A Rose by Emily Other Name

The Family Song

2010-11-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

Family Day

2010-11-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

November 6, 2010. Our four year Family Day Anniversary. We can't remember a day without her. Our cuddle seeking, party throwing, bundle of energy. Star gazer, food grazer, fire-ant taser. Explorer, artist, inventor, chef. Dancer, singer, mommy and daddy clinger. Friendly, sweet, button-pusher, heart melter. Friend, sister, niece, cousin, grandaughter. Our cloud fluffer, sun shiner, Master of our Universe. Our daughter. Emily Rose Xiaoqiong. Our love, our light. We only look forward to more days with you. Happy Family Day to our Heartbeat!

Frogs and Blondies

2010-07-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share one of my favorites... Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

So....

2010-07-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

Her new favorite move is Jaws. Yes, I said JAWS. Hence the Jaws quotes on the blog. Her take-"why is that shark smashing their restaurant?" That's the scene where they are singing on the boat..."show me the way to go home."Emily="Oooooh I like that song they singing in that restaurant." She watched Quint "go into the shark's belly to look around" and said "oh that shark is so fresh is that blood?" "Yes it is, he hurt his lip." Emily-"oh no, how is he going to get out?" Just wait and see sweetie. The shark blows up! Hmmmmmm? "That shark is popped and the man came out to be with his friends again." "Those mans are heroes. That shark not bery nice. He bit the man from the restaurant lips-that's not nice. That's not nice at all." No sweetie-not nice" Bwahahahahaha. Emily-"Can you buy dat movie for my little TV, the DVD, okay, okay? That's my most favorite movie evah!" Houston we have a problem.

And Just Like That

2010-06-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

....she is five.

Slackers

2010-04-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Not really. We have been a little busy. Playing Silence of the Lambs. Having lunch with friends who visited from Iowa. Visiting Galveston. And playing dress-up! Now we are all having a nice Chianti with some fava beans.

A Love Letter

2010-01-15T12:50:00.001-08:00

Dear Santa, How I love thee... You remembered, you remembered!MY PARMESAN CHEESE! You're the best.And I lived happily ever after. Love, Emily

Ruh Roh

2009-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

HEY Have a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T13:52:00.001-08:00

We wish you a Merry Christmas, And wish you could be here!

There's something about Emily

2009-12-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some things she would like us to know. When she is seventeen, she will have a Hello Kitty cake. She wants to get married at least once a week because she wants a husband. When she is a mommy she can touch dangerous things. (stove, knives, etc.) Maybe she will like "muscle sprouts" with candy cane sprinkles. She is saving all her clothes for her children. She will have my computer when she is bigger. She loves my "eyenashes". She likes "cheese you can cut". It's on her Christmas list. No Kraft singles for this girl. Strictly aged parmesan, asiago or a nice Jarlsberg. When daddy comes back from "Germy" (Germany)we can make a Christmas tree. Do parents have to wear panties? Her imaginary friend "Nick" is now joined by another named "Person". hehe. Emily is wise and wonderful and beautiful. She is kind and compassionate and oh so sensitive. She is precious and knows how to push our buttons. She has the best sense of humor in all the land. She uses words such as: typical, fabulous, gentle, sensational, colorful and probably. She uses phrases such as: "What in the nation is going on?" "Nina, you are on my nerves." "Mommy don't make me the mood." To the doctor, "I am never coming here again!" And, this little gem "Daddy, this is pissing me off." Ooops on that one. She knows it's wrong though because she always turns to say "is that a bad word?" ~snicker, snicker~ Oh and this song "Five golden rings, six ladies dancing, five eating ducks, four ladies dancing,three ladies dancing, two turtle ducks and a partreeeet in a partreeet!" She is trying to be on her best behavior because Santa is coming. We have a list of Emily Nice and Emily Naughty. When she uses her manners, listens well, eats her meals etc., she gets a star. When she forgets her manners, talks fresh or is not nice to the pets, she gets a "sad face". If I put a "sad face" on the Naughty side, she yells "No, no, no, mommy. Cross that off. I'm nice now!" It really keeps her on her toes because Santa will be counting which side has more!!! Lots of stars equals more gifts! No, we are not afraid of using bribes. P.S. Our cat ate our fish.

November in Texas

2009-12-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

November 6, 2006

2009-11-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Be Still My Heart

2009-11-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

And The Winner Is

Happy Halloween Happy Fall

2009-11-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

The Most Beautiful Sprite in all the Land

We Got One

2009-10-16T13:17:00.001-07:00

I came across this photo:BigHugeLabs: Do fun stuff with your photos This was taken after we took "the oath" in China. Check out the look on our faces. "We got one. Run before they change their minds." We did not realize we weren't allowed to take photos in front of The Chinese Embassy and a Policeman was very stearnly telling our travel friends "NO PICTURE, GO NOW!" Too funny when we look back. Not so much when we were there!

