Big Sister Duties....

Emmy is getting so excited for her baby sister to come.
This big grin has hardly come off her face since the day we told her she'd be a big sister.

Her Daddy took her to Build a Bear where she stuffed a bear for her sister. She waited patiently for several days for us to get the crib set up (we lost some crucial parts in our move!). She asked daily if she could please put the bear in the crib. She wanted it to be there waiting for Reese when she comes home.

Emmy picked out this little onesie for Reese. If left up to Emmy, Reese's entire wardrobe would say "little sister" on it. She keeps telling me that Reese needs more things that say "little sister."

We have 3 baskets that sit in our changing table. Emmy has designated one of the baskets as "Reese's mailbox." Just about every day, Emmy draws a picture and asks if she can go put it in Reese's mailbox in the nursery. She wants to have lots of pictures for Reese when she gets home.

Appealing to her inner Diva...

Em has some of the best cousins ever. When her Daddy was in Mexico last month, they knew she would be missing him a lot and rather bored of just being with Mommy.

(It's a big deal at our house when Daddy walks in the door after work! Daddy + Mexico + no Daddy play time at night = very sad Emmy)

When I have a sad Emmy I know to call on the cousins. They bring a smile to her face faster than anyone. So a pajama party was in order for the night.

They decided to give Em the ultimate Diva experience. First they dressed her up. Then they created a red carpet and lined up all her little princess people on the side to be her fans.

There was singing and performing by Emmy as the cousins cheered loudly for her.
They also asked for her autograph.

There was little hesitation on her part to play the Diva role!

My favorite part of the night was watching the girls watch themselves on video camera. There was a lot of laughter in our home!

Thanks girls!

Keeping it real...

I've been struggling as of late with my blog.
I feel torn.
On one hand, this is our adoption blog. I want it to show fun things we do as a family. I want possible birth mom's to be able to get an idea of who we are, what we love to do, and what is important to our family. I want it to stay positive and full of hope because that's who we are.

On the other hand, adoption is really hard. Our journey has been especially hard and long. Though not as long and hard as some. I've received comments from friends that I make adoption look easy and our family has so much fun that the days must just fly by.

That really isn't the case. What you don't see is the many nights I've cried myself to sleep. The hours I have spent on my knees in prayer. The times I have cried during church because the pain felt more than I could bear that day. The times my husband has asked "why?" and wondering "what else can I do for my family?" The endless conversations I've had with my daughter as she's asked why she can't be a big sister but so-and-so in her primary class gets to be.

Adoption is painful. The last 3 years while we have waited to add to our family have been harder than I ever would have imagined. They've been glorious too. I've watched people in my ward who I hardly know join us in prayer. I've seen small miracles and tender mercies happen along the way.

So bear with me and this blog. I'm not even sure I have any readers left. I'm not giving up. I know there is at least one more child meant for this family. I know we have tried everything we can think of to bring another little one to our family but every day we look for new things to try. We still have hope.

I am so blessed and grateful for my daughter. Today she and I were on our way to see Tangled (for the 3rd time!). Out of the blue she said "Mommy, when I get home, I'm going to kneel by my bed and pray really hard for a baby to come to our family."
I thought for sure she would forget.

When we came home, she marched right upstairs and knelt by her bed in prayer. A couple of minutes she came down with a huge smile on her face. Awhile later I asked how her prayer went. She said, "Heavenly Father was listening to me. I can't wait to be a big sister."

Oh Emmy, I love you so much. Thank you for teaching me about faith and prayer. On days like today when my faith is waivering, you remind me to keep believing.

The past several days Emmy has been asking about the day she was born and wanting every detail of her birth story. Jeremy and I have loved sharing it with her and reliving an incredible time in our family. So grateful for her birth mom and the opportunity to be a mom. I can't wait for the chance to do it all over again. I can't wait to tell Emmy that she is a big sister. I can't wait until the day I can go to the store and finally purchase the shirt that says "Big Sister" on it. I can't wait to put a little one in her arms and feel the sweet tenderness that she often shows us.

It will be another incredible day for this family.

Backwards Day

To celebrate learning about the letter "B" last week at preschool, they had a Backwards party. Emmy was so into it. She talked all week about how she was going to do everything backwards. She practiced waving backwards, walking backwards, saying goodbye instead of hello, etc. She even planned her hair.

(I think I have a party/event planner on my hands...)

Here's my little backwards girl...

the jeans weren't backwards - we tried it but soon realized that 3 year olds have enough troubles going potty by themselves sometimes. Putting the zipper in the back probably wouldn't help much...

