I opened it "Get ready for"...
Then I unfolded the paper some more...
" Two little". Wow, they were the same whatever they were...
"Girls!"
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air - Ralph Waldo Emerson


I just wonder how she gets the pillows AND bean bag on top of her while she's on her belly.
This video was from earlier this summer. I'd tried the usual nap routine with her, but she was wired. I took her to the park and we played pretty hard. She still wouldn't go down for a nap, so it wasn't until she was strapped in her high chair eating cream cheese on toast that she finally caught some shut eye. I did pick her up and put her in her bed, but I had to watch her "bob's" for a minute. Okay, and two seconds.
Today was Emerson's first day of 2 year old preschool/Joy school. It's just one day a week for an hour and a half, three friends and I alternate homes and playing the role as teacher. This is exactly what Emerson needs to detach a bit and become more socialized. She was very excited to go but not the leaving me part of it. She calls me mom now not mommy anymore. tear. She said, "Mom, I go school, you sit down, I pay toys". We did just that. I think I'll be riding the bus with her to Kindergarten.



Luke was a tasty morsel of sweetness too, maybe that's why Emmy calls him Baby Ruth.
Movies on Nani's bed.
My favorite aunt Donna and cousin Kelly. They came down from Vermont. We missed you Dillon and David. I can't tell you how cool these people are. I mean they're from Vermont and don't have cable... on purpose. Don't you love them already?
I grew up on this pond. When we decide to get all the kayaks and canoes out, we call it "launching the fleet". There's a patch of land in the middle of the pond we've creatively named The Island. That's where we head after the launch is complete. 
Joe, getting a little friendly with his BIG catch.
The Island survivors.

Cody, Emmy, Madison and myself were in a canoe. Cody and I get competitive, even when there's no competition. We had to be the first ones there and the first ones back. Smoked em'.
24 hours was not long enough, but I suppose fish and family stink after three days.


We had a little carnival theme for Emmy's birthday. Unfortunately the festivities had to be held indoors and relocated to our basement because despite our singing at it, the rain just wouldn't go away. I made some fried dough, ate chicken on sticks, hot dogs and cotton candy of course.
Our guest even coordiated outfits somehow.
The kids played some games, but the adults got pretty into it too.
My friend Jeannie made this precious apron for Emmy and of course we couldn't get her new boots off either. We've sort of embraced that we're basicly raising a little boy and give in to her 'no hair clips-loving trucks-Thomas the tank' stage. 

I threw a trash bag around it and determined to tackle it while Emmy was napping. I started to peel back the layers...then I dicovered the birds nest! I could have sworn a savvy little bird fashioned it with his tiny wings and beak. I could feel history and stories oozing from it, as well as nasty old fart smell. Yum.
I took off this:


As long as I can remember there has been this old tin of antique buttons at my moms house. They've always been in this rusty old tea tin box that I am in love with. I played with them as a little girl and loved sorting them by color and finding the pretty glass ones. Emmy loves them too. She closes her eyes as they rush out of the tin and spill all over the table and floor. I am excited to make cute things with them. Any ideas?
This dinner tasted good this week, probably because meatless corn dogs and broccoli-mashed potatoes was what we had for dinner the night before. Oops, sorry sweetie.
Our little girl has graduated to the toddler bed (wiping my streaming tears away*). She climbed out of her crib a few weeks ago and that next night she was sleeping rail free. This one even grows with her into a twin bed. It's taken a bit of adjusting, but can I just tell you...she sleeps an hour longer each morning! Hallelujah. thrilled. I found this preciouis birdie bedding. I even checked for a queen size for mine, no luck. Birdies have become the theme and her room is in birdie deco mode. She had to show off her big girl bed to her buddy on a play date. 




Tonight Cody and I got Chinese food and sat on a park bench as we watched Emerson in action. She is the most social creature. There were these two boys. One had a red cape on and Emmy had a thing for him. Hopefully this trend (loving guys in capes is something she grows out of). She followed him everywhere and laughed whenever he did. She picked up a stick and started chasing him with it. The caped boy must have been 4 or 5, but there was real fear in his eyes as he tried to escape this little wild blonde half his size. Then, his red Croc fell off and she grabbed it and ran in the other direction laughing so he'd chase her. Brilliant little flirt. She is constant stress relief for Cody and my daily dose of entertainment. Feisty!