Help me Rhonda

2009-10-12T15:06:00.001-07:00

Deluxe Ni Hao Kai-Lan Halloween Costume - Child Size Small - Buyseasons - Toys "R" Us Click the link to see what our BEAUTIFUL CHINESE LITTLE GIRL wants to be for Halloween. I'd rather she wanted to be a piece of head cheese. Thank God we still have time to for her to change her mind. Don't we?

The thing that really gets me is that she knows she is Chinese yet she wants to be a CARTOON CHARACTER of a LITTLE CHINESE GIRL! Don't get me wrong Kai-lan is adorable, but this costume is hideous! I really think they will sell out though. (wink wink)

Cliff Notes

2009-10-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Bill and I often discuss how we will talk to Emily about her adoption and about the birds and the bees. Such delicate subjects to bring up and talk about openly and honestly. We want Emily to feel comfortable asking us about EVERYTHING without us getting all squirmy. Well, it seems as though it was all for naught. We have accomplished both within the last two weeks. Here is how we survived the talks.

While eating supper we usually have the TV off and just some soft background music on. You know, to promote communication and all that stuff. Well Emily wanted to talk about opposites. Okey dokey! She starts with "what is the opposite of off?" We say "on!" Then "what is the opposite of over?" We say "under!" It goes on for awhile...opposite of in, light, top, etc. Then she throws in "what is the opposite of BANG?" Huh??? Bill and I reply at the exact same time--Bill says "celibacy" and I say "abstinence". T-riffic, sex talk done!!! Glad that's over. Not nearly as hard as we thought it would be.

Next. Emily likes to hear about her adoption story. She loves us to say how much we prayed to God for a sweet baby girl. She loves to repeat back "my China mom and dad could not take care of me so I needed a new real mom and dad(her words). So God said I have a sweet baby girl for you. She needs a mommy and a daddy to take care of her and to love her. And you need a baby daughter to love and take care of. So he made us a happy family forever." She loves, loves, loves to hear this over and over!!! Recently, she cut out a few details and repeated this story to us. "once upon a time there was a mommy and a daddy who needed a baby girl and I was in China and I needed a mommy and daddy and you came to China and God said I SPY AN EMILY here you go here is your baby daughter." We just about died laughing. Another milestone. And to think we were worried. We'll have to let other adoptive families know how easy that was!

Now onto something entirely different. We were watching the Wizard of Oz the other day. Sometimes Emily likes it, sometimes not so much. Depends on how much WITCH she can take. You all will probably have to watch the movie very closely because we totally would have missed it if she hadn't pointed it out. When the house lands on top of the witch and her legs curl up and suddenly disappear under the house-this is the part-watch carefully next time. Emily says "oh that poor ZEBRA the house squasheded him poor thing!" Bwahahahahahaha! And you thought there were only flying monkeys in that movie! Pshaw!

At four years old, she continues to amaze and inspire us. Baby love. Nothing better.

Pictures

2009-09-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

I found the lipstick mommy! Sick baby. Crafting with Nina! Lunch time! Camping with Daddy-Free Music! Ready for school!

Going for the mail!

Practical Emily

2009-09-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Is it too soon to think about Christmas? No? Good! Little Miss Em has been pondering those same thoughts. Four year old little girls love all things sparkly, princessy, and girly-twirly. We expected nothing less from our little one.

Emily obviously has other plans. Here is what she will be asking Santa to bring her.

1. A blue see through acrylic toilet seat for her bathroom.

2. A bathroom vanity for her bedroom.

3. A new ceiling fan that looks like a flower for her room.

4. A clock that says "it's seven o'clock, can you wake up".

No frills here. Pure practicality.

The blue toilet seat? Because it's blue. My favorite color. And it's see through!!! Jeepers!!

The bathroom vanity for the bedroom? Because it has doors. I can put books and things in it. And I can fit inside it. And close the doors! And, and, and it has a sink!!!!

The ceiling fan that looks like a flower? Because it's sooo pretty!

The clock? Because it tells you things and when to wake up!

Oh, in case you forget Emily? Highly unlikely!!!!!

The girl is very, very practical. Functionality here people. Riley said she still has time to ask for vinyl replacement windows!!! Hee hee!

We can't wait for her to sit on Santa's lap this year! I wish we could record it. We told her it was a very good list. I guess a gift certificate to Lowe's is in order?

Now for the language skills:

E. "Mommy this is tupendous!"

Me. "Emily, it's SSSSStu-pendous."

E. "oh, like one pendous, two pendous, three pendous."

Me. Bwahahahahahaha

Teaching moment-GONE! Laughter is really much better! And last, but not least.....

"Mommy I definate love you!"

My God we love her!!!

Remembering 9/11

2009-09-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

Remembering to be thankful.

