Emmie with her ballet teacher, Miss Mallory!
Emmie had her first ballet recital (and it happened to be on our wedding anniversary). She was beautiful and loved every second of it!
I think she fell in love with the stage!
I even got her hair up in a bun! Emmie takes ballet with a group called Steps of Grace. This is a great ballet group for ALL kiddos no matter their level of ability. What’s wonderful to me is that her ballet teacher is an occupational therapist and there are volunteers that work with the kids who are in school to be occupational therapists. Emmie has grown, no doubt, because of her ballet class and we look forward to the next year of dance!
These are the warrior beads we started with Emmie. They’re in order, left to right, and each one represents a year of her life. Yes…that second year was a rather active one. It’s been great to see the beads stay a little smaller since then!
Partying first with Ge & Granddaddy. She was so excited with each gift she opened.
She was so excited with each gift. Her highlight were Ladybug Girl books. When Emmie had her first surgery, my mom and I were walking in the lobby and happened upon a book giveaway. The volunteer told us to grab a book for our girl. I found Ladybug Girl Goes to the Beach and thought it was cute. We sometimes call Emmie’s cafe au lait spots ladybug spots…perfect. Little did we know how she would fall in love with that book. Over the past few years, she has made every single person in our family read the book to her and some of us have to read it over and over. Of course, the girl’s name is now Emmie (originally Lulu) and the dog (who is Bruno originally) is now Tot Tot. She asked for a ladybug cake and ladybug wings. Of course, I can’t stop there…she had to have an outfit just like Ladybug Girl.
My first attempt at using rice crispy treats to sculpt did not go well.
I pulled it off though.
Tobin enjoyed the music and cuddling with big brother.
Our ladybug girl had quite the night. She had a wonderful time but ate way too much and wound up throwing up towards the end of the night. After that, she was much better. Never a dull moment with our crew.
We met up with several families from our church, picnicking and visiting.
Beautiful sunset after we watched the clouds form and a rainstorm barely miss us!
Zoe joined us on the last day of testing and asked if this is what it was like when she was little and there were just three of them. No. No it was much harder because I had three kiddos three and under. A six year old, four year old and baby is easy to juggle!
This girl and her daddy!
Laughing baby showing off a couple of teeth.
NIght times are a real party around our house. Typing contests to see who can get the most words per minute. Zoe’s pretty fast!
Swinging siblings.
Toes are tasty!
Mark and I celebrated 22 years of dating with a trip out to a local seafood restaurant.
I don’t think Tot is too happy about being a super dog.
Lulu wasn’t thrilled to be in a tutu either.
Emmie’s first real bun.
I got some sweet LK cuddles from my friend, Tracy’s cutie patootie.
Josiah built with cuisennaire rods.
Emmie and her Cubby buddy E.
The fort in the playroom.
Zoe and Ceili Rain helped do the flag ceremony with American Heritage Girls at a local fundraising walk.
I honestly didn’t get a ton of pictures. This was one of those days that you just enjoy making memories.
Our Three Musketeers.
Papa & Grandmere couldn’t physically be with us but we had them there in spirit and through technology!
How we sat through meals!
Tobin liked Uncle B’s beard!
Cousins! Two weeks (to the day) apart and a load of fun.
Tobin thought Cousin C’s toe would be tasty!
Ace stole C every chance he got.
And O took Tobin every chance she could get. Basically, I barely had to hold a baby the entire visit.
Someone decided Tobin needed new hair.
We volun”told” Uncle B that he would be dissecting animals. Zoe was studying biology and what better way to study biology than with a veterinarian as a teacher?
Water beads were made and Emmie and cousin A were ecstatic.
Liam taught his cousins how to play Axis and Allies.
The big kids loved the water beads too!
Soldier of the Lord!
Tobin the Chunker with Cousin C. It took nine babies but we finally have our big baby!
Nineteen cousins! The Lord has truly blessed us all!