Midwestern Adventures, Parts II, III and IV!

Dearest readers,

I apologize once again for my hiatus from Emmeline's blog.  When we are in the Midwest with our families it is just so hard to pull myself away to write.  We were just having so much fun! During the past couple weeks, Emmeline has been flourishing; learning so many new things and is turning into a serious explorer.  She is happiest when she is squatting in the dirt examining small things or running in wide open spaces.  She is saying plenty of new words and now knows about five signs (see the list to the right).  I think that this is due in part to all of the new people and places she was experiencing while in the Midwest; her little mind is like a sponge, soaking up information, words, signs, faces, expressions, and songs.

So much happened while we were away it is difficult to know where to begin.  I think I will make different posts for different things (like the experience being delayed at the airport for three days and Jacy's wonderful performance in Oklahoma!) but for now here are some highlights (just few of many) of our journey:

Emmeline squatting in the wood chips at a

park near Paul's parent's house in Lakeville, MN

Emmeline with her cousins: Brandon, Allison,

Kassandra, and Hannah

He he!  Brandon is fun!

Paul with his parents and Emmeline: they

are all wearing Twins gear because Paul, 

his dad, and our brother-in-law

 went to a Twins game!

Emmeline reading with her Aunite Jen

and cousin Hannah.  Emmeline warmed up to

Jen right away and enjoyed cuddling with her

every evening.

Discovering a Prairie Rose (North Dakota state 

flower) in my parent's backyard

Whee! On a trampoline with mommy.

Investigating a bison in East Grand Forks, MN

Posing on the steps of my grandma's house in

Grand Forks, ND. Many, many photographs

have been taken on these steps since my

grandparents moved there in the 1940s.

Enjoying the swing in my parent's backyard.

She loved the swing so much she would stand

by the back door and say "Whee!  Whee!".

Mmmmm! Reaching for the cake grandma

made to celebrate her first birthday.

Having a chat with great-grandma Alice (my

grandma)

Being silly with great-grandma Mabel (Paul's 

grandma)

In the pool with auntie Jacy

Oops!  Where did your swimsuit go, Emmeline?

Looking at the neighbor's koi pond with

Grandma

Stopping to smell the flowers with

Grandpa

One last snuggle with grandpa (sniff)