Proud

2009-08-27T13:07:00.001-07:00

Rest in Peace Ted. We are proud to have lived in Massachusetts and proud to be Democrats. We will teach our little one how great a family the Kennedys are and how great a state Massachusetts is!

Our sympathies to the Kennedy family .

Sunrise Sunset

2009-08-13T13:23:00.001-07:00

July 2007

July2009

June2007

June2009

Where has our baby gone. Look at how all her baby-ness has been shed. She is a little girl!!! She has changed right before our eyes-literally! We can't believe she is FOUR already. Make it stop.

Some things she has said lately:

1. Oh my God, I think I'm in trouble! (as she reached the top of a rope ladder and couldn't quite make the leap over)

2. Good night you both! (heard on the monitor at bedtime)

3. Oh good lord, who's gonna clean this mess. (surveying her playtime mess)

4. You stay in the kitchen mommy I'm gonna do my bills.

5. I'm too tired for sleep I think I need new batteries.

6. Can I have some coffee please?

7. I think I need a cuddle.

She says so many cute things and sometimes things she shouldn't say. We have to stifle our laughs lots of times! She was having a time out this week, she really doesn't care for them, and she tries to bargain her way out. She's at the table and we were right by her side in the kitchen telling her she cannot be fresh. So she says, "I'm sorry mommy. Okay? You're a genius!" She knows exactly what she's doing.

SCORE

Emily 3,578 Mom and Dad 0

I TOLD YOU SHE WAS BRILLIANT!

Ooooooops!

2009-06-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Let's see....what have we missed....oh yeah. Happy Valentine's Day, Happy President's Day , Happy St. Patrick's Day, Happy Easter, Happy Mother's Day, Happy Memorial Day, Happy Flag Day, Happy Father's Day and Happy Birthday to everyone. Oh, and Happy all the Jewish Holidays too. So very sorry for not posting pictures or stories for awhile. I will be posting again soon though. So stay tuned. For now I found these videos in my stash. You will not believe how much Emily has changed. Here are the links :http://www.photoshow.com/watch/IR5yr2Er . http://www.photoshow.com/watch/mw5wA8GD . http://www.photoshow.com/watch/ST3Kg2Yh .Change really has come. I promise, promise, that I will update with more recent photos. After all, this baby is now FOUR YEARS OLD! It's hard to believe that this little sweetheart is now capable of saying "mommy this cat is being a ping of the ask"! I don't know where she gets that from!

Change

2009-01-20T14:34:00.001-08:00

Change has come for America!

As Bill and I watched on T.V., he was surprised to see Cheney in a wheelchair...

He says " What happened to him? Did the door hit him in the ass on the way out?!!!!!

Go Obama!

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T15:16:00.000-08:00

From All of Us

To All of You

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!

Holiday House Tour

2008-12-22T07:12:00.000-08:00

We're participating in a Holiday House Tour hosted by blogger Jen at http://jenontheedge.com/

Click on her link and you'll be able to see other homes on the tour!

Here are our Holiday House Tour photos.

Now open the door and come on in!

Oh hello there! I just finished getting ready. Welcome to my holiday extravaganza!!! Please take a look around and help yourself to a cupcake. But remember, DON'T TOUCH MY PRESENTS!!!!!!!

Grab a delicious cupcake (my beautiful, wonderful mommy made them) and follow me!

Thank you all for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed your visit. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!! (you didn't touch my presents, did you)

Missy Style

2008-12-09T09:18:00.000-08:00

Emily has style. Apparently I do not. Emily likes to play "fashion girls" with daddy. These "fashion girls" are tiny Barbie's dressed like little tramps. We got them in her Happy Meals. (We only feed her all natural organic foods.) Because we care about our diets here. Daddy seems to know all the right things to say and do while interacting with Emily and the "girls". She has already told me that I can't play the "fashion girls" yet. She said daddy needs to teach me. Okay daddy, I'm ready to learn your "fashion girl" tips.

Don't feel bad for me. She thinks I sing and dance lovely. Thankfully this talent has come in very handy. We listen to the same twelve Christmas Carols. All. Day. Long. We can't just sing along, dancing is a requirement. She knows almost all the words to every one of the songs. She also has the beat down too. Quite talented this little fashionista. She did tell me that I have to teach daddy how to dance though. He's not quite up to par with me when it comes to singing and dancing to "Jungle Boogie". C'mon daddy, we can teach you.

Halloweenie

2008-11-11T15:18:00.001-08:00

Happy Belated Halloweenie! Just for waiting, I have given you extra photos! Emily had a great time. She really got the whole concept of knocking, greeting "Trick or treat candy please" and voila...Candy...in my bag...from neighbors...just for me...just for being cute! "I love Halloween, I love candy...you love candy too mommy? you too daddy? I loooove it sooo much" She was too much. Very talkative and nosey. I do not know where she gets that from. She tried to get into so many houses to take a look see, but was not very successful. I'll work on that a little more.

