Birthday Vids

Birthday cupcakes on the train

How three-year-olds play hide-n-seek

Emme and mommy opening the DNA strand

from auntie Kelsey. My favorite part: Mommy!

Someone already popped these poppers!

Birthday Fun

Emmeline had quite a birthday! The celebrations began on Tuesday, her actual birthday, with a train ride, cupcakes and a nice, long visit to the library. Later that day she had a lovely father-daughter dinner with daddy at Red Lobster. On Wednesday Emmeline celebrated with her friends at school and brought popsicles to share. It was a perfect treat as the day was very hot and humid. Then this Saturday her birthday party was held at Bellevue State Park. She and her friends had a great time playing on the playground, digging the sand, playing hide-and-go-seek, baseball, and soccer. The Little Mermaid cake and cupcakes was a huge hit! This evening her friend Estella came over with her mommy to have a belated birthday celebration. They were not able to make it to the party so to make up for it we ate dinner together, had MORE cupcakes and opened some presents. Emmeline had a wonderful birthday week and was just as sweet and gracious as could be. We cannot wait to see what the upcoming year will hold for our darling little Emmy Lou.

On the Wilmington and Western Railroad...so excited!

Whoa! Careful!

We brought cupcakes to enjoy on the train.

Emme picked out an orange dreamsicle cupcake.

She later said it was her favorite part of the day.

Emme in front of the engine.

Birthday hugs!

That was super fun!

Little Mermaid cake (strawberry!) and cupcakes (chocolate!).

Emme picked out the flavors herself.

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

"Happy birthday to you!"

Make a wish!

Haley, Emme and Elisa

Yum!

Red strawberry cake tongues!

Even though there was very nice sand at the playground,

the girls gravitated towards the horseshoe sandpits.

Emmeline's auntie Kelsey is a geneticist and she got Emme

a blowup DNA strand. Let me tell you, it is no easy

feat explaining what DNA is to a three-year-old!

Feeling Nostalgic

I always get nostalgic around the time of Emmeline's birthday. I have been looking through old pictures and videos and came across this video of Emmeline playing with wooden fruit. She is about 16 months old (October 2008) and is just starting to articulate words. In this video, I ask her to identify a strawberry. See for yourself how cute her response is:

Happy Third Birthday!

Today is Emmeline's third birthday! We are planning cupcakes for breakfast, a scenic train ride through Brandywine Valley and some time at the park. Her birthday party will be Saturday at Bellevue State Park. More pictures to come:

Emmeline Louise ~ June 22, 2007 ~ 7:31am

8lbs 14oz ~ 21.5 inches

Darling Emmy Lou ~ June 22, 2008

Happy First Birthday!

Cheeky little Emme ~ June 22, 2009

Happy Second Birthday!

Precious daughter ~ June 22, 2010

Happy Third Birthday!!

Wilmington Blue Rocks Friday Night Fun

Tonight we joined some of our friends at the Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game. At the ticket booth we got free general admission tickets (I have no idea why) but once we got to the G.A. section, there was no where to sit. We went to customer service and they upgraded us to seats right behind home plate. After the game, we got a fabulous fireworks show which they put on at summer Friday night home games. What great, cheap fun! Besides cuddling and joking with her friends, I think that Emme's favorite part was the blue water-ice:

Haley and Emmeline

Alison, Kevin and their new son, Bryce Tyler.

Lucy and Emmeline sporting blue tongues.

Fireworks! I love watching Emme watch

fireworks.

Emmeline's Graduation

Emmeline receives her diploma and graduates

from the toddler room to preschool one!

The graduates of the toddler room perform a rousing

rendition of "Fire Truck!". My favorite part of the video

is the end when Emme runs off the "stage" to give

her parents hugs and kisses.

We just couldn't be prouder of our sweet little daughter.

Congratulations, Emmy Lou!

Belated Easter Post

Better late than never, right?

Posing before the hunt

Lucy and Emme

...and they're off!

Checking out their loot

Oh! Candy! I like Easter!

Can I eat this?!

YUUUUM!

Emme's first Easter Egg Hunt

A New Fav: Waffles!

One of Emmeline's new favorite things to request for breakfast (brunch, lunch and snack) is waffles. I think it probably has something to do with the syrup satisfying her sweet tooth (pst! Its sugar-free! Don't tell!). Or it could be the fun of dipping the waffle pieces in the syrup (she insists on having them separate, like french fries and ketchup). It is probably a combination of both. One thing is for sure - I have never seen a cuter waffle-eater in my life:

Snow Day!

We have had quite a bit of snow here in the Mid-Atlantic over the past four days. Emmeline does enjoy the snow, but not for long. She does not seem to take after her cold-weather, North Dakota parents!

Yay! Snow!

Yum!

Our little angel's snow angel

No, Emme, the carrot is for the snowman's nose!

Emme and our snowman

Hehe!

Snow bunnies

Trudging through the snow

Emme going into our gate; Frosty looks on...

Back in the Saddle Again

Everyone is back to the grind here in Delaware. I am back teaching my fifth graders and it feels like I never left. Emmeline transitioned right back into her routines like she has never done before. Once we were back for the holiday I expected her to have a troublesome month getting back to her old ways, but was pleasantly surprised. When we got home and she was back in her crib, she snuggled right in like she missed it.

The same holds true for school. Emmeline had just a small adjustment make into school, but is napping great and really missed her friends. As much fun as we have traveling it is amazing to see how much people need routines and especially little ones. We are all thankful to be home, in our own space safe and sound.

Emmeline and Hannah, bedtime pals

Grandma Sandy, you know a lot about playdough.

Sledding with Kelsey in North Dakota, What fun!

Uncle Nathan you are a great storyteller.

Cuddling with her buddies Inara and Auntie Kelsey.