Christmas, 2013

 

 

Emma was really fun to watch this Christmas. She was so excited about everything. We spent Christmas Eve afternoon at Giggee and Pop's house and she enjoyed opening presents and entertaining. Of course she dressed in the traditional Christmas attire of Spider Man.



What is this I see? A DOLL! Could it be? This is from the movie Frozen and if you have not seen that, I highly recommend it. It was great and Emma was in a trance during the whole movie.

The grandmothers and their little hippie boy. If you could just see the hair that is under that hat!

                                             I love this picture of Aunt Pam and Emma.

                 Christmas morning and her ruby slippers that Aunt Susie gave her for Christmas.

Emma was pretty excited that Santa brought her a wheelchair and a miniature pair of crutches. She has played with them a lot. If you recall from a previous post, Emma has become very fascinated with wheelchairs this year since her friend Joseph is in her class and is in a wheelchair.

       Could it be that this is an Iron Man with muscles costume that Santa left under the tree?

Ashton got some several games and lots of other items as well as his car repaired after some damage from a wreck a few months ago. Thanks Giggee and Pop.

                               Now why would any little girl need a helmet you might ask.....

Well, here is the answer to that question! A new ride as she calls it. Thanks Giggee and Pop. This girl is full speed ahead and yes I realize that she doesn't have on the helmet!

Ashton is texting while his 6 year old sister drives. Think he might be guilty of that in his car?

            Brady certainly has the wind blown look going on in the shock of hair he is sporting.

                                            Well, what can I say? She is Captain America!!

Italian Christmas, 2013

 

We finally celebrated Italian Christmas after one cancellation due to inclement weather. Luckily, it worked out that the newest addition to the family was able to attend due to the change. She was charming of course. Holidays are hard on everyone, especially 6 month old babies that are off their schedules. She held it together well.

 

 

At the risk of sounding like an old person, I remember when he was this size and the total apple of my eye!!!

 



Why yes, I am a great aunt and they are supposed to be old. Right? All of  mine were I think.

My brother may prove to eat some of his words with this grand baby and another one on the way. I'm looking forward to seeing it!!

Aunt Sissy really is the matriarch of our family. Doesn't she look amazing for 82 years old?

Emma wasn't all the keen on getting in the pictures because that involves stopping for two seconds, so Iron Man stepped in instead. This is Iron Man without muscles, not to be confused with the costume she asked Santa for which is Iron Man with muscles.

A Visit With Santa

 

 

Nothing makes me more angry than to visit the mall and have to pay for pictures with Santa. I realize that someone is just cashing in on the holiday and this is America and it's all about capitalism, but I think it stinks that parents can't just take a picture of their kid talking to the big guy without feeling like the may be hauled off by mall security at any moment. So luckily this year Santa visited my work. Thank you Santa Darryl.

 

Emma was a bit hesitant at first, but she decided that he needed her pertinent information and that if she wanted to be the owner of Super Hero costumes she better step up to the plate and give him the information. She told him she wanted an Iron Man WITH MUSCLES costume, a Captain America costume, and a Captain Hook play kit complete with hooks, fishing pole, etc. No, she didn't ask for a single girl item. NOT ONE. But that's OK. She knows what she likes and she likes being a Super Hero. I'm cool with that.

Emma's Fall Festival

Yes, I know. I continue to do very poorly in the blogging area of my life. Here are a few pictures from Emma's fall festival where she was the representative from her class for the princess. This basically involves fundraising and therefore will be her final year as representative....However. she does look beautiful in a dress and that is certainly a rare event. Wearing a dress, not looking beautiful



 

Must teach my child the proper way to sit with a dress on. She really doesn't have much experience with this.

Catching Up

 

I realize that I may be the worst blogger in history. I take full responsibility. There just aren't enough hours in the day.

 

 

So Ashton is enjoying his Senior year. He was one of the Senior Escorts for the Homecoming Court and of course I think he was dashing in his tux. Quick note to younger parents, if you have a child that you think may attend every prom and be in every Homecoming, just go ahead and purchase a tuxedo when they start high school. You won't regret it and it will save you a ton in tux rental. I wish someone would have given my that very sage advice.

 

 



Just keeping it real and enjoying some IPad time. This girl has become the queen of the IPad. She is doing so well in school. I have no doubts that repeating Kindergarten wasn't the best thing we could do. She has just blossomed this year.

