Trip to the Big Top

Saturday, April 27, 2013
This year we decided to try out the circus.  The Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey circus came to Charleston this week and we bought tickets.  Emily and I had never been to the circus and Daniel had not been since he was very little.  I always thought the circus was kind of creepy. But live and learn, I guess, because it was actually pretty neat and Emily loved it too!

Let me start out with my own personal bias.  I LOVED the elephants.  Loved them.  Loved them.  I also loved all of the acrobats - flying acrobats, tumbling acrobats, all of the acrobats.
Daniel and Emily loved the big cats - the lion, lionesses and the tigers.  Frankly, that part scared me.  I kept thinking they might eat the guy in the cage with them.
Other fun parts of the circus included a group of samurai swordsmen, men doing tricks on horses, clowns, a motorcycle on a high wire, trapeze artists, 3 rings of animal tricks - horses, donkeys and dogs, eight motorcycles driving inside a globe shaped thing.  The show was really long - about 2 hours overall and it was definitely packed with things to see.  We will definitely make this an annual trip from now on.  Turns out it was not creepy after all.
 
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Dear OLD Dad

Saturday, April 20, 2013
We celebrated Daniel's 40th Birthday in style!  We booked the private party room at Bridge Road Bistro (one of Daniel's favorite restaurants) and invited the Arnett/Bailey Family and the Moody Family to join us for dinner, presents and cake!

We had a nice collection of appetizers followed by a few gifts - the sucker arrangement, a 40th birthday quiz and The Hobbit in 3D (from Emily).  Then we had salads and Daniel opened a big box of letters from many of his friends and family.  I had hoped to get 40 letters, but in the end I think I collected about 25.  Not bad, really.

Then it was on to the main course - and the main gifts.  I got Dan a Man Crate - filled with stuff designed to allow him to re-live his younger years including a plug & play Atari game system with old fashioned games (like Centipede) and some fun snacks too.  He also got a new messenger bag from Scott and Karen and cash from both his parents and the in-laws. 


Nathan and Bonnie gave him a surf lesson that he will use while we are on our trip to Hawaii this fall.  They are both very excited about it!  Bonnie and I are just excited that this guarantees us a spa day.  Then his big gift from me was a certificate for a Breitling watch - something he has wanted for as long as I have know him (literally).

We wrapped up the night by eating cake and watching a slide show of lots of old pictures (and some more recent) of Daniel and his friends and family.  As much as he says he does not like parties, I think even he would admit that this was one great party - and one he won't soon forget - even though he is old.
Happy Family!


Gotta have a little fun with the aging process.

The "Man Crate"

Flying Over the Hill
Definitely Fabulous!



Having good friends join us made the night just perfect! 
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Stay Home Weekend

April 13-14, 2013

This weekend we stayed home and it was great.  On Saturday Emily was daydreaming about summer, the pool and our beach trip coming up in June.   So, I figured, what the heck - why not let her "dress up" in her swimsuit for the day and play with her beach/pool toys?  So, she did.  All day!  She loved it. 

Of course we had a few errands to do this weekend too, including a stop at Kroger.  But with the little cart, even that was fun.  We picked up a box of ice cream cones on our trip and later that evening Emily had her first ever ice cream cone!

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Documenting a Bad Mom Moment

Well, I guess I might as well document some of my not-so-shining mom moments.  After all, I have posted Emily's bathtub pictures and even a picture of her on the potty while wearing her bicycle helmet.  That is probably worse than a few bad mom moments.

So here it goes - today's BAD mom moment - I was teasing Emily tonight while helping her brush her teeth. I bumped her and got toothpaste on her chin. I bumped her again and she got it on her nose and cheek. Giggling, of course, I told her I was going to tell her friends she didn't know how to brush her teeth. But then she started to cry (almost immediately). When I asked why she said she did not want her friends to think she was not ready for Kindergarten. 

I messed up big and did NOT see it coming. We had a long talk and she did forgive me, but I still feel awful. Guess she is having more Kindergarten stress than I thought!  Poor EE.  I have promised her that I am ALWAYS on her "team" and promised never to tell her friends anything bad EVER about her.  Tried to use words she would understand and I think we are ok now, but I also know I might have to build a few bridges with her too.  Guess I better be more careful with my teasing!  :-(
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Grandparent's Day

Friday, April 12, 2013
Today was Grandparent's Day at Bible Center Preschool.  This year Emily's grandparents could not make it to the show, but as luck would have it, Daddy was off so he got to go!  And that meant that he got to tape the whole show for me since I could not go either!

First, the kids did a couple of songs in Spanish to show off their new foreign language skills. Then they recited all of the pledges - to the American flag, to the Christian flag and to the Bible. 


