Trick-or-Treat

I took full advantage of Ethen not having a care in the world about Halloween this year. Emalee wanted to be a princess and what goes better with a princess...then a frog! I know I probably won't get to dress them in duo costumes for long, so I'm doing it while I can!

We took Emalee to Safe Night at a local casino. She got LOADS of candy! She was less then thrilled about the haunted house at the end of the "candy walk" and was a little shaken by it. She came out and said "I was brave!"  Ethen slept through the whole thing. :) 

We then headed to a local neighborhood and let her do some trick-or-treating.  She sounded like a broken record "Trick-or-Treat, Happy Halloween!" at every house. I was a little surprised when she announced she was done for the night, but I was more then happy to be done too!

Pumkin Patch

Tommy was home for the weekend so we took the kids to the 3rd annual PDOP Pumpkin Days in Pahrump. Emalee had a blast, the weather was perfect, and it was nice seeing some familiar faces!

 

 

That night Emalee and Daddy carved pumpkins. They have done this together every year since Emalee was born....Mommy is not a huge fan of it, and Daddy and Emalee could both spend hours doing it!

 

Ethen: 5 Months!

5 Months Old

Our little man is 5 months old! His little personality is evolving. He loves to smile and laugh....and talk! His other favorite thing to do is jump! If he's on your lap, hold on tight! And when he's in his exersaucer it looks like he's going to tip it over. I'm not sure where all of his energy comes from because he is always awake and never sleeping! ;) Ethen has 2 teeth (on the bottom), he is rolling from belly and back and can almost roll from back to belly if he could figure out what to do with his hands :). We've started food, which he now prefers over bottles. I can't believe how much, and how quickly, he is growing. We love you Ethen!


First 2 teeth!

A YEAR has come and gone....

My last post was Emalee's 3 year pictures and we were living in San Antonio, Texas. I am so sad that I let my blog slip so far behind. It's not that I don't enjoy doing it (if I could make a living doing it I would!), my issue is my time management.  So instead of overwhelming myself by trying to work backwards and cover all that I've missed, I will create a summary or "nut shell" of what has happened in the last year. Buckle-up, because here goes....

1.  We left Texas and moved to Reno, NV. Texas was NOT for me...it was hot, humid, busy, did I mention it was hot and humid? I am grateful for the experience, but I was ready to leave. While living there I did meet some great people, I took a stab at the retail world (NOT my forte!), and experienced a culture unlike any other!

2.  Tommy was hired with Atlas Contractors as a finish blade operator. Anyone who knows my husband, knows that he loves heavy equipment. For him they are like giant toys!

3.  I was blessed with a job with Washoe County School District. We are crazy and planned a move to Reno without jobs.  I was hired within a week of moving to Reno, after waiting on their hiring list for 2 years prior...everything just fell into place.

4.  Again we were blessed....when I found out I was pregnant a month after we moved to Reno.  Surprise, it's NOT the flu!

5.  Emalee started going to daycare and loved it! She is a social butterfly, loves her school (and so does Mommy) and has her teachers wrapped around her little finger. She excelled in all academic areas and developed a love for all things artsy crafty.  She loves to draw, paint, and create....she has such an imagination!

Emalee's 1st Day of "School"

 6.  My pregnancy went pretty well, other then the sickness which I did NOT experience with Emalee.  We found out in January that we are having a BOY!! Emalee cried at first and said "I want a sister!!!" but she eventually came around. She was very involved with every part of preparing for her brother. She helped pick out his room decor, she got to see him on ultrasound movies, and she talked to my belly nonstop!

7.   Emalee turned 4. I have no clue how that happened?! It feels like she was born yesterday.  She is such a ball of energy. She is growing into a little lady. She loves to go shopping, wear dresses, and have her hair done.  She is becoming more and more independent, many times wanting to do everything herself!  She loves to help in the kitchen, whether it's making lunch, or baking, she is right there with her stool to help you!

Happy Birthday Emmy!

8.  On May 29th, two weeks and 3 days after Emalee turned 4, Ethen Thomas was born.  He surprised us, he was ready to make his entrance into the world....June 12th was just to far away. :) He was born at 9:45 p.m. he weighed 5 lbs 13.5 oz and was 17.5 inches long.  He came out screaming, and has never stopped!

Sweet Boy

9.  My One-Year-Only contract with the school district landed me in the hiring pool with 300+ other teachers, and only 120+ positions to fill.  I was not picked back up for the 2012-2013 school year (feels like Deja Vu)!  It seems like every time I have a baby, I lose my job. Maybe someone is trying to tell me something?!

So there is the last year in a "nut shell."  The kids and I are spending some time in Pahrump with family, while Tommy continues to work in Reno.  The construction world up there is in good shape, and the economy is recovering quickly.

Actually sitting and thinking about, writing about, how busy the last year was makes me realize that I am one lucky girl. I have a husband who loves me unconditionally, he does anything and everything he has to do to support our family and make sure our kids are taken care of.  Emalee is a "big girl" with such a sweet personality.  She absolutely LOVES being a big sister! Ethen is 4 months old, has 2 teeth, is rolling over (tummy to back), and he loves to talk.  He is either really happy or really mad.  He NEVER stops moving...this little guy is going to give me a run for my money. I have so much to be thankful for. Not just my husband and my 2 amazing kids, but the love and support from all of my family and friends.  It is so easy to think about the things you are lacking, or the "failures", that I often overlook all the things I HAVE.  Reflection, it's a powerful thing!



Love these 2!

I will end with this with one of my favorite quotes....

"I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it." ~Charles Schulz

Family Photo's

Since we did Emalee's 2 year pictures ourselves, we didn't get a family picture last year. So We decided to go to a studio this year since our last family photo was when Emalee 18 months old :) I am really happy with how they turned out, and glad that Emalee cooperated!

My baby is 3!

It's hard to believe that Emalee is 3 already. I still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. She brings so much joy to our lives. She is full of energy, humor, and she is sometimes too smart for her own good!

She is going to be tall like her Daddy! At her 3 year check-up the new pediatrician took a double take at her chart and said "This is a 3 year check-up?" Her favorite things to do are sing her ABC’s, counting to 10 (sometimes you go to 15), playing with her kitchen, and all things princess. She talks all the time. She also enjoys being outside with Daddy in the garden, she even has her own watering pail, gloves, and gardening tools.


This year for her birthday party we went to Chuck E. Cheese…her favorite place. Her friends Carson and Skyla came, along with cousin Nate. She played her heart out, got to meet Chuck E., and cried when we had to leave. She loves playing all of the games there, but most of all she loves earning the tickets!


Mommy and Daddy love you very much Emalee. You give each day meaning, and you teach us every day to stop and smell the roses and appreciate all of the “little” things life has to offer. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Children's Museum

I had been wanting to take Emalee to the children's museum since we moved here. Since we had my nephew Nathan over the weekend, we thought it would be the perfect time to go check it out.

Both of the kids had a blast! Emalee was running from place to place. A lot of the exhibits are built to smaller scale, so they were just her size. We had to pull her out of the play house, she absolutely loves to play in the kitchen and make "coffee." There was also a bank where she got to be the banker, a grocery store where she got to shop using a miniature shopping cart and the boys were the cashier and the bagger. I think the two older boy (Nate and Tommy of course) had just as much fun as Emalee.

There was also space station area, a shadow area, a hospital, and an outdoor water area. There was so much to see and do. This will definatle be a place that revisit, espceially during the hot ummer months when playing indoors is ideal!