In case you were wondering

This is what Dan does with any free second he has.  He built everything you see from scratch, except the engine.  Pretty amazing huh?  Its nice to have our own railroad in the back yard, Emma's petshops and doll house people especially appreciate it :)

Happy Independence Day

We had a relaxing holiday.  Just hanging out at the old homestead.  Not doing anything.  It was great.  We barbecued for dinner, made ice cream clowns/monkeys/blobs, sang happy birthday dear America and then headed up to Dixon to watch the fireworks with our friends the Bairs. We fought traffic for about 10 seconds on the way home from the sun flower field where we parked.  It was awesome! 

I did miss the salt water taffy that my parents always have.  The most memorable 4th of July for me was when my dad blew his hand off with a flower firecracker...that was the best!  He was showing my brothers how to throw them when it went off in his hand.  My mom put it in a bucket of ice and hightailed it to the ER.  He had to wear a huge bandage that looked like a boxing glove for a long long time after that.  Lesson learned daddy-o!!!  Never light firecrackers in your hand.

Emma's clown and Dan's monkey....mine wasn't worth taking a picture of.

Ava and Emma Lou

I love this photo that Dan took.  Emma in the distance :)

Happy 230 something B-day America and thanks for giving us an extra day off! 

Emma's first day of Pre K Academy

There is this super cool program offered by the school district here to get kids ramped up and ready for kindergarten.  It is everyday from 8:15-12:15 for 3 weeks.  They feed the kids breakfast, snack and lunch which is totally awesome.  I found out that Emma actually eats when she is around other children.  Too bad we don't have any at home for her to eat with!  She has been enjoying it so far.....I hope she likes real kindergarten just as much.  

Cutie Patootie!

Foster Puppies

I finally convinced Dan to let us become a foster home for puppies.  I am working with a lady that has a puppy rescue organization about an hour away from me.  She has over 60 puppies that are waiting for permanent homes.  She gets them from shelters, out of dumpsters, on the side of the road or even from people who drop them on her door step.  She had 3 pregnant dogs which were abandoned when their 87 year old owner died.  I feel so sorry for these sweet little pups!  How could anyone not love them?  We took 2 home with us....they are chihuahua daschund mixes  about 9 weeks old.  We have a boy and a girl.  Emma named them Jack and the beanstalk whom she calls Jack and Cinderella who goes by Bella.  They are the cutest things ever and keep us waking up with a smile.  If I can't have any more babies, then I might as well have puppies right?  They are easier to deal with anyway.  And they sleep through the night-big plus!!!  We are having so much fun with them.  Anyone wanna adopt them????  We will be sad to see them go, but will get another set when they are gone.  It has been so good for Emma....I don't think she has been bored for a whole 3 days!!  Hopefully the excitement won't wear off too quickly.

Jack, Emma and Bella

Awww...the picture just doesn't do them justice.  They are my sweeties, all 3 of them!

Poor pups....Emma thinks they are rag dolls.  But they don't run away from her, so I guess maybe they like it.

Emma's song to the pups

Playing sleep over

5:30 am wake up call!!  

Yummy berries

My parents helped us plant some berry bushes in the garden last fall and surprisingly they produced this year!  We got 3 raspberry bushes from my mom and dad's house, 2 golden berries from my mom's friend in Carey Idaho and 2 blackberries from the Dr. that I work for.  There weren't too many berries, but the ones we did get were super delicious!  Thanks to all who donated their plants so we could have a treat!  Hopefully next year we will get more than just a hand full!

Where's Emma?

Emma and I were playing hide and seek one morning.  I was looking all over the place for her and was starting to get a little worried when I couldn't find her.  Then I heard a little squeak coming from our bed.  I couldn't believe it when I found her.  I would have never known she was under there!!!  

Where are you????

Squeak squeak!!  Here I am!

Baseball Date

We finally went on a date....I think it was the first real one we had been on all year.  That is sad!  We got a babysitter and headed up to Sac to the Rivercats game.  They were playing some team from Colorado...I can't remember their name.  I was more interested in watching the freaks around us spill their beer and choke on their disgusting hot dogs!  It was just so nice to get out and remember why we got together in the first place.  It is sad to say that I had forgotten how much fun I have with my husband!  I hope we can go out again before another 6 months passes us by :)

The pantry is FINALLY done-YAY!

It was a long time coming and its not totally finished, but it turned out much better than I thought it would.  Dan put in a light and an outlet so I can charge my swiffers...sweet!!  Now if I can only keep it organized!

Putting in the tiles

Put her to work babe!  

Almost done!

Ta-Dah!!

The Shelf Reliance Can Stand

All done!!  Yay!!

Now we can move down to the next item on the never ending list of  "home maintenance and repair."  I am SO excited :)

Circo-O-Sorio!! Mexican Circus

We decided to go to the circus tonight.  It was so much fun!  It was the first one Emma and I had ever been to.  It took me 30 years, but I finally got to see a real tight rope act!  And a fire juggling maniac, a donkey who knew how to bow his head, a lasoer (a cowboy swinging a rope in circles) and 2 motorcycles driving around in a metal ball and more.  It was actually super exciting!  I guess that goes to show you how easy to please we all are?  

Waiting for the show to start.

The fire juggler.

They acted like this donkey was the greatest thing ever....hilarious!!

Wow what an act!! Poor thing :(

Gotta love that face!!!

Chewing ice....his one downfall.

All in all the Mexican circus was quite a blast....at least it gave us some good laughs anyway!

Non Stop Energy

See what I have/get to deal with all day???  I know I will miss these days when she is older, but she wears me out sometimes!  If only I could have a tiny bit of her enthusiasm!!

Poppables

One of Emma's favorite things to do is "real" cooking.  She makes these all the time and calls them her "POPPABLES".  It keeps her entertained for at least 30 min.  Long enough for me to just get into a project and then have her bugging me again :)  Good thing biscuit dough is cheap!

Emma Playing Teenager

Oh to be a grown up!

Doin my make up listnin to my new ipod

What???

Puttin on my moisturizer

Lake Berryessa

We love this lake....close to home and not too busy.  The water isn't too clear, but that is what showers are for right?  You never know what is going to squish up between your toes!!

May 17th....Emma is 5!!!

I can't believe how fast time goes by.  It does not feel like it has been 5 years that we have had this ball of energy in our lives.  She has been intense since the day we brought her home from the hospital!  That is one of the things we love about this sweetie.  She could hardly wait for this day to come.  She woke up at 7 am so she could open her presents.  She got some new sunglasses, tinkerbell glitter paints, new swimsuits, a dress and a ipod nano.  

Posin' with her haul

Can't you just feel her excitement???

Tinkerbell glitter paints....they were gone in 2 days-all over the back patio and still are....they don't wash off :)

Foxy Lady!

Yay!  Her very own ipod...now she doesn't have to mess with mine!

Spoiled little brat!!!  But we love you anyway :)