Our Christmas Traditions

• We normally put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving, or somewhere around that time, depending on our travel plans, etc. This year we are moving, next week. I'm hoping to get at least a little tree up once we get moved and settled.
• We get a picture of Emma with Santa each year. Her very first picture with Santa she was sleeping and the last two, she was crying...I think this year she will be crying as well. I wish she would get over her fear of "dressed up" people. Halloween helped us a little but not totally.
• I always got an ornament each year growing up and have continued that into our married/family life. For Emma I get things that remind me of her that year. For example, last year she got a fish ornament and (I cheated and got two) a shoe ornament. She loved the "fishy Backyardigans" and she loves SHOES! This year I got her a tiara ornament because she LOVES princesses and was a princess for Halloween.
• I try to have a tree in all of the bedrooms. Emma's tree is decorated, the trees in the other rooms are not. I try to decorate the bathrooms and hallways etc. with something Christmas.
• Christmas Eve is filled with Christmas Eve services at church. One present (if not more) for each person. We also eat Enchilada's! When I was serving in China Josh came to visit for Christmas that year and I made Enchilada's on Christmas Eve. We have continued that tradition each year. :)
• So far for each Christmas Eve/Christmas we have been at our home. I'm sure that will be where the majority of our Christmas's are spent since Josh is a minister. I like it that way.
• I look forward to the traditions we continue to develop has a family. I love Christmas time!

I will try to post some pictures later! :)

Fun at the Traylor's

Pastor and Mrs. Liz had us out to their home one afternoon this week. Emma enjoyed being outside (and inside) exploring everything. She would take off running from inside the house to the outside. She LOVED it! She is still talking about "the lake". She showed off her strong will a few times (alot); once, by running down the pier? and jumping into the paddle boat while everyone else was on land...thankfully she stayed in the boat until I got her! Thursday was the first day that Emma slept in and got enough sleep since we have been here and I must say her behavior and strong will has been MUCH better. This little girl doesn't do great off her schedule.

Thank you Pastor & Mrs. Liz for letting us come visit you at your home. We had a great time! :)

Feeding the fish old bread.

"Cheese" Pastor teaching Emma how to hold the whole biscuit in the water and let the fish nibble. I'm not sure she ever really did it!

Fishing with Pastor...or watching Pastor fish! :)

Riding (and talking) in the paddle boat with Daddy.

The fish Pastor caught to show Emma.

Emma has been concerned since then because the fish had no name!

Up close (kind of) and personal with Mr. Fish.

Emma's Actual Brith Day!

Emma's actual "birth' day fell on the Saturday of the Disciple Now at our church. We took a cake up there and got Emma her own big cupcake to eat. She was a bit embarrassed by all the people singing to her but definitely enjoyed her 'pup'cake! :)

Emma's 3rd Birthday 'Pup'cake! :)

Blowing out the candle, Daddy had to hold her and let her lean down. :) Excitement!

mmmmm

First few bites. :)

Enjoying each sprinkle one-by-one

mmmmm, that icing sure was good :)

Birthday Party at School

The Cupcake Pops I made for Emma's School party.

I'll have to take a better picture of them next time.

Emma calls them 'pup'cake pops! :)

Showing it off. Checking it out before taking a bite.

1st bite.

Eating with friends.

Messy, Messy! ;)

Emma's Stats

Two-Year Old Check Up Height: 3'0" Weight: 29 lb 30z Less then a month later Height: 3'1" Weight: 30 lb 0oz Three-Year Old Check Up Height: 3'5" Weight: 37.8 lb (gained over 4 pounds in less than 4 months) All that to say, Emma was MUCH easier to carry last year. I can't carry her for long...she is too heavy and too tall!!!!

Happy Halloween!

We went Trick-or-Treating with friends from church. What fun!

