One True Thing...

Holiday Dance Performance

Em's Dance Recital Practice:

My little girl got her ears pierced!

She wanted it. She did it! Sunday evening, as we were discussing jewelry (she is somewhat obsessed with my wedding ring these days), she said she wanted to get her ears pierced. Not really thinking about it, I said, "It's fine with me if you're dad says it's ok". To my surprise Joe says, "I can meet you at the mall tomorrow after work if you really want to do it"...and the rest is history.

Leading up to the big moment she kept asking me if it hurt and told me to pinch her ears so she could practice. I kept telling her she could back out if she wanted because it's a lot

of work to clean them and take care of them until they heal. But she was dead set on making this moment happen and I could really tell that it was something she wanted to do. So to my surprise (I really thought I'd be against this at the age of four) my little girl got her ears pierced. 

So now we will be cleaning them 3 times a day for 6 weeks and then we'll be making a fun little shopping trip to get her a jewelry box and some brand new earrings! Oh let the fun begin!  I was surprised at how this moment touched me.  We went out to dinner afterwards and I just kept staring at her, so proud at the way she handled it all.  What a moment!

Spring and soccer are in full force...(so are tornado warning's, but we'll cover that in another post!)

I can't believe the time has come for Emerson to participate in sports!!  Whooohoo!  I loved siting out in the sunshine and green grass, watching her kick the ball, run the drills and talk to the other kids along the line.  It was great!  Not to mention the look in Joe's eyes as she was doing all of this.  He had a smile on his face the whole time.  It was truly a priceless day and one I will not forget!  The weather here has been phenomenal!  I don't think I can recall a single March in the Great NW that was anywhere near the 70's!  I can't recall a tornado warning either...but like I said...we'll save that for another day.  All in all the abundance of sunshine has done us a world of good and Spring has put a spring in our step!

   

  

The first game is a ways out there, but you bet I'll be posting more of this season.

Tomorrow is Joe's Birthday (and his Mom, Jan's, for that matter).  You can bet I have some fun stuff to share, including this week's cupcake!   Stay tuned and happy Spring everyone!

Conversations with a girl...

Em's school was out for MLK Day, so I took a vacation day to stay home with her....and we spent the day getting to know one another.  Sounds strange, since she is my daughter and all, but truly it was an eye opening day for me!!  We had conversations about the flood in Australia (she flipped through pics on the iPad that my Dad had sent), we talked about why we celebrate MLK, we discussed how the sunshine makes us feel SOOOO good, and we went into quite a detailed conversation about exercise and water of all things??!!  She is quite the conversationalist!  I'm always blown away by her very insightful questions and curiosity.  It was a fantastic day!  My favorite part of the day went something like this: 

Me: "Em would you like to go spend some of your Birthday money today?"

Em: "Yes!  I want a yoga mat like yours!"...we'd just finished doing yoga.

She then walked over to get the little dirt devil vacuum we have (because she found a spot that needed cleaning...got to love that!) and next to the vacuum were a pair of Joe's shoes.  The shoes were apparently taken captive and abused by our dog Feta because the heal of the shoe had been chewed up.  Joe must have set them by the garbage can.  After noticing the destroyed shoes, Emerson turns to me with giant eyes and says enthusiastically..."Mom I have a great idea!!  I can buy Dad some new shoes with my Birthday money!!"  At this point my eyes water up and I my heart starts racing with pride and thankfulness for this beautiful girl standing before me.

Me:  "Are you sure you want to spend your own money on shoes for Dad?"

Em:  "Yes!  He would really like it Mom!"

With that...we loaded up into the car, bought a yoga mat for Em, some shoes for Joe, and few other little items with the leftover money.  She was beaming and floating on air the entire time....and I was floating right there with her.  The sun was shining, the windows in the Jeep were down, and we both were loving this wonderful Monday together.  It was one of the best days I've had in a very very long time.  It was a SIMPLE and SIMPLY PERFECT day!  Here are some pics (I took these throughout the day because Joe likes to see the things we do, when he can't be with us).

   

 

It's days like this that will always stand out in my memory most! 

PS...BRING ON SPRING PLEASE!

Another Birthday Come and Gone...

Right when I feel like we've just celebrated her 3rd Birthday, then her 4th one comes along!  Unbelievable!

From this....

 
To this.....in a blink of an eye!

 

Everyday I feel blessed to have a happy and healthy little girl who is so full of life and kindness.  I love her independent ways and the quiet ways in which she observes the world around her.  She loves her family and friends so much and her heart is so big!  She enjoys and appreciates the small things in life and for that I am MOST grateful! 

As cliche as it sounds, they grow up fast and as a parent you MUST enjoy each moment for what its worth.  Every time I hold my daughter I tell myself "Someday she will be too big to hold like this".  So hold them while you can, tickle them while you can, and enjoy the person that they are becoming.

I feel so tremendously blessed by my little girl...I love family!  Hope you had a wonderful Birthday my spunky little thing!  Here is to a wonderful year!  I've always loved starting the new year off by celebrating your Birthday and this year was no different! xoxox - Your Mom

PS Bday Picture Album posted for your enjoyment (Just for you Mama Carter :-)  Enjoy!)

We Will! We Will Haunt YOU! Project 4!

The nights are getting spookier & spookier here....and kookier & kookier!

 

Joe got in on the action tonight...kinda thought he would ;-)

 

One True Thing: Nothing like a little surprise to say I love you!

   
  
A special surprise waited for Joe today in the Klamath Falls Herald and News.  Emerson won the contest for the letter she wrote into the paper, stating why her dad is the best!  She did this all herself by typing it up on the computer and emailing it in, about a month ago.  We forgot all about the contest until they called us on Thursday to tell us she won.  We kept it a secret until this morning when she handed him the paper!  See the video below.  What a great day for a great dad!!  Check out the Father's Day album to the left for some fun Father's Day pictures.

  

Emerson's first Gymnastics Meet - Preschool Olympics

What a great time!  The school is so organized and did a great job making it special for the kids.  I was so impressed!!  I'm so glad that we decided to put Emerson at gymnastics at KGA.  What a terrific confidence builder and energy burner!  Enjoy the video...

They started up with warm-ups, then the Opening Ceremonies, and then it was time for Em's floor routine.  Next was the balance beam and last was the uneven bars (she loves the uneven bars). 

Sorry about some of the shots...we did the best we could!

One True Thing: One of the best videos I've ever had the pleasure of taking!

She is one passionate little singer...I seriously don't know where in her heart this comes from, but it brings me nothing but JOY to watch and hear.  You should hear the voice that comes from the bathroom while she's in the tub or while she's in the backseat of the car!!  We are quite lucky!

Emerson singing Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson