We love Sundays!

Fun times at church today, as usual!

Emma jammed with worship team before service...

Toby and his buddies, up to no good after!

Redo

Toby's fauxhawk was in need of some maintenance, so I broke out the clippers and tried it myself!

Daddy's girl

Beautiful

Apparently I have not convinced Emma that her smile is wonderful since she said the same thing to Scott this week!

He told her that everyone has a different smile, even him, and Toby.  Scott and Toby both smiled together and she agreed they were quite different.

Then he told her he thinks she has a wonderful smile.  That helped.

I think we are just going to have to do lots of verbal assurance that she, and her smile, is beautiful.  Now, I'm not comfortable with false flattery, but since I truly believe this, I will not be lying.

It's truly amazing how a few words of honest encouragement and loving praise can impact the soul.  It's not the way of the world, but that is God's way, and it's the best!

Song of Solomon 4:1 Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! 

You're a sly one!

Two very Emma funny stories!

Yesterday, Emma and Toby were outside playing with Kylie (7) and Evan (5) our new neighbors.  Evan was riding the kids tricycle, and Emma was laughing at him.

Apparently Kylie thought she was crying and told Evan to give Emma the trike.

We only know this because Emma later said to Scott "it was funny that she thought I was crying when I was laughing!  I didn't tell her though because I wanted the bike!"

_________________________

Last night, in that time between dinner and bed/bath, Emma was watching Sophia the First.  It was an episode even Scott has seen, so he was going for an early bedtime...

Scott: Em, what happens at the end of this episode?
Em: I can't remember!
(Remember, the girl has an incredible memory for EVERYTHING, especially TV and movies!)

Repeated a few times, and we realize she knows full well that an affirmative answer will result in early termination of TV viewing!

She finally offered up a little information, but she got to watch he whole show!


Clearly, we have a sly one on our hands!!

Fun in the sun

Looking through old pictures this morning, and can't help thinking about what's coming in a few months! Especially when it's still dark when I get up in the morning.

Mini-me

On the way home from the hospital the other day we stopped by my office.  It was Emma's wish, and since I remember loving going in to work with my parents (I guess I had some well-behaved moments?!), how could I say no.

She had everyone's attention, got a bunch of free stuff and we let her answer my phone (to one of us on a mobile!)...

Here she is with my friend Jess, who beckoned Emma to sit on her lap while she finished a phone call.  It was very amusing because she underestimated how hard it is to get a 53lb kid on your lap with one arm and no help!!

Babydoll

A new school, new friends and a new beginning.  Every woman knows that requires a new wardrobe!!

With a couple new shirts imported from the UK, (thanks Mum!) and a rampage through the Kohl's girls department, we have a variety of babydoll shirts and leggings for Emma to start school with!

How fortunate that the most flattering shape for Emma is in style this season!

Smoothie

I made Toby a banana and strawberry smoothie after dinner.  10 minutes later he comes back to the kitchen and told me he doesn't like it with strawberries, he just wants banana.

He didn't like it...

Dose of reality

So, we're just chillin at the playground, Emma plops down on the bench next to me and before I even realize what she's talking about she says "I don't like my smile because it only goes down."  i thin she'd started by saying that she likes each of our smiles, but I hadn't started listening.

It was surreal because she didn't seem deeply upset, just fed-up.  I asked her what she does like about herself, and told her what I like about her - her favorite topic of conversation!  She seemed okay with the resolution!

I dropped it in that when she's older we might be able to do something to her smile, but surgery is a last resort and we're still in the exploration of kinesio taping therapy and other things.

I guess this is just the start. 

Puppy love

Emma is convinced that she does not like dogs, especially when they jump and lick her.  In reality barking has a greater reaction with her.

Since so many people we know have dogs, and one day we might like one, I'm keen to de-sensitize her to this fear.

On Friday we went over to visit Melissa, who you may recall has a teacup Pomeranian named Harley.  (A grandiose name for a fuzzy rat!!). 

When Emma was younger than 3 we have video of her with Harley, and she was fine.  On Friday, not so much!

However, by the end of our hourlong visit, she was not only throwing the ball, chasing him and stroking him, she was telling him to lick her hand!  "It feels warm."

She can't wait to go back and see him!

Oh, and fun with Leighton too!!

Last of the summer holidays!

Enjoying some time at the park in the great summer weather!

Days of summer

With only two weeks left until the last weekend of summer, it seems like things should be winding down.  Not so - we're cranking it up to squeeze in every drop of fun before school starts!

Today, a picture perfect summer day (hot but not humid or windy), we hosted a church BBQ at our house.  At least 58 people (at least half kids!) came between 3-6pm, and had a blast!

It was a church event, so we just provided the location, while the church brought the moonbounce, tables and chairs, and people brought food with them!  I love how that works out!

We have two playhouses and one "jungle gym" with two slides, which the kids also enjoyed.  Not to mention the bikes and power wheels that came out!

There was a moment of extreme drama when Emma claimed to have been stung by a bee and was hysterical!  My nurse friend, and all evidence suggested this was unlikely, but Emma was consoled only by being allowed inside to watch TV!  I think she just needed a rest, and was back out in an hour!

