The best laid plans....

Today was supposed to be Emma's birthday celebration. I had reservations to take Emma and two of her friends to stay one night at the Great Wolf Lodge so they could play at the indoor water park there. But then this morning, we woke up to the biggest snowstorm of the winter here...nearly six inches! The snow was at its peak when we were supposed to head out to the hotel, which is about 15 miles from here. There were accidents everywhere and I did not want to take the chance, especially with such precious cargo. Fortunately, I was able to change our reservation to March 14th, so we still get to go. The girls were all disappointed, but took it in stride.

So we stayed pretty close to home most of the day. Eventually the snow stopped and I spent about a half-hour shoveling out the driveway, with my little helper...


After digging out, we made a run to the grocery store and I let Emma pick out any restaurant to eat dinner. As I feared, she chose the world's worst Chinese buffet, which is her very favorite place to eat. Tons of deep fried food that has sat under heat lamps for hours...what's not to love? Well, she was in heaven.

Now we're watching the Spiderwick Chronicles movie, which is Emma's current obsession...we have read all the of books and she wanted to see the movie. I find the movie really intense...but Emma says it doesn't scare her. Hopefully she won't have nightmares tonight!

I'm seven!

As Emma explained to me this morning, seven is a BIG birthday. Because when you're six, you're still a little girl, but when you're seven, you're just a regular girl. I'm afraid she's right - WAH!

My little gap girl

Well, Emma has FINALLY lost one of her top teeth. This tooth has been loose for six months - and I am totally not exaggerating. Some children, when they get a loose tooth, wiggle and twist it until it falls out. Emma is not one of those children. She would run away in terror if I even suggested she wiggle it or if I asked to take a look at it. "It will come out when it's ready," she would say.

It was hanging by a thread this week when, as she was chewing a piece of chicken, it fell out. Emma was actually very excited!


Her other top front tooth is also loose now. So, according to my calcuations, it should be coming out around Halloween (or Christmas, if Emma has her way!)

Emma and D.J.

This weekend we met my parents in St. Louis for a short weekend getaway. They had in tow my niece and Emma's cousin D.J. Emma and D.J. have the same birthday, so it was also a bit of an early birthday celebration. D.J. will be 16 next Tuesday and Emma will be 7, but even though they are 9 years apart, they still love hanging out.

The hotel had a pool and the two girls had fun splashing around together...





We had such a nice time...D.J. is such a wonderful girl (really, she's a young lady now!) We are so lucky to have her in our family.

Back at last

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I posted anything. I guess it's been a combination of things...we've been busy, we've been sick and I haven't had anything interesting to say (I know...that has ever stopped me before.) I've also been in a terrible photography slump. I mean, I can't seem to take a decent photo these days. My lighting is wrong and the focus is off...and I know it's me, not my camera. It's probably due in small part to the fact that the sun hasn't been out forever and there's not much natural light to work with (I hate using the flash.) But I suspect most of it is me and my lack of inspiration.

Anyway, we're still here...trying to survive the winter blahs. I always look forward to spring, but never more so than this year. We're just counting the days...

Tomorrow we're heading to St. Louis for a day to meet up with my parents and Emma's cousin DJ. Both of the girls were born on February 24, so we're celebrating their birthdays - a little early.

Here's one unexceptional photo of Emma...maybe the sun will actually come out this weekend and I can snap a decent picture!

We are the champions, my friends!

Emma was in her second horse show today (she participated in her first this past November and finished second in her class, which was thrilling.) I was not optimistic about her repeating her good showing this time around...she had been bumped up from beginner class to intermediate and she hasn't ridden very much the past two months because of the cold weather and being out of town.

Anyway, this will give you an idea of how she did this time around...



First place in her class!!! I couldn't believe it...she beat a 15-year-old and an 11-year-old, among others. I was worried because at one point, one of her feet came out of the stirrups and she had to bend over to get her foot back in. But I guess the judge missed it because when they announced the standings, she had won!

The mother of the 15-year-old, who finished fourth, was not thrilled. After the class was over, she said in a loud stage whisper "Well, of course she won...she's so tiny and cute." Sarah, our trainer, overheard her and said "The only reason she won was that she rode better than anyone else today." The woman looked a little chastened but gave me a couple more glares. I swear, some equestrian moms can give pageant moms a run for their money.

But it was a wonderful day. It's kind of bizarre how excited you can get when your child performs well at something. It's not like I did anything...except pay for the lessons!

The home fires burning...

