Uff-Da

Emma and Daddy reading a book before Trick-or-Treating!

Today Em and I were driving home from work/daycare and were on our way to the grocery store. She thought it was funny that it was so far away, I guess not just across the street, like usual. Once she saw the sign she said, "There's the grocery store!" Big SIGH, then.. "Uff-dah!" Seriously? How old is she?:)

Today we were on our way home from "work" and Emma was singing "The Farmer in the Dell" (she is a sucker for nursery rhymes!). Daddy has a version that goes on forever, with multiple animals... So Emma asks me, "Mouse takes a squirrel, Mommy? Mouse takes a squirrel?" How cute??? That was what Daddy sang to her last night.

Then we pulled into the garage and she wanted to ride her tricycle. I told her it was way too cold. She said, "It's Ok Mommy, see, I'm all set!" And she pulled up her hood:) So how could I say no to that? So we were putting her mittens on her, so she could ride the trike, and I couldn't get her thumb in. I said, "Oh Emma, where is your thumb?" She immediately pulled off her mitten claiming "Here's my thumb Mommy, right here!" "Look, two thumbs, Mommy"!!! I don't know why, but I kept asking her where her thumb was as we were trying to get the mittens on, and she kept tearing them off to assure me that indeed she did have a thumb and she knew exactly where it was!!!!

It was the cutest 10 minutes of interaction!!!!

Love to all....

Happy Halloween!!!!

We went Trick-or-Treating at my mom's house, since we are living in a Townhouse right now, and we know her neighborhood! Daddy helped get Emma all ready to go while I manned the camera.... She had to get dressed in layers, with snow boots (no snow!) and hat... I made sure to put her Ms. Independent sash on the outside of her jacket (I remember when I was little and always being so disappointed when I had to put a jacket over my costume - although I know Emma didn't care!)

Our first stop was Kelly and Craig's house, right next door to my mom's (Emma is enamored with Kelly and scared to death of Craig!) - you can see Emma hiding behind Daddy's leg...

The candy was a big draw however! She kept saying "I need more candy, Daddy." And she would smile her sweet smile and some people would hand her more!!! Then she got greedy and would reach for more all on her own - silly girl! We worked hard though on making sure she got a "thank you" to everyone:)

Which way to go????

Cheese!!!!

Checking out her "booty" when we got home. She made it around almost a block and a half and we were out for about an hour! She was very excited when she got up this morning - I said she couldn't have any until later after breakfast, at least... So she unwrapped each and every sucker and had ONE lick on each and then set them on a plate to save for later 0 such restraint!

"Oh my goodness!"

On a side note, we've had a much better couple of days... Carol and Rachel had such good ideas and they worked really well Friday night and Saturday morning! Plus Daddy got home from his working trip (poor boy was so tired!) and Emma was thrilled to see him of course.

We'll just keep plugging away!

Love to all...

Halloween Week

Our little Ms. Independent sure is!!!!!!! They had dress-up say at Carol's on Thursday - she wouldn't wear the flowers on her dress, not the sash I amde her, couldn't put her hair up, no tights.... And she wanted to take the dress off 2 minutes after she put it on!
Poor girl.... This is actually a nice face, compared to what I have gotten from her lately!

Decorating cookies to take to the daycare kids. She was COVERED in frosting and sprinkles, but had so much fun!

Carving pumpkins on Sunday was really a chore almost:) Once we got going Emma really enjoyed using a spoon to transfer the seeds from one bowl to another - back and forth! And then she enjoyed feeding them to Cooper:)

This is the face she pulled when she touched the "guts"

It has been a LONG two weeks with Elliott gone. I know he is exhausted from working, but I am worn out by our sweet sassy daughter! She made my cry this morning I was SOOOO fed-up! She won't listen and will just stare into my eyes and do something that I have just asked her not to do.... Seriously? We are in such big trouble..... I had a nice long talk Carol today when I went to pick her up and she gave me some good ideas. My sweet friend Rachel who has three children, works full-time, and is in grad school gave me some great tips too - watch for triggers (tired or hungry which I KNOW are HUGE one's for Emma).... And then she told me just to hold on 'till she is 5:)

Love to all...

