Serenity

Mark took Karsy fishing one evening last week. He brought back this photo he took of her and I fell in love with it. It just looks so calm...so peaceful...so serene...so not like our little Eva Lu most of the time;) Although she typically appears to be care-free, I know she internalizes many of her worries. She has been heavily on my mind these days. I wonder what is going through that head of hers...wonder what she is thinking about...wonder if she knows what a incredible little girl she is~

the Help

Bailee and I had a date this weekend and went to see the Help. I normally would not let her see a PG-13 movie, but I had asked my friend about it and she convinced me that other than some mild language....it was appropriate. I have been dying to see this movie, but was really wanting to read the book first. When I realized it would only be in our Theater for another week, I decided the book would have to come later this time:) This was the BEST movie I have seen in a very long time. Of course I cried my eyes out, but I loved everything about it!! The story is touching and the message is something we all need reminded of...... "change begins with a whisper". The movie is filled with wonderful examples of strong women and I was so glad to share this movie with my daughter. If you have not seen it you definitely should. I will be seeing this one again....I may even buy it. I was so moved by this movie I think it is worth mentioning;)

Calapittar Party

To celebrate our little Emm turning 5, we hosted a Very Hungry Caterpillar (or Calapittar=) Party. The plan was to keep the crowd number at 5, but one could not make it so we ended up with 3 little friends+ Emm, which was perfect for this age group (or any). Now why I tried to plan a themed party (with all the little details) in the mist of all the school and teaching going on right now..... WHO KNOWS...but it came together nicely and we managed to pull it off. I think we had a "Very Pleased EmmreyAlise" to say the least.


The invitations went out a week prior to the gathering...cute little caterpillars with all the info


We held the party right after school so that it could be over just in time to send the kids home for dinner full on cake and ice cream;) Okay so we weren't all that bad...we did have a nice little spread with all the things the Hungry Caterpillar eats in the book (plus and minus a few) most of it rather healthy!! During their little picnic, Mark read to them from the book:)


The guests were greeted with their antennae to wear and we quickly got them started on making a fingerprint caterpillar for their take home bag. This way we could do it one at a time rather than all the kids at once. They dried pretty quickly and turned out so cute.

After making bags and munching on our snacks, we headed out in the yard (PERFECT Fall weather:) to hunt for caterpillars and butterflies. I had made each of the girls these little personalized jars for housing their critters.

Bailee and Karsyn led them in a Very Hungry Caterpillar memory game while I got things cleaned up and cake and ice cream ready.

Emmrey opened her gifts from her friends. I love how kids this age are OVERLY excited to give their gift and open it FOR you:)

Then it was time for singin' Happy Birthday and eatin' some cake.

Now... at the end of the book the caterpillar turns into a beautiful..........BUTTERFLY!! So these cute little girls did as well. They ran around the yard with their wings just a fluttering. Such a sweet group of girls.....all of them were so well behaved, which makes you actually enjoy having other kids over!!

The little girls went home with their bags, jar, H2O bottle, Caterpillar Food, and a bead necklace that Emmrey had made for each of them all by herself....so CUTE!!

The party was short and sweet....and went very smoothly!! Before we knew it the time had come for the little butterflies to fly away home......(from l-r Peyton, Jane, Emmrey, Adrian)

5 years ago today.......

While the rest of the world is commemorating a very awful day in history, we are celebrating a wonderfully blessed day in our family. Five years ago today, Emmrey Alise entered the world and our life has never been happier. She came to us in a somewhat tumultuous time and as Mark has said she was a "Calming Angel".

Emmrey has just been such a joy and is always putting a smile on our faces. She is the most loving little girl and gives the best "hugs, kisses and squeezes". She is a thinker and is always coming up with these questions and thoughts that blow us away. She has made our job as her parents fairly easy and we find ourselves wondering (hoping) if this will last;) She is happy, smart and just really loves life!! We feel so blessed to be her parents.


Since we had just returned from Casper, we didn't do a whole lot on her big day. It was also Sunday but that didn't bother Emmrey at all. She was excited to get to church and have the kids sing to her. She pretty much planned out what we were to do and when and we were informed the night before that we should remind her to stay in bed in the morning for her breakfast=) So in order to "respect the birthday", we made her choco chip pancakes served with milk and a flower on the side. She opened her present from Grampa Wayne and Gramma Cheryl and loved her new blanket and was hysterical about her new pink pig which she named "Lightning". We had the rest of her presents waiting for her after church...of course we had to wait until she told us how to give them to her;) It was a nice relaxing day today....the party will come later in the week!!
We love you so much little Emmy Boo... we would be lost without you!!!

Outdoor Expo & Historic Trails Center

It seems to have become tradition that the weekend of Emmrey's birthday we end up in Casper for the Outdoor Expo. The girls usually love to go and I think Emmrey has got the idea that Expo is her birthday!! This year Mark was asked to help set up the Expo which required him to go down early. I didn't want the girls and me to miss any extra days of school, so we left a day later. Karsyn decided that she was going to "work the Expo" and had secretly thrown in her G&F shirt like Dads. She spent the 2 full days working right along side Mark and wanting to be treated like a regular employee. I have to say it was so cute to see her so excited to head out in the morning. After that I don't feel like I saw her much. She didn't let me get too close for fear I would try and woo her away with me and the other girls (see how she is running from me in the picture?;)



We certainly had to make a trip to Fire Rock, one of our favorite places to eat in Casper and partake of their scrumptious Mac N Cheese.....

While Karsyn and Mark were busy slavin' away, I took Bailee and Emmrey next door to the National Historic Trails Center. The museum is amazing and covers Native Culture as well as the westward expansion. The entire thing is filled with hands on learning opportunities and we were able to ride in a covered wagon simulator, pull a handcart, take a Stage Coach, experience the workings of the Telegraph and feel the winter cold of the Martins Cove Trek.....it was so much fun!!!

Tiny Tots in Session

Two weeks after the rest of us headed back to school, Tiny Tots was back in session. This year there was no apprehension whatsoever. Emmrey was more than ready to get to preschool:)

She marched right in and new just what to do. She has the routine down.....backpacks and coats (not needed yet thank goodness;) on the hooks, grab a pencil and "sign in"....and head over for free time play.

She quickly found her little friend Payton, the only other returning kiddo from last year. The Yellow Sun class will be full of new friends to be made this year!!

Labor Day Weekend Fun

We just had to get one more camping trip in before summer slips away. We spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend in Yellowstone. There was a crispness in the air as we worked our way around the park among the many many visitors. I just love hearing all the conversations taking place in various languages from all over the world...it makes me happy=) We camped at Canyon Village this time and had a nice little site in the upper loop. We spent the first day getting set up and giving the girls plenty of time to use their imaginations around the campground. It didn't take long before they were playing with their critters that came along and planning out their "houses". Emmrey was busy making mini pies of all different types to serve us...I enjoyed the Cherry Weed flavor personally.

We also enjoyed Banana Boats, Smores, and Dinner (with ice cream) at Mammoth (although NOT all in one sitting:)

While at Mammoth, we had to go for a swim in the Boiling River. In the morning I was thinking it might be too cool to get in the water....man was it cold waking up! By by noon it had warmed up to 80 degrees and the idea of a swim was sounding better. Either way you can't really go wrong soaking in 113 degree water. It mixes with cold water so it doesn't actually feel that HOT but boy does it feel good.

We spent the next 3 days hiking around Tower Falls, Petrified Tree, Wraith Falls and Trout Lake.

At the end of it all, we were tired and dirty....but so sad to pack up.....
I live for these moments when we can get away from it all and just be together. This is the stuff I hope our girls always remember!!!