Cake, and pwesents!

With Christmas on its way, we attended several events in our area to celebrate the weeks preceding the holiday. When we explained to Emma that Santa would be visiting soon and asked her what she wanted him to bring, she responded, "Cake, and pwesents!" Since we had also talked about Christmas being Jesus' birthday, this made perfect sense to her! On the first Friday in December, we went on the luminary tour at Dawes Arboretum near our house. After the driving tour, we went inside the visitor's center, where Emma made some crafts, ate cookies, and enjoyed the fire (since we don't have a fireplace at home). The next evening was "Christmas in the Country" at one of our metroparks. A horse-drawn wagon ride (complete with Christmas lights), carolers, and another visit with Santa were the highlights. The next weekend, we visited a Victorian house in town which was decorated with Christmas trees and displays and were treated to another horse-drawn wagon ride. Finally, the Friday before Christmas, our church put on "A Night in Bethlehem," where our fellowship hall was set up to resemble the town and we conducted several hands-on activities, followed by a procession into the sanctuary for a live nativity. Emma got to wear her Halloween costume as a heavenly angel! She and a friend ran up and down the aisle shrieking and laughing. We didn't stop them; weren't the real angels excited when Jesus was born?!

Thanksgiving at Grandma's

Okay, so I'm a little behind schedule...we celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandma Karen's (Todd's mom) in Toledo together with my family. As usual, Emma enjoyed everyone's company but was not interested in eating much of the feast (She ate just a couple of muffins before I broke down and fed her chicken nuggets!). The three of us stayed the rest of the weekend and enjoyed a trip to Major Magic's (like Chuck E. Cheese's), the Toledo holiday parade (complete with balloons and Santa), and a visit to "Kris Kringle Village") for a visit and picture with Santa. Emma waited patiently in line, watching the other kids, but when it was her turn, she could only stare at Santa. Santa then asked if she would sit with Mommy if I sat on Santa's lap...and she did! Santa had her look into his magic mirror...if she could see herself, it meant she'd been good. Not only did she see herself, but Mommy saw herself too!

"No say 'twick or tweet!'"

Emma thoroughly enjoyed Halloween as a fairy princess! Trick or treat sure was different this year from last year! When I explained what she would be doing, she seemed enthusiastic about most of it, but when I told her she should say "trick or treat" at each house, she said, "No say 'twick or tweet"! ...and she didn't! She did say "thank you," though, which is obviously more important! Grandma and Papa Isch, Aunt Kristen, Aunt Linda, and Grandma Coe all joined us as we walked around, and Daddy stayed behind to pass out candy (for once, we didn't run out). Emma made it all the way around the block on her own two legs, and even met another fairy princess named Emma along the way!

Gymnastics!

How do you train a toddler to be the next Mary Lou Retton? Well...you don't. But Emma has had a lot of fun over the last several weeks in a class at the Y just for two year olds. Instead of receiving formal instruction, Emma had a chance to explore the trampoline, balance beam, obstacle course made out of mats, etc. She still can't do a back handspring, but she had a great time and now goes around the house treating the carpet like a trampoline, jumping with both feet off the ground!

Fall fun!

We've had a few fun excursions this fall. In spite of the mostly cold, wet weather, we've managed to find time to visit Grandma and Grandpa Isch (and visit the horses and other animals, as you can see from the pictures). We also went to a Fall Festival Party at church, where Emma and a few friends compared costumes (Emma's a fairy princess this year) and enjoyed "Trunk or Treat" in the parking lot. Finally, we went to Devine Farms pumpkin patch where Emma played in boxes of corn and wheat (designed like sandboxes), rode a kiddie-sized John Deere tractor, and romped around in the hay barn before picking out a pumpkin!

Happy birftay, Emma!

Emma had a great birthday! On her actual day, Grandma Karen was here to help us celebrate. It was a warm day, so we spent the evening at the Y, whose outdoor pool was still open (One of Emma's favorite activities is "simmeen" (swimming)!) Then, with a free balloon and crown from Toys R Us and an ice cream cup with a candle on top, we had a very simple celebration. But Emma grinned through it all and kept saying "Happy birftay Emma!"
Two days later, on the 29th, we celebrated with friends and family in our backyard. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day. Emma's favorite show (well, actually one of the few shows we ever LET her watch), "Little Einsteins," was our theme this year. Rocket, her favorite character, was featured on a cake made, appropriately, by the substitute teacher who filled in for me on my maternity leave. As you can see, she did a fabulous job! Emma enjoyed a few swipes of frosting before we sang happy birthday! Also, Emma doesn't quite have present-opening etiquette down! When she opened clothes, she threw them on the ground; when she opened toys, she quit opening presents and tried to play with the toy.
Most parents will probably admit that the 2nd birthday is not as monumental as the first. At the party store, there was an entire wall devoted to first birthday decorations; a sales clerk had to dig out a dusty bag from the back wall when I asked her if they had any 2nd birthday balloons! But to Emma, her birthday was significant because she seemed to be so much more aware of what was going on and (I don't know if this is good or not), seemed to realize that it was all for her!

Our Summer Vacation!

We just got back from a great vacation! We didn't stray too far from home (just a few hours), but we got to visit a lot of family and have some fun along the way. We first went to Grandma Karen's house in Toledo, where we met up with Daddy's Uncle Dusty and Aunt Ellen who were visiting from Maine and Uncle David and Aunt Marcia from Dayton. We then went to Michigan, where Grandpa Norm and Grandma Sheila have a cottage on a beautiful lake. We went swimming (both off the dock and at the state park beach at the end of the lake), and Emma had her own little hot tub when Grandpa filled up the wading pool with warm water! We also cruised around on Grandpa's pontoon boat (which Emma seemed to enjoy much more this year than last) and tried out paddle boating (where Mommy and Daddy did all of the work)! Finally, at Cascades Park, we met Elmo (notice how thrilled Emma looks), danced with a balloon, and looked at the colorful waterfall. It was hard to come home, but Emma was happy to sleep in her own bed again!

Trips About Town

A couple of weeks ago, right before our vacation, we had a couple of adventures which Emma thoroughly enjoyed! After an all-day rain, the skies cleared, so we dashed over to Dawes Arboretum to enjoy the evening. We walked around the lake, where Emma tracked a family of geese (and the geese hissed and ran/swam the other way)! Notice in the picture how Emma is ducking down to get on their level! Emma and I (Mommy) met my friend Beth at Easton outdoor mall. Emma enjoyed the interactive water fountain, even though she was one of the youngest kids there! We also attended the Violet Festival in Beth's town, Pickerington, and watched a parade (although Emma seemed more interested in swiping another toddler's balloon than in watching the action)! Finally, Todd, Emma and I went to our community water park. Emma finally got up the nerve to duck under one of the water "mushrooms"...and loved it! Even though she looks terrified in the picture, she soon was running through the waterfall over and over!