Kinderdance Recital

Emerson had been doing Kinderdance for about a year now and loves it. They work on rhythm, listening, sharing, balance, tempo and coordination. Once a year, parents are invited to watch the class. Starting this month, Emerson is moving up to the next level and once the summer is over, she will start real dance classes with Kinderdance, such as learning the basic ballet positions and tap moves. We can't wait for that recital!!!

Blowing bubbles with Daddy

We've been spending a lot of time outside, the weather is so nice in the evenings. Blowing bubbles with her dad makes it even better!

Random Fun!

Fun thing #1 - drink chocolate milk while playing the games on PBS Kids on the old laptop.

Fun thing #2 - make palm trees out of markers and play-doh.

Rainy Day

We recently had a very rainy Saturday morning. Since we could not go to the park, we decided to improvise and chalk on the porch. We just threw on our Crocs and out we went. After the rain stopped, we went and tried to send paper boats down the gutter. It was a fun way to spend a rainy Saturday morning!

Spring Fling

Every year, Emerson's school has a Spring Fling fundraiser. The theme this year was "Tropical Vacation" and the weather was gorgeous to match. It's the typical "carnival" type event - buy tickets at the door and then use the tickets to do the activities. Emerson's Grandma came with us this year and had a great time as well. We stayed til the very end and the school reports that they raised over $2500 for local literacy related charities.

Hula-hooping!

Hopscotching!

Playing the Coconut game....she won everytime. Perhaps she's ready for 3 card monte on the streets of NYC?

Make your own lei table. It's beautiful!

Being a wacky tourist.

With Ms. P., her teacher from the infant room. This lady made it possible for me to go to work everyday. She loved - still loves Emerson and took great care of her when she was a tiny baby.

Coconut bowling!

Match the shell game.

With her Magga, awaiting the results of the silent auction. My MIL really got into the silent auction items and came away with 3 baskets. She had a great time as well and even better, she treated us to Whataburger after it was all over! :)

Happy Easter!

We had a nice and quiet Easter this year. Most of our family was out of town, so it was just us and Grump-pa for dinner. We had a nice dinner out at the The Spaghetti Wearhouse and had a nice visit.

Emerson in her funny bunny ears.

Easter artwork by Emerson.

This is Emerson's favorite toy from her Easter baskets. Yes, I said baskets. The 'home' Easter bunny tries to keep it somewhat sugar free, so she got some new watercolor paints, a Disney Princess Jasmine play set, a stuffed bunny, some stickers with just a little bit of Easter candy. However, the 'Tio and Tia' basket came with full size chocolate Easter bunny, plastic eggs filled with chocolate eggs, a stuffed bunny and this jelly bean hauling, trike riding bunny and a hopping bunny that poops jelly beans. This new bunny on his cool blue trike is now a regular in Emersonville.

Emerson's Easter bonnet of sorts.

One must walk the walk when wearing a hot pink fedora!

We love this girl. She is just so awesome!! We thank God everyday for his blessings.

Spring is here

It's officially spring and Emerson is officially a Texan. It was beautiful day!

Welcome to Emersonville, TX

My great boss, Benita, gave this to Emerson. It used to belong to her nephew, who is now 11 and much more interested in video games and learning to drive the jeep. Emerson loves it!!! She has buildings, cars, animals and people who come to live, work, play and mostly drive here - her version of Sim City. Barbie has even been known to make an appearance. Emerson will happily play for hours in Emersonville. As you can see, there is lots to see and do.

BUBBLES!!!!

Gymboree Party

Emerson is lucky enough to be invited to lots of birthday parties. A few Saturday's ago, we went to Gymboree to celebrate Emerson's classmate Michelle's 3rd birthday. This was our first trip to the Gymboree 'gym' and it was a lot of fun. I can see the value of such a place for kids that stay home with their Mom's. It was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Pink and purple cupcakes.....who can resist?

