Crying

How is it that Emma can make me melt with just one look? Tonight we were winding down getting ready for bed - flipping through the channels to find something to watch when I came across Flicka. I thought it was a movie about a horse or a dolphin or something like that - but I knew that Tim McGraw (hello hot stuff - but not hotter than my husband =0)) was in it - so I stopped. Good Lord - I had no idea of the uncontrollable emotional mess I was about to release. Emma was interested becuase she loves horses, and this is the first movie that wasn't a cartoon she's actually sat and watched...and I loved it...until...Tim McGraw the evil dad sells Flicka and the daughter who loves Flicka is crying that her horse is being taken away. Before I knew it Emma was weeping and sobbing - she wouldn't stop and was inconsolable. In like 5 mins she managed to get so connected to this horse - I couldn't help it - I burst into tears and just held her in my arms telling her it was okay. We had no choice but to finish out the movie so she could see that Flicka comes home and everything works out. Seriously - the movie eventually ends that way but only after the horse gets attacked by a lion and the girls falls deathly ill - are you kidding me?? There should be warning labels that your child and the mommy are about to be traumatized for all eternity.

My Favorite Things - Part 2

So my friend Tami beat me to the punch and has already listed this as one of her Favorite things - but I had to post this too since I LOVE this wine! Schmitt Sohne is terrific and comes in 3 varieties that vary in body; Blue Reisling Kabinett, Blue Reisling Spatlese, Blue Reisling Auslese (this is the one I love). I got this as a birthday gift but hadn't had the opportunity to open it until this past Saturday. Chris and Tami's husband had a night out so I went over to hang out with her and the kids - we popped this bottle open and now it's history! I've already bought another bottle - no I'm not a wino - but like to have it on hand when the mood strikes! If you are a wine drinker or even if you're not, give it a shot. It's so light and smooth you're sure to enjoy it!

Fun With Swimming

It Feels Like Strawberries

This is Emma and you were right if you said she's touching a snake (well snake skin). I can't believe those words are coming out of my mouth - and I couldn't believe my eyes! The other day we came outside and found this lovely skin wrapped through my handsome frog statue - apparently a snake has made it's home down between the stone and soil in my flower bed - YUCK!. Anyway before I knew what was happening, Emma was in the flower bed holding the snake skin very intrigued - she was fascinated and even though I absolutely hate snakes and the thought of my daughter touching them - I didn't want her to be scared. So we very gently placed the snake skin on the edge of the flower bed so she could get a better look and feel - yes I touched it and thought I was going to die! When I asked her what it felt like she said "it feels like strawberries" - there you have it! The two things in the whole wide world I would never have compared to one another - but somehow after she said it I realized she was not far off.

New Earrings

Today I finally convinced Emma that it is time to change her earrings. We bought her some beautiful pink Mickey Mouse earrings in Disney World last summer and she has never let us come near them. You wouldn't believe the fits and the absolute tantrums this little girl has thrown - partially because she loves those earrings, but mostly because she was afraid it would hurt to take them out. No matter what we did or tried to bribe her with, it made no difference - nothing worked. I'm not quite sure what changed today - maybe it was letting her play with my earrings - putting them in and then taking them out - over and over and over again. Maybe it was telling her she could have ice cream and her finally caving in or maybe it was just time for her to be brave. I bought her 2 new pairs of earrings for her 3rd birthday - a pair of Hearts and a pair of Butterflies, she got to pick, the Butterflies have it! I put her favorite song on the iPod player (Carrie Underwood's Wasted) and very smoothly removed the first earring and inserted the new one - IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM!! I thought it would be smooth sailing from there - but of course she wouldn't let me come near her to do the second ear. Finally after about 30 mins of begging and pleading - and playing that Carrie Underwood song about 50 times - she agreed to let me change out the second ear. SUCCESS!! She looks beautiful...I wish I had a picture to show but she was having no part of that tonight and I figured I better not push it. It's the little battles we find our greatest success in!

My Favorite Things - Part 1

So I'm totally stealing this from my friend Tami's blog. I love the idea of favorite things and I thought I would start off with the best thing ever...a 3 year old eating ice cream on a hot Sunday afternoon. Emma could barely contain herself with the thought of having ice cream after dinner - it's one treat she looks forward to - she loves ice cream! I love the fact that she is covered in ice cream and it doesn't bother her a bit. To her this is what life is all about - and she's right!
"Teach us delight in simple things" - Rudyard Kipling

MISSING YOU

Carl Sandburg said "Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep".

Austin and Lexi left on Wednesday to go back home to their other family. The time we have with them is always so bittersweet. We love it and look forward to it and try to treasure every second - but are always painfully aware that our time together will come to an end.

We miss you oh so much - this visit was just another layer...a great time with tons of fun and laughter that has been peeled away but burned to our memories. Although this is our life it never gets any easier and we never stop missing you.

Missing you, loving you, wishing you were here,

Mom, Chris, Emma and Cooper

BUSY HOLIDAY WEEKEND

This holiday weekend has been really fun. I can't remember the last time Austin and Lexi were with me for the 4th of July. We had such a blast! We started the weekend out with a trip to Elitches - who can resist the mind eraser and lots of spinning rides combined with funnel cake, cotten candy and the worst burgers you will ever eat? HA! All joking aside, we had a great day - and lots of fun riding the rides - even though I'm getting way too old to ride most of that stuff =0). We rounded out the day with a Bar-B-Que at my friends Kelly and Joe's house and ended with a bang with a wonderful fireworks display. Friday we got together with our good friends Mike and Tami and Shawn and Shannon and all our families for a Bar-B-Que and Arvada fireworks. Austin and Lexi were so good with all the little kids and Austin is in love with Mike and Tami's newest arrival Dominic. Saturday we went to a birthday party for Emma's friends George and Layla - the kids had a great time. We ended the weekend by doing absoluetly nothing today. We slept in (can't even remember the last time I slept past 7 am), hung around the house and went for a bike ride this evening. Emma loves her trailer - she feels like such a big kid riding along with all of us. It was great family time!