Saturday Adventures

Donald, Emily, and I had a Saturday filled with adventures today. I woke up and spent the morning at Plumyumi Spa, courtesy of my Mother's Day gift (I took my time about using this one and really shouldn't have - I had a wonderful time!). While I was gone, Donald and Emily played with the doll house and even unearthed a doughnut in the playroom left over from her birthday party. A major archeological find! Once I got home, we all took a big nap and then headed out for some fun. First stop was the Farmer's Market to pick up some veggies for supper. Emily got to practice her Spanish - she can say "Thank you" and "I love beans" (Dora the Explorer and Mommy are helping her with her language skills.) Then we headed to Krispy Kreme in Riverdale for a snack. Emily was fascinated by the doughnut machine - especially when the doughnuts "take a shower in frosting." After a trip to Publix, we headed home for some much-needed rest. Gotta run - supper's almost ready!

Does Paula Deen have a recipe for cactus leaves?

Hitching a ride with Daddy

Choosing some peanuts - her favorites. She can't say "cacahuate" yet, though.

She loves the football doughnuts.

Yum!

An enormous bite!

Miracles DO happen!

I made meatloaf this week - and it was good! Meatloaf is a family joke at our house. I've attempted it several times and it has been a stunning failure each time. Don't tell me that this is an easy recipe to master. Meatloaf is a mystery that ranks right up there with the riddle of the Sphinx for me. Once my meatloaf even precipitated an argument that resulted in a broken refrigerator door at the Ellen Court house. Donald and I have agreed to disagree about the nature of that argument. Suffice it to say that sometimes even the most innocent comments can be miscontrued. I tried meatloaf again this week (thanks to a Paula Deen recipe) and produced a lovely meal, complete with green beans and mashed potatoes. Donald was responsible for the potatoes, with a big helping hand from Emily. These pictures were so cute that I wanted to share them with you. Plus, I felt I needed t0 document my culinary success. Most of you know that it doesn't happen all that often! And if you're wondering about the chenille jacket she's wearing...she wore it to school that morning because it was chilly and basically refused to take it off the rest of the day!

What'l Ya Have?

After church last week, the Farr House and the White House (along with Aunt Liz from the Steed House) caravaned to the Varsity for some lunch. Emily had her very first Frosted Orange and downed an entire hotdog (minus the bun - a true naked dog!), plus piles of fries and onion rings. Then she asked for ice cream. She surprises me sometimes - she can go for days without eating anything and then suddenly she turns into a bottomless pit. Perhaps she's part termite? We call it "filling up her tank." The girls had fun cruising the dining room and modeling their sassy paper hats. Emily had a great time blowing her straw papers (a mealtime tradition) at other nearby diners. You can't eat like that for every meal but it sure is good once in a while!

First Day of School

I can't believe our girl is big enough for this, but Emily started school last week and is having such a great time. The first day was really fairly drama-free. Donald and I took the day off work so that we could take her and pick her up for the first time. We thought we were off to a rough start because Emily didn't like any of the outfits I had picked out and refused to eat anything until I fixed her a plate of pancakes and let her eat them in the truck on the way to the church. Things sort of smoothed out from there - maybe her blood sugar was low! At any rate, when we got to the church, I was amazed at the savvy of the teachers - they whisked her into the room and us back up to the sanctuary for a parents' meeting, virtually eliminating any "lurking parents" - which I probably would have been. I almost had to sit on my hands during the meeting to keep from going downstairs and snatching her back up! I didn't even get a picture of her before school - I had to wait until we picked her up. Fortunately, her teacher was also Abby's teacher, so we know how wonderful she is. Also, we know several of the children in her class already and two friends of ours are teaching in classrooms nearby. All in all, a great situation. She comes home each day with something she's painted or colored, singing a new song, talking about who her friend was today, and with shoes full of sand from the playground. I'm so glad that she's having a good time and making friends. Maybe I'll have pictures of a play date sometime soon!

Smiling a funny smile at her desk. She sits with Henry and Helena.

Posing at her peg with a treat bag from Ms. Tonya. She was so proud of this!

Future Tiger Woods!

