Emma's Birthday Party!

Emma's Party Invitation

Today was Emma's birthday party. I was so excited for her since we have talked about it for so long! She woke up this morning and said, "I'm two!" She knew it was party day. We decorated at the clubhouse the night before so she had seen the room. The morning flew by and in no time Bo's family had arrived. We had to get everyone dressed, get the balloons over and decorate the pool area. The cake arrived and then it was showtime!

Everything was Abby Cadabby. Emma has loved Abby Cadabby for awhile now and it was very fitting for a two year old's birthday.

Last year Emma was not in a very good party mood. This year she was still a little shy but she enjoyed opening her presents and eating. We had practiced blowing out candles for awhile and I just knew she would get stage fright and not blow out her candle. After singing, she blew, but not very hard. I said, "Okay, let's get Hannah and see if she will do it." Emma gave the biggest puff ever and blew that candle out with no problem! It was soooo funny!

We had a wonderful group of people who joined us to celebrate. I am so thankful for my family and little cousins who always make the effort to make birthdays special. Bo's family came in from Raleigh, Greensboro and Kannapolis and I was so glad they were there. Emma had a few of her little friends that are my friends' children. The children did some swimming, decorated wands and pennants and ate some good food.

Emma received some wonderful presents. My parents gave her a talking Abby doll, a Mickey book, a jewelery box with her birthstone ring, a cupcake necklace and ring, and some dishes for her kitchen. Bo's parents gave her an Abby fall outfit, Abby winter hat and gloves, a cake for her kitchen, the new Abby P is for Princess DVD, and another adorable fall outfit. She also received an Abby backpack and lunchbox for preschool, an Abby book with wand, some Word World animals, fall clothes, Minnie t-ball set and Minnie accessories, dress up jewelery, a 120 piece food set for her kitchen, some Play Dough and water colors, and some money. We also gave her a "Warning: I'm 2" t-shirt!

The weather was beautiful today and I thought everything went great. I was so excited for Emma to wear her Abby dress. My mom and I found this dress on the Internet that was handmade in Iowa! Emma was so precious in it. We had a great day and hope that Emma felt as special as she is.

Two Years Old

Yesterday Emma turned two! She totally understood that it was her birthday since she got to open cards that came in the mail and the one from us in the morning. She loves the cards that have music. We kept singing to her and asking her how old she is. She will respond by putting each pointer finger up on each hand and saying, "twooooo!" We told her that she would get her present later and that we will have her Abby party in a few days. I was so worried that she would be disappointed about not having her party that same day. We had to push the party to the next weekend since we were out of town this weekend.

At lunchtime my mom came over and let Emma open a few presents from her. The rest would wait until party day. Emma loved her new World Word DVD and Abby doll that you can dress with snap on clothes. I then got a phone call that the "big birthday present" had been delivered to my dad's business and so I needed to go pick it up. So, my mom stayed with the girls while I went to get it.

Emma with her presents from Gaga and Pop Pop

When I got back the girls went down for a nap and my mom and I put together her present. We did a good job and certainly saved Bo a lot of work! Here is Emma when she woke up from her nap with her present. Bo even came home early and got to see her get her present.

Emma with her kitchen

Her kitchen and birthday cards

We then decided to take Emma to where else - Chuck E Cheese - for dinner. We had been earlier in the summer with the girls and Emma had a good time, so we went again. My mom and sister joined and my two cousins Brandon and Drew stopped by since they cannot make it to her party, which was real sweet.

Emma had a blast playing games and going down the slide - by herself - which is what I am now noticing more and more of. She wants to do things on her own now.

us at Chuck E Cheese!

with cousins Brandon and Drew

going down the slide

Hannah riding on the Barney ride

Emma stomping on the lights

I think we turned in over five hundred tickets. Emma picked out all kinds of stuff she wanted and then we headed home. I think she had a good day but I am super excited about her party. We kept telling her that her party is soon and that we promise she will have Abby cake and more presents.

Happy Birthday Emma! We cannot believe you are TWO!!! We love you so, so, much!