Pumpkin's and Apples!!!!

Last weekend we went with Papa and Grandma Loerch to Emma Krumbee's, a Fall Lover's haven! We played on hay piles, rode ponies, and barrel trains, fed goats, fed our selves, picked apples and pumpkins! And Emma.... she ran.... the whole time... Seriously she rarely sits still! Here she is jumping with Daddy on the Hay Pile
One BIG Happy Family!

Emma's first stage debut!!!! The sweet old man in the back was there singing songs all day with instruments for the kids to play!

Getting just the right one....

See that smile??? It is not as sweet as it sometimes looks:) She was WAY past her nap-time and it is seriously like a switch goes off and she turns into a "terrible two"!!!!! Honestly rolling on the ground at the end..... And I have an outer body experience, like, Is that my daughter??????

Frank the Tank , practicing!

The fam....

Surly girl with Papa and Grandma Loerch

PONY RIDE!!!!! She got to start and finish the day with a ride on "Kaia", apparently! She was in HEAVEN!!!! Kissed and hugged the pony when she was finished - so sweet":)

Love to all...

2 Days Anniversary Celebration!

Elliott and I celebrated our 9th anniversary this past week! My mom insisted back in September that she and Papa wanted to take Emma for 2 whole days (!) so we could recharge our batteries!!! So Wednesday we dropped Emma off at Grandma and Papa Loerch's, and Cooper off at the kennel:) We had a tasty lunch at J. Doolittles, then drove through Stillwater along the St. Croix River, and arrived at our Bed and Breakfast at the St.Croix River Inn. We had a lovely view of the river and fall leaves, a hot tub, fireplace, robes, and 8pm hot cocoa and cookies!!! www.stcroixriverinn.com We had stopped and rented about 8 movies (!!!!) because we wanted to do absolutely NOTHING! We had such a relaxing night, and I had a great morning... Coffee w/ warmed mugs and a fresh blueberry muffin, and breakfast in the room to follow. The snow was lightly falling when I woke - so I was pleased! We left about 11am and enjoyed the beautiful drive home. We got Cooper, and couldn't help but look for a little something to give Emma (we both, and Elliott especially, wanted to go get Emma Thursday morning!!!). SO - thanks Papa and Grandma Loerch for a great two days of quiet!!!

Here is what Elliott chose for Emma - a Leapfrog Reading Pad! It lasted for about 10 minutes, but will get better as she gets older:) It did make us excited for Christmas to watch her open it. She takes her time and slowly peaks into the bag!
"Covering" her eyes waiting for her prize...

With the pumpkin that she planted and grew at Grandma Loerch's

Grandma Loerch and Emma made Kitty Cat Cup-Cakes! Emma spent a good 15 minutes straight picking out all of the yellow Reese's Pieces for them to use!!!

Love to all...

Emma and Daddy saying "cheers" over their mini-diet 7-ups! This is a treat for Emma to have one to carry around with her...
CHEESE!

I thought she looked so grown up the other morning, coning downstairs with her Elmo blankie wrapped around her, a pile of books, and bead-head:) She looks like she's 4! She did inform me the other day that she was 3!!!!! Just as plain as day... Silly girl. Then she told me her baby was 2 1/2 - a bit more accurate. She DID get herself dressed ALL by herself last night, and she has started asking me what specific letters are in her books, so that is an exciting step.

In her bath last week she got Cooper some water, then proceeded to get some for herself too!

Sorry it takes so long between posts. Since I've gone back to work time is SO limited and by the time she is in bed I am lucky if I get to watch a 1/2 hour of TV before I fall asleep. Elliott has been traveling quite a bit too, so that adds to the exhaustion:) Today Papa and Nana are driving out from Michigan, and my Dad bought us tickets to go see the Twins tonight!!!! Then Elliott and are going to stay a night on the St.Croix on Wednesday for our Anniversary, and Thursday we get to spend he whole day doing whatever we want! Thanks to Grandma Loerch insisting that Emma had to stay at her house for two nights..... We'll miss her!!!!!!!

Love to all...