Under protest!!!

To the City of Chicago Department of Revenue... One of Chicago's finest warned me about you and boy, was he right! I have never met a bigger bunch of people who hated their jobs more, do as little as possible, and you feel you have the right to give people the almighty run-around! When I called 5 minutes before your shift ended, you didn't have to yell "Wrong Number" and then hang up. When I called you again (on the same number), you didn't have to say "Sorry, we're closed!". You didn't have to give me 3 different phone numbers only to find out that the original number I called was right. If you don't like your job - give it to someone who wants to work! You sent me a $50 ticket on a car that had been stolen and requested documenation if I wanted to fight it. I gathered all that documentation, sent it to you with a long letter explaining what happened. Today, I got a notice telling me that because I didn't provide that documentation, I could have my license suspended, have a lien put against my house, and/or be reported to a credit agency. My question to you is.... whose desk is my documentation sitting on and WHO DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB???

My grandbabys...

Olive, as Jamie calls Emma, is growing up before my eyes! She's a lover of music and books and will shake her little booty to any song she hears. She imitates animals and has mastered every electronic button she sees. She knows exactly what Grandma's TV remote control will do and excitedly asks in her little sign language for me to give her what she wants - her Brainy Baby shows. If I ask her if she wants to take a nap, she walks to her play yard and waits for me to put her in. Not a peep comes out of her until her nap is done and then she hands over her pacifier to me knowing it's only for nap time. She loves to bang things together to hear loud noises yet will entertain herself with her box of toys. She's mastered all her finger puppets and will make sure everyone sees all the little animals covering her fingers. Emma's grasp of how things work just amazes me - she's mastered every toy we have and remembers how they all work every time.

Only a little over 3 more months and we're going to have 2 Granddaughters to love and spoil! We can't wait!

Grandpa and Grandma's 1st Annual Outing

Our first annual birthday outing with Emma resulted in a trip to Domino Farms Petting Zoo. At first, Emma wasn't a big fan of real live animals talking to her or wanting to be petted. She wanted nothing to do with them. But, she warmed up fast and then Grandpa and I couldn't keep up with her. She was off and running, exploring every nook and cranny of the barn just running from room to room. Funny how fast she warmed up to every animal! We took a hay ride around the farm and then it was a trip to the Dairy Queen for a bowl of vanilla ice cream. A few bites and Emma just wanted to run! She kept giggling at the freezer cakes thinking they were hilarious! It was too funny... Perhaps too much sugar? It was definitely too much sugar for Grandma as it made me feel sick so we had to cut our trip short. Sorry Emma!!!

Emma's Party

This says it all...

Happy 1st Birthday Emma!!!

Emma is officially 1 year old!!! Happy birthday Sweetie!

In the past year, Emma has definitely shown us that she is a combination of both her mom (she has the energy of 10 kids with very little napping) and her dad (she studies everything and can take certain things apart faster than you can imagine). She loves to play "Where's Emma", read books, listen to music, run from room to room, and swing like there's no tomorrow. Just try taking her off of a swing before she's ready!!! She has an unbelievable memory, remembering things she especially likes - Grandpa's horseback rides and his watch - asking for these over and over! She has no fear of animals and loves to chase our cat, Pockets, which is a trip since Pockets wants nothing to do with her. Since learning to walk at 10 months, there is no stopping her. She is a constant whirlwind of activity! She's going to be a talker just like her mom and someone who likes to take things apart just like her dad. I've never known a baby who could take cd's out of their covers or the cd-players faster than her. She loves remote controls or anything with buttons to push. Definitely a child with a very inquisitive mind!

Happy 1st Birthday Emma! May you have many more years of mud pie making, chasing rainbows, and forming objects out of clouds. With much love, Grandma!

Grandpa's Watch

Emma is definitely Grandpa's girl!!! She has her favorite toy - the one thing she requests every time she sees him - his watch! I don't know what it is about that watch - but she loves it and he gladly turns it over to her every time...

Happy Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day to all the "Dads" in the family. You are all wonderful and we love you very much!

Here is a picture of Braden and Emma on his 1st Father's Day.
Here is another picture of Great-Grandpa Charbonneau singing his "hoo hoo's" to Emma...

Thank you to Lise and Bim for opening up your home to us and letting us celebrate. The food was wonderful and we had a great time!!!

Family Reunion 2006

A very special thank you to Ellen for making this weekend so nice for everyone!

Emma's Blog

For anyone interested, Emma has her own web page... http://emmaolivia.blogspot.com/

Happy Easter!!!

Only 1 picture (out of 42) actually turned out halfway decent. If anyone has any they'd like me to post, please email them to me. I hope everyone's Easter was as much fun as ours was...

And you thought you could juggle...

Check out this website! Talk about a juggling talent!!!

http://marketplace.espeakers.com/movie.php?sid=5290&aid=10558

Long trip home from Aunt Jamie's

Emma - favorite pic

Great Grandpa & Emma

Teeny Bikini