Early Father's Day

Elliott had the opportunity to go fishing tomorrow in North Dakota - so we celebrated Father's Day last weekend with a train ride!
She and Elliott got to go and check out the Engine - too cool! She was a bit scared of the noise, but pressed on with Daddy by her side.

Ticket punched!

Em and her best friend.... No elliott doesn't have something on his face - he cut it shaving! Poor guy:(

Emma and Mommy getting some cuddle time

Emma's first time bowling! Daddy took her last weekend and they had a great time, especially picking up the 14 lb. ball!

Last Sunday we had Papa Jim, Great Grandma, and Aunt Judy out for dinner - and Emma was enthralled with Judy! Here they are with GP...

Elliott made the most AMAZING ribs for dinner! We made Emma take off her clothes for dinner:)

Em and Papa Jim - braids and all!

Love to all...

Emma has been so much fun lately! She is just getting old enough that we can really do things together... ride her bike to the store, pick out and plan flowers, watch Dora the Explorer, talk, play, examine all and every thing!

And, when asked who her best friend was, she replied "Cooper". Elliott asked if she was sure it wasn't him, to which she replied, "No, Cooper!"

On the deck at 5:45am!!!! This is our new morning ritual, breakfast and all. I look forward to doing it every morning this summer!

After dinner Saturday night she wanted a fruit bar, but we couldn't see where she had gone to eat it. From the kitchen I asked her where she was - "right here mommy!", she replied... And there she was on Cooper - I guess he really is her best friend!

The other night I got the great idea that I'd braid Emma's hair so it would be curly the next morning... she was so excited to see them in the mirror!

The after effect of the braids.... 7am on the deck:)

Love to all!

Best Day!

We had a lovely full day! And Emma had quite a busy day!

Here she is right away in the morning (in a tank top like Mommy's!), on the counter waiting for her juice. Isn't she beautiful?

And here she is getting ready to.... go on a her new bike!!!! AND scooter:) We had intended to get her a bike at a garage sale, but we were pretty much too late! She did however find a three wheeled pink scooter, so we got that for $5. After much driving and searching we finally headed off to Wal-Mart. We got her the bigger, 16 inch bike, so it should last for quite a few years. She has a bit of trouble getting started, and climbing on all by herself.... But once she gets going she is set! How dang cute is she in her "get-up"?

The one below is my favorite:)

She was scared of the horn we got her, but finally Elliott said she had to or we would go inside! Now, she'll just be going in the middle of the street honking and yelling to the rhythm... "Excuse me, here I come..." "Hey everyone, I love everyone"

Below: Sufficiently exhausted:)

Love to all....

Stinks McGee

We went over to my Mom's today to celebrate Uncle Chris and Auntie Becca's Birthday's. It is about 87 and 87% humidity = awesome. We have decided that Emma has inherited all of the most "endearing" traits from by both her mother and father - poor girl. I finally asked her if she just wanted to take her shirt off; her forehead and bangs were soaking wet just from sitting outside, her body all sweaty and clammy.... Just like her dad! While the rest of us were warm, no one was feeling anywhere near the way that they were! They are two peas-in-a-pod:)

As soon as we got to my mom's I noticed the geese and their goslings across the street at the pond, so Elliott ran in to get some bread.

Elliott has had to travel a lot lately, and if we are home when he leaves we always "see him off" as she likes to say. He often raises his hand out the sun roof to wave goodbye. One such morning Emma waved goodbye to me too!

I just couldn't resist this face! How cute is she???

Love to all...

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a lovely Mother's Day! Emma, my mom, and I all went to the Minneapolis Farmer's Market... We had so much fun, but I was exhausted after watching after Emma for 3 hours! She enjoyed getting in and out of her stroller, and eating cheese curds, cheese popcorn, cinnamon roasted almonds, and.... Maybe that was it! She loved to see the clown who twists balloons, however she informed me that I needed to ask him if he could NOT squeak his loud horn, when he was finished! Our little fearless leader has many fears - not the least of which is loud noises - thanks to the train incident a year ago!

We had my mom and Denny over for dinner... Emma had made me a necklace at Carol's (how lucky are we all that she is in Emma's life?!) - so this was the kiss of thanks that I got!
Three very happy generations, you can see!

Me and Em and the necklace!

On a side note, I heard her telling Cooper tonight, "If you do that one more time Cooper, you are going to have a time out!"

And, there was a lady at the Farmer's Market who was watching me, as I watched Emma investigating how something worked. She said "That's what all 4 year olds are supposed to do." I replied that she had just turned three, and she said, "Oh! I have one just like that, who is now 23 and works for NASA!" So I guess we have good things to look forward to:) Really, whatever she wants... As long as it involves her beautifully pointed feet!!!!!

Daddy is gone again this week, but we went to the Science Museum of Minnesota over the weekend. I have some great pictures and video that I will try and upload from my phone.

Gotta get to bed... Love to all...

Finally!!!

Good Lord.... It has been a month! I can't believe it has taken me this long to get a blog up, but it seems that my weekends have gotten away from me! First Easter, then the best-est girl in the world - Natosha - came to visit, them my students had their big spring concert, then I was sick for two entire weekends in a row!!!! First a major fever and stomach flu, then a cold, then a sinus infection (which was one of the most terrible things ever!). Thankfully Elliott stepped up to the Saint-ly plate and engulfed Emma in play and love and dinner making! Emma is growing and SO MUCH FUN! Tonight she told me, "Here's the deal..." and then went on to explain what it was that she expected me to do. She often will sit down and say, "So, how was your week?" or, "How was your day?" She also wants to do just about everything herself, especially when it has to do with sitting on mommy and daddy's lap to drive in our development! She is obsessed with playing outside, and especially with digging for worms and Grandma and Papa Loerch's house. She has no problem with holding a whole gob-ful in her bare hands!!!

Emma with her God Momma Tosha... They were like two peas in a pod (and Cooper was not far behind!). Emma would even lay on the floor outside of the bathroom while she waited to Tosh! Needless to say, Tosh and I had a grand old time, and she was able to guest teach at my school too. I miss her GREATLY! But, am so thankful she was able to come and visit...
Notice the Triangle Emma made?

I can't remember what she had eaten, but it was purple and we thought she looked like a vampire!

Grandma came with us to the zoo (thank god, because it was the day after I went to urgent care for my sinus infection and I would not have made it through without her!) some weekend in the middle of April.

Not the best picture of me, but isn't Emma the picture of sweetness?

I wanted to go for the sole purpose that it was supposed to be baby animals every where at the petting zoo... Well, kind of, but really she was just in to the goats! She ran around with her food, just giving one piece to each goat. She hugged them and brushed them and scratched their chins... She was in heaven!

Happy Spring!

Love to all...