End of September 2016

I volunteered again to help out at the elementary school during Kindergarten Lunch Time (again- at 10:30!)  It's a tight run ship during that half hour.  The kids just sit there and eat.  They aren't really allowed to get loud and talk a bunch.  Towards the end of lunch they will play some calm music as well but that's really it.  The kids are getting the hang of it - I was needed far less than the last time I came.

Landen

Avery

Mr. Dimple

His lunch is usually a slice of deli turkey, apples, cheese, snap peas, crackers or pirates booty, and some dried blueberries.

He is wiped out from those long days from 7:45 - 2:55

My car is always a mess, especially since now Emmalyn is big enough to contribute to the mess by bringing stuff into the car.  

I had one last work trip for the month - I went to a leadership summit for the Network of Executive Women in Orlando.  It was a great conference plus it was a lot of fun that I had a good group of friends from work there too.

Unfortunately, it appears that Emmalyn has gotten Hand Foot and Mouth Disease when she went to Britt's church (when Peter and I were in Chicago).  So it was hard to leave her knowing that she was sick.  

Kallie, Kari, Beth, Amy, Jessica, Stacey

Beth!!  Her office used to be right next to mine and it was great.

A couple of us went to Downtown Disney for dinner.  Dinner was just eh but it was fun to walk around and I got a couple of Disney shirts for the kids.

This musician was playing a didgeridoo.  It was impressive!

A picture I got of Emmalyn in the morning.  

Hanging with dad at Maxwell's tennis lessons.

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He's on the right side, smallest kiddo there.

Snapchat entertainment with dad

We had some time before the dinner gala so we went to get pampered!

I sat with Laura, who works for one of my clients, at dinner.  It has been fun building a friendship with her especially since she was pretty cold and aloof when I first joined the team.

Facetime at bedtime.  So glad I can still see my kids even when traveling!

Red carpet

We clearly were letting loose!

Kari Jessica and Beth

We decided to leave the party and go to Kari's favorite line dancing club.  We all piled into an Uber and it was non-stop laughs.

This line dancing place was like nothing I've ever experienced.  They lined danced to everything from country to Brittney Spears.  It was a ton of fun.

We had an epic time!

Amy Purdy was the keynote speaker in the morning.  She was great!

Never a shortage of cheese

Playing with one of the toys from Peter's birthday

We were "BOO'd" by our neighbors!  The kids were really excited!

A big moment happened this week.  On Sept 26th, it was the first morning that when Emmalyn woke up, I didn't nurse her.  It was time to be done nursing.  I was really proud that I nursed her past 2 1/2 years.  She was so upset with me.  I had even prepped her a few days ago and told her that she was a big girl now and didn't need Momma's milk.  In the saddest voice ever she goes, "I'm not a big girruhl... I'm not!...I'm not a big girruhl."  ("Girl" is a two syllable word for her.)  It was super sad.  Then when Peter came into the room she told him she wanted to nurse.  It was so hard for me not to give in!

The next day on the 27th was rough again.  She had slept horribly and was up at least 6 times crying and whining throughout the night.  When I said no, she yelled at me, "I...want...to...nurse!!!!" Multiple times.  She was so mad at me.  I felt awful :(

Emmalyn is such a Momma's girl and misses me a ton when I'm not there.  She just clings to me and begs to go to work or wherever with me.  She's getting feisty though too.  She hit me today when we were in the eyeglasses store because I was stopping her from running around. 

Maxwell still says, "Demember" instead of "Remember" and "Cucancumber" for "cucumber" and "panacake" for "pancakes".  I love these little things.  :)

First week of June - Summer is here!!

The first week of June sure was fun!!!  I am so happy summer is here.

The kids at Landen's preschool graduation

Silly face

Emmalyn dragged Landen onto the dance floor.  What a pushy broad! :)

Giddy-up horsey

The ladies in my neighborhood have started a book club.  The first book was "After You" and we read it right before the movie came out so we all went to the theater to watch it.  Loving Book club!  (Although, there was a point during the group discussion where I got super emotional and had to leave the room before anyone noticed because they were discussing one of the main character's choice to end his life.  It hit just a little too close to home especially since it was around mom's birthday.)

Maxwell had his first soccer game with his new team - The Bears.  Peter bribed him with popcorn and ice cream to be aggressive.  He also coached Maxwell to ask to be taken out of the game if he got tired and to raise his hand and ask to kick off the ball after a goal.  Maxwell did a great job of doing what he'd been coached to do.,  He was aggressive, went after ball, took it away from people a few times, AND got a goal in his first game!!!  His friend from preschool, Preston, is also on the team which helped.  (Preston is a ball of energy, very aggressive, and a great player!)  He's a leader and a good influence on Maxwell.  The two of them were so stinking cute during the game.  They high fived each other when either of them scored a goal.

Emmalyn was clearly deeply engrossed in the game.

Since he was a pro at playing indoor soccer, he knew exactly what to do for kickoffs and quickly got up there to kick off.

Going after the ball

Already lined back up for the kickoff while all the kids are still running around.

Goofing off with Preston (in red)

High five after a goal!

He was so excited about the goal that he kicked! 

It was a lot of fun to watch because he was really engaged with the game.

Gotta love that dimple but boy is that hair getting crazy.

Time for a haircut

Post haircut

We tried a new taco place by our house.  "Daddy's tacos" with Daddy and his kids.

She loves reading

We hit up the Ninja Warrior place with some of the boys from pre-school

Joshua K, Joshua V, Preston, and Maxwell.  They had an AWESOME time and were so glad to be back together. 

Swimming next door

Emmalyn started swim lessons at Aquatots.  I loved being back in the pool with one of my kids.  :)  She did a pretty good job for her first time but she does not like when her head goes under.  She comes up and immediately wipes at her ears and pushes her hair forward over them.

Maxwell was swimming in the class right next to us so that was fun

Brittany had fun things planned for the first week out of school - she took the kids to a program at the library...

...she took the kids to a 1.00 movie

Look how great my garden is coming along!  WAHOO!

I have a little pea pod coming along.  It's not going to make it though, I can tell.

Playing in the sprinkler

Strawberries!

Swimming at Brittany's pool

And, of course, more playing in the water.  It's just what you do in the summer!

Update on Emmalyn...

She's at a really wonderful and enjoyable stage.

She's quick to cry and can be mean but she can be sooooo loving.

She will turn my face to hers, kiss me, and say "I love you Momma head"

She wants kisses and hugs from her whole family at night.

She bounces when she walks.

She sings all the time and has the cutest voice.

I love when she says "uh huh"

Can count to 14

The past week she has been a leader to other kids - she encouraged Landen to get out and dance at his preschool graduation, at Kindermusik she encouraged one of the other kids to pretend to be a tiger.