Macy's 8th Floor

We went downtown yesterday evening, to visit Santa and the Macy's 8th floor exhibit "A Day in the Life of an Elf". Emma was adorable!!!!! I was excited to get downtown and Emma asked if we could go every week. I suggested we go down every other week - it would be good for all of us:)

I used to go see the 8th floor every year as a child, and Emma has gone since we moved back here. We were pleased that the line was only about 1/2 hour - and with Elliott in tow it meant a very happy girl!

Here she is at the entrance to the 8th Floor.... The elves tickling each others toes...

Emma spent most of the evening on Daddy's shoulders - in much awe!

All three of us smiling and looking in the same direction - miracle!

Emma's first visit to see Santa Clause since she was 9 months old - she has been too scared that past couple of years! This year she was SO excited, and of course we have talked it up. She got up on his lap and smiled right at the camera, and slowly pulled her dress to cover her knees - CUTE! She told him she wanted a double stroller, and he said he thought they had some of those! It was precious. The actual picture turned out better than any of us had imagined and I'll send it out with our Christmas cards.....

Emma and Daddy wrote a letter to Santa (really Daddy as Emma was reaching her tired point!) - we also got huge Christmas cupcakes and Emma picked out a beautifully frosted Santa cookie.

Emma and Grandma Loerch giving some love out! After the Santa Land visit we headed to the Skyway (downtown is pretty cool - you can get just about anywhere though the skyway indoor walkways that go from building to building over the streets so winter is slightly more bearable!). Anyway, there is a parade called The Holidazzle that is totally in Christmas lights - the people and everything - and it is free TH - Sun evenings in December. We were planning to go down in a couple of weekends to see it, but it was pretty slow moving so I was glad that we got to see it from inside!

After driving by a couple of houses with great light displays (The Fornetti's STILL!!) we finally made it home about 8pm and Daddy made us chicken Alfredo - that always feels good on the belly in the morning:)

Emma is turning in to quite the little girl and it is a joy to watch her and listen to her as she grows and explore - OH!!!!!!!! And if anyone saw the news talking about the plane that ran off the runway Friday evening at MSP airport - that was Elliott's! I guess they were in a holding pattern for an hour - then finally went to land and 15 feet off the ground the pilot hit the throttle!!!!! And back up they went - the pilot said there was a plan on the runway!!!!!!!!!! Once they got back in to place they landed and as they were taxiing they slid off the runway!!!!!! Anyway - all is well and we got a $200 voucher:)

10 year Anniversary photo shoot

Elliott, Emma, Cooper and I went back to the park that we had our wedding pictures taken at - exactly 10 years and one week to the date and time! Below are the best of what the photographer got.... we were pretty happy but hope to do something a bit different next time. And we certainly won't wait 10 years! Every year now....:) Love to all....

Thanksgiving....

WE had a lovely and relaxing Thanksgiving! My Mom and Denny came over for a late breakfast (Orange puffy eggs - I loved them, was the only one:(....). They spent the entire day with us, which was special. Emma napped on the floor in the family room with us. The men watched football while mom and I looked at the "ads" and planned our attack!

Em in new PJ's from Grandma Loerch

Licking Thanksgiving whipping cream:)

Playing NapTime with my Aunt Judy! How sweet??????
Loving Cooper Dooper

Emma made out like a bandit from Mommy's early shopping morning! My mom and I had such a blast!!!!! The coat was 80percent off from Gymboree and the boots were 50 percent off at Gap kids!!!! And I think she is adorable:) I am a bit biased....

Anyway, it was such a lovely weekend and I feel truly thankful for all the wonderful moments, opportunities and people in my/our lives!

Love to all...

We were in the 60's two weeks ago and now there is snow and 30's! So the first picture is of Emma outside in short-sleeves putting the Christmas lights up with Elliott.... The following is Emma on the deck shoveling snow last Saturday morning! She woke up that morning because it was "sunny" outside. When she looked out the window she literally yelled "SNOW!" So Emma and Mommy played outside in the snow two days in a row and we had such a blast:)

This is what we do on Thursday evening.... Emma found her goggles in the closet, and I came around the corner and she was on the counter trying to dip her head under the faucet:) So the good mommy that I am, I got her a bowl and held it for her so she could dip her eyes in it!!!!! How sweet is she?

