HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

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!