Doll House

Emily is enjoying a doll house my mom brought over for her to play with.  It is so adorable with so many parts, Emily likes putting the dolls on the potty, going down the slide into the pool, and so much more!

Going for a walk

Emily is so adorable when we go outside, she loves to explore and run around.  Last night we were outside until 8pm, she did NOT want to go inside, I had to carry her inside crying.  We walked in the woods, she loves to go see the creek, the only thing is she wants to go in too.  She can't understand why Lucy gets to go in, but not her.  

Great Grandma Weidmayer

It was fun to see Emily interacting with her Great Grandma today.  She enjoyed playing with her and brought Great Grandma a book to read to her.  It was a long book, but Emily sat through 90% of it.  When we got home I asked Emily if she had fun with Great Grandma and she said "More."  I took my grandma dinner too, homemade Chicken & Rice Soup and some Watermelon.  It's so hard to cook for one, so I like to take her leftovers when I can.

Library Again Today

Yesterday at the library we were invited to come the the storytime for 2-3 year olds.  Emily will be 2 in May so she is a little young, but she loved it.  Miss Jackie had puppets (one a lamb), and she read a book about spring, Emily got to put spring items on the felt board and we sang a song about frogs.  Also, Emily did a craft and made some flowers and flower pot.  Of course she came home with stamps on her hands which was a fun reminder of the library.  

Here a couple of pictures of Emily coloring and playing after storytime.  Isn't this doll house adorable!  
       

Serious Emily

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday, I guess Emily was in a more serious mood.  She was "working" on our computer, which we don't like but if the door to the den is open that is where she sneaks off to.  We need to get a little computer for her or something, she really likes computers these days.

The top picture is from storytime at the library, she was worried that the other kids were going to come over, several children wanted to play with this magnetic board that Emily was playing with.

Emily in a Bubble

I have been meaning to post this fun picture of Emily.  While at the women's retreat Jim took Emily to a fun children's museum in Lansing with Steve and the boys.  Here is Emily is a huge bubble.  

Mom 2 Mom Sale Finds

Ok, so I am addicted to Mom 2 Mom sales!  I am not sure if it's the hunt, or the great bargains, or just having fun buying for Emily?  I do know that the look on her face and the excitement over the Dora tent was priceless.  I got this Dora tent for $3 and I might have overspent seeing most items go for $1 at these sales!   I got Emily this Halloween costume which fits now, so I guess I will be searching for a larger one, but she loves it!  Plus isn't she just adorable as a purple Carebear!  The last picture is of Emily showing Lucy her hula skirt (that has a matching bathing suit).

Computer Already?

Here is a picture of Emily using the computer at the library.  It is amazing what she picks up from others, she put on these earphones herself, with me NEVER showing her or putting them on myself.  She must have seen earphones on someone somewhere, we were the first to use the computer at the library yesterday, so I know she didn't see anyone right before she put them on.  I checked the sound for her so they weren't too loud, but then she enjoyed playing some games where she touched the keys and then things happened.  I guess for her 2nd b-day we'll have to get her a computer - jk!  :)  Maybe a playhouse instead!

Outdoor Sights & Sounds

Emily just loves being outside, and frankly so do I.  We have been blessed with a little over 10 acres of land, with lots of fun things to explore.  Today I put Emily in the backpack and we went sight seeing.  We started on our walking trails through the woods and saw a chipmunk, heard lots of birds and watched Lucy run through the creek.  We also heard the frogs croaking by the creek, and could faintly hear a train in the background (its a couple of miles a way).  Emily loved watching Lucy run through the water, and she wanted to get down and go in the water too.  I had to keep telling her that we couldn't go in the water.

Emily and I wandered over to the neighbors and saw their horses and cats too.  When we got back we played on the swing set, Emily threw the softball for Lucy (about 4 feet each time), and we blew bubbles.  When we got inside and Emily was so tuckered out she went down for her nap before eating her lunch!  

Emily insisted I needed my hood up too, she just loves having her hood up or a hat.  We never leave the house without something on our head, and many days she wears a hat inside too!

Timbertown Fun

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We really took advantage of the warm weather yesterday, last night we went to Timbertown in Chelsea.  Emily loved exploring, playing in sand for the 1st time, swinging, going down the slide and so much more.  It was getting late so we didn't stay too long, but she was in heaven.  When we first got out of the car she went running for the play structure with squeals of delight.  She hadn't been to Timbertown since last summer, I don't think she remembers it, but was so excited with what she saw!

