Disney pictures

Disneyworld

What an amazing time we had!!! We left Memphis at 645 Monday morning and drove straight through. Emmy Ruth took about a 30 minute nap. Of course, after being in the car all day, we looked awful and immediately ran into the Meyers!

For the first day, we wanted to wait at the gate for the Jacksons and Meyers and we couldn't stand it, we had to get inside!!!! We saw Snow White as soon as we walked in. Maggie, Sol and Rose had their autograph books so we had to rush to get one. I thought Emmy would have an amazing reaction when she first saw the castle but she really didn't. She wanted to ride the Snow White scary ride and we did, but she got scared. Anything dark scared her, so riding Peter Pan's flight wasn't her favorite either. She said, "I'm just gonna close my eyes and cover them with my hands like this" and she did. She loved Dumbo though!

And she loved It's a Small World. I can't say how much that warmed my heart; it's always been my favorite ride too. She said she wanted to ride it five times. I think we did! We took a break at Starlight Café and she danced to the singing martian. I brought us french fries and she said "can't talk now, gotta dance" then we were dancing and she told me "I'm so glad we are friends, God made us that way".

The highlight was Sol and Rose dancing at the castle show. They were hysterical! Rose grabbed a girl's hand and Snow  White and Cinderella danced away. We were staying for fireworks but she wanted to go swim so we came back. Our pool is shaped like a guitar and in the middle is a fountain that squirts water at you. She looked up at John and said, "I feel like I am dreaming" he said she looked like she was in a trance… it wasn't fake!

Our second day was the Bibbidy Boppidy Boutique day! Up EARLY to get there and get to our appointment! The fairy godmothers let her pick out an outfit and then it was presented to her in the dressing room. She loved the whole thing. I told John later I was surprised she selected Sleeping Beauty since that isn't her favorite princess. John, in his most normal voice says "well it is the prettier dress" J after that, John and Emmy took off to get in the line for Tangled....before the wait was hours long. Because it was so early, we got there quickly and were able to be in line for the 1015 visit with Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder.  After that, we met up with Jacksons. Sol went to get his pirate dress up and Emmy wanted to ride the Alladin magic carpet ride—she drove and scared me going up and down; she loved telling everyone that she made me cry. Daddy managed to find Woody and Jessie from Toy Story. He held a place in line and we met him. I was hoping we could get Sol but he was still being pampered. When it was time to meet them, she and Rose both refused to go up there and I ended up getting my picture made with them.

This was also our day to have lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table. To our surprise, Snow White, Belle, Aurora and Arial showed up! Belle asked him her name and I told him to ask her what her name was. She looked at me and was mortified... "that's Belle!". She couldn't have been any closer to 15 years old in that moment. It was priceless!
We rode Splash Mountain and she promised not to tell Neall if Papa Richie cried. He didn't. She loved it but then when we went to ride it again, she was scared of the dark parts.

She kept saying shewasn't tired but she fell asleep as soon as we got on the bus. She slept for two hours and then we got her up and in the stroller so we cold go back to the Jacksons lodge. Mrs. Debbie watched them while we went to eat with the adults. When we picked her up, they told me she took her pink hair out she said "it was killing me".
We went to Epcot on the third day. We walked into the gift shop in Japan and she walks past all the other toys and directly into the fine jewelry department and says she wants a pearl necklace--it was $6,000! We got to see fireworks and had a great time. She wasn't much in the mood for more pictures, but she did love playing in the fountain. In England, she got in the red phone booth. I asked her who she had called and she told me, "Auntee, of course".

We rounded out the week with a final day at Magic Kingdom. I had told her she could get one toy that day. She picked out what we thought was a Minnie Mouse purse but turned out to be fanny pack. When she found something else she wanted, she said the fanny pack was for John. And being John, he wore it so that she could get the toy she really wanted. We stuck around all day and made it to the fireworks and the electric parade that night. We entertained ourselves with some Scooby Doo mystery games while waiting on the fireworks to start.

When we left Saturday morning, she asked me with her perfect pout, "but mama, don't you want to ride your favorite ride one more time?"

Such an amazing time and I am so grateful that we got to spend it with Papa Richie and the Jacksons and Meyers. We are so blessed

Ahh, that girl.

When I got Emmy’s summer clothes down, I realized that she has outgrown almost everything. I dropped in Macy’s at lunch and got her a few new outfits and she was so excited when I gave them to her that evening. She oooh’d and awe’d over them all and said, “oh thank you mama! They are beautiful”. I ended up having class that night but John said that she tried on them all for him. She is quite the girly girl. And the fashionista.

 

She likes to tell me how “stinking cute” things are.

 

Another of her recent things is that she can’t stand to be hot. Ever. When we get in the car, she points to every vent in the car and says “I want that one and that one and that one and that one and that one on me!” She always tells me that she doesn’t like to sweat. “It’s not pretty.”

