we had our annual blueberry picking with the lovely Black family. We were joined by Michele and Kira. Kayla was absent due to a sleepover with friends and a fractured arm. We missed you sweet Kayla!
We met at our usual spot, Majestic Farms in Hockinsin, WA, and had a grand time as usual. Emily was all ready with her boots and bucket, and as soon as Michele and Kira got there we were off.

We headed down to the back rows that we were told were still filled with berries, and boy were they right! LOADED bushes is what we found!

The girls had so much fun together while Michele and mommy had a great time catching up!

Well, we are home now with 14 pounds of berries washed and clean. Although I believe we all ate about that much while we picked! Thanks Michele and Kira for a GREAT day!

Love,
Kathy

Emily all ready to pick berries

YUMMY

Sweet girls!

Yummy!!!

14 lbs. all washed and ready to eat!

Grandpa Mel's Garden

Emily's first hand picked apple

Last Sunday Emily had her first experience with a garden. We have talked about gardens and received zucchini from Titi's garden, but Emily had never been in a garden nor picked her own vegetables and fruit. My dear friend Heidi's dad, Mel, has a wonderful garden and fruit tree mini orchard on his property. We have been getting delicious yummy yellow plums and cucumbers all summer, and Emily was just wanting a chance to see and garden and pick something on her own.

Sunday after her nap we headed out to Mel and Judi's, and Emily had the time of her life picking blueberries, green beans, zucchini, onions, tomatoes and her very own apple from the tree. Probably her favorite were the blueberries and apples.

She of course, as many of you know with children, HAD to wear her rubber boots with her shorts and tank top because, "Grandpa Mel might have muddy garden."

When we were back inside, Emily also got to have fun with Auntie Heidi and a very old slot machine. She could have put nickels in forever just to wait and see if more would come back out! Too funny!

Emily also had fun going with Grandma Judi and Auntie Heidi to the neighbors to feed their Koi in the pond while they are gone on vacation, as well as play with Hershey, the chocolate lab. All in all, a very good day in the life of a five year old! What more could a girl ask for...rubber boots, picking her own fruits/vegetables, Koi feeding, playing with a dog, and slot machines!!!

Thanks Grandpa Mel and Grandma Judi!
Love,
Kathy and Emily

Yummy blueberries

She picked these all by herself

Auntie Heidi, Grandpa Mel, and Miss Emily

Can I try Grandpa Mel???

There you go, that's how to do it.

Her first zucchini

Delicious cucumbers!!!

Getting some tomatoes with Teri, Heidi's sister

Heading on to the next important item...

Slot machine FUN!