Sweet Emma sat down next to a couple handing out candy on their front steps. She wanted to help them hand it out and eat some! ;) Trick-or-Treat, Give me something good to eat! :) We are STILL talking about the lady with the sheet on her head! Trick-or-Treating with one of my favorite students. She LOVES him and he loves her back. I wish he was mine! Picture with Mommy I'm so disapointed we didn't get a family picture. Josh was "Facebook". :)

Walking with Daddy.

I love this picture!

All that Trick-or-Treating made the little girl HUNGRY!

The 50 cent corndog special from Sonic.

Full belly, worn out girl!

The pictures below are from the Fall Festival at Bayleaf that we attended the night before. It was PACKED! They always do a great job but it was so crowded!!!

Emma and our friend! :)

Emma and her buddy from church.

Dancing to the Music

Catching Up

We have been SUPER busy so I am going to catch up on my posts over the next few days...stay tuned. Right now, we are in FL for Thanksgiving. For the past two weeks we have been busy at home packing boxes, cleaning out, discarding and preparing for our Thanksgiving Vacation. Now that I don't HAVE to pack boxes I can catch up the blog. I'll start with Halloween and then Emma's actual Birth'day'! :) Enjoy! :)

Home to Be...

the front

the kitchen

the living room

the dining room

I want to go back and see it again! :)

I can't wait...lots of work to get done between now and then! :)

Happy Birthday, Bug!

Sweet Emma, You are THREE today. I cannot believe it! You are so tall and so grown up and most of the time you use your good manners. :) You are soooo friendly. When I think of your friendliness I always think of your great-Papa. As I have said many times before, he would have LOVED hanging out with you! Last night, in the car, was the first time I heard you make up your own song and you did a great job. It sounded great and even rhymed. I pray that you continue to love music and will always use it to honor and share the love of our Lord. You LOVE school, everything about it! Your teachers this year are fabulous and you have learned so much. You have memorized NINE Bible Verses already. I am so proud of you! Your memory is much like your daddies. I hope it always stays that way! It is so neat for Mommy to hear you talking to your toys and then all of a sudden say a Bible Verse, one you hadn't said in a while. Always, hide God's word in your heart so you can remember it yourself and share it with others! This weekend is a busy weekend for your Daddy, he is hosting Disciple Now at the church with 56 youth. You have been such a good helper, helping Mommy and Daddy get ready for the weekend. You LOVE to help! It is my prayer that you will always have a servants heart and be willing to lend a hand to those in need. You are very much a leader. I pray that you will lead for our Lord. That you will follow the straight and narrow path. It may not always be easy but it is always right. I pray that your strong will :) will keep you head strong in the race of faith. Sometimes you follow and when you do, I pray that you follow the mighty men and women of faith. I pray now that the Lord will put great, women in your life just as he has in mine that have helped me to become who I am today. Sweet Emma, there is so much more that I can say. Your Daddy and I love you with all of our hearts, we pray for you daily and we can't wait to see what God does with your life. You will always be my little "bug" and my "baby girl"! I love you so much beautiful!!! Love, Mommy

Elevator Incident...

Dear Elevator Maker, My baby girl got her hand stuck in the elevator at church today. She happened to be leaning on the elevator when it opened and it took her hand with it as it went back into the opening. Once her hand went back the elevator stopped opening, half way. It wouldn't go further back, thank the Lord, but it wouldn't open up either to release her hand. I, not in my right mind, I could only repeat "Oh, my God, please help her!" over and over while my husband tried to figure out how to open the door and release her hand. I tried pulling her hand but was afraid to pull too hard thankfully my friend was in her right mind and decided to pull as hard as she could and her hand was released. My question is, Do you think you can do something so that if an object (aka hand) gets stuck in the elevator as the door is opening that you can cause the elevator to close??? I know it stops if there is an object blocking the door as it is closing but after today and watching my daughter scream and me lose my mind do you think you can provide another safety net...or put some type of barrier up so that little hands or objects can't get between the door and the door frame? Please? I would be so grateful and so would my beautiful girl! A Worried Mom