Emily also enjoyed giving out the candy almost as much. She did not hesitate one instant before dropping beloved choclates into the little bags. What a trooper. She got to eat a few things before bed. It was the least we could do for all her efforts. First thing in the morning she went right for her bag and wanted to look at her loot. Then she wanted it for breakfast. We still have lots left. She gets a little too BUSY for my liking after all the chocolate.

She really had a terrific time being a butterfly and we enjoyed every minute of her metamorphosis! For my next surprise I'll show you a few caterpillars and a chrysallis that I have captured, I mean that I am raising. I started with one chrysallis and 4 caterpillars. Now I have one caterpillar and 4 chrysallisisisisisisis! They're coming along nicely in their custom habitat that was made by moi! I'll give you instructions. It involves tupperware and a food net/cover thingy. Really lovely. I'll have to remember not to reuse it for the holidays.

Family Day

2008-11-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today, Bill and I were in China waiting to meet our precious baby girl for the first time. We awoke that morning anxious and excited about what was about to happen. We could not wait to finally hold our baby daughter. Our daughter. We waited so long to say those words. We held her close in our hearts and stared at her picture just waiting for this day to finally meet her.

We imagined Emily awoke expecting her usual day in the orphanage. Dress, wash, eat and spend the day with her group home friends and nannies. Little did she know that she would be taking a VERY long train ride to meet us. To meet the two strange Americans that she would come to live with and call mommy and daddy. To change her life forever.

The day we became a family was very emotional for all of us. When I think back on it I still get that same feeling deep in my soul. We all cried and Bill and I prayed we could comfort and heal her breaking heart.

Fast forward to two years later. Emily is everything we had ever hoped and prayed for. She is happy and healthy and has the best sense of humor ever. She loves for all of us to be together. She loves saying that we are a family. She loves to laugh, kiss and hug. She loves music and instuments and dancing. She has the most expressive little face and is a terrific tiny actress. She is a joy to watch.

Emily is curious and sensitive. She is caring and mischievious. She is smart and thoughtful. She is kind and gentle. This little wonder chats up a storm with strangers in the market. "Hi, whatareyoudoinhereallbyyourself". Emily proudly introduces us to everyone as "these are my friends mommy and daddy". We love her strawberry milk breath. We love that she loves chocolate and bacon and french fries. We love that she loves animals and insects and nature. We love that she loves us.

Emily fills our hearts and souls with a love that is deep and pure. She is our daughter. The light of our lives and the beat of our hearts. Emily was a butterfly for Halloween. A fitting choice for our amazing little caterpillar from two years ago. She has blossomed into our very beautiful butterfly. Happy Family Day Emily. We love you Emily Rose. Forever and ever.

Change

2008-11-05T06:16:00.001-08:00

Merci beaucoup!

VOTE

2008-11-04T14:44:00.001-08:00

BECAUSE I SAID SO!

October is a New Day

2008-10-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am happy that it is October. Cooler nights, darker earlier and dark mornings. Emily will sleep later. This girl loves life. She wakes singing. When I go in to get her she says "good norming, it's a new perfect day". I could learn a lot from this child. What a great outlook to have. She always follow with "daddy not go work today-daddy stay home with mimi and mommy". I hate breaking her heart-sorry honey daddy will be home after. Her response "pretty soon daddy come home". She always puts a positive spin on things.

Two things are weighing heavy on my mind. I get all worked up watching CNN. I need Obama to win. I think he will. I just get scared seeing all the crazies saying crap. McCain is McCrazy in my book. And Sarah Palin. Well I'll just leave it at that. I cannot wait for elections to be over. I heart Obama. I've already taught Emily. Emily? Who are you gonna vote for? She shouts "OBAMA" with a little fist in the air. VOTE.

Now the second thing. The Tree Man. Coming on TV on Sunday on TLC at 7 central. I cannot wait to see this. Even if it was up against Obama singing "You're The One That I Want" to me from the Convention Center. I would have to blow him off. I am fascinated by the Tree Man. I can't wait to watch it. I can't get those pictures of his hands out of my mind. American doctors are helping him. I can't imagine what they will do. He has like wooden, rooty looking hands and woody growths on him. Not small woody hands. More like tree stumps. It's unbelievable. I keep going over it again and again in my mind. Suppose the fix is quite simple. Suppose it's like a little weed killer or something? I can't wait. I need help.

Well, thanks for listening. Enjoy the pictures and each other. Happy Fall. I miss you mom.

