The 4th of July

On Wednesday night, we went to a fireworks show in Eagle Lake, TX.  Abby's mom, Julie, invited us to attend with them, so we met them at their house and rode together.  It was out in the middle of nowhere, but there were so many cars that pulled up to the fences surrounding this huge field.

And let me tell you, they put on an AMAZING fireworks show.  It was a full thirty minutes of explosive family fun.

Emmy really enjoyed watching all of the pretty lights, and she kept putting her fingers up to the sky trying to "touch them."  It was adorable.





















Afterwards, the girls chatted the whole way back to Abby's house.



The next day, we were invited to a Bar-B-Que and swim day at the Gerdes's house.  The food was amazing, and the company was, as usual, phenomenal.  Emmy loves the water so she was in full star mode in the pool.











I got a few pictures of her in her Fourth of July shirt before she changed into her bathing suit.




Once she got into the water, there was no turning back.  We were all having a fabulous time as well.  Blayde even had watermelon on ice for after we finished eating.  Hostess with the Mostess..What! What!





























It was a wonderful day with family, and it gave us time to take a break from our busy schedules to pause and reflect on what the day really stands for. I am so very thankful to live in this country, and I hope and pray that I will always be part of the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." Happy 4th of July!

Emmy's BFF

In case you hadn't heard, Emmy has a BFF.  Her name is Abby.  They go to school together.  They hang out and stuff.  You wish you were cool like them.

This is the feeling that I get when these two interact.  It's like they are rubbing it in everyone else's faces that they are friends.  I. LOVE. IT.

I think it is so sweet that she is finally big enough to remember someone enough (outside of our family) that she likes, knows their name, and enjoys spending time with. 

We have had two playdates with Abby so far this summer, and I foresee many more as long as Emmy keeps acting civilized. 

We went swimming this morning, and both girls seemed to have a really good time playing in the water.

I forgot to take any pictures the last time we hung out, and I almost forgot this time.  I only have two pictures, but that's okay.  We had fun.

My Little Houdini {Emmarie's Escapades}

If you know Emmy, you know that she is a climber.  She has been able to climb onto the counter at her Nana's house since she was 18 months old (much to our detriment).  So, it has been an great conundrum to me that she has stayed in her baby bed when we put her in there.  She jumps, screams, and throws a fit if she isn't tired, but she stays in the bed.

Until today.

I put her in her baby bed for a quick nap because she was worn out from her play date, and she started throwing a tantrum.  I tried to console her, but in the end, I walked out to let her finish her tantrum.

I was sitting in the guest room reading some blogs when I heard the crying stop.  I thought that was quick, but maybe she is playing with her dolls. ( I knew she couldn't be asleep)

The next thing I knew, in toddled a certain little blue-eyed girl with fresh tears staining her cheeks.

I put her back in her bed and told her not to get out.

She got right back out.

This time, I put her back in, but I hid around the corner so that I could see how she was getting out.

She pushed herself up like she was climbing onto a balance beam, put one leg over, changed her grip, brought the other leg over and THAT'S WHEN I BUSTED IN LIKE GANG BUSTERS.  I scared the socks off of that kid and put her back in her bed.

She then started crying and screaming again but did not get out of the bed.

My sister showed up shortly after, and I may have had her call Emmy's name so I could try to get her escape on tape for Brad.  Unfortunately, she is too crafty to be fooled by such shallow schemes.  She started climbing out but stopped short and said that she needed help.

I am not sure what to do at this juncture.  She isn't ready for a toddler bed, but I also don't want her to get hurt climbing out of her bed.  Hmmm.  Decisions. Decisions.

It begins...

Britt was over hanging out with us this afternoon, and she asked Emmy if she was still a baby.  I ask Emmy this question almost everyday, so I was pretty sure she would get the same reply of "I'm a baby."  Imagine my surprise when instead she replied, "This is a baby not Emmy!" pointing to her baby doll.





A little part of me wanted to cry because I don't want her to be a big girl yet.






Ready or not here it comes...she's ready to be a big girl!

Emmarie's 2nd Birthday- Tutus & Ties {The Water Fun}

After all of the "things that had to be done" were out of the way, it was time to have fun!  We had asked everyone to bring their swimsuits so that we could have some fun in the water to beat the Texas heat.

Last year, I did not get out there to play on the slide with Emmy until it was almost dark.  This year, since I scaled back the party, there was plenty of time for everyone to join in the fun.

The kids had so much fun.




They slid down the slide.







They played in the pool at the bottom.





They played in the kiddie pool that we had set up beside the slide.











They laughed, giggled and screamed in glee.





Kayela and Kelley were such a big help the whole party and for sure during this part.  They tirelessly took kids up and down the slide.  They CARRIED them up and down the climbing wall on the back and everything.  I am in their debt.









Some people didn't care to get wet, but that didn't stop them from having some fun.





Eventually Grannie decided that she would try the slide.  I didn't know until she was already down the slide that she was going to do it, so I didn't get a pictures. :(