The Farr House and the White House got together recently to take the girls to play laser putt-putt in Newnan. I think we've discovered a new favorite past time for the girls. They had a great time playing, athough they were more interested in climbing all over the huge zoo animals than actually playing golf. I pity the poor couple who was playing behind us. They were obviously on a date and Emily kept running back to snatch their balls and throw them in the mouths and between the legs of various animal friends. We finally had to let them play through so they could get on with their game. We had lots of fun posing the girls for pictures - you know my camera is never far away - and have promised to bring them back for laser bowling some time soon. Anyone want to go with us? It looks like lots of fun!

Happy Third Birthday!

We had a big weekend - Emily turned three! It is crazy to think that it's been three years already. She's such a big girl - and SO opinionated all of a sudden! She has loads of personality and is so much fun to play with every day. We had a fiesta at the White House with friends and family to celebrate her big day. She specifically asked for green beans, also, so that's now a new staple of mexican fare. She had a blast and has thoroughly enjoyed all of her gifts. Because her birthday was actually on Sunday, I baked her a cake (strawberry cake with strawberry icing at her request) and she shared it with Abby before opening up her gift from Mommy and Daddy - a Dora scooter. She reminded us (negligent parents) that we did not purchase a helmet and kneepads like the girl on the package, so we had to make another trip to Target the next day to make the necessary purchases so that she can scoot around the house in well-cushioned safety. Thanks to everyone who joined us at the fiesta and helped us to celebrate our big girl's birthday. Sorry about all of the pictures - how's a mommy to choose?

Picture from her party invitation-very cha cha cha!

Doughnuts are our birthday tradition. The cake tower is a gift from Papa.

Hitching a ride on Nanny's scooter

Some love for Amy
Abby plays glamazon with the new dress-up trunk

Happy birthday!
She loved all of her shoes and insisted on trying them all on.
A doll house!
I love this picture of Em and Jackson - their expressions are so cute!

T.C. enjoys a good game of Candyland as much as anybody.

Super snazzy letters from Vickie, Shea, Wes, and Jace
Making jewelry with Rhonda - Her purse of activities kept Emily occupied all during church the next day!
Playing dress-up with her new accessories. Notice that she's changed clothes? She insisted on trying on her new outfit from Amy and Abby.
What could be in this big box? Love her outfit? She picked it out herself.
It's a scooter! Check out all the carnage in the background. Someone should make environmentally friendly toy packaging!

Time for cake. It's a really cute giant cupcake but let's be honest - I don't frost well. Good thing she's not judgmental.Yum! Crazy hair - she's lost her barrette.
Abby helps make a wish. Em insisted on purple party hats and then wouldn't wear hers - she doesn't like the elastic.
Playing house together. Notice llama's on the couch - never far away!

Nighttime Fun

Emily is usually great fun at bedtime. When she gets really tired, she gets giddy and silly - singing songs, dancing, and doing what she calls "ticks" (tricks) which involve jumping on beds and standing on her head. I got in some good pictures of our evening routine and thought I'd share them. These are the night before her birthday party and she's getting tucked in with a few of her birthday gifts - in particular, a stuffed llama from one of Donald's coworkers. That's her newest obsession! He goes with us everywhere. We had a fun photo session before reading Curious George (a nighttime staple lately) and heading upstairs. Hope you enjoy!

Everyone's ready for a story

Loving the llama
Cheesing with Mommy
I LOVE this sweet photo!
Crazy hair!
Her favorite "tick"

Future cheerleader

Meet the Teacher

I can hardly believe it - Emily will be starting school this week! Donald and I took her to meet her teacher, Ms. Tonya, last week at Palmetto Baptist Church. After a few moments of leg-clinging, she warmed up (thanks to the cool toys in the room and Ms. Tonya's great personality) and had a great time in the classroom. She's looking forward to going back this week and taking her snack every day - isn't it funny the things that they look forward to? Emily has specifically asked me to buy her some snacks that don't drip. I'm glad that she's thinking ahead! Here are a few pictures of our morning at school! She really loved the cars and workbench.
Now she doesn't want to leave!