Finally in Virginia

We left our house at 5am on Saturday morning and we made it to Grandma's house a little after noon. I didn't take enough pictures. Unfortunately, I was annoying Emily. However, she was trying to be a good sport so that I wouldn't take her back to Georgia. Here are the pictures that turned out.

Picture number one, Emily with "my" Connie. I think it would be neat if I could find a picture of Connie holding me when I was about Emily's age so that I could put it beside this one in a scrap book. You never know, I may have a copy of the one that I'm thinking of in my picture stash.

Connie gave Emily a manicure and a pedicure. Those pictures didn't turn out.

Mom started a tradition when Emily was one year old. She gives Emily a cake and puts candles on it so that she can blow them out. I discovered that this tradition has been upgrade. Mom re-lights the candles and lets her blow them out again. They do this until the candles can't be lit any more. How cool is that? I need to change angles when photographing in the kitchen, the light doesn't do any of those pictures any favors.

Here's a silly picture. Connie would wrap Emily up in the "cherry snow" blanket and Emily would pretend to be mermaid. I recall wrapping Wade in a blanket when he was small. However, instead of pretending to be a mermaid, he was a snug bug in a rug.
Speaking of Wade, here he is all grown up and rough housing with Emily. Don't you love the pillow tied around her to protect her butt?
The effect of the rough housing:
Wade was surprised! He hadn't heard about the loose teeth since he came after Emily had had enough of people (me) talking about her teeth. I had hoped that Wade could get the other one out too, but alas, it was super stubborn.

Here's a picture taken the next morning after the tooth fairy came for a visit . Emily got stickers, fairy dust, a fifty cent piece and a dollar bill. Dang, I only got a quarter per visit.
For breakfast, she had a jelly biscuit. While eating it she lost the other tooth.
Later that day, we went to visit Hartford's Mom and Aunt Charlotte. Again, I didn't take enough pictures but here are a few:
We went across the road and checked out the creek.
I particularly like this picture:
I love Flowers. Since I can't grow them, I take pictures of them.
Here are is a picture of her opening one of her goodies that her Grannies gave her. This child is no doubt blessed.

After we returned to Grandma's house, there was more fun to be had. Notice the chalk. This was one of the neat gifts that she got at her Granny's home.
I missed taking a picture of her and Gary playing with the sand art that her Grannies had given her. Actually, I missed a bunch of pictures. Ugh! However, blogging is helping me be better at taking pictures more often.

Here she is with Alex jumping on a board.
She is no doubt posing for this picture even though she wouldn't admit it.
Here are the guys taking Emily for a bumpy ride in Wade's jeep.

Emily is having the best time ever and she may never want to ever come home.

Nothing better

As I was tucking Emily into bed tonight, she excitedly told me that she may get the feed a rabbit again at Grandma's house. Love was just popping out of her. She glowed with pure happiness and joy.

At dinner last night, we teased her and told her that while she was at Grandma's house, that we were going to Disney. Her response, "make sure you take my autograph book and get them to sign."

Tonight as I was brushing her hair, she confessed that Grandma didn't comb her hair and she reminded me that she got to skip baths too.

Nothing and I mean nothing compares to going to Grandma's house and just being.

She IS going to miss us

Emily is geared up and ready for her two week vacation at Grandma's house. Although I've been telling her that I sure will miss her while she's gone, she just smiles and giggles and says things like, I'm going to eat candy, I'm going to watch Sponge Bob, I'm going to stay up late, I'm going to sleep late in the mornings. You get the drift. However, tonight Hartford and I discovered a little treat under our pillows. She IS going to miss us after all.

Two front teeth

Exhibit A: The two very loose front teeth

Exhibit B: The brave soul

Exhibit C: Oops, it didn't work
Exhibit D: Let's try this again
Exhibit E: And again
Exhibit F: And again
Exhibit G: The determined Dad
Exhibit H: This time it's going to come out
Exhibit I: OK, let's try this one more time
Conclusion: Emily has the most stubborn two teeth on this side of the planet. They didn't come out.

