Nana's 93rd Birthday

Nana and Emily

Yesterday, we had my grandma, Emily's Nana, over for her birthday celebration. She turned 93 on Friday, January 20th. Julyn picked her up and brought her over at 4 p.m. and we had a great time playing with Emily, a very nice dinner, and even watched some videos of Emily in China on my video camera. We capped the evening off with a nice cake and singing Happy Birthday to Nana! We all had a nice time, especially Nana, who loves to just watch Emily play. Emily probably told Nana that she loved her more than ten times throughout the night. Nana ate it up each and every time.

Emily gave Nana a picture she drew all by herself in a frame. It was SUPER!! A REAL picture of the grass, birds, the sun, flowers, and a ladybug! No more scribbling for this big girl!

Enjoy,

Kathy

Playing with stickers and paper from Nana

Let me help you Nana

Here, let me help you read your card



Nana's gift



Playing beads

Watching videos from China

Happy Birthday Nana

Emily's First SNOW Adventure!!!

Sweet snow baby

Well, we had a snow day today; no work for mommy and no school for Miss Emily! Last year she didn't get to play in any snow due to having her surgery at Doernbecher's. The day we had the most snow last year, she was up to her elbows in arm casts and could only look at the snow out the front window. Up to today she has only been in the snow at school when it was just a dusting. So she was SO EXCITED to go outside in the dark this morning; yes, we went outside before the sun came up! She LOVED it! She lasted about 40 minutes before she was too cold and asked to come in the house for some hot cocoa!

When we got outside she wasn't too sure at first, but soon warmed up to playing in the cold snow. She asked to go in the front yard instead of the back, as I have a bright porch light to see better than in the back! There would have been more snow to play with in the back, as my huge tree in the front yard covers most of the grass, but as I said she had the time of her life!

She loved playing with the ice she picked off of the heat pump, snow off the recycling can, crawling around on her knees, making her first snow angel, and her first (teeny tiny) snowman, all by herself!

Enjoy the photos! I know I posted a lot, but I knew you would all want to see the little darling's first real snow experience!

Love,
Kathy

First thing she did was sit down...

Then laid down and laughed so loud...

Next, tried her first snowball...

Then began to crawl and giggle...

Decided running would be OK...

Tried to get all the snow from the recycling bin...

Then she discovered the ice on the heat pump...

Mommy and Emily's footprints

Hmmm, let me try this ice...

Look mommy, I'm strong...I can get the ice off

Emily's very first snowman...you that know her, know she of course called it a "baby"

My baby's first snow angel!

Tried shaking the branch, but didn't like when it went in her mouth

Couldn't get much cuter!

Look at my piece of ice!!!

Face of an angel!

Pure bliss...

Getting a little cold, but still HAPPY!

Winter Cold Fun

The ballerina and her Doggy

Just a few quick snapshots from today! This morning Emily and Doggy were the picture of bliss as they danced and danced to the music from The Fox and the Hound 2. You'll just love the dancing clothes OVER the footie jammies! TOO CUTE!!

Serious dancing is happening

Cutie

Peek Mommy

Brrr...winter park fun!

Then it was off to the park after we put on about three layers to brave the COLD weather! It is great on a Saturday morning to have the entire park to ourselves! BRR!!!

Enjoy!
Kathy

Ice Cream In Winter...

Sweet girl!

The title says it all...who needs it to be 80 degrees outside to have an ice cream cone?? Emily loved her green cone with sherbet, and has stated that next time she gets to have a cone, she would like the pink one! Enough said! Enjoy the picture!

Love,

Kathy

First Teeth Cleaning

All done and all clean

Today Emily had her first teeth cleaning with her GREAT dentist, Dr. Peter Lubisich. All of us were unsure how the little Miss would fair after the big dental surgery last year, but as I have said on previous occasions, my girl rose to the challenge once again!

She played with all the toys while waiting her turn, then when her name was called she went right with the hygienist and mommy followed. They let me sit on a stool close to her and she got to hold Doggy in her lap. She looked cool in her pink shades, provided by the dentist, for the bright overhead light. Emily was wonderful with the hygienist and allowed her to count her teeth, pick at them some, floss them, and even do the polishing. Then Dr. Peter came over and commented on how big Emily had gotten since her visit six months ago. She let him see in her mouth and do all he needed! NO CAVITIES!!! He also said her crowns from her surgery last year looked fabulous!

Then Emily got to go pick her prize, and got a bag with a new Cinderella toothbrush, princess floss, and a new tube of toothpaste. As Dr. Peter said, Emily had the prettiest princess teeth he had seen all day!

Way to go sweetie!

Love,

Kathy

What a big girl!

Emily loved getting water squirted into her mouth

Happy New Year!! Here's to a Great 2012!

Happy 2012 from Mommy and Emily

Well, as many of you with small children know, it is quite exciting on New Year's Eve.  Around our house last night, we played five-year-old games, watched Emily's movies, had some nummies, and Auntie JuJu spent the night! Boy, we really lived it up! Mommy was in bed by 10:30 p.m.

Today was a "stay in jammies all day" day, as per Emily's request. The only time we all got dressed was to go to church, and then right back into jammies after church! Emily loves days like these! Actually, so do mommy and JuJu!

Today at church was the annual Blessing of the Toys. Each child may bring one new toy from Christmas to be blessed by Pastor David. Emily chose to bring her new cat from Santa. It was fun to see all the toys that kids brought. During children's moments, Pastor David asked each child to tell about their toy. Not knowing if Emily would be able to answer questions or not, we all waited. When it was her turn with the microphone, she did GREAT! She said what her toy was and what she named it. Good job babe!

Oh, don't let me forget to let you all in on a little funny. We had turned Emily's new cat to the off position so it wouldn't meow during the prayer.  Well, guess it didn't matter, because it still continued to meow, much to everyone's delight. The pastor, other children, and the entire congregation thought it was cute as well as very funny! Pastor David even put the microphone up to the cat in order for all to hear! FUNNY!!

Emily and I wish you all a wonderful new year and that 2012 brings you peace, joy, happiness, warmth, and much LOVE!

Love,
Kathy

JuJu and Emily enjoying some New Year's Eve nummies

Silly faces

More silly face time

Emily and her friend Jaycee at toy blessing

Emily's turn to tell about cat

Jaycee with her Nutcracker and Emily with her cat. Blessing of the Toys 2012

Mommy's Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday today with the help of my sweet girl, dear friend Lisa, her daughter Belen, another friend's daughter Isabel, and my sister Julyn.

Making mommy's birthday cake

Last night JuJu helped Emily make me a cake after taking her to the store to pick out the mix and frosting. Also, she took Emily shopping and helped her wrap my gift, which was hidden in Emily's nightstand drawer.

This morning Emily crawled into bed with me and wished me a happy birthday! We had a good morning with her giving me her card and gift! She gave me a new music CD that she picked out herself with a card that told me she LOVED me!

We were taken out to lunch by my dear, dear friend Lisa and the other two girls to a very nice lunch at Stanford's.

Then, this evening we had pizza and the yummy cake that Emily helped make! It was so sweet to have Emily and JuJu sing Happy Birthday to me! I do believe there is nothing sweeter than listening to Emily sing! Brings a tear to the eye!

Overall, it was a great day and a marvelous birthday filled with lots of wishes from friends and family!

Love,

Kathy

Oh, YUMMY!!!

Adding the final touches

Belen, Emily, and Isabel at my birthday lunch!