A few weeks ago, a fellow mom and I were discussing when it was that kids stopped having big birthday parties. Last year, it seemed that Emma was invited to some huge all-class birthday party every other weekend. This year, I think we've been to two parties so far. My friend and I agreed that it was in first grade that most kids (or more likely, their mothers) decided to forgo big birthday bashes in favor of much smaller affairs or no party at all.

So, of course, Emma promptly gets invited to two birthday parties this past weekend...so much for my theory. She went to a slumber party Friday night and then went to another party Saturday afternoon at one of those big gymnastics places. Needless to say, she was pooped by Saturday night. She went to bed at 8 and didn't wake up until almost ten this morning. We skipped church (since she pretty much slept through it) and ended up going to see "Hotel for Dogs" (really cute) since it was too cold to do anything else.

When we got home, probably because of the cold, on total impulse, I decided to build a fire. I haven't used our fireplace since adopting Emma. Fire and young children just didn't seem to mix and making and tending a fire is a lot of work. But much to my surprise, I got a fire going in a short time and Emma was thrilled. I snapped a couple photos of her in front of our blazing inferno...



Unfortunately, we didn't have any marshmallows to roast...but it was still fun. Now I'm sitting here waiting for the embers to die down so I can close the damper before I go to bed. This is the part of having a fireplace I don't like!

Oh, Happy Day!

Horsey pants

I bought Emma her first official pair of jodhpurs for Christmas. I somehow tracked down a retailer who had a pair of size 4's. Emma was supposed to be in a horse show on Saturday and was saving her new horsey pants for that special occasion. But the show was postponed because of the cold weather. So Emma decided to wear her jodhpurs to her lesson on Sunday. They're a little big, but I think she really looks cute in them...




She really looks like a real equestrian in her pants. Next, she'll want an expensive pair of tall riding boots (not until her foot stops growing two sizes every year!)

The "b" word

Emma has used the word "bored" several times in the past week or so. Last weekend, after we spent the day running errands and just hanging out, she told me she was bored and wanted to go over to a friend's house (not any particular friend...just any friend.) Then the next day, when I asked her if she wanted to go to the park, she asked if we could ask a friend to go too.

She used to be content to spend all her time with me, but I can see that time is coming to an end. I think I'm still her favorite person to be with, but I'm no longer the ONLY person she wants to be around. And I know a few years down the line, I will be the last person she wants to be with. Her friends are taking an increasingly bigger role in her life.

I understand that this is normal and it's a good thing. But it's really making me a little sad. It's the first sign that she's gaining some independence and that soon her life will not be my life. It's one of the most difficult thing a parent has to deal with. You love this little person so fiercely, but all too soon, it's your job to start to let them go and become their own person. I just wish I could hold her so close to me forever and never let go, but that is not the right thing to do.

Anyway, here's a photo of my squeaky-clean, not-so-little-anymore girl.

My award-winning daughter

At Emma's school today, they had a little awards ceremony for the kids. In every class, the teachers named a number of students to be recognized for being outstanding school citizens...kids who were kind and helpful to their fellow students and who did an exceptional job of following school rules. I was so happy that Emma was one of four students in her class who were given the award.

Here she is with her friend Emme, who was also recognized...


The girls also got special hall passes that mean they can go get a drink of water or go to the restroom whenever they want. That doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is to a first-grader.

Anyway, I was pretty proud...I'm glad that Emma is a smart little girl, but I'm even more pleased that she's a NICE little girl!

Okay, enough shameless bragging for now...

Mini-Christmas report

Because of the break-in, I haven't really had a chance to post anything about our Christmas. Outside of becoming crime victims, we really had a nice holiday. We spent several days at my parent's house - Emma loves being with her grandparents!

As is the case every year, although I try to keep it reasonable, Emma had quite a haul when it came to presents. But one gift was clearly her favorite...



Yes, despite my insisting to her for the past year that we would never be in possession of Butterscotch, the three-foot tall robotic horse, we are now the owners of Butterscotch, the three-foot tall robotic horse. I don't know if any of you have ever seen this horse, but it really is quite amazing and LARGE! My parents got an incredible deal on this thing, so it was hard to say no. And, of course, it is right in the middle of our living room, depsite my efforts to keep it in the playroom. Emma absolutely loves Butterscotch, though, so it is worth it. And it's cheaper than a real horse, which we will never own - unless I win the lottery or something equally unlikely!

Sorry for the absence...