Cooking Class

Emmy LOVES to cook in the kitchen. She loves watching the Food Network and anything at all to do with cooking. I'm not as good as I should be at letting her "help." So when I heard that our favorite restaurant Blue Lemon was doing a Gingerbread House cooking class for kids, I knew Emmy would be thrilled. Pay someone else to get all the stuff out and clean it up - I was just as thrilled!

She was in awe as we walked in and a "real chef" greeted her and welcomed her to a "real cooking place."

She thanked me about 15 times for taking her to a cooking class. Her last comment "Thank you so much mom for taking me to the cooking class. I always wanted to do a cooking class but you never let me before!"

Love how kids always throw in that little guilt trip at the end!

The North Pole Express....

Last week we had the opportunity to go on The North Pole Express! We invited Nana and Pop Pop's to come with us as well!

Emmy got to wear her pj's - I was only slightly jealous.

With Nana and Pop Pop's

Mrs. Claus and Emmy

Yummmy Hot Chocolate!

Emmy dutifully held up her sign while we sang "The 12 Days of Christmas". We sang it over and over and over.....lucky us...

They have someone come take your photo and then of course they try to get you to buy it. Well, I was too cheap to buy it. So I took a picture of it. Sneaky and cheap, I know....

meeting Santa. He gave her a little spinning top. She asked for a baby with a hat and a princess with a bow. That's my girl - always remember those accessories!

It was a magical evening! I believe Santa!!!!

Krazy Kousins....

Love these kids. What a whacky bunch!

At Thanksgiving with the fam! Emmy loves and adores each one of her cousins! She is very blessed to have them so close!

Hopefully the first and last....

Once upon a time there was a cute 3 year old little girl who loved life, friends, and running. Listening to mommy and daddy sometimes fell at the bottom of the list.
One day when church was over, the little girl was running out to our car. She had a little friend that was running with her and they were laughing and giggling all the way. Mommy said "Emmy, please stop running. I don't want you to fall...." Before the final words were out of Mommy's mouth, the little girl fell and started screaming.

The next day we found ourselves at the hospital having an arm x-rayed.

Two days later we did this:

You can tell she's really struggling about this can't you?

With our favorite pediatrician, Dr. Jeff.

Love that purple cast Emmy!
Unfortunately, I'm not sure she learned much of a lesson about obeying. She thinks her cast is the coolest thing ever. It comes off this week and she's already in tears because "I'm going to miss my best friend!"

I have to hand it to her - no matter how much pain she was in (and she was in a lot) she never complained. Only smiles from this girl!

So true...

Emmy: "Mommy, you know I love you?"
Me: "Yes Emmy I do."
Emmy: "My love for you makes you so much cuter!"


Yes, it does Emmy. I love you tons girlie! Thanks for making me much cuter every single day!

Fancy dining

Last monday night I didn't feel like cooking so we headed to Chick-Fil-A or Chicki Lay as Em calls it. It ended up being perfect because they had a woman there doing face painting. And not just your ordinary little butterfly on the cheek kind of face painting either. And the bonus - she was free! (we did tip her of course!). The second bonus - a giant cow was walking around and playing with the kids. Emmy was so excited. Thanks Chicki Lay for a fun family night! I might not cook again very soon!

This is Halloween.....

We had a lot of fun celebrating halloween this past week.
Emmy had a big party at her preschool.

We had a ward halloween party.

Then there was pumpkin carving,

visiting grandparents and getting the traditional orange sucker,

and of course trick or treating.

I made Emmy a halloween playlist on my ipod. We've been having fun listening to classics like This is Halloween, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Monster Mash, Ghostbusters, etc. I still can't get them out of my head!

Gutting the pumpkin. She was scared to do it at first but then got pretty into it.

Painting and carving

At her Grandparent's house with her sucker

One of Daddy's pumpkins this year

Getting ready to go trick or treating!

That'll do pig....

I happen to be a huge fan of the movie "Babe."
A cute talking pig and a farmer who does a jig.
A perfect combo.

On Saturday we decided to go to Soldier Hollow for the Sheepdog Festival.
Unfortunately no farmers doing the jig and no pigs in sight.
Just actual sheepdogs herding sheep.
Bummer.

It was interesting to watch and Emmy cheered on the dogs. She was convinced the dogs were saving the sheep from the Monsters, or the Farmer, or whoever else they needed saving from.

I have no pictures from the actual sheepherding. No farmers doing jigs = no photo ops.

So we'll just settle with these two.
Em and Jeremy at the Bow Wow Luau Dog show.
Emmy was more than thrilled that one of the dogs was also named Emmy. I think I might be deaf still because she cheered so loud.

Us city girls can't be trusted to milk a real cow.

The Splash Dogs Competition. Jeremy took this picture and he was very proud of it. So because I love my husband and encourage him whenever possible, I promised to put his photo on the blog. Good job honey. Good job doggie.