Silly Girl, Silly Girl

Here's just a plain ole silly picture of my child from Sunday afternoon. She is a hoot.

Jonathan update

Emily returned Jonathan's affection by purchasing him a grab bag. For two days she giggled when she talked to me about her plans. She was so proud of herself. Well, Jonathan didn't appreciate her gift or her efforts. He gave all the items in the grab bag to another girl because he wanted the scented pencil that she had. Boy oh, Emily is mad! All I can say for Jonathan is that he better be glad that school ends on Wednesday and he better run the other way if he sees Emily coming his way. She is fighting the urge to knock him out. The only thing that will help him is her fear that if she does knock him out that she'll be punished.

Truth from a child's book #1

The Perfect Bear by Gillian Shields & Gary Blythe:

The old pink rabbit looked down and asked kindly, "What's the matter, Bear?"

"I want all my finery back," cried the bear, "so that everyone will admire me."

"It's so much better to be loved than admired, you know," said the old pink rabbit.

"What is love?" asked the bear.

"It's what we're all about, little silly," laughed the old pink rabbit. "Hats and fur and keys don't matter. They're only on the outside. It's what's inside us that's important."

There are more times than not that I look in the mirror and wish that I had my finery back. I wished that I still had my youthful figure. I wished that I still had a smooth tan skin. I wish my hair was still the color that it was before the need to dye it. I wished that I wore those beautiful stylish clothes that I used to wear. I wished that my feet could still fit into those cute little shoes that they used to fit into before Emily came along. I miss the admiration.

But alas, I have love. Emily hugs me tight many times day. She often and freely tells that she loves me. Saturday mornings are the absolute best when I have Hartford on my left side and Emily is on my right side and Missy cat is curled up on my belly. I wouldn't trade this love and affection for all the admiration in the world.

Socks

I'm not sure if Emily loves socks more than control or control more than socks. However, if I had to put money on it, I think she loves control more. Several months ago, I gave up the battle of the socks. Honestly, do socks really matter that much? So what if Emily wears a pair of winter knee high socks with a pair of shorts? So what if she wears a pair of snowman socks with a shirt with flowers on it. She has even been seen in public with two totally different socks on each foot. Like the saying goes, you have to pick your battles. I don't choose this one and Emily and I get along much better.

Anyhoo, when I came home tonight I witnessed the unthinkable. She was wearing a pair of socks that matched her shirt perfectly. I was surprised to say the least and when I called her attention to it, she said in a sly voice, "Well, it won't happen again!"

The book bag

Hartford got this book bag free when he subscribed to the Audubon magazine last year. Since it was the perfect size, Emily carried it every day throughout her Kindergarten school year. About three weeks ago, I was thinking it was a good thing that school was almost over because her free book bag was barely going to make it to the end. It was running pretty thin and it was all around looking worn out. I must have jinx it, because two days later, the strap broke on the way to school. I was able to tie it and it made it until the new one from L.L. Bean came today.
Here's the fancy mancy one: Live and learn, it was a waste of money to have it monogrammed since it wasn't a solid color. My researched concluded that it should last a mighty long time. I hope that Emily gets my money worth out of it.
This picture is not a picture of her looking at her new book bag. Well, it is but there is a better story to be told. Do you see that smiling sticker on her shirt? Well, that isn't just any ole sticker. It just so happens to be the sticker that was in the grab bag that Jonathan gave her today. So much for her life long boyfriend Jacob. She told me that if Jonathan didn't marry anyone first, she was going to marry him. It's so cute. Cute at age 6 not cute in a few more years. Ugh!

Re-root of Teenage Skipper from the 80's

A couple of weeks ago, I was getting the itch to re-root a doll. One night, I needed the long-nose pliers that were in my craft supplies. Emily was with me and saw the dolls. She easily convinced me to start the project. Thus, I let her pick out the doll and the hair. She picked out one that I had already removed it's old hair.

