Happy Easter Emma

Easter was April 22, 2011.  Emma was 3 this year or 9 months if you believe the whole Leap Day thing.  We took her to the annual Easter Egg Hunt here in Snowflake.  Emma found her 1 egg and got her candy so she was happy.  She didn't quite know what to make of the Easter Bunny though. 

 This was the first year that we colored Easter Eggs.  Emma loved it and of course now refers to hard-boiled eggs as Easter eggs.  Please excuse her outfit.  She'd just gotten out of the tub and I didn't want food coloring on her jammies so we just put her apron on instead. 

 

We decided to get her an Easter dress this year and found these cute matching ones for her and her doll. She loves it. I especially love this picture becasue I have a similar one of her looking that way at Kinzie.

Happy 15 Months Kinzie!

Dear Kinzie,

Just a note to check in and let you know we were thinking of you today.  We went Easter Egg hunting today with Emma and couldn't help but remember last year.  We had just recently gotten out of the hospital with you and couldn't take you out due to RSV season.  So, your Daddy took your big sister to the Egg Hunt and I stayed at home with you!  We had lots of fun with pictures including the one of you in the Easter basket.  My little Easter bunny!  We made you a cute Easter sign to hang on your fence in your Garden.  We sure miss ya and wish you could check in too but we know you're busy, working hard, and watching over us. 

With love,
Mom, Dad, and Emma

P.S. Emma talks about you often and currently tells us that she has a little sister already so now she needs a little brother. 

Emma's Birthday Party - Turning 3!

 We threw Emma a Princess party.  Her birthday is February 29th but we had it March 5th this year. She invited three friends and they all dressed up as little Princesses.  Emma called them Tinker Bell, Snow White, and Ballerina Princess.  Emma called herself Birthday Princess.  We got pizza for the girls and I made my first "cupcake cake."  It's supposed to be a Princess crown! 

 It was so cute to see all the little princesses eating together.  I made them each a princess hat but Emma wore hers the whole time!

 We told her friends to not bring presents because she was getting plenty from family.  She talked nonstop and daily about this green chair that her Papa David and Granny got her!  She also got some more pony's and books and coloring activities.  Oh, and of course a doll with hair to sit in the chair! 

 Who knew that little girls could sit for so long working so intently! 

Not sure who had more fun on this, the girls or Cale!

We have to have a pinata!  Emma loves them.  They all took turns with some pretty good whacks but in the end Cale beat it open for them and they went.....CRAZY!  We laughed so hard watching them zone in on candy.  Olivia (in green) has older brothers and was definitely the fastest! 

 

 

My Three Year Old!

I can't believe that my little girl is three!  Her birthday was the 29th of February or March 1st this year but her party is Saturday so I'll wait to post the Happy Birthday post till then. 

As she gets older though she just gets funnier!  Emma continuously cracks us up with what comes out of her mouth.  Some are so sweet, others so funny, some just unique and others purely manipulative!  Here are some examples of late.

Sweet:  While on a drive with Cale: "That cloud looks like a dragon and there's Jesus holding my Kinzie!"

Funny:  "You think about it, Ok Mom?"  I can't remember what I said "Maybe" to! 

Manipulative:  While in time out today:  "Mom I love your shirt."  (I ignored her) "Mom, that shirt is just so pretty.  I really love it."  (I had to leave the room and laugh)  "I'm happy now Mom so can I get out of time-out?" 

Trick or Treating (1st house): "mommy I got so much candy and this is only the first house!"


Emma is always saying, "When I grow up..." and multiple times a day she now stands on her tiptoes, stretches her arms up and says, "mommy, I'm growing bigger right now!"

At Walmart: (Mom) Walk right by me so you will be safe. Emma: "Ok, thanks for worrying so much about me Mom."

Mom, "Emma, can you have daddy help you get me some tomato sauce?" Emma (without missing a beat): "Tomato sauce, coming right up Mom."

Emma: "Mommy, I want Kinzie to come back home." Mom: "I know. I want her to come home too but she lives in heaven now with Jesus." Emma: "...and we gotta take turns."

While changing her dolly's diaper, "This baby is poopy Mommy. Got to change her....Ughh, that's dithgusting!" Then pinches her nose.

To Cale: "Daddy, you the best daddy. When I grow big, I wanna be a daddy like you. And when you grow little, you can be like me!"

Kara: "Emma, you are just so cute!" Emma: "Yeah, I am."

While driving to Show Low, "I getting soo tired mom."

Mom: "How did you get so big?" Emma: "I jumped up and down a lot!"

Recapping what happened when she went with Dad to rotate the tires: "...and daddy's car went up and up and up and up in the sky."

In reply to being told that she was still in time-out: "But, I gave you lots of kisses, Mommy (tilt head here)."

To Kinzers at the viewing, "It's ok. I know you gotta go." To her day care teachers EACH time she comes back from the potty, "I'm Baaacccckkkkk!"

During sacrament meeting, Emma was putting together a puzzle. After each piece she would exclaim, "I so smart!"

(Too funny not to post) -While pooping on the toilet, Emma would grunt, push, and then laugh per each success in one potty trip.

Oh Emma, we love ya!

Happy Valentine's Day

This would be Kinzie's 2nd Valentines Day.  I was looking through her box of papers and binders and found all the cards and scrapbook pages that were made for her.  Her favorite nurses, Ashley, Becca, and Katie, had made her beautiful Valentines.  While looking at them it hit me that this would have been her second Valentine's Day and that from here on out we won't have any more firsts or missed firsts.  It was healing in a way to finally feel that point of passage in this journey.  We of course redecorated the grave and although it's simple, it feels like Kinzie.  Emma calls the grave Kinzie's Garden and I think we've all started calling that.  It sounds nicer and not so final which is nice since we know we will see her again and all be ressurrected when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes again.  Regardless of which one comes first, we look forward to seeing you again.  Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie.   