Our not so friendly Ike

2008-10-14T13:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, September sucked too! We are thankful that we were all okay and the house was okay too. The only damage was outside. I thought I would be prepared mentally for the hurricane. You know, coming from New England and all. NEVER have I heard wind like that in my entire life. I was scared. When Ike finally left, and we stepped outside, I gasped and started crying. Until sensible Bill hugged me and said it was just stuff outside and all of it could be replaced. Most importantly he said, is that we are all okay and we are all together. Riley had left ahead of the storm. He was planning on going to New Orleans. He had to nix those plans pronto. He headed to Oklahoma(small detour) before continuing on his trip. Things are back to normal here. FEMA trucks came and carted off all the debris in our area. We still are waiting for our fence to be repaired. They're kinda busy. I feel very sad about Galveston. We were just there and now it's gone. Hard to believe. Well time to move to October and better days. I miss you mom.

Beautiful Girl

2008-10-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I posted. August SUCKED big time. I miss you mom. I guess I should be thankful that Riley was here with us. I am glad we were all together. I know you all want to see Emily (especially you Nawn) updated. So here are some recent pictures with Riley thrown in too. Enjoy. Ike will follow.

Be Back

2008-10-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry that it has been so long since I posted anything. I'm making believe you care. I know you only want to see pics of Emily. They will be coming soon along with some pictures of "after Ike". We've been busy, but I will be back. Veeery soon. See how busy we are?

Emilypalooza

2008-08-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

The t-shirts I made.

Notice the pink "worker girl"? What's in her "shobel"?

Just a bunch of pictures for you. Emily above eating her ear of banana.

And, here is the "cob".

Little sparkler on the 4th of July. Doesn't look very sparklerery to me?

Enjoying a HOT ride on the ferry in Galveston.

Exploring with daddy. Loooves him!

Waving to mommy. Otherwise known as papparazzi.

She took this of us. Not bad eh?

There Will Be Blood

2008-07-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

It all started so innocently. We planned to go to the ocean. To Galveston to be exact. Emily was waiting excitedly to "git goin". Galveston is not very far from here and it really is very pretty. We drove down to the seawall eventhough we knew there was a storm a-brewin'.

Notice the storm a-brewin' ? It was beautiful. We unloaded the car of a stroller, a backpack full of snacks, water, a mommy, a daddy, a baby and her "bubby" and her "coppapahk"(pocketbook). Emily needed her "coppapahk" because it held a plastic ostrich, a pink cellphone, her "sungaas"(sunglasses), a small stuffed pink chick, a tiny gray rhinoceros and a little set of keys. She was certain she may need these items.

It was very windy! Emily cried in her stroller because the wind and the spray from the water was touching her face. God forbid anything uninvited touches her face! We tried carrying her. The horror. We tried to let her walk. The horror. Bill coaxed her into going down to the beach to play in the sand . That she liked!

That she liked. A LOT! Suddenly the wind and water were her amigos. It also helps that daddy has a calming effect. They played and threw sand and had fun. I snapped pictures. When the fun ended they returned with the finest coating of sand on them. On her eyelids, ears, cheeks, lips and hair. Oy! I told you it was windy! I say "fun is done". Emily was begging to go back to the "bye bye car" and it was time to eat! We decided on a nice INDOOR lunch. Splendid.

We headed over to Joes's Crab Shack. Yummy! We ordered mussels with garlic and wine and crabcakes for appetizers. For our meals Bill and I ordered Spicey Dungeoness Crab Boils with red potatoes and corn on the cob. With oodles of HOT MELTED BUTTER. Emily order HOT macaroni and cheese with corn on the cob with HOT MELTED BUTTER. And a chocolate shake. Oooh we cannot wait! This is the scene of the crime. Emily sipping her shake and waiting for her food to arrive.

This is the victim's witness. Thoroughly enjoying the mussels in garlic and wine. I am deliriously happy over this whole event. I am joyfully snapping pictures. Now for the best part. All the giddyness soon vanished as our waitress approached with our much longed-for seafood extravaganza. She just happened to DROP TWO HOT CRAB BOILS WITH HOT MELTED BUTTER AND HOT BOILED POTATOES. Oh and don't forget Emily's HOT MACARONI AND CHEESE AND MORE HOT BUTTERED CORN.

ALL. OVER. MY. HAPPY. LITTLE. HEAD. AND. BODY.

Oh yeah, and did I happen to mention that it was HOT and there was MELTED BUTTER? Can you say embarassed? I jumped up with my buttered hair and body. A staff person came running over to move Emily to a safer spot. She started screaming because she was scared. The manager came over. I cried. Bill comforted us. The waitress wanted to throw up and offered to buy me a tee shirt? I said no thank you. Can we please move to a different table? Can we please have new food? How brilliant are we? We could have owned a Crab Shack. Sadly, we are not those kind of people.

We moved to another table. The manager gave me some burn spray.I styled my hair a little better with the butter. And, we got new food. We ate all of it. And Emily even had desert. A rice crispy cake in the shape of a crab that she got to paint with flavored syrups(paint).

We called the waitress over for our bill. She told us our WHOLE meal was free. I thought maybe the appetizers. It was delicious and we will go back. As we left, I told Bill I didn't feel like walking because of the butter and broth that covered me. I was afraid the gulls and pelicans would try to eat me. We went to the car and I covered my seat with a large plastic lobster bib(for the butter on my butt) and put my feet up on the dash.

