Sick Activities

Uh, that's sick as in ill, not disgusting. =) I'm amazed at how resilient kids are. Even while being very sick Emma continued to shine with her beautiful smile always on her face. She spent quite a while playing quietly (both as a chance for her body to rest, but also so I could let mine rest a little and get better myself), and always seemed so happy to do it. One of her favorite things to do was to try to make several silly potato heads. Here she is with her creations.

Halloween

Since Emma and I were sick we didn't do much to celebrate this week. I had a lot of plans that I had to let go of. It really wasn't a good week to be sick. Oh well. Emma still had fun. And luckily she didn't get sick until almost the end of the week, so she didn't even miss preschool.

We didn't end up carving a pumpkin with Emma until Saturday morning, but it was so much fun. I layed on the couch (pretending not to be sick) while Eric helped Emma. She didn't need much help though. She drew the face on the pumpkin and then actually carved it out herself. Eric helped get the pieces out of the pumpkin, but that was pretty much it (he did carve the mouth for her - she was tired by that point). I loved the way it turned out, and the mouth is my favorite part. It just looks like one of her drawings.


We went to trick or treating at my parents house and then went up their street. We then met up with my brother and let Emma do a few houses with her cousins. On our way home we stopped by my sisters house, but that was it. With her still a little under the weather we didn't want to keep her out very long, but she still got quite a lot of candy. She was telling us she was tired and that she had enough by the end of the evening. So funny.

Along the way we saw a cool ghost that someone had rigged. It was moving, so the picture turned out a little blurry, but that almost makes it better.
Emma loved being Dorothy (I was so happy I finished the costume enough for her to wear), and had fun with her cousins Princess Leia and a dinosaur. I don't know what it is, but I just love Halloween. It seems so magical and fun. I can't wait until next year!

Preschool Program

On Wednesday last week Emma had her fall program at her preschool. All the parents came to see them sing several adorable songs about some of the things they’ve been talking about so far this year. It was mostly a Halloween thing, but other topics included squirrels, owls and Christopher Columbus.

I had been sick for a couple days already by Wednesday, and my mind was working even less efficiently than normal. Eric got off work early and met me there just before it started. Not all the dads were able to be there understandably, but I’m so happy Eric was. Especially with the realization I had mere moments before the first song. I looked around and all the parents were grabbing out their cameras or video cameras, and it dawned on me that I had completely forgotten to bring ours. We only have 3 cameras. You’d think I would’ve grabbed one of them, but no. I even forgot the video camera Eric had charged the night before. I seriously wanted to cry. I tried thinking of some reason to give the mom sitting next to me to convince her that I needed and wanted pictures of my child more than she did of hers, but nothing came. And apparently no one was thoughtful enough to bring an extra camera. How rude. Stupid parents with their stupid cameras being all prepared. AHHH! I felt just awful.

I don’t think Emma’s ever smiled quite so cute or been quite so excited. Of course that’s probably not true, but you know the way the mind works. I sat there and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of that program and tried to soak in every detail because I knew I would never get to enjoy it again. (Here’s the part where you’re supposed to reach for a tissue and dab your eyes).

We sat right in the front directly across from Emma. She was so thrilled to have us both there and did such a good job. She is such an awesome singer, and she sang so well. She was so proud to use the props they’d made and show us the crafts for the songs. And she tried so hard to scare us during a couple of the Halloween songs. Oh, it was wonderful. And all we have to remember it is a few pictures that Eric took on his camera phone. I felt so lame sitting there amongst all the other parents with their nice cameras and us using a cell phone. I felt like I wanted to turn to everyone and heavy with sarcasm say, “Yes, a cell phone is our device of choice to document our child’s life with. Why choose quality when you can choose convenience?” I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. It was ridiculous. Luckily Emma didn’t seem to notice. Her heart was simply bursting with excitement and joy. It was wonderful to see, and hopefully I’ll remember all the details for a long time. And with such high quality pictures like these, I'll need all the help I can get.

These are supposed to be owl masks (you know, just in case you couldn't tell).

Colorado

Last weekend Emma and I went to Colorado to visit my sister-in-law and her family. I wanted some girl time with her and it was fun letting Emma play with her cousins. She doesn’t get to see them very often, so it was nice. For being such a quick trip we managed to squeeze a lot in.

On Friday morning after Emma and I finally got going (we didn’t arrive until almost midnight the night before) we went to the library with the kids. They had fun looking at books and playing with the toys. They even put on a puppet show for us.
Grandma took Emma and Tyler to see Toy Story in 3D while Steph, Brayden & I had lunch and did some shopping. Lunch was yummy (you can't beat Red Robin! And their lunch special was awesome!!) and of course we found way more cute stuff than we could possibly buy (including what I think will be the best white elephant gift of the season).

We went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house afterwards so the kids could keep playing, and we had dinner with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa. I think the kids' favorite part of dinner was trying to add more cheese to their dish themselves. They kept wanting to try it. Very entertaining.
On Saturday we decided we’d go to the zoo. While eating lunch a squirrel kept trying to steal food from us, and succeeded in taking a banana peel. The kids raced and investigated the animals as long as we’d let them. But we had to get home to make apple pie and pizzas.

I love this picture because it looks like they have all partied a little too hard. Emma looks like she's about the join Tyler in a chorus of a drinking song and Brayden looks like he's still going strong.

Anxiously waiting for the train.

And this guy was being very difficult when it came to pictures. Every time I got out the camera he'd turn away. I think he thought it was a game. But as you can see, I won!

If the glass had been thinner I might have lost Steph to this arangutan! He was really digging her.

The kids were exploring everything and everywhere. They even enjoyed putting leaves down the sewer.

But everywhere we went one or both of them HAD to check the map.

After we got home the kids really liked helping to mix the dough and roll it out for the pie. And they loved decorating their pizzas to look like Jack o lanterns. I think they turned out pretty cute!

And while the pie dough chilled in the fridge, they started working on their pizzas. They're not quite ready to start flipping the dough over their heads, but almost.

They added sauce...

...and cheese...

...and their toppings.

I'm not sure whether Brayden got more toppings in his mouth...

or on his pizza! But he was a great helper.

From left to right, Emma, Brayden, & Tyler's pizzas.

And here's Emma's finished product.

After church the next morning it was time for Emma and me to head back home. I think we just barely beat the snow! Though there were still some micro blizzards I had to drive through. We got home late, and although I think she was ready for her own bed, Emma told me she missed her cousins. It was so much fun visiting. Thanks again Steph and Brian for letting us come!


Here is what happened to Emma after we got home. Poor thing was just so tired, she fell asleep!