First Timers!

Emma has been such a joy lately - watching her grow and learn and think and respond is such a treat. It all reminds me of how fortunate we are to have Emma in our lives! Below is her "first day of school" picture. Actually, her first day back at Carol's for the fall. She goes for about three hours in the morning, gets the pre-K curriculum that Carol does with the kids, and play time and social interaction with the kids as well. She has really formed a sweet relationship with two of the younger girls, both three, who come running to her every time we step in the door. It is very endearing and also reminds me of how lucky we are to have Carol and Tuffy in our lives and as a part of Emma's life.

Emma had her first ballet class of the season last week, and I could not have been prouder!!! Ballet was quite a struggle last year - all she wanted to do was run around, boss the other kids around, do her own thing, and basically be silly the whole class. What a difference a year makes!!!! After class I told her how proud I was of her (over and over again to be honest!), and she said, "I know, did you see how the other kids weren't listening, and how they were running all around? I only looked over once to make sure you were there." Oh, my heart melts!

AND Emma has started soccer at the Y this fall. It is only about 7 games, but again, what a difference a year makes!!!! Elliott and couple other dads are "coaching" and there is such a great group of 4/5 year olds on her team. We also decided to do Saturday mornings, so Elliott wouldn't miss any. I think that was a wise choice for Emma, as by 6pm she is pretty wiped out from her day! Here she is in goalie, however most of her time in goalie was spent playing in the net, getting her hair caught. One time the other team scored a goal because she had gotten her shoe caught in the net and couldn't move:)

Emma is also progressing her in "reading" skills. The other day we were driving in the car and she said, "Look mom, this guys name is Tim!" She was looking at the cover of TIME magazine and had sounded out "Tim".... Bursting buttons of course:)

What else? Well, this morning she had her first cavity filled (hopefully the next will be many moons away!), Friday morning she has surgery on her cleft palate and will spend the night in the hospital for recovery, and then next Friday the 30th we MOVE into our new home!!!!

We are very thankful for all of the wonderful fruits of life headed our way lately. I am especially thankful Elliott is willing to work so hard at his new job, to provide for us as a family in so many ways!!! Thanks honey....

Love to all....

Sarasota, Fl - Day I and 2

Here we are! We arrived in Orlando about 1pm on Thursday after an amazingly easy flight with Ms. Emma. She slept for about an hour and a half of our two hour drive to Sarasota. We headed straight for the beach when we got here and ate dinner about 8pm in our hotel that night! Our hotel is an older Holiday Inn, not that great, however we have a beach view, and just walk across the little path to the beach. AND the hotel food is AMAZING!!!! We were very surprised.... Emma and I have enjoyed room service for breakfast each morning so far, and lunch out yesterday. We plan on at least one really nice fish dinner while we are here, probably on St. Armands circle, or we may drive down to Siesta Key or Santa Maria Island. Emma has loved every moment in the water, and we have seen huge pelicans diving for fish, a coule of dolphins have a us a great show jumping high in the air just a few yards off shore yesterday morning, funny little hermit crabs, and a type of mollusk and tiny clams.... It has been fantastic so far, even with a little bit of rain! Today we will be off to the beach after breakfast, to fly the kite El and Em got, and just to play in the water and search for even MORE shells!!! This afternoon we will drive down to Siesta Key, or maybe to the Aquarium or Jungle Gardens...

Proof that I was indeed on the trip, because it may be the only picture I get in!

Emma searching the millions of little shells all over the beach - just as I remember it!

First step into the water Thursday evening - so warm!

For Father's Day Emma and I got Elliott a fishing trip for the first morning we were here (that was Friday morning). He was at the boat ramp by 7am and was back home, exhausted from the sun by 11:45. I guess the fishing wasn't so great, and he'd like to come back in May for Tarpon fishing. He did however catch a puffer fish, an endangered catfish, have his biggest fish taken by a shark, see dolphins and a manatee... So, not too bad!

There is a beautiful historic shopping circle, called St. Armands Circle about two blocks from our hotel (I remember it well from when I was a child!). Emma thought she saw a toy store so we had planned to head out there yesterday afternoon. Well, we couldn't find one, but the Starbucks girl suggested a great one "downtown" Sarasota. Elliott told Emma she could pick something out..... Can you imagine she chose the most expensive baby in the store??? I told them however,t hat she was going to have to give away most of the other babies she has at home!! She asid OK! We'll see how that goes, but her baby obsession has to stop somewhere:) Least to say it snuggled up next to her in bed right now.

Our goofy girl!!!

Emma's late night Sandcastle

Flying a new kite on the beach - not so much wind so we will try again this morning!

Elliott wouldn't pose in a picture for me, so Emma kindly volunteered:) Our sleep schedules have been WAY off, a nap from 3:30-5:30, to bed at 10:30, yet still awake at 7am!!!!! Oh well.... we have a much happier Emma AND Daddy when they get sleep:)

On a side note many thanks to my mom, Denny, and Carol and Tuffy (Em's daycare and out realtor).... We have been house hunting (yippie!!!) and there has been a change in the rules for FHA loans in the past week - we have to be almost closed by Oct. 1st or the amount we qualify for goes way down!!!! So my Mom, Denny, Carol and Tuffy have been scouting houses for us for hours!!!! The hope is that we get back Thursday, and will put an offer on something Thursday evening... Who would have thought our first vacation in 11 years, without any other family, would coincide with the housing decision???? Oh well... Thanks to them is the least we can say!!!