Hottest day ever.

So once upon a time, when I was a little girl, my mom used to rent videos called Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop. She was a ventriliquist with a puppet named Lamb Chop. I loved Lamb Chop with all of my 7 year old heart. I even had a stuffed Lamb Chop of my own.

I was pretty excited, almost completely giddy, when I heard that Shari's daughter was going to be performing with Lamb Chop at the Sheepdog Festival. And even though I sound like a dork, I couldn't stop smiling through the entire cheesy show. I just love that little lamb.
Emmy loved her too. So much so in fact that she wouldn't allow me to have my picture taken with Lamb Chop. She had to do it "all by myself."
So while I didn't get to be in the picture, it was just as cool for Emmy and Jeremy to meet a childhood icon of mine. And yes, I realize that most of you reading this are going "Who the heck is Lamb Chop??????"

First day of Preschool

Emmy was a bundle of nerves yesterday morning which was really unlike her.
Can't say I blame her though - she's had a lot of changes the past couple of months and done amazingly well with all of them.
For two hours she talked non stop asking various questions and stressing over little things.

Em: Will Kim have colors (crayons) at school? Maybe I need to take mine just in case.
Mom: I promise Kim has them. You can leave yours at home.
Em: Maybe I'll just take them in the car. Then you can grab them if Kim forgot.
Mom: Ok Em.

Em: Who will take care of the cats while I'm gone?
Mom: I will honey. I promise they'll be fine.
Em: Make sure you love them. And let them play outside. But don't let squeakers go in the street. That would be very very bad.
Mom: Yes it would. I won't let her do that.
Em: How will they be happy without me here?
Mom: I'm sure they'll figure it out.
Em: Do you know how to take care of the cats?
Mom: They will be asleep the whole time you're gone.
This went on for quite awhile. Em told me how to do everything for the cats....

When she found out I was at the gym while she was at preschool she said "Who took care of the cats?"

Em: What do I do if someone hits me?
Mom: Don't hit back.
Em: I'll tell Kim.
Mom: Only if it really hurts or scares you.
Em: What if I hit someone?
Mom: Then tell Kim.

Em: What are you going to do while I'm at preschool?
Mom: I'm going to go exercise.
Em: You could stay home and rest. You need it.

I think there were a few other conversations as well but this is all I can remember. I think it was a successful day. She didn't say much when we picked her up but all day today she's been asking when she gets to go again! Success!

To learn by listening...

For those of you who read Nie Nie, you know about the back to school feast she does with her family each year.

I decided to begin this tradition with our family.
Emmy begins preschool tomorrow and I have to admit that we're a bundle of nerves over here.
Not so much Emmy but I'm feeling a bit of anxiety.
Wondering if she'll talk too much.
Wondering if she'll be bored and in turn start acting out.
Wondering if she'll make new friends.
Wondering if she'll be nice to everyone and if they'll be nice to her.
I've been "wondering" a lot the last few weeks and now the time has come to find out what will happen.

So to celebrate, we had a feast tonight.
Our theme was {To learn by Listening}
We talked about who we need to listen to, how listening helps us learn and how listening to each other as a family can help us grow stronger.

{Our Menu}
Sparkling Pink Lemonade
Pub Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Green Peas
Green Salad
Cantaloupe from Emmy's cousin's garden
Mommy's special chocolate cake with strawberry filling and whipped cream frosting

{our feast}

{We each had a scripture on our plates about listening}

{Daddy and Emmy}

{Mommy and Emmy - Cheers!}

{Fashion Show}

To end the evening Daddy gave Emmy a father's blessing and we read The Kissing Hand.

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Daddy-Daughter Oreos

4th of July fun!

We loved celebrating the 4th of July this year! It seemed like a never ending party! Perhaps because we celebrated on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July this year. I think it should be a 3 day celebration every year!

Emmy showing her patriotic side

Being Cheesy for the camera

On the 3rd we had a huge family party at our house. We did the traditional water fight and games and then a bbq in the evening.

Watching the fireworks in the evening. Emmy spent most of the show with a blanket over her ears. She loved all the sparkles though!

Some of these are out of order - this was her 4th of July outfit for this year. She looked very patriotic at church!

On Monday morning we woke up bright and early to see the hot air balloons inflate and take off. It is really hard to get out of bed so early but well worth it...
Apparently Emmy is thinking that her parents are insane in this picture...

it's worth it now though!

After the balloons we decided last minute to go to the Provo parade. We felt a little guilty because a lot of people sleep out the night before to get good seats but we got there an hour before the parade and got amazing seats! During the parade, some people from a Karate school were letting people chop wood in half. Emmy was very proud of herself!

Ending our fabulous weekend with snow cones