August of new adventures

Dear Maya and Emi,

The whole month of August flew by without a blog post! Does mommy get a pass since one week of it you guys weren't even here? Well, it was a busy month regardless, and here are just some of the fun things we (and you) did!

• Went on mommy/daughter dates that featured sweets! (pop rocks ice cream for you, Maya, and fancy French pastries for you, Emi)

• The last few weeks of your summer rec program were awesome, Maya. You started sort of swimming on your own, and in your words, you're a "natural" at dodgeball

• You two went to North Carolina to spend a week with Grandpa and Lori...without your parents!! You went to the aquarium, went on a boat ride, played in the peacock pool, ate ice cream and sushi, and tired your grandparents right out!!

 

• On your way back from North Carolina mommy met you guys in Maryland and we spent a day and night hanging out with your friend Nora and her parents and her pets! You especially loved the hedgehog, but you also liked checking out the big yellow gecko and the Madagascar hissing cockroaches they're babysitting. You had a great time swimming with Nora, too!

• We went to the fair! You were both so excited for the rides that we spent less time with the animals than usual, but that's okay. Maya, you were great about taking Emi under your wing on some of the rides that were new to her. Emi, you were fearless! Next year we're going to have to get lots more ride tickets!

  

• And yesterday after some raspberry picking at the flower farm, we had a Labor Day weekend meal with Matt and Rhi. Emi, I think it was your first time eating real outdoor s'mores but you had more fun burning and dropping the marshmallows than eating them. Maya, you were reallllly good at getting a nice golden color on yours. And we all loved Aunt Rhi's family secret---using Ritz crackers instead of graham crackers!

Well, it's time to get ready for school!! Just a few days left now until you're BOTH in school. Mommy has such mixed feelings--happy to have some time to myself but also a little sad about your independence. It's a good thing, though. And one thing will never change...

We love you both!

School Bound Birthday Bash

Dear Maya and Emi,

Another blog post! I couldn't let too much time go by without talking about your birthday party, Emi! And some of the fun things you've been up to as well, Maya. And Grandpa's visit. And Grandma and Papa Stan's new puppy! So here are all the photos with a few brief explanations thrown in:

• Maya, your summer camp is so full of activities! Archery, hiking, crafting, swimming, field trips and more!

• This is Max! Isn't he cute?

• Emi, on your birthday when we dropped Maya off for camp, there was a school bus in the parking lot to take the campers to a field trip. The driver let you look inside! You were more excited than you look in this photo, I promise!

•   Birthday milkshake!

• Grandpa visited!

• And the birthday party! Emi, you wanted a school themed party because you're so excited to go to pre-k. It was a fun and easy party to plan and prepare for, which is a good thing because the 24 hours leading up to it were really rough. Mommy had barely finished making the cupcakes and decorations when suddenly you got sick. We're pretty sure you ate something bad and spent about 4 hours on Saturday throwing up a lot. Then on Saturday night you seemed to be having asthma attacks, probably due to all the throwing up you had been doing. Mommy and Baba didn't sleep much at all and we weren't sure whether the party would go on. Luckily you were fine the next morning! Tired, but fine. So the party went on without a hitch. Whew! We're so thankful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us!

 

 

 

Well, mommy needs to try to catch up on the sleep I missed during all of this! Love you both!

Miss Emi is four!

Dear Emi,

This blog post is for you, because the other day you turned FOUR!  Here's a roundup of photos of you from the last year. It's followed by the annual interview for which your answers were um, interesting, if not entirely accurate. Enjoy!

Favorite toy:   dollies (really???)
Favorite game:   penguin game (a mini card game from Uncle Matt that you never play?)
Favorite thing to do inside:   put stickers on paper (today it was My Little Pony stickers)
Favorite thing to do outside:   play on my scooter (you are dangerously fast!)
Favorite place to go:   to the supermarket (maybe because we rarely take you anymore! lol)
Favorite book:   Little Bunny Roo (the most recently read anyway)
Favorite TV show:   My Little Ponies
Favorite movie:   Top Cat
Favorite song:   Perfect by Ed Sheeran and We will Rock You by, as you say it, "The Queen"
Favorite animal:   doggie
Favorite breakfast:   bagels
Favorite lunch:   peanuts and raisins and one marshmallow (what you usually have for snack!)
Favorite dinner:   cereal with yogurt and milk and raspberries (what you requested for your birthday dinner!)
Favorite fruit:   bananas, apples
Favorite vegetable:   cabbage (lolololol, where did you come up with that?!?)
Favorite drink:   seltzer
Best friend:   Maya
Biggest fear:   the dark
When you grow up you want to be: I don't know
Things you take to bed:   a pillow that Grandma made, a Mickey Mouse blanket, and usually Lollipop the bunny and Princess Celestia the unicorn

Well, we're excited for your party this weekend and that grandpa is visiting. I hope you enjoy every minute of it! Love you!