Check out some of the fun we had...

Before:

Inflated:

There's a good amount of vicarious living when you have a moon bounce at your house!  It's like a kids dream come true!!

Emma & Abby

Toby and Sophia (reunited after Sophia's two week vacation!  He missed her!)

Em & Sophia

Chilling out front

Water ice!

Finally, to bed.  Thoroughly exhausted and unable to keep their eyes open.

Cranio-facial day

Every 12-18mths Emma gets called in to Children's Hospital for a day of appointments with specialists on the cranial-facial team.  Today is that day.

We may be here from 8:30am to 4pm, and will see all the following:

Plastic surgery

Genetics 

ENT (Ear Nose and Throat)

Audiology

Ophthalmology 

Dental

Developmental pediatrics

Psychology

It's not my first rodeo, so I came prepared, armed with a DVD player and 4 movies, a laptop, my phone charger, and as much patience as I can muster!!

Spending a day in a series of small windowless rooms can be pretty challenging, but I'm thankful that Nanna is watching Toby for me!

So, Em and I will do our best to stay friends, stay amused and get out of here as soon as possible!!

What would you do in a room for two hours?  We took some pictures!!

Growing boy

Toby can no longer make it through the day without a nap, right around dinner time!  He must be growing because he sleeps well at night too!

I'm not going to complain because moments like these will be a distant memory soon enough!!

Saturday sun

On Saturday the kids and I spent the afternoon with friends at the pool today, while Scott worked.  It would be an understatement to say I'm blessed to have such a hard-working husband!  

And to spend time with these guys at the  pool so often is wonderful.  Reminds me of vacations as a kid!

It was great that Toby finally tried to swim today!  He's such a nervous Nellie and takes some convincing to even get in the pool!  Today was the first time he picked his feet up to float, then kick some.  He had on armbands and an inflatable ring!!  He has a long way to go before feeling comfortable in the ocean though.

We'll get these kids swimming eventually!

Sunny afternoon

After church today we took the kids, and Kim, and headed west to Aunt Maureen's house.  It's great to visit family, add in a beautiful pool in the countryside and that's a great Sunday afternoon!!

Emma was in the water for a good three hours before the shade cooled thing down and the pizza arrived!

But the fun didn't end there, we hung out and visited for a while.

Emma got cozy with John, Scott's cousin Lisa's boyfriend!

He kept rescuing her from Lucy, the family Pomeranian.  Although Toby took to Lucy and bonded with her!

The kids helped water the thirsty plants

And because Aunt Maureen and Uncle John have a doggy resort, the kids got to see all other kinds of dogs, including this big guy!

Emma protests that she doesn't like dogs, but in reality she doesn't like jumpy barking dogs!  So behind a gate they are fine, or the cute little Havanese we met who she fondly rubbed on the head saying "who's a cutie?!"  (Havanese don't shed and she was very friendly and soft - have to remember that for when we want to grow the family!!

It was such a nice afternoon, thanks guys!

Quote of the Day

We took a trip to Kohls, a big department store with great deals on clothes, tonight.  Scott forgot his phone so after the kids and I went to look in a different section we couldn't find Scott or call him.

I said "uh-oh, he's gonna be mad at us!"

Em said "actually, I don't think he's gonna be mad at us.  He's gonna be mad at you!"

I have yet to meet a funnier kid!!

Transition

It seems like only a short time since we transitioned from in-home Early Intervention therapies to the Intermediate Unit for PT and OT.  But it was almost 3 years ago!

Today was Emma's last visit to the IU, having seen Miss Allie for her last Speech consultation on Friday

And today, we said goodbye to Miss Heather, after a fun session of PT

And so it is that in 4 weeks Emma enters the public school system, starting with 5 afternoons a week in Kindergarten.

I received a fat packet of paperwork to complete for her, and it told me her teachers name.  I threw it out to my friends and they said:

"Oh my goodness.  You're gonna love her.  She's awesome!!!!!!! And mrs. W her helper and sooo funny.  The kids love her  

Emma will love them too.  Especially mrs w."

And "No way!!!! Mrs B. is a christian! She's my friend on fb and was thrilled at my vbs posts"!! You will love her!!!!!!!!!  This is a God thing I know it!!!!!"

I couldn't agree more!  The US school system is a far cry from the UK system.  Here, specifically Christian faith is outlawed, separation of church and state to the extreme.  So to have someone who may share some of our core beliefs and values at the steering wheel for Emma's start at school is a HUGE relief!

After therapy this morning we stopped by Em's new school to check out the playground as they suggested at induction.  Turns out it was great timing because the principal was there.  She didn't appear until I told the receptionist that "this is Emma" and boom! there she was - "I want to meet Emma!"

She gave Emma a hug and some other chit chat aimed at connecting with Emma.  It was so encouraging.  Funnily Emma said at dinner "she was too nice!"

The kids had fun playing for an hour, they really do get along well.

Not to wish our summer away, but the countdown is on!  Thankfully Toby starts a week later, so Emma (and I) will be settled in her routine!

Beach pics!

We may not be taking a vacation this year, but we sure are making the most of the weekends!!