Alas, the carnage was not yet over.

My toes and sandal were all bloody. During all the FESTIVITIES we hadn't noticed that the plate that fell onto the floor, broke over my foot and the glass cut my toe.

I am so much fun to be around. Want to take me on your next outing.

Free food.

The CaCa-dile Hunter

2008-06-30T09:24:00.001-07:00

Emily is really a sweet little girly-girl. See how sweet and pretty and girly-girly-ee she is ! Emily has another side. It is a little on the dark side. A small profession she has after supper. She likes to do this with daddy . I'm glad she has chosen him to help her with this detail work.She enjoys going on this little hunt with daddy and has asked me to photograph her finds so "mimi can see dat peeshure". Here is what she and daddy get on their hunt in the backyard.

I know, I know. That's pretty gross. But she likes to have chores, and this little beauty is one she particularly enjoys. When Bill comes in from work she gives him the run down. "Atta we eat daddy get shobel and mimi and daddy go find Nina's caca-kaaaaay?" (Nina is our dog, not a kid or housekeeper or gardener, our dog.) Honestly though she is a sweet little girly-girl. I have the pictures to prove it.

At breakfast Sunday morning, Bill made blueberry pancakes and sausages. We always make smiley faces with whipped cream on her pancakes . While she was eating she stopped and says" mommy (while pointing at the little brown sausage) that not caca, that not Nina caca." We cracked up, "no baby that's not caca on your plate, that's sausage." " dat sausg meat, mimi eat dat, caca not food, sausg meat food." Poor little girl thinks we'll put "caca" on her plate. I think we'll stick with bacon from now on!

Emotions

2008-06-26T06:31:00.001-07:00

I not happy. Oh honey, why are you not happy? I sad. Aaaw, why are you sad. Mimi bedda now! She loves this little game. Sometimes when she says she is sad she says "wanna cuddu (cuddle) now." Can't say that we don't like it! That little face is her practicing her "sad", but couldn't take the pop out of her mouth.

Another favorite of Emily's is...usually while we are eating she likes to see what we have in our plates. The she says " Mimi have dat". We always let her try and she always comes back with "I can't like it mommy". We think that's a very polite way of saying "whoa, that sucks mom!" We think that can work with just about anything. I'm gonna try it when people rub me the wrong way. Sorry, I can't like you! I tried, but I just can't.

And this my friends is the look of annoyance. Enough with the pictures already. If you happen to get that look...stand clear.

I Can't

2008-06-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Is "I can't" better than "no"? Emily can you please peepee in the potty? A "no" would be okay with me. Not so with our chatterbox. Her response, " Carol I can't, not now, maybe atta, atta I watch Einsteins, no panties now...kaaaaay?" Pretty thorough respose eh. I do have a little model strut of her in her new panties...

Cute huh. How about this little gem...Wanna buy a used car?

She just puuuuulls you in and before you know it we've left the store with books and toys and candies and the lady from the checkout will be over at six for snacks. That is what she does.

This smile is the reason she gets to stay up later than we think she should. Keep quiet, you know you would too! Our smart little sweetie also knows what she wants in life. With her birthday money she has let me know that she wants a "yadder". While she was eating breakfast she said "mommy?" I said "yes Mimi". She says "I need a "yadder". I said "what do you need a ladder for? To climb?" "Yes, mommy, yes!" "What do you need to climb for Emily?" "To reach it mommy, I need to reach it." Well yes you do sweetie! She replies " I need a bue yadder." We'll get right on that babygirl! She really deserves all the colors we can find.

*camel not actual size shown

Birthday Princess

2008-06-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of pictures of the Birthday Festivities! She had a ball. " I yove a bertday"! "I yove ba-yoons, a red one a bue one a purpa one a byack one-I yove awl-um"! She twirled and jumped and loved her "rockashit cake".

She wore her crown regally, her giant necklace but not her earrings! She said " I can't yike that eawings", atta I eat cake I wear dat". She didn't though. She looked so beautiful and soooo happy. She just about made us burst just watching her joy.

We cannot believe she is three already. We already want her to slow down. Thanks to everyone for the cards and the gifts. We wish you could have been here to see how happy she was(and still is).

Now for the bedtime ritual-IT'S LOOOOONG!

All this takes place after her door is closed and we are on our way downstairs!

Mimi: goodnight mommy

mommy: goodnight Emily

Mimi: seeya atta mommy

mommy: see you after Emily

Mimi: see you nes time

mommy: I'll see you next time Emily

Mimi: see you norming mommy

Mommy: see you in the morning Emily

Mimi: luv you

mommy: I love you too Emily

Mimi: goodnight daddy

daddy: goodnight Emily

Mimi: seeya atta daddy

daddy: see you after Emily

Mimi: see you nes time daddy

daddy: I'll see you next time Emily

Mimi: see you norming daddy

daddy: see you in the morning Emily

Mimi: luv you

daddy: love you too Emily

God forbid we stray from this script. We will have to start all over! THIS IS E V E R Y N I G H T!