On the very first day of school, she noticed a little boy in a wheelchair. The thing she noticed most was that the wheels on his chair lit up. I knew that we were in store for something, but I had no idea just what. That little boy is in her class and she absolutely adores him. I told his mom on the first day that I knew that Emma would be the first one to point out that he was in a wheelchair and want to know why. I explained that she didn't mean anything offensive, she was just fascinated with it. I couldn't have been more right. She has driven me crazy with it. She has turned her baby doll stroller in to her wheelchair and is in it all the time. She can't stop talking about wheelchairs and why is Joseph in one and will he be in one when he goes to Heaven. It was cute for the first month or so. Now she is just driving me crazy most of the time! Oh, and she wants to help Joseph at school. I believe that she has been told that "I can do it myself" more that once. Joseph is her good buddy and I think it's an interesting bond that they are created. It makes me proud.

Soccer ended a couple of weeks ago and now we have started basketball. She had her first practice this week and I think it's going to be a hit. If nothing else, she loves her shoes and her Air Jordan socks. And really, isn't it all about the fashion.

There was a lot of discussion about what Emma would be for Halloween. Luckily she decided on Spiderman and I was so glad since we already own that costume. She changed into her cowgirl suit after being Spidey all day and getting way too hot. I thinks that was a good choice as well and I have to say I've never seen a cuter cowgirl anywhere!

This incredibly shaggy boy is my son Brady. I had not seen him in a month and apparently there are no hair salons in the area because he hasn't cut his hair since leaving for school in August.

He managed to come home for a brief visit last night and have dinner with the family. He has been working and going to school so we just don't get to see him much. His biggest issue has been poor gas mileage on his truck. We knew he needed something smaller and had been debating it. We finally bit the bullet this week and bought him a car. We surprised him with it last night and he was thrilled. Considering how much I "loan" him for gas, I think I may be even more thrilled.

I just love the look on his face when he realized that the car sitting at Nanny's house was for him. We had left if there because we knew that Ashton would never be able to keep a secret. You can quote me on that.

Of course, little sister was the first girl to get a ride in the car. She will certainly be the cutest girl to ever ride in his car.

Brady isn't too hard to please. He doesn't ask for much. He's really a simple guy. Doesn't care about clothes or stuff so much. His only requirements for his new car was that it had a really good CD player. Like I said, a pretty simple kid. In all honesty, he's just an old hippie. You gotta love him.

The kids are all just busy doing their own thing. Emma is currently raising funds for her run at Queen at school. Her fall festival in coming up and she is in the running for queen. Well, she will always be my queen.

Ashton is putting in his applications at the various colleges. He thinks he wants to go out of state and is scheduled to tour one school next month. He is getting very excited about college. He is also very excited about basketball starting in a couple of weeks. He will finally be starting and I am so happy for him. He has worked hard and earned it.

So that is a brief synopsis of our lives right now. It's a constant state of motion.

Playing in the Leaves

 

I know, I know, it has been a million years since I posted and I apologize. Here are just a few pictures of this busy, growing, beautiful girl.

 



A Little Fun in the Sun

 

 

I realize it has been about a hundred years since I posted. Sorry to the ones who like to follow along, but the summer has been busy and I have just not taken the time. I will try to do better but I make no promises.

 

We just spent a week at the beach and Emma is just like her mother and a total beach bum. The boys probably didn't spend a total of 3 hours all week at the beach but that's just them. The highlight of their trip was being in the water when a hammerhead shark, approximately 8 feet, swam right by them and everyone was yelling "shark". Yes, they are weird kids.

 

Emma enjoyed playing and got braver everyday and by the last day she just didn't think she needed anybody to help her in the water. I think after taking on a few waves she decided that maybe that wasn't the smartest choice.



I love this picture. It just looks like she is praying and meditating in the water. I think she might have been pouting instead.

Yes, I attempted to take some beach pictures the last night we were there and they stunk. She was mad about the dress and she wouldn't cooperate and the boys were not helping much and so being the determined parent that I am I said the heck with it.

 

Emma seems to really have gotten taller this summer. She is currently very interested in all things Super Hero and is convinced that she is Spider man, Batman and Iron man. She changes clothes so much during the day that I can't keep up. She bought a Spider man costume at the Disney store while we were out of town and wore it on the way home, including the mask and the "hand gloves". She calls herself Peter Parker all the time. This child is so not a girly girl.

School starts back in less than a month and to say that I'm ready, well let's just say that I am. She will be glad to get back with her friends and Miss Savannah. Nothing wrong with that.