Chitter chatter

These girls are obsessed with talking on the phone. They love talking with anyone who will listen, usually Gammie. The hardest part is having to say good bye. Tears are often shed. Makes me wonder what our future phone bill will look like!

Manners

Abby has really picked up on saying thank you, your welcome, and sorry. It is so cute that I had to capture it in a video. In the video I am prompting her but she typically will thank someone when they give her something or she gives them something. It is too precious. I just don't want the sweetness to ever end. Oh and in the background you will notice my sick child. Poor Emma is having a hard time getting over a bug.

All Our Easter Fun

We had a few days of Easter fun and I have rolled into one big blog post.

To start things off, Emma's class had an egg hunt. Gammie, Abby, and I went to watch all the fun. Emma loved hunting for eggs but got easily distracted by her surroundings, like the playscape.

My little hunter.

Abby wanted in on the fun.

On Friday, we hosted an egg hunt and party for our neighborhood friends. Every year I find myself hosting an egg hunt but the hunters seem to change from year to year. I am hoping I can start a tradition with the neighborhood group because it is a fun time to come together.

The big kids are ready to hunt. We had a separate hunt for the babies and toddlers. You will notice Abby is not in attendance. She woke up from her nap that day with a fever. She spent some quality time with Gammie and Papa.

Emma on her hunt.

Making sure the egg says her name. Each kids had to hunt for eggs with their name on it.

On Saturday, we headed over to my parent's neighborhood for their annual Easter Festival.

Emma on the choo-choo. Her favorite thing of the whole festival.

Abby getting to try out the hunt. Gammie helped her find some eggs.

For Abby she just wanted to know what was inside but did not care to gather as many as she could.

Me and Emma.

Abby and Gammie with the Easter bunny.

A family picture.

On Sunday, we went to church and spent the day at my parent's house eating yummy food and hunting for Easter baskets.

My beautiful girls.

Someone was excited to find a basket.

Emma was loving her goodies.

A chocolate bunny that is all mine!

Excited about her new water bottle.

This girl was thrilled to get a scooter.

Loving her new big bouncy ball.

Happy Easter from our family to yours!

4 Years!!

4 years ago today, Emma underwent open heart surgery. It was by far the toughest day of our lives. As a parent you never want to see your child in pain or have to struggle. We had to witness her struggle daily for 3 1/2 months. The day of her surgery was a blessing and a day we had to stay strong for our girl. God taught us a great deal about ourselves and the strength that lies within us. As the quote goes "you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." We certainly would not have been able to stay strong if it was not for our families. Sometimes people do not know how to comfort you when you are faced with a serious struggle but our family was right by our side and Emma's side, which was all we needed. When Emma was in ICU my in-laws pointed out that Emma should never be left alone. Everyone took turns through the days and nights to be by her side. The only time we were kicked out of her room was when they had to remove her breathing tube since she was capable of breathing on her own. Thankfully it was quick and they did let my father-in-law stay which put me at ease. The hardest for me was when I had to pump. Emma's room was in the tower located on the 17th floor. The milk bank was located on the third floor in another wing of the hospital. It was a hard part but at times a nice little break where I could refocus. Even though I do not have to make that trip to the 17th floor anymore, I will never forget what took place there and the people who cared for Emma. We were truly blessed with the greatest surgeon, nurses, and medical staff.

Emma the night before her surgery.

Emma 4 years later.

Two for the price of one

Where else can you go to get a check up from Dr. Abby and a haircut from stylist Emma, all at the same time?!

A mess or a work of art?

Since Emma dropped her nap she still has quiet time in her room. Everyday I ask her to not throw her toys and kick the door. I guess I forgot to ask her to not remove every single book from her bookshelf and line them up on the floor. She told me she was making something and kept referring to the "hop" game. Not really sure where she learned that but my only guess is Sunday School. I also figured out where all our books from the playroom have disappeared to.

She put in a few of her toys as well.

Later in the day she took her new artistic skill and used all the toys and books downstairs. I then discovered the amount of junk toys we have and will be making a trip to Goodwill.

In the News

During one of our music classes, the Austin American Statesman made an appearance to do an article on the class. It was published in the paper and it was fun to see all the familiar faces in the paper.

The article.

I tried to zoom in so that you could see me and Abby.

Emma was bummed to not have been at the class but her pretty face will be published in the school yearbook. What a cutie with that little tongue poking through.