Sweet sleepover...

While Braden, Melissa, and Bela visited South Carolina this weekend, Emma got to spend the weekend with us. I found myself laughing and crying all at the same time knowing my time with her was quickly coming to an end. Watching her investigate every cupboard and drawer, playing gitchoo (tag) with Grandpa and watching her little legs trying to round the corners as fast as she could (she can pretty much outrun her Grandpa now), listening to her imaginary telephone conversations, and playing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" as she jumped with joy were memories I will treasure forever. We soon found out her favorite food was "caroni" (mac n' cheese no matter what time of day, this is what she requests), you don't give her cookies before naptime (sugar equals even more energy), and if you play a song and she likes it, you're going it hear it again and again and again. MICH (I'm a C H R I S T I A N) and WHOLE (Whole World in my hands) were her favorites and she even requested SHOOBY DOOBY (Pennies from Heaven). I think we heard those at least a thousand times until we all knew the words and could sing them with her. Her discoveries for this weekend: that she and her monkey appear on one computer desktop while Bela appears on the other (she was bowled over by that!), that Grandma and Grandpa won't let you fall asleep on the kid's toys at the Westland Shopping Center play area, and that all of Grandma's handles on her cupboards can spin until they're all loose. Oh, how I will miss her mischievious giggles, her constant bursts of energy, and her ability to wow us with her knowledge (me home! as we rounded the corner from Palmer to Linville - now how did she know that?). We will miss holding little Bela, having her fall asleep in our arms, watching her face light up with a smile when we talk to her, watching her breathe as she sleeps. It makes us sad that we will miss seeing Bela discover her hands and feet, find her voice, and be excited to visit Grandma and Grandpa since she knows she will be spoiled here. Guess there will be lots of trips to South Carolina and lots of requests for the kids to be sent back here for extended stays.

You go girl!

For anyone who doesn't already know about Niki hiking the Appalachian Trail, check out her trail journal at: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=4802. She's my hero and I marvel at her desire and ability to hike the 2,174 miles. Keep her in your prayers that she stays safe...

Slippers & Boots!

Pictures of Emma and Bela from Emma's infamous swimming lessons! Although she tried to be brave, Emma wanted no part of being in the pool.



A visit from Melissa and the grandkids yesterday resulted in lots of laughs as Emma kept us all in stitches with her love of Grandpa's slippers and boots! She managed to clunk her way around the living room in both sets dodging all the various furniture and toys strewn about. Bela was at peace for the majority of time either sleeping or eating. She does recognize her mommy and gives the biggest smile whenever Melissa talks to her. She definitely looks more like her mommy every day...

Little velcro... 2nd sleepover!

Bela is definitely attached to her mommy already showing her Grandma that she wants no part of being cared for by anyone other than her mom. Poor thing just cries and cries. We even tried wrapping her in Melissa's coat thinking her momma's scent would soothe her but to no avail. She knew we weren't her mom and expressed herself so that everyone in our building knew it. It was reliving Melissa's infancy all over again. I'm sure in time, the lactose intolerance, the reflux, and getting used to us will get better.

Emma got to spend her 2nd night away at Grandma and Grandpa's and although it was a slightly rocky start when Bradon & Melissa tried to leave, Melissa finally calmed her down enough where Emma fell asleep and didn't wake up until 7am the next morning. Oh, how I love to walk in the room after she first wakes up! With a huge smile and with her jumping up and down, she starts naming everything she sees showing you how smart she is. After breakfast, it was a trip to Toys R' Us that brought a smile to her face as she got to pick out a ball - a big blue ball as she calls it - which she then managed to carry throughout the store. Her favorites... Thomas the Train set and the Radio Flyer tricycles which she tested out for quite some time. It figures that she was actually trying to figure out how the different components of the train set worked! There's nothing girly about this little one...

On the way home we stopped and ordered a pizza - one of Emma's favorites - and her and Grandpa went on a long walk while waiting for our order to come up. With a red nose and rosy cheeks, she insisted on walking as much as her little legs would take her. She insisted that only Grandpa could hold her hand as I joined their little party. Too funny! On her walk, she found a little piece of bush on the ground and insisted it was a flower which she then took home to her mom with pride as well as her new big, blue ball. Shooby dooby Emma, Shooby dooby!

Congrats to Jamie!!!

Congrats Jamie on your acceptance to U of M grad school!!! See, all that hard work, long hours, and no sleep finally paid off. You're going to be a great architect in the very near future!!! Your Dad and I are absolutely thrilled and so very proud of you!!!

Latest update

It's March 6th and Spring is just around the corner! At least I hope it is. Jamie was home for the weekend for a school field trip. Her stay flew by with visits to her Grandparents and before we knew it, she was headed back to Chicago. I wish it could have lasted longer. At least we found her a winter coat - one that will keep her warm.

Niki's departure for her Appalachian trail hike is fast approaching. We wish you a very safe and wonderful trip Niki! Take lots of pictures and keep us updated on your trail journal and we'll see you in 6 months.

Jamie, Melissa, Braden, Emma, Bela, and I went to see Ron's last basketball game of the year and what a hoot! Bela slept through all the bells, whistles, and band playing while Emma ran the entire track chasing the "kids" several times. By the end, she was sweating but had the biggest smile on her face. She got to touch the big bees on the walls (the Hornet is Saline's mascot), dance to the music, watch the drummers bang their drums, play "gitchoo" with her Dad and Grandpa, and run to her heart's content. I don't think I've ever seen her so excited! Check out the t-shirt Melissa made for both Emma and Bela in support of their Grandpa. Grandpa #1 and Best Coach on the front/back of the shirts. Too cute! Thanks Eent Jeemie for the pictures... If you have some of Bela in her shirt, please send them to me and I'll post them.

Yesterday, I got to watch Emma while Melissa took Bela in for a doctor's appointment. Emma was napping when I got there so she had quite a surprise when she woke up, called out for "Mommy" and Grandma opened the bedroom door. Her excitement at seeing me absolutely melted my heart. After playing with toys, she asked for Siwuwa (Cinderella) and patiently waited for 1/2 an hour while this Grandma tried figuring out the remote controls with no reading glasses. That was a trip! We could hear the movie and I even got it to play in French before I hit the right set of buttons so Emma could actually watch it. She just sat there on the couch listening to the dialogue with a smile waiting for her Grandma to come to the rescue. Whew! I passed that test but barely!