Fun with Captain and Tammy

Captain, Emily, and Tammy

Emily had a fun weekend as she was able to spend time with our family friends Janice, whom Emily calls "Captain," and Tammy. Tammy is one of our close friend Mary Jo's daughters. Mary Jo went to China with us when I brought Emily home. Janice is Mary Jo's sister. Needless to say, we have been as close as family our entire lives! Janice was here all weekend for a work seminar, and Tammy drove up from college in Corvallis to join in on the fun!

We all had a fun time Saturday evening eating, playing with Emily, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. Sunday after church, we went to watch another friend play college girls fast pitch softball. Emily had fun and liked watching the big girls play ball. We all had a great time even though it was incredibly hot out! Emily was so hot, I let her take off her shirt and just wear her undershirt...too cute!

After the game, we met Janice after her seminar for lunch at Red Robin and spent a marvelous time with people we love! Thanks for the fun Captain and Tammy! We love you!!!

Softball game fun!

Stylin' girl!

Doughnuts with Grandpa

Grandpa and his girl

Today Emily had Doughnuts with Grandpa day at preschool, and they both had a blast. Grandpa got to her school around 8 this morning, and Emily got to lead him to the gym where it was all set up for yummies! Emily had a huge doughnut with chocolate and coconut and milk, while Grandpa enjoyed an apple fritter with his coffee! Grandpa said, "WOW, what a difference a year makes." Last year Miss Emily just wanted to run around, but today she sat patiently at the table and ate. Then she asked grandpa if she could go play on the scooters. She wanted to have grandpa watch her. After they did this for a while, she told grandpa it was time to go back to class...yes, Emily said this - there was no set schedule. Then she wanted grandpa to watch her do play dough. Then it was time for hugs and kisses, and time for grandpa to go. My dad said Emily was so different than last year, and he also said he couldn't be more proud!! Ahh...that was enough to make me cry a little happy tears! She has come so far! Dad also stated that a lot of the adults at Emily's school came up to him and told him that, since she has had her hearing aids, they have all noticed a huge change in her. More confidence, talking more, hearing better, more verbal with her friends, etc.! Praise God!

Enjoy the pictures from today! Thanks Dad for taking these, so mommy can see the treasured memories my girl made today! Love you grandpa!

Love,

Kathy

Scooter board fun

Look at her go!

Classroom fun with friends

Baby Shower Fun

Denise and Miss Emily

My friend Denise is due with her new baby daughter, Denaya, on May 14th. Yesterday, Julyn, Emily, and I went to her baby shower. Denise has been to our house, and Emily has been to hers as well. Emily is VERY excited for the new baby to come. Denise has told Emily that she gets to hold the baby when it comes...now that is IT for a five year old! She talks about "Nese's baby" all the time and can't wait to kiss her.

At the shower they played lots of fun games. The first game was each guest had to sit down and color a large picture of one of the jungle animals. After a while, Denise and her husband, Adam, judged all the pictures and the winning picture would be hung in the baby's nursery. There were about 10 finalists that they narrowed it down to and JuJu's was one. The winning picture was EMILY'S giraffe!!! So sweet and darling that they chose hers to hang in the nursery. Emily was very HAPPY, and she received a $15 gift card to Fred Meyer. A few more games were played, and then everyone had to write down advice for the new parents, and Emily didn't want to be left out of that activity either. She wrote a lot of kind of letter-looking marks on the card and then walked it right over to Denise. She said that it said, "Love your baby a lot."  Great advice I do believe! Then food was served and the fun of watching them open gifts. There were a lot of oohs and ahhs! Emily loved when they opened her gift that she had picked out all by herself! Next was cake and cupcakes and cookies! It was a really fun party, and we all can't wait to meet little Miss Denaya!

After the shower, we had to go directly to Fred Meyer, as Emily was so well behaved for a 3 hour shower. I'm telling you, Julyn and I were amazed. She was the youngest person there, and it was a long time to sit, especially while they opened gifts!

At Fred Meyer, she picked out a new toy to go with all of her Squinkies. She LOVES it, and Auntie JuJu kicked in an extra couple bucks so little Miss could get what she really wanted! Way to go Sweetie!

Enjoy the few pictures!

Kathy

Such a big girl!

Writing her advice for the new parents

My girl LOVES frosting!

Working hard on her entry into the contest

The winning picture! So SWEET!

Play Ball...

Batter up...

Today Emily had her first try at her new T-ball set she got from JuJu. She loved it, and we have a future softball player on our hands! We don't know if she would be a left handed batter or right as she tried both. She seemed to make more contact with the ball being a right handed batter, but who can really tell on the wee one's first few attempts. Enjoy the pictures!

Love,

Kathy

JuJu trying to help out the darling

Contact is made

The tee was involved a few times too

Watch the ball babe!

Good job lovey bug!