 

Oh I love her. Love her so much!!!!!!!!

Mother's Day

John and I are both so fortunate to have moms that loved us so deeply and taught us so much about family. As we sit here now with our precious--precocious, spirited and rebellious--child, we wonder how we could have done this without having had them in our lives. We wish things were different but we are thankful for the times we had.

In thinking of mothers and the gifts they give, I can't help but think of the other mothers in my life that make such an impact every day. My sisters in law who are wonderful mothers to their own children but who love Emmy dearly. Since John is so much younger than Cathy, she has been so supportive of us. And Becca, oh Emmy adores her Aunt Becca. But who doesn't?

There are the moms who have stepped up to be a surrogate grandmother for Emmy Ruth. I can never thank Nana, Mimi, and Gigi enough for loving her. They don't have to and they have no reason to but they do. And it means the world to us.

There is LynnLynn--what a ready made family she got when she met daddy! Two grown kids and two grandkids on the way. She is so good to us.

There are times when I look at my friends as mothers and I shake my head and wonder how in the world they learned to be so good at this. I see them with their kids and I take bits and pieces of what they do and I try to put it in our routines. I am humbled at the grace and the strength and the creativity and the smarts that they put into every day and I am thankful to be their friends. Emmy Ruth would not be the same little girl she is if it weren't for the AunTee, Mrs. Joy, Mrs. Beth and Nahnah in her life.

It's hard to believe that I am a mom and that this is a day that should be for me, when all I can do is be grateful for the beautiful--snitty, stubborn, and slightly spoiled--child that is mine and the people that love her.

Easter

What a busy weekend!

Aunt Cathy gave Emmy Ruth a scooter for Easter. I thought I would show her how to use it so I hopped on and ended up doing a 360 degree flip holding onto the handlebars and landing on my knees. John said he was really worried about me but he did agree that if I had not been his wife then it would have been hysterical. This weekend, John hopped on it and Emmy told him not to fall "like Mama". Emmy Ruth was very well protected!

We were so sad that the Jacksons were going to be out of town on Easter so instead of meeting in Wynne like we usually do on the holidays, we decided to go to visit Papa Richie and LynnLynn. The Salinases have moved to Newport and it's so close, that I just invited us to spend the night Friday night and then getting an early start to Papa Richie. That ended up being a picnic after an egg hunt on Saturday morning. That ended up getting rained out as soon as we sat down to eat and ended up in poor Tara's house with way more people than she expected. Of course, as soon as we packed up the picnic and got to her house, there was not another raindrop and we were able to hunt for Easter eggs.

I was selfish and took advantage of Nana and Mimi and Papaw Rickie and Papaw Jim and Ms Denise keeping entertained so that I could talk to Papa Richie and LynnLynn for a bit. I hope they all know how much I appreciate how much they love Emmy. I cannot believe I forgot my camera and had to take photos with my phone! What princess doesn't play in a sequin dress?

Someone was especially tired when we headed home.

We got up and went to our church on Sunday morning. I have said that Easter is the hardest holiday for me missing Momma. I don't know if it is because of the memory I have of her being silly singing "Up from the Grave He Arose" or of the memories of her fighting for us to take JUST ONE PICTURE in the front yard in our Easter Best. I certainly felt like her when I was trying to get Emmy's picture that morning.

I took this picture in the car as she was getting out and it ended up being my favorite. I wanted to send it to MeeMee since she gave Emmy Ruth the Add A Pearl necklace.We didn't have plans for Easter Lunch so I made the executive decision that we should go to the Peabody Hotel for brunch. It was so much fun--John and I loved the food and Emmy loved how everyone told her how beautiful she was. And of course the ducks. This was the best picture I got of the three of us.

A wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Emmy and I have a lovely new tradition of crafting together on Friday
nights. We make all kinds of things and this week we covered some
plastic Easter eggs with a decoupage to make them a little more festive.
It's really something we have both enjoyed (I think she does anyway) and
I hope that it is a way to get her little brain working. She loves to
talk about how she is using her brain; whenever I ask her how she knew
something or how smart she is, she tells me it's all because of her
brain. Julia Shepherd gave Emmy a Build a Bear Workshop kit for her
birthday so we put her together Friday night as well. Emmy decided to
name her Mrs. Joy and I can't think of a better name for her.