I am taking Emma to see the Nutcracker tomorrow night. I am so excited to see her expression - I hope she makes it past intermission!

Love to all...

November at the Patterson's

I have no idea how my pictures ended up this way?!!!! Oh well:) Elliott has been traveling A LOT lately, so my mom came over for a sleep over last week while El was in NYC. Grandma Loerch learned how we play at the Patterson's - gymnastics, tricks, dancing, circus-ing! Below you see Emma in her gown - she LOVES to play dress-up so I went to Savers and bought her a few used dresses.

Emma, Grandma and I practicing our circus tricks.

Daddy sold some of his "gear" the other night, and gave Emma some special money to spend at Target. Surprise of all surprises, Emma chose out a new baby doll! She is obsessed with babies, and this one had a carrier, so she can wear it!!! The final picture is of her on the couch this morning, watching "Little Bill" on Nick Jr. The baby has not come off her body since she got it yesterday!

Love to all.....

Happy Halloween!!!!

Our silly Emma is in to scary icky things, and I did all I could to get her to NOT pick out a gory mask this year! I told her she would scare the little kids at daycare!:) Bad Mom?!

When deciding what she wanted to bring to Carol's for the other kids, however, she went scary crazy - forked eyeballs!

Sure were tasty....

Emma in her princess/fairy outfit.... This was chosen after waiting 20 minutes at Party City, just to find out they didn't have her first choice in her size!!!! This fairy costume was a quick, I can't take it any more, pick:) She was excited and pretty dang cute though! Here she is with Mom's neighbor Kelly, who she adores.

Emma's sweet friend Easa, who lives literally across the driveway from us (the girls talk/yell to each other from between the bars of our balconies!) and her parents came to Trick-or-Treat with us. The girls had such a good time, and it is so fun to see Emma interacting with friends. They always have a HUGE hug for each other, and held hands a good portion of the night - when they weren't arguing who's turn it was to ring the door bell!

The girls approaching a coffin (with someone inside), a fog, gravestones, and Freddy Kruger waiting in the wheelchair with a chainsaw, at the top of the driveway!!! The girls did pretty good!

The girls' bags were too heavy towards the end, and they were cold and Emma could barely walk because her feet hurt! So, Chris, Easa's dad took charge:) Chris and his wife Colleen are from Washington, with a huge dog, WA Plates on their cars, and a cracked windshield too!!!!! It has been fun getting to know them. However Chris is in the Army, so we know they will be moving in two years....:(

Emma - the gooney face - watching a movie with Easa after the evening!

Emma has started gymnastics again.... That was what she chose to do, and she has a knack for it thus far. Not too flexible though, and the biggest belly in her class:) She's actually got her cartwheel down!!!! Dang cute -

Love to all....

Happy Halloween!

A couple of weekends ago Papa Jim came out from Michigan! Emma ran up to give him a huge hug - that never gets old. Great Grandma Dorothy and Aunt Judy also came over for the day. Below Emma and Papa are starting a Halloween Haunted House - gotta love Target!

Emma and G.P.

Celebrating Aunt Judy's birthday with Apple Crisp

Tom Tom.... Old man is still kickin' :)

Emma found some water color paints that we had for her, and enjoyed her first experience with them. Maybe a good Christmas gift from Santa?!

This is how Emma enjoyed carving pumpkins.... drinking warm apple cider:) She didn't like the "guts", literally said "Oooohhh, gross!" I didn't get over the goop until just a couple of years ago. Sweet Daddy set out to make the spider web that Emma really wanted. I did three pumpkins in the the time it took for him to get that one crazy one done! You can see below though that it was well worth it!

I went to Saver's the other day and got Emma a couple of dresses for "dress-up play" and she just loves them! It is fun to see her explore her imagination in so many different ways.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!