Visiting the Library

We took Emily for a visit to the library in Peachtree City this week. She had a great time looking at all of the books, playing on the computer, and lying on the big stuffed giraffe. She became kind of territorial about the giraffe and was upset that another kid was on it at one point. We had to have a quick lesson on sharing! Donald and I read to Emily all the time and we have so many books at home that she wasn't so overwhelmed by the number of books available at the library. However, she did like taking a book of her own home with her and wants to go back again soon. As a librarian myself, this makes me very happy!

Bathing Beauty

Just taking a moment to post while Emily is twisting along with Jack's Big Music Show. I snapped this picture of her coming out of the tub yesterday and just fell in love with it. Emily generally loves a bath, especially if bubbles are included and we turn on the jets in the bathtub. Yesterday was beauty shop day, meaning she had to get her fingernails and toenails trimmed along with her other daily beauty requirements, which are extensive because of her curly hair. To make her feel better after cutting her nails and forking through her tangled curls (she hates both!), I let her wear some of my favorite perfumed lotion. She walked around smelling herself the rest of the day!

Just an FYI

I added a few new links to our list tonight, so take a look when you have some free time. You can listen to some great jazz (Stuart White - Donald's cousin), send an email to Santa (Santa Gus), and see new pictures of Baby Jace (The Wileys). Happy surfing! By the way, this is a totally unrelated picture - but I thought it would catch your attention. One of the many faces of Emily.

Fiesta!

Donald, Emily, and I went to a party tonight at the Westbrooks' log cabin out near Carrollton. She was so excited all day and kept saying, "I'm so excited to go to the party tonight!" She asked all day long if it was time to go yet. We all had a great time but she really enjoyed herself. Amy and Adam have lots of great toys and animals for little girls to play with. She especially enjoyed the Chinese checker set, although the Donny Osmond doll came in a close second (maybe it was the skin-tight red pants that did it). Emily and Sam the Dog became fast friends. Sam has a "sad leg" because he was recently bitten by a snake. Emmy gave him lots of love to help him feel better. A great evening with lots of great friends!

It's finally time to go!

Giving Sam a little love.

The sun porch was her favorite hangout - that's where all the games are!

Fun with Chinese checkers - I think they're a few marbles short now!

Too Hot in the Hot Tub!

Abby, Emily, Mimi, and I hopped in the hot tub this evening for a little soaking. There was not much relaxing because two little girls were diving, splashing, and squirting all of us. We had a great time hanging out in the tub while the menfolk went and got pizza for supper. Emily even practiced holding her nose, going under, and blowing bubbles. She's so fearless that it's starting to frighten me!

It's a Boy!

Donald, Emily, Nanny, and I were blessed to visit my cousin Shea and her new son, Baby Jace, today at the Fayette Hospital. He was born yesterday afternoon and is one of the prettiest babies I've ever seen - pride of place going, of course, to my sweet Beanie! He is a lovely round little boy with a beautiful complexion and a dusting of light blonde hair. In fact, he looks almost identical to Shea's baby pictures - and was born weighing exactly the same weight as his Mommy. He slept like an angel while we visited and allowed all of us to hold him, including Emily. She was excited to hold her very first baby and brought him the picture we made together yesterday. Baby Jace will be coming home soon and we can't wait to visit him in very own digs. Hope you enjoy these pictures of our new addition to the family!

Building

One of Emily's favorite activities is building. She took a hiatus from it for a few months, but has regained her interest in building with her block set. She especially likes to make towers. She is surprisingly good at building them really high before they fall over. Here are a few pictures I snapped the other evening of her architectural creations.

Jenga!

Starting Over

This is Summertime!

After supper tonight, we did one of my favorite summertime activities - we sat out on the patio and ate watermelon. First, we stripped Emily down to her skivvies to minimize the damage to her clothes and then we all dug in. As the pictures show, she thoroughly enjoyed her dessert. After a quick run through the bathtub later and a few stories about Skippyjon Jones (her current favorite books) she was ready to snuggle down in her bed - hopefully for the rest of the night!