Then, every "norming" she wakes up singing! She is a sweet sweet babygirl. Our Emily Rose! "hap bertday youyou, hap bertday youyou, hap bertday mimi, mommy daddy, hap bertday youyou"

She doesn't like to leave us out-ever.

The Horror

2008-06-11T08:36:00.001-07:00

This beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, caring little darling, whom we lovingly refer to as Mimi, who kisses a piece of scotch tape before she puts it on my boo boos, has been a tad of a pest lately. Okay, make that a screaming little tyrant. Mimi has a favorite cd called *Jack's big music show*. Actually it's the soundtrack from the TV show on Noggin. She luuuuurves this cd. And, she longingly refers to the main character a "bubby jack". She always naps and falls asleep to this at night-so sweet. Alas, poor mommy and daddy-"bubby jack is brokinged"-there will be no sleeping in this house EVER! Do you hear me, can you see and feel my sadness, look at these tears and oh my, the heartache is just too much for a nearly-three-year-old to bare. How can you two possibly even begin to be sleepy when there is no music. The day the music died is one Bill and I will not soon forget.

This little nugget of a cd is not available in ANY stores. I searched on-line all day long. I found one-I can get expedited shipping-we're saved-oh blessed, blessed sleep will come. For approximately eleventy billion dollars I could have it on Tuesday! Lo and behold they lied-I could have it approximately JUNE NINETEENTH! Wait I'll pay another eleventy billion-please may I have that little morsel of music? NO MUSIC FOR YOU!

All is not lost. I found another. I ordered TWO. They will be arriving TODAY. I am going to give the *UPS* driver a massage when he brings the drugs, er, I mean the cds. I am closely tracking the package on their website. It's about 30 minutes away. Oh "bubby jack", I miss you so. We want our sweet little Miss Mimi back. That little tid-bit is why there have been no posts.

Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo

2008-06-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

So, the monkeys stand for honesty, giraffes are insincere, and the elephants are kindly but they're dumb. Orangutans are skeptical of changes in their cages and the zookeeper is very fond of rum...

We had planned on the zoo for Memorial Day, got dressed, got mimi cutified and off we went. When we got there the line was Way. Too. Long. Admission was free that day and every mother, father, their 10 children and anyone who lived in the Houston area was in line that day. We told Emily we couldn't find the zoo. Soo sad.

On the way home, we passed a field that had horses and cows. I yelled to Emily, "look mimi, we found it. There's the animals". Poor little darling says "yeah, daddy found it, daddy find the zoo for mimi"! Soo sad-er. We didn't want to disappoint her-so instead we lied. Nice parents huh?

To ice the cake we stopped at the market and bought her a ba-yoon...and candy...and cake. Then when we got home Emily says " tanks daddy tanks mommy for finding the zoo". Oh you're so welcome honey. We'll go again tomorrow. "Yeah, we find the zoo agin tomorrow, tanks". We suck.

On Tuesday. We went to the zoo. A-gin! She loved it! The rafs, zebas, eppints, moonkeys-all of it. She was a very happy girl. We don't suck. Not badly just a little. Oh, and they don't sell ba-yoons at the zoo! Animal safety. Animal safety, animal schmafety I say. IT'S CHILDREN. AT THE ZOO. FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD! For her birthday she is getting lots of ba-yoons!

Stars and Stripes Forever

2008-05-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

A quickie post about a beautiful girl. Hope y'all had a nice weekend. We still have today together. We may head out to the zoo. Mimi would like to see some "yions, moonkeys, goreelas and raffs". Oh yeah, and what she really want is "ba-yoons". All the colores because she "yoves ba-yoons".

Are you feeling hot, hot, hot

2008-05-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Today will be 96 degrees without the heat index! Come on down. Maybe a few pictures will entice you? Check out Bill and Mimi-same smile? Me thinks so too.

Emily is now enrolled in music class at *Gymboree*. We all go on Saturday mornings for 45 minutes. She loves it! She also has a little friend there. His name is Jackson. Emily calls him "Jacks". She loves all the "intamins" (instruments). Emily owns an accordian, a guitar, a small keyboard, a drum, maracas, tambourine, xylophone and a microphone. Do you think that's a good assortment? We do too. Apparently she does not. She asked Bill to buy her a "tumpit" (trumpit). The girl from Epanema keeps walking. And when she passes, each one she passes, goes Aaaaaah.

Voices from Beyond

2008-05-16T08:55:00.001-07:00

This is what I heard on the monitor when Emily awoke from her nap yesterday.

"Caroooool I ready to see you now-what you doin down nere-come, come see Mimi-I done nap now".