After that, they sung a couple of special grandparent songs. Then they did a very special piece with hand bells ("God is so Good") and Emily got to be one of the hand bell ringers!  They did a great job and Emily rang her bell at just the right times!  Then they closed out the show with a couple more songs including one about gumdrops and candy and, my personal favorite, "You Are My Sunshine"!  It was a great show!  So proud of her!!
Man I wish the backs of these guys heads were not in this picture.
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Welcome Nora Nicole!

Thursday, April 11, 2013
Uncle Scott and Aunt Karen finally welcomed their brand new baby girl into the world on April 11, 2013 at 9:20pm.  Nora Nicole weighed 6lbs and 13oz and was 18 inches long. She is a tiny little thing, but both Karen and Nora are happy and healthy and Scott is thrilled.

Emily was very excited about Nora's arrival.  We explained that Nora is her new cousin.  Emily is convinced, though, that since Nora is a girl she must be her sister.  After several minutes  debate on this point, we finally agreed Nora could be her cousin/sister.  Cute.  Emily has already offered to share her toys.  I hope they do grow to love each other like sisters.  AND, I should add that I am super excited to have my first niece! 

WELCOME NORA NICOLE!!!
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EASTER!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

This year we really got to celebrate Easter two times!  The fun started in Martinsburg when the Easter Bunny left Emily a small basket for Emily.  The fun continued outside when we discovered the Easter Bunny had hidden eggs all over the front yard!  Emily loved running around collecting them.  Turns out the eggs contained Easter goldfish crackers and lots and lots of quarters!  $5 in all!


Emily and Everett on Easter morning!
The fun continued when we headed home (on the plane again) and found that the Easter Bunny had been there too!
The Easter Bunny left a trail of chocolate mini eggs around the house and up the stairs leading Emily on an adventure all the way up to the guest bedroom closet where she found her basket!  Her basket did not disappoint.  The Bunny brought a set of Sofia the First people, a Thumbelina video, a small stuffed bunny jelly beans, a chocolate bunny and much more.  Emily was thrilled with the basket.  Overall she definitely had a GREAT Easter!

Admittedly, I wanted to keep the bunny for myself.
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Visit to the Great Grands

Saturday, March 30, 2013

We got up early Saturday morning and headed to out to the farm to see Great Grandma and Granddad Miller.  I love to go there.  It is peaceful for me somehow and Emily loves to go there to see all of Great Grandma's teddy bears.  It makes me smile to see her run around playing with all those bears.  And on this visit, Great Grandma let Emily take one home.  She slept with it that night and has really taken to it.  We were not able to visit longer than a couple hours, but given their advancing age, all visits no matter how short, are precious.  I think these pictures say it all. 
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First Flight

Friday, March 29, 2013

After months of discussions (and arguments) we finally took our first flight in Daniel's plane, with Daniel as pilot and we flew up to Martinsburg for Easter weekend.  I must admit the plane was much smaller than I pictured, but I also have to admit that the flight was a little better than I thought it would be too.  Emily LOVED it.  The flight out to Martinsburg only took about an hour but with safety checks and tests and the drives to and from the airports in Charleston and Martinsburg, it still took about 2 and a half hours, but even so, I do have to admit it was better than the five hour car trip. AND we made the trip safely!

Daddy at the controls!
Emily sporting airplane headphones!

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Coloring Eggs

Monday, March 25, 2013
Still in the Easter mood, on Monday evening after work we colored Easter eggs!  We ordered pizza and had Jeff, Melissa and baby Jacob over to join the fun.  The kids seemed to have a great time...despite the fact that poor Jeff ended up with brown eggs (error by purchasing agent, Jason).  So let's just say that his eggs were a lovely shades of earth tones.  Emily's white ones produced some great colors, though.  We also got some Jello molds and made some fun Easter Jello jigglers.  It was a pretty fun night overall.




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Bunny Brunch 2013

Sunday, March 24, 2013

I have lost count of how many years I have been chairing the Bunny Brunch for the Ronald McDonald House, but I think I might be coming up on 6 years now.  Even Emily has come to expect it and looks forward to "Mommy's Easter Party."

Just as in past years, Bunny Brunch featured a visit from the Easter Bunny (who posed for pictures), arts and crafts for the kids, games, a yummy brunch, a raffle of lots of themed Easter baskets and much more.  It was a great event and lots of fun and we raised a lot of money for a great cause.
All dressed up and ready to go!
We have been having the event at the Charleston Women's Club for many years and it really is the perfect venue!

Beautiful setting!



Great baskets!

Yummy food!
Emily even won a basket!!


Lots of neighborhood kids had fun!
 
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