Playing with the bubbles. There was something special about these bubbles. They had some serious hang time and seemed harder to pop. We gotta get some of those bubbles!

Balancing on the log. Emerson had a great time with all the small, age appropriate equipment.
Thanks Michelle for including Emerson in your celebration!! Happy Birthday!

Emerson's POV

Emerson the amateur photog is at it again. I think she's actually getting better, read: she doesn't put her finger over the lens anymore. Rather than random photos, she actually finds objects to photograph; she's of the realist leaning. Take note, these may end up in a gallery someday! ;)

"Lone CROC"

"Toys"

"Horizontal Daddy"

"Monique with Kleenex box pillow"

Great Olympics, eh?

I am a bit of an obsessed Olympic fan. I get so caught up in all the competition, personal stories of the athletes, the sportsmanship. I become so inspired by their talent, dedication and sacrifice.

I can't help it, it happens every time. These winter Olympics were a bit more special to me because they took place on 'my home and native land'.
If you know anything about Canada, then you know that hockey is the national pastime, the national game, the national sport, the national pride. Hockey is VERY IMPORTANT to Canadians. Emerson was wearing her team colors with pride, the jersey given as a gift for her 1st birthday by her wonderful Tio Blanco (Uncle Tim, or Tio Timmy as Emerson calls him) in anticipation of the final gold medal game between the 2 biggest hockey rivals since the USA/USSR game of the 1980 Olympics. It was an awesome game and we were on the edge of our seats the whole time. Of course, we were thrilled when Canada won. CANADA WON!!!

Of course I have to give a shout out to Justin Olsen, the San Antonian who was part of a 4 man team that pushed USA-1 Bobsled to their first gold since 1948!

The games were all around awesome in my opinion; I loved every moment of them. And as always, I feel a sense of let down, mixed with relief when they are over. What am I going to do until London 2012????

Back seat driver

Anyone need help driving? Which way to turn? What the lights on the stop light mean? What color ALL the cars are? Because Emerson is available and she is tireless. Does anyone else experience this with their small child/ren?
She knows that green means "Go" and red means "Stop" and that orange (I tell her it's yellow, she insists it's orange, I don't argue) means "Slow Down". And she is very good at telling me what the current condition of the light is. What she hasn't grasped is the timing of such actions in relation to the color of the light. The other day, we were driving and approaching an intersection. The light turned yellow and my driving advisor informed me that it was "Orange, Mommy, slow down". She was right and I began to slow down. Then the light turned red and Emerson began to yell "Red, stop, Mommy, red, stop, Mommy". Yes, the light up ahead at the intersection was indeed red, but since we were still a bit away from said intersection, I didn't stop. Well, let me tell you, that my driving advisor did not like this one bit, because red means "stop". Right here. Where you are. No matter that you are still a block away from the intersection. Red means STOP!
There were a few tears. That went away when I went "this way, Mommy" to make her smile again.

It's a hard job.....

But someone has to do it, and Emerson is perfect for the job. Her job includes lounging around in her chair, watching her new favorite show, Team Umizoomi!! Love how she crosses her legs :)


Emerson's job also includes fashion shoots. Today she is modeling the dance wear/Grandma's sun hat ensemble. Very nice, Emerson.

Other photo shoots include showing off her red sunglasses and pink high top sneakers.

After a long day of photo shoots, Emerson likes to relax in a nice warm bubble bath. Bubble are perfect for making yourself look like a 'HO HO HO', as in Santa.

Life with Emerson is never dull. She is getting so big and doing so well with speech therapy. Busy and happy girl! She lights up our lives!!

Opposite of fashionista

The other day, Emerson and her dad were getting ready to go over and visit Grandma while Mommy got some chores done. After putting on her regular clothes, Emerson INSISTED on wearing her Cinderella outfit over the clothes. We have learned to pick our battles, so bundled her up and off they went. We told her she has to wear a hat....which she picked out herself as well.