Maybe I should just give her a little bell to ring when she's "ready to see me". She cracks me up.

Mimi's moments

2008-05-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

These are some of the many faces and talents of Emily. Her personality is larger than life. She has charisma. Strangers have told us that as we shopped. I've never known an almost three year old to have charisma. She just sucks you in with all her deliciousness. We love her sooo much. Sorry about the sideways ballerina-don't know how to fix that! The snowman project is a craft we did together. I made mine, gave her her supplies, and by looking at mine, that is what she produced. I thought it was amazing. She was only 30 months old! She is the best. Enough gushing.

Emily knows she is not supposed to run (you're gonna fall and make blood). Bill went for a walk with her the other night and a couple went jogging past them. Without hesitation Emily shouted "NO RUNNING". If she can't do it nobody can.

Get to work

2008-05-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

My boss and her whip. She does not like me on the "puter". She'd rather I stay in her kitchen. At least I was able to sneak in these two photos.

Different Drummer

2008-05-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

This post is mostly pictures. My "boss" says "enough puter mommy, enough". She wants me to play "people" with her. That would be her doll house. She puts "daddy" in the chair in front of the fireplace and TV and she has "mommy" dance on the side. Then she puts mimi in the "bye-bye car" to go to the store to buy things like " cookies, nannies, chokit, and toys". She now has told me that I am "done-no more". Enjoy the photos.

The Lawrence Welk Show

2008-05-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

My Mother's Day Song from Emily:

Happy Birthday to mothers day

Happy Birthday mothers day to you

Happy Birthday to you!

Yaaaaaaay!

Rub These Please

2008-05-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

To all the moms, grandmothers, godmothers and aunties:

It's our day to relax!!! This is what I'll be doing...

Pimp My Ride

2008-05-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

and the fine art of fibbing by an almost three year old. Emily is getting rather heavy for me to lift. Now when I get her out of her crib I put the rail down. She thinks I'm "breaking mimi's bed". When Bill arrived home from work the other day, she greeted him at the door with "come see daddy, wook mommy breaked mimi's bed". She proceeded to scrunch her face up into her dramatic "kying pace" (crying face) for added effect. And the Oscar goes to Mimi! Every morning now she tells me "mommy break the bed, daddy come home fix it". Then every night when he gets home she tells him "mommy breaked the bed agin". She has the lies down pat, now I'll teach her sarcasm. Cutest little fibber we ever met.

mmmwwwaaah!

Fun in the Sun

2008-05-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

This is what we did all day.

The Sunny Side of the Street

2008-05-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

I hope I'm able to do this! The first photo is Bill and Mimi at Thanksgiving.(Emily at 29 mos., Bill at 630 months) To the right is mimi's "good norming" (she says that every morning) Those pics were still in Iowa. Now fast forward, Bill at 636 months and Mimi at 35 months! What a difference 6 months and sunshine makes. The last photo is where we will be today. It's supposed to be 92 and sunny today. By the way, we'll be there tomorrow too. It will be 93 and sunny. Gotta love the big "T". Hmmm, Pina Coladas anyone? Hope you enjoy the pics! Isn't she l-o-v-e-l-y!!!

Mmmmwwwaaaahhh,

mimi, mommy and daddy

A funny thing happened on the way down the stairs

2008-05-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as I was fixing Emily's hair, I grabbed one red elastic for the top of her head. Emily told me "no mommy, 2 lastics, mimi be cute baby girl". When she has two pigtails on her head, she thinks she looks like the babygirl from Monsters Inc. She is very modest, my girl.

Today, she has two pigtails with yellow "lastics". As we were coming down the stairs for her breakfast, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She turned to me and said "so cute babygirl, daddy come home say my God mimi so pitty". The funny thing is, that is exactly what he will say!

She has her daddy wrapped tightly around her finger. And, that is exactly where he would like to stay. Nothing is better than the love from this little babygirl who loves " a hug, a kuss, ana skeez". (a hug, a kiss, and a squeeze)Then she squeals with delight. Aaaaaahhhhh.

mimi's mommy

Trying to figure it out

2008-05-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

Help... I want to post this picture but cannot figure out what to do with this box. Do you like the box too. Maybe it's the box the rose came in? I really just want it to be part of the header-any suggestions on how to keep the picture and get rid of the box? Thank you, mimi's mommy

I did it!

2008-05-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hello family and friends, I started a blog, which started the whole world laughing. Oh, if they only knew...Remember that song? Well, I changed the words a bit. That's what I do though. I make stuff up. Sometimes. It will be up to you to figure out when I'm telling the truth.

This blog is set up for me to talk about Emily, ramble about what is not important and to share what is going on in our lives . I hope you enjoy it. When I get good at it, I'll also post pictures of things and us! Please feel free to leave a comment. Be nice-it's for Emily to read too!

Love,

Mimi's Mommy