Making Yardwork Fun

Emily has recently decided that it is loads of fun to pick up leaves in the yard. Last weekend, we loaded up for a picnic of sorts and sat out in the yard for a while collecting and sorting various leaves and pinecones. She had a blast! Hope you enjoy these pictures of her cleaning up the yard. We can only hope that this devotion to yard work will continue as neither of us really enjoys cleaning up the leaves! Happy Fall! And by the way, aren't you impressed by my video posting? I feel so tech-savvy!

Getting started on an adventure - I love the serious look on her face! She's all business.
Emily likes to look through all of the leaves and talk about their colors. She's also very picky - she throws out any leaves that have crumbled edges. Only the perfect ones get to go in the basket!
Sorting through her treasures with Mommy
Taking a rest break
She also loves to roll in the grass but insists that everyone else join her. We'll probably all have chiggers tomorrow.

This is my first attempt to post a video. Hope it doesn't take forever to load! Listen closely and at the end, you can hear her count the pinecones. So smart! Next weekend, we're splitting the atom.

Fun Fall Pictures

Just wanted to add in a few fun random pictures that we took this weekend. I have been dragging my feet about taking Emily to get her 2 year old pictures taken, but I console myself by thinking that we take lots of pictures of her every day. I promise to take her before she turns three, anyway. Hope you enjoy these!

A sweet picture of Daddy's girl on her way to have pictures made with Santa (aka-Granddaddy). All she can talk about is a "Dora bicycle." I'll probably have to get up a four in the morning on the day after Thanksgiving to find one! Then again, we have a direct link to the big guy - check out www.santainatlanta.com for details!

A friend snapped this picture of us at the Northgate game this Friday. Emily loved the cheerleaders and loved climbing the bleachers even more. However, she loved her mittens the most and almost had to sleep with them that night. I outwitted her by offering her cookies in bed. Sugar for mittens - a good trade!

We caught Emily feeding TC treats on Saturday morning. I don't know how long this had been going on before I caught them, but it's safe to assume it was for an extended period. If I had taken a picture five seconds later, it would show TC throwing up an entire can of cat treats. The joys of toddlers and cats...

For whatever reason, Emily decided on Sunday morning that she needed to take a nap with all of her animals...underneath the living room rug. We really do have blankets for her bed. She just prefers the soft feel of wool next to her skin at naptime.

Have a great week!

A White House Halloween

Halloween at the White House was lots of fun this year because Emily was able to go trick or treating for the first time. Our families met for supper at our house before loading Emily, Jackson, and Abby into a wagon and heading out to hit the streets. Emily had a great time and even remembered to say "Tick or Teek!" at each house. Abby got to spend some some quality time with Uncle Donald at the pirate house down the street (an unbelievable decorating extravaganza!) while Brad and I hauled the wagon back to our house. We're thinking of investing in a trailer or a golf cart like our neighbors for next year - Brad and I were worn out after hauling two heavy toddlers around the neighborhood! Hope you enjoy these pictures!

What a sweet witch! I love this dress and would seriously let her wear it as a regular dress and not just as a "cosh-toom", as she called it.

The fabulous Abby Williams is wearing a custom-made Dorothy outfit courtesy of Mimi. I'm glad that we have primary hand-me-down status!

We got the trick or treaters to sit still for about two seconds to take a photo. No small feat!

Yuck! That Laffy Taffy is sticky! Notice the suspicious greasy smears around her mouth - someone's been stealing from the candy bowl!

Caught in the act! Charlie the Cat was an unwitting accomplice as Emily pilfered from the candy bowl and filled up her own bag.

Holidays are lots of fun with little ones around. We had a great time trick or treating this year and are looking forward to a fun Christmas. Look for more pictures soon!

Happenings at The White House

I generally leave the blogging to Donald; however, for the moment at least, I have a few moments of quiet time and thought I'd post a few pictures of our latest activities. Sorry it has been such a long time since we've last posted but life is generally hectic around here. Emily is becoming such a character and is such a joy to have around each day. She has really started talking around the clock and Donald and I have lots of fun trying to translate her toddler-speak. We've recently graduated to a big-girl bed - more on that below! We've also posted some pictures of our trip to The Place to Play (an inflatable playground) in Newnan and the Hopewell Methodist Church's pumpkin patch. We can't believe how much she's growing and learning every day. Hope you enjoy these pictures!Emily loves the babies she got for her birthday and enjoys putting them to bed in Mommy's bed.
After an unfortunate "climbing out of the crib at 3:00 am" incident, we booked it to Babies R Us and invested in a toddler bed. She's adjusted pretty well and is channeling Abby Williams by insisting on fifteen stuffed animals in the bed before she can sleep!
Donald and Emily in the ball pit at The Place to Play. She didn't want to leave the ball pit to explore any of the other play possibilities.
Taking a run down the slide with Mommy. We discovered pretty quickly that it's not the other kids that she needed protection from - it's the parents of the other children!
Emily chose this pumpkin at the pumpkin patch to bring home with her. I fear that it will go rotten before we can get it away from her!

Emily's 2nd Birthday

Here are a few pictures of Emily's 2nd birthday party. Everyone had a great time and Emily got so many cool new toys! It's hard to believe that she's already two! Thanks to everyone who came and those of you who were thinking about us!

Emily's Cake and Invite
Emily surrounded by her friends
Emily and Mimi checking out the donuts!
Emily and Mom snuggling after the party. She was worn out. Emily, too!

Emily's favorite gift. She calls them "bubb-lees"

Emily and her shades. She is so cool!

4th of July and more fun pictures

Emily can be grumpy in the morning!
Emily plays pool
Where did they go?
Over there! They have watermelon!
Ahhh! Watermelon!
I know, I know...we just posted. But, hey, you guys deserve it! We've been so busy we haven't had much time to post so we're making up for some lost time!

Summer Fun

Bath time smile
Bearded Lady
Donald and Gavin
Gavin and Emily in the tunnel
I love you this much!

These pictures are just some of the summer fun we've been having so far. Our visit with Gavin, Stephen, and Vanessa was loads of fun! And bath time is daily fun for all! Hope everyone is having as much fun as we are!

Emily in the garden

Whew! Schools out and we're just now able to take a break for a little while. We spent most of Saturday in the garden planting flowers and generally having fun. Emily, of course, is always insterested in what we're up to. She loves to play in the water and apparently to drink from the hose! This was a great day!

Emily's 1st Beach Trip

Amanda, Emily, and I took a trip over spring break to Orange Beach, AL with our friends Amy and Lane. It was Emily's 1st trip to the beach and also our first road trip with an 18 month old! We couldn't have asked for a better trip. Fun, sun, and baby!

Emily and Charlie ready to go!

I think her exact expression was "Eeee!"

Where's all that water coming from! Its like a giant bathtub!

White Family Portrait at the Beach

The "White" Family in the ool...notice there's no p...nevermind.

Charlie chillin' by the pool. Those are Emily's shades.

Fun times!

Emily on the swing at the park!
Emily enjoying yet another bath!
Emily and her boyfriend, Ethan!

Fun pictures!

These are just a few pictures taken over a couple of days this month. Emily is really starting to develop her personality. She had so much personality before, there's no telling where she'll stop! Enjoy!Emily, Mom, and Abby just chillin'!Comfy-cozy time!
Bubbles!
Emily actually put the hat on herself. She also has a fascination with shoes (got that from her mom!).