Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we were so excited to have Daddy home with us. We got up early and went out to breakfast and then to the ZOO! We only saw one other family the entire time we were there and it was just great. The lions roared for us and the animals were all up and watching us closely. Emma just squealed the whole time and enjoyed it so much. When we came home, Emma took a nap and woke up to find that Aunt Erin and Uncle Ben had come to play with her. They spent the afternoon with us and were there to get a family picture for us before we left for the Christmas Eve service at church.

Uncle Ben and Aunt Erin-while they were here, Emma learned to say both of their names and since has developed quite a love of Uncle Ben. She walks around asking about him all day...it is SO SWEET!

Our Little Family

Dancing around the room in her Christmas Dress.

Mrs. Ferone made this dress for Bel last year and Emma borrowed it for Christmas. It is a beautiful dress and Emma loved having horses on her dress. She also wore a bow with a gingerbread girl on it from Aunt Abby! Thanks for sharing the dress, Bel!

More Cousin Time

We were blessed before Christmas to get to spend some time playing with Sarhea!

Festival of Lights

Nana and Papaw took us to the Festival of Lights. Emma so enjoyed her time seeing all of the lights and spending time with Nana and Papaw.

It was so much fun! Thank you, Nana and Papaw!

One of the few pics we took that night. Emma LOVES animals!

Aunt Abby and Sam Come to Visit

Aunt Abby and Sam finally made it to Cincinnati to visit. After several canceled trip attempts because of Emma getting sick, they finally came! We had a great three days playing together. We decided that Sam and Emma could pass for twins, but Abby and I both are very thankful that they are not...how exhausting.

Sweet Cousins

"Hey, Emma...I'm NOT touching you..." He is so much like his daddy!

I had good snuggle time with the kids. It was so fun to read with both of them.

Play Time

I love their expressions!

Emma diapering her baby and her duck.

Sam in the corner reading. He reads by himself all day long. He is going to love books as much as his Mommy and Daddy. I was so thankful for the quality time with him!

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we traveled to St. Louis to be with Grammy and Poppa, Uncle Ben and Aunt Erin, and Great Grandma. We also got to see the Dalbey Family and Emma was able to play with Preston. It was a wonderful time with family and Emma enjoyed helping. She helped Poppa with dishes and helped Grammy with baking Julekaga and cookies. It was so fun to share so many traditions with Emma and new experiences. She was just wonderful in the car and while we were there. Thanks for a wonderful visit, Grammy and Poppa!

Helping Poppa wash the dishes. I can only hope she enjoys it this much in a few years!

Playing in the water

Emma in her Thanksgiving Dress

We got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Uncle Ben and Aunt Erin

Emma loved playing in the yard and swinging

Such a sweet little face!

Aunt Erin and Uncle Ben

Making Cookie Dough with Grammy

Greasing the Pan

Rolling the Dough

Cutting out the Cookies-first she did some ducks and then Christmas Cookies

Mmmmm...icing!

Yum, Yum...

Icing and decorating the cookies

And of course tasting the cookies!

Making Yulekaga with Grammy and passing on the Tradition

Emma chose to help by sticking her spatula in the dough.

We found out that Emma likes cardamom and raisins.

And pumpkin pie!!!

And Julekaga!!!!!!!!

Emma and Great Grandma

Another Week with Emma

This afternoon I had the most fun with Emma! I was making corn bread for dinner and she pulled at the chair and said please. I put her on a chair at the counter and she helped make bread for Daddy!!! She dumped in the ingredients, with a little help of course, and helped to stir. She was so excited and I was able to capture this precious smile at the end. It could not have been more fun for me to spend that time baking with my little girl!!!

Is she really big enough and old enough for this!?!

Look, Dad, just for you!

Stirring

First Cincinnati Chili experience...She LOVED it!

Emma has been obsessed with putting diapers on George and her Doll. She lays out a blanket very carefully and tries to put the diaper on all by herself.

She is so gentle and sweet with her babies!

Just reading the newspaper.

All done with the paper and time for some football...does Sunday afternoon get any better than this?

Emma's Week

I gave Emma her crayons to color in her highchair by herself for the first time. Look at her sweet face! She was SO excited by this that she just squealed and giggled for a few minutes.

She really enjoyed coloring all by herself!

Uncle Rich gave Emma this precious jumpsuit when he visited last week. It is so cute and Emma loves to feel the fabric. She just walked around feeling her tummy all day!

Thanks, Uncle Rich!

Thursday night Emma had her first sleepover! Mariela stayed with us and she and Emma had so much fun. This picture is of them watching tv and snuggling togther. They were so cute. Emma looks much bigger than Mariela, but in reality Mariela is much taller...Emma is just sitting up. She doesn't relax and just "hang out" very often.

It was a great week and we are looking forward to a good weekend with lots of down time with Daddy!