Charlotte Trip

This past weekend Kristin and Steve came down from PA and got to meet the girls. They stayed the night with us and got to see what it was like in our crazy house. It was so good to see Kristin since it has been over two years! I was so glad she got to visit and meet the babies. The next day the kids went to my mom's house and we hit the road to Charlotte for Kirby's wedding reception. We stopped at Elon and ate a yummy lunch at Harrisons. Then we rode around campus and bought some new t-shirts in the campus shop.

It was so wonderful to see everyone at Kirby's reception. Kirby was beautiful and I have never seen her look more happy. Although it has been two years since I have seen many of the girls it felt like we had never been apart. Kim even brought baby Ben for a few minutes before her parents took him home for the night. We stayed out pretty late and had a delicious brunch at The Flying Biscuit the next day. The four of us went back to VA on Saturday and Kristin and Steve stayed Saturday night with us again to break up their trip. We were so sad to say good-bye Sunday morning.

As they were getting in their car I was telling Emma that they were going to their house. Emma asked, "eh is da ouse?" (Where is their house?) I said, "too far away!" Emma LOVED Kristin. Bo and I had never seen her show off like she did around Kristin.

We had so much fun and although it was a quick trip, it was well worth it to see everyone! I wish we all lived closer together but I am thankful that we still have a close friendship and that we can pick up where we left off when we do see each other.

Snuggle Bug

Bo leaves way early and I have loved sleeping in ever since my internship ended! Once this started, Emma began getting out of her bed by herself in the morning and coming into my room. Every morning around 7:30 I hear, "heeey, mama" in her little high pitched voice. She brings me about four of her favorite books that she sleeps with and then she slaps her Abby doll on my bed and wants up. She stays in my bed four about thirty minutes, watches some Disney channel and snuggles under the covers until Hannah wakes up. I have loved this part of the day with her. It has been time with just her and me and I love snuggling with her. I am going to miss this so much when summer ends.

These eyes are priceless

Silly girl

I'm SOOOO Big!

Hannah learned this trick at the beach trip but it has taken me awhile to get a picture of her. We say, "Hannah, how big are you?" She stretches her hands up while we say, "soooo big!" She thinks it is hilarious.

Brooks and Dunn

Bo and I had a night out on Sunday, August 15th. We had purchased Brooks and tickets early in the summer because it is their last tour. The first show was actually cancelled and so they rescheduled it for this night. We went with my cousin and his girlfriend. We ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise and then headed to the show. It was a perfect night for an outdoor concert - nice breeze, no humidity, clear as could be. Sarah Evans opened the show and I knew more of her music than I thought. I loved when she sang "Suds in the Bucket" and "I Could Not Ask For More." She did a fantastic job.

Brooks and Dunn were great. I have always loved their music. Bo loves the song "I Believe." The "My Maria" song reminds me so much of my cousin that passed away seven years ago. I also love "Red Dirt Road," "Neon Moon," and "Cowgirls Don't Cry." Truthfully, every song they sang was fantastic. I have seen them in concert before and I do see that they are aging but for their age, they did a great job. They had to take more breaks in between songs but they did a good job entertaining the audience and talking to us. One of the highlight's of the show was when they sang "Only in America." Some troops marched on stage with them and saluted. Then, red, white and blue streamers flew everywhere. It was awesome. We had such a great night.

Cute Outfits/Fridge Magnets

Here are the girls in some cute, of course matching summer outfits, that I have enjoyed them wearing this summer. I love smocking and it is so sad that you have to try to hard to find it. I have seen the most hideous children's clothing in department stores and other popular children's stores. I shop at some of those places for play clothes to wear around the house, but for the most part I do a lot of online shopping and specialty stores just to get smocking and nicer clothing. The buyers at some of those other stores want to dress babies and young ones like teenagers. I don't get why people want them to look so old - let them look sweet and young while they can be! Sorry - a little venting on that. But, seriously, as much as I LOVE to shop, I hate what I am seeing in children's sections. I have to give credit to my mom too for the good finds that she gets for the girls.

Hannah has also started playing with the fridge letter magnets. If anyone needs a gift for a baby/child's first birthday, I highly recommend these magnets. They have the correct pronunciation of each letter, says both sounds for the vowels, they sing the letter sound for each letter and has the ABC song. Emma got them for her first birthday and and still loves them and now Hannah is a fan. They are made by Leapfrog - anyone with a toddler should have these.