Christmas Pictures

December 26, 2009
Christmas is over already. It seemed to come and go pretty fast. It was an exciting Christmas at that. Emma got a new little cousin, Sean Leslie Gose, on Sunday. The night of her Christmas pageant at Church. So she got to see him for the first time Christmas eve.
Christmas eve was here at my house and it was pretty busy. Emma was as cute as always and full of energy. She had a good time playing with Aiden and Bailey. She really did enjoy opening the presents too but didn’t seem to mind that Bailey got to open all hers while Emma had to wait to open some of hers the next morning. Jarrod and Skye are going to her grandparents for Christmas day so Bailey opened all hers.
Santa had to bring Emma’s gifts to Grandma’s house since they don’t have enough room at their small apartment for what Santa brought Emma who was a very, very good girl. She called first thing Christmas morning asking if Santa brought her stuff here. I said “oh yes and you must have been very good!” She said “grandma, we have a present for you” I said “oh.. What is in it?” She said “you have to wait to open it” I asked why and she replied “because it is here!”
Every present was Emma’s favorite. She always wanted the V motion and had to sing the Wonder Pet’s song when she opened the Wonder pet game for the V motion. She is so fun. She got a big castle from Santa and she loves it a lot. I told he today that I was playing in it and she told me that I would break it because it is too big for me. I said “you mean I am too big for it?” She said “yes, it is too small for you”.
At grandma Mert and Grandpa Lee’s she had a good time playing with Emilee who is back for Christmas. She got a table and chairs and tea set from Grandma and Grandpa so she was really thrilled. I think she was going to get Aunt Cassie to have tea parties with her today. She received a doll and some clothes from grandma Eda and Grandpa Don. They had a good time changing the clothes on the doll.
Cassie is snowed in for the weekend so she is getting to spoil Emma a bit.
It was a good Christmas with loads of family and food. It was a good ending to the decade.

our little lamb

December 20, 2009

December 20, 2009
Emma was such a cute lamb. She got such a kick out of the tail. She would turn and say "wag my tail.. wag my tail" and shake her little bottom. Then right before she was to go up she got hurt and to get her mind off it, Cassie let her take a picture with the disposable camera Cassie brought. I tried to get the camera away when she headed up but didn't move fast enough.... so our little lamb went up and took pictures with the camera of the baby, the other lamb and I think the audience. Everyone laughed so much, it was great. We had wondered what kind of funny thing she would do, we all knew she would do something after telling me she wasn't going to say baaa but she was going to say "oink oink" instead. The minister said she is smart sheep since they (Mary and Joseph) were Jewish and Jewish eat sheep not pork! We never imagined that she would have been up there taking pictures though. When I was changing her back into her clothes she said "that was fun... thank you grandma for bringing me here!" Then after the cookies and birthday cake for baby Jesus, I took her out looking at the Christmas lights. After ooo'ing and awwwing over the lights, she said to me "Thank you grandma, you really helped me out today" I said "How did I help you, by giving you a good fun day?" She said "yes, I am so happy" Such adult words from a 3 year old. She is such fun. When I dropped her off at her home, she gave me hugs and kisses good bye and then found a gift for me as a thank you... it was a brown paper sack from the Pharmacy, but it had a pretty sticker on it. I couldn't be more thrilled had it been gold!