...we had a wonderful Christmas, but not so much after that. When we got home this weekend from spending the holiday with my parents, we discovered our house had been broken into (along with several of our neighbors.) My computer and a bunch a camera stuff was stolen. They also slashed the phone and cable lines, smashed our motion detector lights and crow-barred the window open so that it's damaged and we can't close it now. All out drawers were emptied on the floor and there were muddy footprints all over, so that was a mess too.

But we weren't there, for which I am grateful, and are safe now, which is the important thing. The possessions can be replaced. The only thing I am heartbroken over is that nearly every picture I have taken of Emma was on my computer. While I have printed many of them and have some saved on CDs, most are gone forever. It's sad...

Anyway, I'll be having a fun couple of days on the phone with insurance folks, the phone and cable companies, etc.

I'll try to post some of our Christmas photos from my work computer when I get time. Hope you all had a fun (and safe) holiday!

Snow day

We got four inches of snow dumped on us last night, so Emma's school was closed...our first snow day of the winter!

I, of course, still had to get up at 6 a.m. to see if school was cancelled. I let HRH Emma sleep until 9 a.m. We puttered around all morning, cleaning house, baking cookies, making art projects, watching tv. Then after lunch, out to shovel the driveway (the fun never ends in my life!) While I was shoveling, Emma took advantage of the snow and the small hill in our backyard to do some sledding...


The snow has pretty much stopped now, so we'll no doubt have school tomorrow. But the forecasters are predicting an ice storm on Thursday (ugh!) so this may not be our last day home this week.

Hope everyone else is staying warm!

Six years ago today...

...I was in a hotel meeting room in Changsha, China and a woman handed me a scared little 9-month-old baby...


Honestly, has it really been six years?

Emma has been the most wonderful blessing in my life and I can't wait to see what the next six years will bring!

Just when you think your child is over being a girly-girl...

...you go to the store and she picks out an outfit like this...



It is pretty cute, but a TUTU?! Where are we going to wear this? I'm usually the most practical of mothers and would have said no. But she was twirling around in the store and who can resist that? Not me, unfortunately.

We're meeting friends for pizza tonight and she's dying to wear it. I'm sure she'll get some attention in this get-up!

The first snow of the season

Last night we got our first dusting of snow. Fortunately, it was very light and didn't stick to the roads. I am not a big fan of winter AT ALL...but I have to admit that the first snow always makes things look so pretty outside (at least until it turns all slushy and muddy!)

Emma was very excited to see the snow but she was disappointed when I told there wasn't enough to make a snowman. I'm sure that snow will come soon enough...

Flashback Friday

This has always been one of my favorite photos of Emma...she was about two and a half. She loved this little kitchen and looks like such a little homemaker in this picture. I love that she has the oven mitt on!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hoping you and yours have the best Thanksgiving ever!

There are so many things I am thankful for, but none more so than...

The cardiac kid

Well, we had a little too much excitement at Emma's horseback riding lesson yesterday. After taking lessons for about 10 months, she got thrown from her horse for the first time. Back in February, she slid off her horse onto the ground while riding bareback, but the horse was barely moving. What happened yesterday was a whole different experience.

Her horse, Cinnamon, was a bit sluggish yesterday, probably because of the cold weather. But she just wasn't in the mood to trot. Emma had a crop and was using it, but Cinnamon would still slow to a walk whenever she thought she could get away with it. Emma's trainer, Sarah, went and got a whip...not to whip the horse, of course, but just to snap it to get her moving. It did the job pretty well for awhile, but then Cinnamon slowed to a walk again. Sarah walked a little closer to the horse and snapped the whip and apparently Cinnamon knew she meant business, because she bolted and started cantering at full speed.

Emma had never cantered before...the poor girl hung on as tight as she could while Sarah ran after them, but Emma eventually just flew off the horse and fell flat on her back on the ground.

I was screaming at this point. From where I was standing, I thought the horse had stepped on Emma. Sarah got to her first and picked her up. She was fine, although she had the wind knocked out of her. She wasn't crying - probably because she couldn't breathe. The older girls must have heard the commotion (aka me screaming) and ran in and chased Cinnamon down.

Anyway, Emma was fine and when we all got calmed down, she got back on Cinnamon and finished her lesson (no more cantering!) It was kind of sweet, because the older girls all made a big deal out of officially welcoming Emma to the club - because you're not an official cowgirl until you've been thrown from your horse.

Still, I would have been happy had she not become a member of that club for a little while longer. Hopefully she won't fall off again for a very long time...my heart just can't take it!