Happy Birthday Emma Claire!

Today Emma Claire turned 5 y/o! March 10,2oo4 was one of the best days of my life. I became someone's MOM! The greatest thing I ever been chosen to do!! I can't believe how time has flown by. Mark and I were talking about the day she was born this morning while we were watching her sleep. Five years ago today we were being rushed from one hospital to the next not knowing what the good Lord had in store for us. At 8:33 that Wednesday night our beautiful 2lb 9oz bundle of joy made her entrance. She was so tiny, which you would never know it by looking at her now. Finally after 9 1/2 weeks in the NICU and 2 eye surgeries, we were able to bring her home. I don't think you have ever seen two more proud parents than Mark and I were that day walking out of LSUS! She weighted all of 4lbs and 6 ozs! Which may not seem big to most but she was HUGE to us compared to what she came into this world weighting. Emma is by far the greatest thing we have ever done. She is the light of our lives!

This past Saturday we had her party at Kiroli Park. She had so much fun. My friend Jackie made her cake, which turned out so CUTE! All her friends from school and dance came along with our friends and family. She got so many presents I don't think we are going to have to by anymore until Christmas. Tonight we are taking her to her favorite place to eat besides Olive Garden, Chile Verde. I swear I think my child has some hidden Mexican heritage that I am unaware of, because she could drink salsa from the bowl. Here are a few pictures from her party this weekend. As you can see she by the picture of the presents she is a little SPOILED! Oh well we would not have her any other way. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

The Birthday Cake. Emma and Stormy

Julia and Emma

All her presents!

Our Zoo Trip

Today was a beautiful yet chilly day here in good ole West Monroe. Emma was out of school so we took a little outing with my sister and niece to the zoo. Em loves going here because she likes to chase the bird around. It was a fun afternoon. Here are a few pictures from our little outing. Emma and Allyson

Chasing the Peacocks.

The Kiddos in the Gopher Hole.

"Wii" Are Addicted..

One of Mark's Christmas presents was a Wii. That thing is so addicting! We have played everyday since he has gotten it. Emma loves it! She likes the bowling game and might I add that she is pretty darn good. My mother-in-law loved it. Mark's hillarous. Today I went out and bought the Mario Kart game. I came home popped in the game and had the best time playing all my myself. I haven't played video games in years, so this is liking getting accquantied with an old friend again.

On a different note, I registered for school yesterday. I felt like a little kid on the first day of kindergarden. My stomach was in knots. I have not been in school since Emma was 1 so I am a little nervous. It will be fine. I just have to get used to the school routine all over again.

Here are a few pictures of Mark and Emma playing the Wii. Don't they look like they are having a blast!

Christmas Morning 2008

Christmas this year was a BLAST! It had some very interesting moments but worth every minute. On Christmas Eve my mother-in- law and brother-in-law arrived to spend Christmas with Emma. Note, I said Emma because there is some unwritten rule that when you have children you are no longer important. I wonder why that is? Oh well so back to Christmas. I rose extra early to make sure "Santa" had eaten at least one cookie and had taken the "reindeer food" that Emma had so carefully left for him. He had indeed done what was expected of him, but along with that a mess for me to clean up. Gotta love Santa! When Emma woke up, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and squealed with excitement. "Santa" left the only 2 things she had asked for: a vacuum cleaner and a Barbie bike. She was so excited. That little girl had so many presents under the tree that her Uncle Chris got tired of handing them to her. She loved it. There is something about seeing your child on Christmas morning that makes everything in the world seem right. I loved it! Here are some of the few pictures we got on that morning. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas with the ones you love!

City of Lights

Mark and I decided to take Emma down to Natchitoches to see the lights. The city is famous for all the decoration that go up every year. I have gone a few times before Emma was born but this was her first time. We drove down on that Saturday afternoon, did a little shopping at all the shops on Main Street. The shops were fantastic. After a few hours of walking and shopping we started the search for the perfect spot to see the fireworks. Once we found "the spot" we settled in for the wait. The fireworks were amazing. They lasted for about 45 mins. It was the most amazing fireworks display that Mark or I have ever seen. The only bad thing was that is was so cold. I am talking bone chilling cold. We are all bundled up but we were still freezing. Ohh well, it's the price we pay for our children's delight!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Today Emma and I decided to brave the crowds at the mall to see good ole' Santa Claus. This is the first year that Emma has not screamed her head off at the sight of him. We stand in line for what seems like forever with every other child in town just to get a picture with the old guy. Emma could not have been more excited. She went up to him like a big girl, told him what she wanted, and then smiled for all the pictures I wanted her to take. I must say I am very proud of her. After she was done I asked her what Santa said when she told him what she wanted. She looked at me and said "Santa would do his best, but mom if he doesn't it then we will just have to go to the store and buy it ourselves." You gotta love the mind of a child!

So many things to be Thankful For..

Every year for Thanksgiving we have friends and family over for dinner. We started off the morning by getting some cooking done before we headed to do Thanksgiving with Mark's family in Arkansas. That was fun driving an hour away and only staying an hour then driving back home. So when we got home we kicked it into full gear and finished all the cooking. Mark fried a turkey and I did the fixings. Except for the dressing. That is the one thing that I would rather leave to someone else. Our friend Mark Fuller cooked this for us. It was so good!
We had a house full that night. Our friends Mark and Tracy Fuller and their little boy Luke, my mom, sister and niece, and our friend Ryan all came to eat. I think I cooked enough food for an army but you know I would rather have more than enough than not enough.

As I was sitting there with all our friends and family here with us I thought back to our first Thanksgiving without all our family around. It was when we were in California. I think that was the first Thanksgiving ever that I did not go to my grandparents to eat. But we had some good friends of ours out there with us, Paige and Russ and my mother-in-law, JoAnn, also flew out that morning to be with us. Between Paige and I we cooked our first Thanksgiving meal. It was so good. We had so much food left over but dear lord was it good! I was proud of us. We did a great job.

This year I sat there looking around and began thinking how lucky we were. Mark and I have a wonderful little girl, who is growing up so fast. We have wonderful friends, who are more like family, and we also have a wonderful family. Our friends Mark and Tracy just had twin girls that were 10 weeks early, who are striving in the NICU. They should be ready to come home any day.

I thank God everyday for my family,friends, and the many blessings he had bestowed upon us. Happy Holidays!