On Saturday morning, after ballet, we met up with the Jacksons and
Shepherds for a little stage action. Knuffle Bunny a Musical was playing
at the Orpheum. After that, we all headed to eat and Emmy and I tagged
along with the Jacksons to Sam's. We really would have loved to have had
them hang out longer but everyone was ready for a nap after that. A few
days ago, I saw this great slide that someone had placed on their curb
and told John about it. It's now in the living room. Really? A slide in
the living room? This is not how I envisioned my home! But, she loves it
and really wants it to stay. We might leave it for a bit longer and then
put it in the basement so that even on rainy days, the girl can get her
playground action. We were so glad that Julia and Mrs. Joy came by to
see us before they left town. Be still my beating heart.... those girls
sat in a dining room chair and played on Emmy's computer for the longest
time. How incredibly precious they are and how thankful I am for them.
John was hanging out at a festival downtown with some friends so Emmy
and I strolled up to a new restaurant in the neighborhood and he met us
there. Out of nowhere, Emmy says, "that Baby Rose is stinking adorable".
John and I got so tickled.

After such a big day, we were pooped and slept in later than I remember
us doing in a long time--I got up at 930 and had to wake Emmy at 10 for
church. I helped in children's church this week so we got to spend the
time together. It was neat to be with her and watch her face as they
talked about Jesus dying on the cross. The teacher was telling about the
crown of thorns and how they smashed it into Jesus's head and how that
after he died, they even took his clothes. Emmy was most appalled about
the stealing of one's clothes. And she thought it was a crown of nails,
not thorns. I tried to show her the thorns on our rose bush when we got
home but she didn't quite "get it". When we got home, John and Jandad
were ready to eat lunch (I will never understand why the promise of a
gumball can make a child behave so well) and then we did a little
shopping, where Emmy scored a hot pink fedora. She kept taking it off
and crying "whoo hoo! Cowboy!" and would not believe us when we told her
that it wasn't a cowboy hat. But, you know, she's always been a special
child.

Emmy is still in love with Elvis. She talks about him all the time but
the only song she likes is "Hounddog". We drove by Graceland around
Christmas to see the lights so she likes to talk about how we live near
him. In the car yesterday, she told us how Elvis lives in the White
House.

Of course, I am always on Emmy about using her manners and saying
"please" and "thank you". I can't even remember what she asked for and I
told her to say "please" and she said, "My pleasing is just gone with
the wind". What in the world? Where does she even come up with this
stuff???

I hope she doesn't think back on her childhood....

… and only remember me saying “hurry up!” and “come on, we gotta go!” . Surely she will remember some of the  other fun stuff. 

 

She has been a handful as of late. She doesn’t want to get dressed in the morning and after reading an article, I told her the doctor said that if she didn’t get dressed, she had to go to bed right after dinner that night. It has worked relatively well so far. I also told her the doctor said that I had to pick out her clothes. Whew! What a break in the mornings!

 

This morning, she was getting her baby doll, Erica, up from her crib and then feeding her. Of course, here I am in the background, saying, “come on, we’ve gotta go!” while she gets Erica a new diaper, dressed and breakfast fed. I told her I thought we should sleep in here tonight, in her room, but she said Erica really didn’t like her sleeping in there so she should just sleep in our bed again.

 

Oh, and Emmy’s changed her name to Crystal….

 

No matter, what crazy things she does, she is still a precious sweet delight. The other night, I got home after she and John were in bed. She was wrapped up so tight and cuddly with him. It’s enough to just melt my heart. I knew he’d be a great dad, even when he didn’t, but he exceeds all of my expectations on a regular basis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Time!

It’s officially spring time when we can take part in that wonderful age old ritual of…. Sprinkling salt on slugs!  You would think that something as cool as that would earn me lots of points with a four year old, but instead she is all about the daddy. She pats me gently on the cheek and tells me she will snugglebuggle with me tomorrow but today it’s for daddy. And she tells me that all of her kisses are for daddy. When I dropped her off at school, she suggested that I come home and take a nap so that she and daddy could go to the park.

 

Oh what have I done to fail her so early??

Trip to the Dentist

Emmy did such a good job when she got her teeth cleaned yesterday. I was really proud of her, even if she was a little wiggle worm.  While I was getting my teeth cleaned, she stood watch to make sure that nothing happened to the toy box that she would get to dive into as soon as she was done with her cleaning. She did have to cover her eyes while Miss Hannah was cleaning her teeth—that light is just so bright!

 

This weekend, she and Natalie were looking at one of her memory books. At a picture of Sol, Natalie asked who his dad was and Emmy said, “My dentist”.

 

Miss Hannah told Emmy about Sol getting his teeth cleaned and Emmy told her that his second name was “Bear”. We do call him Solly Bear. J

 

 

Little Tara

I call her Little Tara with a twinge of sadness. She has all the traits of me that I sometimes wish I could turn off—most specifically the sarcasm in her voice. Last night in the car, she literally rolled her eyes and said, “uh-hm”. I can remember Daddy almost jumping up and down in the dining room if I dared give him those fish eyes again. I am afraid of my future. But, here we go with some of her latest and greatest quotes:

 

“Haven’t I told you not to bother me while I am playing?”