 Emma was giving the balloons kisses but I kept missing it. I thought it was still cute.  She picked out the windmill herself and was so excited to put it in the "garden."  She's wanted it for such a long time. 

Emma sent out valentines cards to her cousins in Texas this year and was so excited to mail them herself.  She also made sugar cookies in the shape of hearts and a "heart person" cookie.  Happy Valentine's Day Emma!  We love you and your tenderness towards all people.  You are definitely a little angel, sometimes more red than white, but still an angel.  

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is always fun when we all get together.  Emma was 2 years and 10 months this year which means that she "knew" what was going on.  It was very fun to see her so happy.  She got a long wanted pillowpet, games, My Little Ponys, jammies, clothes, sunglasses, and yummy treats in her stocking.  I know that presents don't matter and we usually like to be a little more simple but we also felt that she could use a little extra spoiling this year to compensate for some of the loss of the year.  It was worth seeing her smile and has also been great for keeping her busy.  Someone recently told me, "She is one who will keep you busy if you don't keep her busy!"  How perfect.  I think I'll have it framed on her wall!  Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses and New Years Eve

We don't all get together each year for Christmas but when we do we enjoy Gingerbread House contests.  Each little family made their own this year.  Ours is the little square, spanish style in the middle (due to a broken set of pieces).  Emma loved decorating this and only hate twice as much candy as ended up on the house!  In the end, we decided that they could be fun New Year's toys.  Someone came up with the idea to put firecrackers in them and blow them up!  It was quite funny and if my videos would up load you could see for yourself.  Instead you can see the pieces left as the aftermath! 

Happy Birthday Kinzie!

Our Dearest Kinzie,

You would have been one on the 22nd of January.  Oh how we miss you but we had a good day.  Emma tells me that you got our notes in the balloons.  I envy her dreams and whether they are just that, dreams, or actual visits from you or to you, I continue to see her sweet spirit evident in the lasting effect of your love for her.  Most of the time she is content to tell everyone about our baby but she hurts too.  Just a couple days ago she started sobbing in the car (age 2 years, 11 months) and said, "Mom, I just want Kinzie to come back."  All I could say was, "I know honey, I know.  I do too," and try to drive through my tears.  Although we ache for you, we also are beginning to understand how much joy can come from "opposition in all things."  You truly can't understand joy without understanding sadness at some point.  We think of you daily and love you forever. 

Love, Mom, Dad, and Emma

 Thank you to our dear friends and family who were with us on this day.  The flowers were beautiful (sorry Brett and Brittany.  Your flower basket was beautiful but hadn't arrived at the time of this picture) and the calls so appreciated.  Cale's parents were able to come up and send a balloon to heaven too.  It was a healing day and ironically not nearly as hard as the days that would follow. 

 We made a cute bunny cake and decorated your grave.  Emma loves to do this and we do too.  She loved this bunny cake (thank you Doug and Kim for the cake book!) and is so excited for her birthday. 

Happy 32nd!

Happy Birthday Honey!  I can't believe we are making our way through our 30s now and that you are 32.  I still feel 25 and too young to be where we are at but I'm so glad that I am where we are at with you.  You complete us.  You bouy me up when I can't do another day or another hour.  You work long hours and then come home and take over for me.  You do laundry, you cook, you give Emma her bath and wash her hair.  You give and you give and we love you for it.  Happy 32nd honey. 

Merry Christmas Kinzie!

We really enjoy decorating Kinzie's grave and hope to get her headstone this year.  I've been trying to keep up with the holidays more.  Emma loves doing anything for Kinzie!  For Christmas we hung some pretty silver bells on the candy cane as well as the Rudolf stocking.  We switched the flowers to Poinsettias and if you look close at the bottom you'll see our Thanksgiving Pinecone Turkeys which are miraculously still there!

We love you Kinzie!  Ironically we miss you more during this season centered on the most perfect baby of all - Our Saviour Jesus Christ.  But as our thoughts turn to Him and thus to you, we are brought full circle to also pondering that joyous day when He himself will return to the world, bringing you with Him.  

Merry Christmas Sweetie. 

   

Flying a kite!

We have had this kite for so long but every time we think to try flying it, the wind has not been blowing.  Shocking I know for Snowflake.  On this particular day, I had been trying for an hour to help my two year old Emma get her kite to fly...all while letting her do it herself of course.  Finally, I found that this satisfied her little heart!  Not only was the kite "flying" but she was doing it!  (P.S. This is mid-December, no snow...yet)

Santa!

We once again took Emma to the annual Snowflake light parade, town Christmas light lighting, and trip to Santa.  This year was so much warmer than last year and we quickly got in line to see Santa.  We only waited an hour or less and she SAW him.  Last year we waited for hours and then gave up and went home.  She was excited to go sit on his lap but still shy.  Her answers were very monotone and she wouldn't quite look at him.  She did however love the goody bag he gave her full of candy!  The streets are blocked off and the town provided cookies and hot chocolate.  There was chili this year and always live performances!  They include a nativity area too where everyone can gather to see the many sets collected from towspeople.  It's just a fun night.  The light parade needs some work but we always go to Show-Low's too, which is great! 

This last picture is how we feel when we get home but was actually a couple days later.  Yes, there are 3 babies and Emma on his lap, all taking a "nap."