Before:
After:

Why do I do such crazy things? Well, it sure in the heck beats doing chores and thinking about bills and such. But moreover, I enjoy it. Besides, I'm making memories with Emily.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was actually celebrated on Saturday at our house because I talked Emily into showing me my surprise early. Emily in all her six year old excitement shows me this sign.
This beautiful boutique was hiding behind the curtain. They were gathered from our yard with the help of Hartford:
Plus, she and Hartford made this cute card for me:
I am truly blessed to have such a thoughtful husband and daughter.

Playing

While I was ironing Saturday afternoon, Emily played in my closet. Instead of dressing one of our hundreds of Barbie dolls, she uses some clothes to make finger puppets.

Afterwards, she played ride-a-ride in the laundry basket.
She is very creative, that is for sure.

The Kiss

Last Thursday night, we had family portraits done at the church for the directory. Although I rarely wear makeup, I did that night. Emily wanted to wear makeup too, but I wouldn't let her. I argued the point that she was too young and she argued the point the Connie let's her wear makeup. Therefore, I argued the point that there was only enough time for one of us to put makeup on and that someone was going to be me and that Connie could put make up on her when she got to grandma's house. That satisfied her.

I must admit that I loved all the compliments that I received from her that night about how pretty I looked. Hartford missed his brownie points. Anyhoo, when we got back home she was still raving about my pretty lips. I marched upstairs and put on a double layer and called her upstairs and told her that since she liked it so much that I was going to kiss her so that she could wear it too. Just look at that grin! She was thrilled and jumped around as if she had won the lottery. What joy this child brings to me!

Our Yard

My knowledge regarding flowers is limited to knowing that they are beautiful. I am fortunate to have a Hubby that enjoys planting and working in the yard. Moreover, he enjoys sharing his time and knowledge with Emily. Here are some pictures of some of their hard work:



Hartford was trimming the tree in our front yard and this is Emily being helpful and strong:

Missy Cat

Missy Cat is one of the family and has been for many years.
She is so cuddly and precious.
And she doesn't appreciate little chipmunks jumping out at her Daddy so she hunted it down Saturday morning and made sure that Hartford, Emily and I saw what a good hunter she is.

The Uninvited House Guest

Hartford came home yesterday from a conference and went upstairs to change his clothes. Since Missy cat was eager to see him, she was under his feet trying to get some attention from him. As Hartford opened his bottom chest drawer and grabbed a pair of shorts a chipmunk jumped out at him. Startled, Hartford jumped back and scared Missy cat. Hartford swiftly swatted the chipmunk into the bathroom with his shorts. Hartford then swung around, grabbed a confused Missy cat and threw her in the bathroom with the chipmunk. Missy was stunned at first, however in mid-air she spotted the chipmunk and landed in an attack pose. Hartford closed the door and ran to the garage and got his work gloves and Emily's Scooby-Doo fishing net. When he returned to face the intruder, Missy cat had it trapped behind the toilet. After a while they were able to capture the chipmunk and Hartford released it outside and Missy cat followed behind it.

Emily and I hadn't made it home yet. I count that as a blessing. Heck, if it had jumped out at me, it would have probably been the the end of me.

Later, Emily decided she wanted a cookie after supper. Well, she hide the cookie. Then after supper, she couldn't find it. Hartford convinced her that the chipmunk must have returned and stole her cookie.

I'm not thrilled at all that critters like our home. Over the weekend Hartford spotted the chipmunk getting near the house and he told me that he hoped that it didn't get under the house. Well, I think Missy cat will need to go under the house ever so often to make sure this doesn't happen again.

New Game

Emily has a new favorite game:
UNO
Is this her victory or defeated face? Who knows. It's fun regardless.

Stone Mountain Park

On Saturday the bank had their picnic and the mortgage division was invited. It was held at Stone Mountain Park. The tickets included free parking and free admission to most of the attractions. Hartford and I hadn't been there since way before Emily came along. It has really changed adding many new attractions including a barn with foam balls, mini golf, a little town with glass blowing and a black smith shop and much more. Thank goodness we didn't hike the mountain this time. We rode the cable cars.
Hartford and I will miss winning the parent of the year award for letting Emily eat cotton candy for her dinner.
The bank provided inflatables. I laughed so hard at them fighting that I was even a sight to watch.