 

We went to a birthday party Sunday afternoon and aftewards stopped at Big Lots. I didn’t find what I needed so I wanted to hop into Fred’s. I asked Emmy if she could stand going into one more store and she replied, “no, mama, I can’t stand it”. I told her that they might have a toy in there and she said, “okay! I can stand it! I can stand it!”.

 

While patting me on the back she said, “Trust me, that’s my girl, trust me”.

 

After reading our story last night, we were talking about what she wanted to be when she grows up. She told me she wanted to be a princess. Well, a princess scientest. So that she could come up with a magic potion that would help give princess dresses to all the little girls that didn’t have them.

 

Last week, I was telling she and Lucas stories about when they were born. I guess that it really stuck with her beucase she is on a baby kick now. She and Lucas were pretending that they had a baby; actually, pretendig she was pregnant. Lucas came in and told us that babies sure did need a lot of toys. Then, she and Sol were playing like they were babies. Then, she asked me if she was going to have a baby one day. I told her when she was much older. She asked me what she would name her baby and I told her that was something she and her husband would decide. Then, she asked me if it was going to grow in her belly. I told her that if she was very lucky that one day, she would find someone she loved and they would be able to have a baby together.

 

And then I had a drink.

 

Little Birdies and a Hog

Emmy Ruth and I made some bird feeders for the tree our front this weekend. We painted pinecones (or as Emmy calls them… Pineapples) and put peanut butter on them and hung them on the tree. Of course, I had to tell Emmy that if she wanted peanut butter, I would get her some, she didn’t need to eat the peanut butter from the birdfeeders. Such a weird little kid.

 

And our little fan playing around after ballet practice in my office the other day.

Two Ponies, Please!

On Monday, Emmy Ruth wanted to wear "two ponies" or pigtails. Of course,
I did her hair that way and I guess everyone has told her how cute it
looked as she has insisted on wearing it this way every day since then.
In fact, Monday night when I took her hair down to take a bath, she
cried that she wasn't pretty anymore without her ponies. Whoa, sister.
We had to have a talk about how SHE was what was beautiful, the hair was
just a bonus. I hate that she is having these types of feelings so
early. Although she is adorable in the ponytails, they are not my
favorite look for her, but here we go... it's her decision, I suppose. I
took this snapshot this morning before we went in to school. She asked
to look at it and said, "oh, yeah, that's my shy face".

Jeez.

She also asked me how long she was going to have to say "ma'am". I told
her that as long as there were people older than her, she would be
saying it.

The Dress

I was a little late doing it this year, but we did get Emmy's picture made in The Dress. I really want to take her picture in it every year as she is growing up so we can really see how much she has changed.

The Zoo!!!

Oh thank goodness for a lovely weekend!!!! Yesterday we got to see the Jacksons. It was so much fun playing with them. We stopped by to say hi to Julia and Mrs. Joy too. Emmy was amazed at how they could run and run and run and not have to worry about Mama. It is so strange not having to hold on to her and worry about something happening to her. Ahhh.... life in the country!

We were so tired that we ended up sleeping too late and missing church. We had a great lunch and then headed to the zoo.

Of course, we had to get a picture with Buddha. But, Emmy is in a Daddy mood so he wouldn't do it with out him. They are quite ridiculous together.On the way out, she needed a coin to make a wish. For princesses.This isn't a great picture but it was so funny. We were looking at the flamingos and she pointed to the viewer and asked John what that "contraption" was. Where does she come up with this stuff?

Just a crazy life

It seems we are always running ragged but I can’t tell you what for sure we have been doing to make it that way. We are really enjoying our new church, First Baptist. As the sign says, “A different way to be Baptist”. I have enjoyed the Sunday services and I have been really thankful to be able to attend a class on Wednesday nights on parenting. It’s been nice to get ideas, nice to hear that no one feels perfect and nice to get to know some people. Emmy Ruth attends a Mission Friends class on Wednesday nights as well. Now, they are collecting items to send to Uganda and it is exciting to see her get excited about taking something to send to her “friends”. It’s lovely and I enjoy it but it certainly puts a rush on Wednesday evening. It seems we get home, eat, then head directly to bed. On Tuesday nights, I tutor so that makes it a rushed night as well. But, here we are ready for the weekend again already!

 

Emmy did have time for these little nuggets of wisdom last night, though. On the way to church, I mentioned something about her being a big girl now and she replied, “yes, mama, but I won’t forget you now that I am big”. I am not sure what her deal is with being naked all the time, but I walked in and for the thousandth time found myself saying, “why are you naked?” Emmy replied, “I’m not naked; I am wearing shoes”. Apparently to her, plastic dress up shoes can just make an outfit. Literally.