Arts and Crafts

While Donald cooked up some supper for us, Emily and I had arts and crafts time this evening. She wanted to make a surprise to take to my cousin Shea's new baby. I pulled up a memory of a Bible school craft and we made muffin cup flowers with coffee-scented centers. Luckily, I had all the supplies. I can't remember when we last made muffins, either! My art teacher would be so proud of our results! Emily especially loved the glue stick and liked shaking the coffee into each flower. She can't wait to take her surprise to Baby Jace!

Grocery Store Treats

Like any almost-three-year-old, Emily requires a treat from the gumball machines every time we go to the grocery store. Today, she and Donald went shopping for dinner while I got a pedicure. When they picked me up, she was excited to show me the tattoo that she got at Publix and insisted that I apply it once we got home. I'm amazed that she is so in love with her big black widow tattoo because she's terrified of most bugs, including moths and houseflies. I don't know how I'm going to convince her to remove the thing!

Bed Head

I love Emily's hair in the morning. She usually looks like some combination between a lion and a refugee from the 1980's. I snapped this picture the other morning right after she got up. Curls everywhere! I use more products on her hair than I do on my own!

It's Clifford and Emily Elizabeth!

We honestly didn't set out to name our daugher after a character in a children's book (or television) series, but lots of people think we did- especially my students, who are big fans of the red dog and his little friend. Yesterday we went to Wal-Mart in Peachtree City to pick up a few things. Emily kept asking something about a big dog and we couldn't figure out exactly what she meant. When we walked in the doors of Wal-Mart, we finally figured it out. They have a big Clifford the Big Red Dog riding toy at the front entrance. She must have the memory of an elephant because we don't go over there very often and I don't think she's ever actually ridden on the thing. At any rate, we promised her a ride when we left the store and fortunately, I had my camera with me to capture the whole thing. So, here's the real deal - Emily Elizabeth and Clifford together at last!

Picking Strawberries

Donald, Emily, and I went to Adam's Farm today to pick up some fresh vegetables for supper. While we were there, we picked strawberries for the first time with Emily. We were lucky - when we got there, the man at the gate informed us that it was ten minutes until closing time. That was all the time we needed to pick strawberries out in the heat! Emily was ready for a drink and a snack after we finished picking out things for our supper and paying up. She has enjoyed her strawberries this evening and is looking forward to some fresh corn cooked on the grill for supper. Hope you enjoy these strawberry pictures!

Cooking with the Girls

Abby came and spent the afternoon with us today. I took the girls to Publix to pick up some supplies and then we spent the afternoon making cookies. They had a great time mixing, pouring, and scooping. They especially like rolling the dough into balls before putting them on the cookie sheets. The only low point was when I got out the mixer. Emily's horrified by loud noises (vacuum cleaner, loud trucks, etc.) and especially doesn't like the mixer and blender. Luckily, we don't use them very often! She had to scoot her chair away from the table and Abby held her hand while I mixed the peanut butter cookies. They're upstairs watching Finding Nemo right now and come to think of it, they're being pretty quiet. Perhaps I'd better go check on them...

Guess which one Emily made??

Going for a Swim

This morning, Emily and I met our friend, Amy, for a swim at the Summit YMCA. Emily was excited to get up early and head out to the pool. She was even more excited to put on her pink Barbie life vest before getting in the water. We had a great time floating and paddling and are going to start meeting twice a week to swim. We're home and relaxing now and I'm hoping she'll take a long afternoon nap!

Bonding with T.C.

Emily has taken a shine to T.C. lately and likes to follow him around holding his tail. Miraculously, T.C. doesn't seem to mind too much and hasn't put the squash on their budding relationship by scratching her. She also believes that cats should network and frequently talks about taking T.C. to meet Gabby at Mimi's house and Buddy at CiCi's house. Considering that all the hair fell off of Gabby's legs when she moved to Mimi's house and met Daisy, my first cat, I don't think that setting up a playdate for Gabby and T.C. is such a great idea. However, because Emily's dedicated to getting a playmate for T.C., she brought home this stuffed cat after an overnight visit to Cici's house. She keeps putting it next to T.C. and saying, "Here's your friend! Come and play!" T.C.'s not much for playing but he did tolerate posing for a few pictures with Emmy and his new friend.