Two Year Gotcha Day Anniversary

Family and Friends,

First ten minutes together

Two years ago today, my life changed forever, as did the life of a sweet, scared, shocked, surprised, fearful, apprehensive, underweight, underfed little girl. I was waiting for her my entire life, and I truly believe that she was not adopted by anyone else on earth, as she was destined by the Lord our God to be my daughter. I was meant for her, and she was meant for me. There has never been a doubt in my mind over the past two years that Emily Ann Hemin Schroeder was destined to be a part of the Schroeder family, to be LOVED unconditionally, cared for, nurtured, and raised in a loving home and environment. To be educated and raised to know that she can and will be able to have the opportunities to become whatever she wants to be in this world!

In a government agency in Taiyuan, China, in the Shanxi Province, I waited with Mary Jo and Julyn to become a mommy! As I paced, and they got ready to catch this moment on film, I NEVER imagined how my life would change when in walked two women, one carrying a screaming, petrified wee little girl, who had no idea who I was; only that I looked and sounded different than everything and everyone she had ever known. I will never forget how she clung to her little packaged cake with the tightest of grips, so afraid that it would be taken away. How even though she didn't know me, she clung to me with all that she could, as if she was afraid that I too would let go and send her back.

I will never forget those first few snuggles that first night, and her one and only smile the evening of our Gotcha Day. I believe that my life was forever changed that day two years ago, and I also believe that the lives of everyone who meets my daughter will forever be changed as well.

That wee little girl is now an exuberant, happy, THRIVING five year old who has such a zest for life, as well as for the people in her life that she loves - her family and close friends!

People always tell me Emily is so lucky to have me, but I think it is the other way around.  I am the lucky one to be allowed the privilege of being her mommy.

We spent our special day today with many special reminders of our love for each other, the first one being when Emily woke up this morning and said, "Morning mama, love you." Now how's that for a way to start my day!

I gave her the small gift I had for her to celebrate our day, and then it was off to preschool with her show and tell...the singing bear she got for Easter from her grandparents.

Upon picking her up from school today, her teachers told me that Emily had an "anniversary" present for me...she had one of her BEST days at school in a long time! Way to go babe!

When we got home, we played outside for a while, then it was time to meet JuJu at PF Chang's for a very tasty dinner! Emily LOVED using her new kids chopsticks and ate a HUGE meal! We all had a superb time!

Now my sweet angel is in bed sound asleep, and I am left to reminisce about this day two years ago.

I love you Emily, my little lovey bug. You are my girl, and always will be my girl.

The joy and sunshine that you bring to my life is indescribable. You are going to go so far in life. I am so proud of the five year old that you are. Here's to many more happy days and years to come!

Love,

Kathy

My favorite Gotcha Day photo, she was holding on so tight

First smile

All ready for show and tell at preschool today

Happy girl today at home

Big hug!

What did mommy give me...

New doggies. Thank you mommy.

Waiting for dinner to arrive

That's my silly girl

YUMMY!!!

Such a big girl!

Two of the happiest people in the world!

Easter Day 2012



Happy Easter

From the Easter Bunny

Play ball...

Thank you JuJu

Yummy gum

Pretty all dressed up for Easter

Mommy and Emily

Pastor David, Emily, and Mommy

JuJu, Mommy, and Emily at church

Uncle Mike and Emily

Emily's bear pancake

What a great family!!

Thank you Mommy

Beauty and Beast Squinkies

Hunting for eggs

Run, run, run

found one...

Wow...lots of eggs

Emily and her new bear she named Emily from Grandpa and Grandma

Hello All,
Well, after a whirlwind of a day spent with family and friends, and much joy in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Emily is finally in bed, on time (back to school tomorrow).  Mommy can now relax, fold laundry, and post a new blog for you all to see the wee one having so much fun!

We began our day with a visit from the Easter Bunny, or should I say he came last night while we slept.  Although, Emily says she heard him last night from her bed...hee hee hee.

She awoke to find hidden eggs all over the living room and a basket from the big guy himself. After eating one of those eggs...yes...the Easter Bunny had hidden her dyed eggs, she then got to open her basket from JuJu. She also received a Little Tikes tee ball set from JuJu. She is very excited to give it a try!

After we all got ready, it was off to church, where we celebrated Jesus and his everlasting love for us! Then it was off for breakfast with Nana, Uncle Mike, Aunt Carol, Christi, Jessica, and JuJu. We all had a great breakfast and joyous conversation. Emily had a BLAST with Uncle Mike. She has a special place in her heart for him, and cried on the way home when she figured out her wasn't coming to our home too.

After arriving home, Miss Emily got to open Mommy's basket and take a nap. Upon waking up, we got ready once again and headed to my step sister Sherry's for Easter with the rest of the family. It was great to see dad and Sandy after they had been gone for six weeks! Emily did so very well with all of the excitement, people, food, fun, egg hunts, candy, and more. She was well behaved, talkative, so much fun to be around for everyone there, and just an all out sweet girl who everyone noticed, even though she had had such a busy busy day! I am SO PROUD of her! My girl is growing up! In the past, days like this, with these many activities, would have caused some poor choices on Emily's behalf. But, today WAS GREAT!!!

I hope you all had a loving Easter spent with your loved ones and remembering Jesus!
Love,
Kathy