Emily's Normal

I think you always worry a little bit that your child is normal and doing the things they should be, at least I do.  Just this week I saw on a growth milestone for children sheet that at 2 children should be able to build a tower 6 to 7 cubes.  It looks like Emily is normal because this tower looks about double that, and Emily is not quite 22 months old.  This is about as big as she could get it, and then it would break.

At the Playground

We are so happy that it's spring and the weather is getting warmer.  Last night when I was teaching Jim and Emily were outside for 2.5 hours!  Today we walked to the playground with our friends the Cabble's.  They live in a great neighbor with a park.  They have a play structure small enough that Emily can climb up it and go down the slide by herself.  We had a great time!

Emily & Her Shadow

It's amazing watching your child learn new things.  Today Emily was fascinated by her shadow, she would walk past the area in our kitchen where the light was shinning in and see her shadow.  She noticed it would go away and then she would go back to where she could see it, and she tried to touch it and it moved.  It was so cute.

Today Christian Women's Retreat

Renew, refresh, focus, compassion, love, family, and sisters in Christ.  These are a few of the words that come to mind after returning from a Christian Women's Retreat this past weekend.  I always walk away feeling so motivated and excited about life, my family and friends and all of the wonderful things God has blessed us with.  I also feel a renewed focus on God and making him a larger part of our lives.  Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

#1:Mom, my sisters & I

#2: Jim, Emily & I

#3: Cousin Diane & Emily   - throwing pennies in the fountain

#4: Mom, Ann & Emily - with bubbles

#5: Me, my sisters & cousin Amy

#6: Emily with Aunt Linda

Jim's B-day

Here are a couple of cute pictures from today, we celebrated Jim's b-day tonight and Emily was just so darn cute.  My parents, grandma and sister came over to help us celebrate in fashion - Pork Loin, Asparagus, Salad, Butternut Squash Soup, Rolls, and Cheesecake - YUMMO!

Playing with her Baby Dolls (& Lucy)

Yesterday while I was making dinner Emily was playing with her baby dolls in the next room, I peeked around the corner to find this!  It was so cute, Emily was covering up Lucy with her baby blankets and Lucy just laid there playing along.  Labs are the best dogs!

Friends at the Treehouse

Wow, I look at this picture and our little Emily is looking so much older.  Today my friend Kelly drove out to visit us from Canton, and we went to the Treehouse and had lunch at our house.  

Jada their little girl who turns one next month is our God Daughter.  It's amazing that she really isn't a baby anymore either, Jada is walking already and looks so much bigger too.

The first picture is of Emily and Luke (3.5) sitting together at the Treehouse.  Luke took Emily under his wing and was so good playing with her, he didn't even mind when she took things from him and didn't share.  Emily is not very good at sharing right now, we are working on that.

Visits with Grandma's

Last weekend we got to spend time with Jim's side of the family.  We really don't get to see them enough.  

The first picture is of Emily smelling the flowers at Great Grandma's house, she was so cute, she liked the dirt the best for some reason?  Then of course she loved playing with Great Grandma's baby dolls.  Baby Strawberry gives kisses too, which Emily thought was  a hoot.

The third picture is at Grandma's office (Jim's mom) in Midland.  Her favorite part there was the juice box - go figure.  

The next picture is Emily playing baby dolls with grandma and then Emily opening up Jim's birthday presents.

Play place in Plymouth

Today we met some of my old co-workers and their children at a indoor play place in Plymouth.  Emily had a great time, although she is a little small to climb on the big structure by herself, but that is what she wants to do so I end up climbing up there with her.  Here are a couple of pictures of Emily, Julia and Luke.  I wanted to get a picture with all of the kids, but that was way too hard with so many toddlers and little ones (7 today - with the school age kids it would be 10).

Fun at Breakfast

Ever since the fancy Nancy party, Emily has been wearing her tiara.  This morning Emily was being so silly and cute at breakfast, I had to snap a few pictures.  She was waving around her wand, talking to our dog Lucy (that is who she is pointing to in one of the pics).  I asked her to show it to me, meaning the wand and she opens up her mouth to show me her blueberry!  She was quite the jokester this morning.