School work and a doll stroller

On Sunday, I came home from a weekend away and Emily was so excited to show me the project that she made at school. She comes home with a little something each day, but they work on a "big"project all week. She was so proud of it. We've been workin on coloring and staying inside the lines. As you can sort of see, she's doing ok in that department. I think the next thing, is handling scissors and actually cutting things. School is really helping her coordination. She has been receiving 1:1 physical therapy from the therapist at school and that is really starting to show. Also, she's seems to have had a word explosion. I can't believe how much more of a vocabulary that she has. I'm sure it helps to have a brother that has about a 500 word vocabulary. She and Louie sing the ABC's and count to 25 at the table all the time. They both are doing well with identifying their colors too. They are little sponges!

On the potty training scene, Emily is doing so well. She's has about one "accident" a day. She is dry in the morning about six days a week and runs to her potty to go first thing. We're so proud of her and the improvements that she's made. Now, is she would just figure out the #2 part of potty training. We'd all be so happy, especially Dan.

Sunday night, Louie was doing everything he could to irritate Emily. So, he climbed into the doll stroller to watch The Wonder Pets before we read stories and headed off to bed. Emily decided that she wasn't going to get mad, she just pushed him around the house. It was pretty funny!

Same book, different day

We celebrated Nicole's 21st birthday tonight. I can't believe she is 21, how did she become 21 already? When I met Nicole, she was a 12 year old that was going on 21. We've had our ups and downs over the years. I am so thankful that since becoming an adult, she has also become her own person and Dan, Emily, Louie and I are a part of her life.

Now the birthday party is over and I'm getting ready to go away for the weekend. Dan is giving Nicole a ride home and I just got done reading Emily her most favorite book in the world.

Emily LOVES Peter. She loves "The Snowy Day," but she loves Peter's Chair more. Auntie M gave Emily Peter's Chair when Louie was born, what a fitting book? Ever since, we have had to read that book for naps and bed time. A friend from work has a little boy named Peter and Emily was so confused, she didn't understand that someone else could have that name. When she goes to bed and the book isn't there, she asks for "Peter" every night.

Funny, the Ezra Jack Keats books were my favorites when I was a kid. The Snowy Day was my favorite.

Emily's Favorites:
Peter's Chair

Fisher Price Piggy Bank

American Baby Bitty Twins

her puppy and doggie

Louie's Favorites:

Gordon (from Thomas and Friends)

any truck

bananas

anything that is currently in Emily's hands

Emily's doll buggy

Sid the Science Kid

She's HOME!!!

Sara, Charlotte and her parents returned home from Guatemala last night. Charlotte was asleep, I guess she was meant to be a traveller. She slept pretty much the whole way home. I wonder if she slept last night in her new house?? She's such a beautiful little girl, she's already got Grandpa and Grandpa wrapped around her finger . . . It was fun to see them come home. Welcome home Charlotte!!!

Some pictures from Bailey's pony party

We all had a fun time yesterday at the pony party!

The Pony Party

We went to Bailey's Pony Party today. It was icky weather outside, but the pony still came to give all the kids rides. I thought that Emily and Louie would have been a little more resistant to going on the horsey. . . . not so much. They really liked it.

All the kids got to go two times. The first time down the block, the horse had a fly and shook off. Nathan didn't like that and wanted nothing to do with Dusty for the rest of the party.

First Louie went for a ride. I asked him and he said "ummmm, no thank you." But Dennis picked him up and put him on and he loved it. They went down the street and back.

When Louie's turn was over, Emily got on for a ride. She liked it too! I was totally shocked. She was so proud of herself.

After the pony rides, there was a pinata, the kids had fun trying to pull the string to break it open. Finally, a shower of candy fell to the hungry hands below.

I'll post pictures tomorrow. Tonight, it's off to the airport to welcome Sara and Charlotte home from Guatemala! Yeah!

the most dangerous recipe in the world . . .

My sister just sent me an e-mail with this recipe attached. She thought that maybe Dan would like it for a little afternoon snack . . . why yes, we would love this recipe. Who else doesn't need a whole pan of brownies sitting around begging to be eaten the day they are made?

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake (Hello, a mug!) perfect size for self gratification . . .

4 T flour
4 T sugar
2 T cocoa powder
1 egg
1 T milk
3 T oil
3 T chocolate chips (it says optional?? but really, optional for who???)
a splash of vanilla extract
1 coffee mug (16 oz.)

put dry ingredients in mug and mix well
add egg and mix thoroughly
pour in milk and oil, mix well
add (optional) chocolate chips, vanilla and mix.
microwave for 3 minutes on high.
the cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
allow to cool a little and tip onto a plate or if you can't wait that long, eat right out of the mug.

Note: this will serve 2 (yeah, right) if you want to share, or 1 and you'll have enough for later (no chance)

So, make this little slice of heaven when you're in need of a chocolate fix. Leave a comment and let me know how it turns out. Remember, I haven't made this one (yet!). But plan to . . .

Quick update

Emily's Second Day of School

Dan is happy to report that Emily very happily got on the bus and had a really good day today. She also came home in the same clothes that she left in, which means that she didn't have an accident at school!
We're slowly, but surely getting there with the potty training. slowly being the key word . . .

Home from school

I just love the beauty of fall flowers. Out with the geraniums and in with the mums in the window boxes on Sunday. We picked up this lovely bushel basket arrangement at Gerten's last week. It is so pretty.
Changing the subject, Emily came home from school today and got off the bus all smiles. She also made it through school without wetting her pants! HUGE yeah for us. . . .
She loved school, is totally overtired and is in bed trying to fall asleep right now. We're actively pushing up bedtime to 7pm. She is exhausted when she gets home from school and needs to get 12-13 hours of sleep, especially since she more than likely won't be taking a nap.
Here's a little video of her getting off the bus.

First day of school!

Today is Emily's first day of school. She was very excited to go and see her friends, especially Emmett.

Mary, the bus aid, said that Emmett got on the bus and told her that he wanted Emily to sit next to him when they got to her house. Isn't that sweet? They have seen each other a couple times this summer at church. Emmett's family goes to Assumption too.

Well, all was fine until they got her hooked up to her seatbelt contraption. It is a different type of bus than last year. They had built in child restraints on that one. This year, the kids have to put on a "vest" and the vest is attached to the bus seat. I guess it's safe? I don't blame her for crying, putting that thing on .

But she's off to school and hopefully, keeping her pants dry and having fun with her new friends. Oh, and Louie was carrying on on the front lawn because he wanted to go on the bus too. Maybe Emily was sympathy crying for him? Who knows, she was not a happy girl.

Finally!

For those of you that have been following along, Sara FINALLY got her baby yesterday.
She's beautiful and has been incredibly loved by the foster family that has cared for her for the past year.
I am so happy for Sara that her journey to Charlotte has finally ended. But now the real journey begins. What a wonderful journey that will be.
Check out pix at Sara's blog.