December 8, 2009

December 8, 2009
Emma has been so much fun. I wish I would have kept writing all the cute things down she has said and done in the past 2 months. There is so many I am sure I will forget some of them.
Halloween was fun. Emma got to be her Scooby Doo and a cute Scooby doo she was. We took her and Bailey out trick or treating with walking instead of driving, but if we were smart we would have taken the wagon. It was very nice and warm so being out was great, but then Bailey fell and poor thing cried. Emma kept telling us that her little feet couldn’t go that fast and she was trying to keep up with the long legged adults. She then wanted carried and Aunt Cassie would try to carry her and then Bailey wanted carried too. There is a lot of difference of carrying a 30 pound Emma compared to a 50 pound Bailey and poor Cassie was trying to make them both happy. Finally we told them they both had to walk and with the whining we cut it short. If they aren’t having fun trick or treating, it isn’t worth making them go more. The next morning though when Emma saw her Scooby doo costume she started in her most dramatic voice “I will NEVER get to go trick or treating again!” I said “sure what about next year?” She said “but I want to go today!” Such a drama queen.
Emma was watching a commercial for Candy land. She announced “I like Candy Land” I said “oh does your mom play it with you?” since I know she got one for her birthday. She said “no.. my teacher plays it with me” I said “Your teacher?” She said “Yea grandma.. You know YOU!” I had forgotten that we played Candy Land after our lesson one day.
You can’t keep on top with Emma. I was watching her one day and as we were making lunch I told her that she would have to lay down and take a nap after lunch. She looked at me and informed me “Jesus doesn’t want me to take a nap!” I told her “yes Jesus wants you to take one because he wants you to be a happy girl and not a cranky one” She took a good nap. I am still laughing at how she interprets the lessons we have in Sunday school. We had learned about the 10 commandments and I had told her that they are Gods laws or rules for us. It tells us what God doesn’t want us to do.
We took Emma out for Black Friday shopping. At 5am I picked her up out of her bed and we put her right into the car. She took it all in as great fun and when we got to Wal-Mart she looked at the sunrise and said “Oh look, the sun is painting the clouds red” She had a blast all day, never getting cranky at all. She wanted to see Santa right way but I told her that he was still sleeping. When we came out and it was light at Rapid City she said “look grandma it isn’t dark anymore… Time to wake up” I said “yes it is time to wake up” and she said “I bet Santa isn’t sleeping anymore” So we went to see Santa at the mall. She was kind of unsure at first and kept herself squished up on the side of the couch not getting to close. We had to wait for the pictures of the boy before her to print out before they could get her picture with him. As we waited she warmed up telling him all about Tara and Cocoa. She was every bit of the motor mouth by the time we were ready to get her picture and was willing to sit close to him. She is so funny. When we filled up the car and was worn out around 1:30pm, we all piled into the car and Emma asked “Ok.. Where are we going next?” When we told her we were going home, she said “aw I think we should go to more places!” My mom said “but we still would have to go home and clean out the car!” She was asleep before we were out of Rapid City.
At church they did the shoe box gifts for the Christmas Children operation shoebox. We got one and went shopping for a little girl in the 2 to 4 year age. Emma was so fun. She took it very serious and had to find just the right baby to put in the box. She really liked the little twins and I kept pointing out ones that had bottles and such. She kept saying “Look grandma, this one has a sister!” So we got the baby with the ‘sister’ and some bottles and such to go with it. She proudly showed everyone “this isn’t for me.. This is for the little girl long ways away who doesn’t get any presents for Christmas” When I offered to buy her something she couldn’t find anything she wanted.. She just wanted to get for the little girl who doesn’t get any presents. What a precious child she is.
Last weekend Bailey and Emma both spent the night with me. We decorated the Christmas tree so all the ornaments are around the bottom of it. They had such a good time and I tried to get them to sleep together in the pink bedroom. Bailey went to sleep pretty good but at 11:30 and Emma still wasn’t asleep I took her up to the living room and rocked her. When she thought she could go to sleep I put her back in the bed and went to my bed. By that time it was 12:30 and we had to be up for Sunday school. Around 1:30 I hear “grandma!” and in came Emma. “I want you to sleep with me” so off to her room we went and I got to sleep with both girls the rest of the night.
Emma is going to be a lamb for the Christmas program. She is pretty excited but I don’t know that she understands. She is such a joy that everyone gets such a kick out of her in Church. She is the only preschooler and so during the service the minister always looks for her to come up front for children’s service. She has been going to sleep as soon as church starts lately so by the time of children’s service she is sound asleep. The minister always looks for her and then asks me if she is sleeping and I say “yes” and he says “darn”. I think everyone looks forward to her going up there in her fun bouncy way. I know my mom tells me she gets everyone that goes to our church telling her how much they enjoy Emma at church.
Yesterday she spent the day with me and we watched the Christmas shows on Nick. They all had Santa coming while they were asleep so when Emma woke up from her nap she was cranky and grouchy. I said “what’s a matter? Did you need more sleep?” She finally said “look, Santa didn’t come!” Poor thing thought it was Christmas already. She was much happier when we went out and made brownies and Homemade noodles.
Emma’s favorite thing to do is have my flashlight and telling ghost stories. She holds the flash light under her chin and says “Once upon a time there was a mean old witch!” and when I gasp and put my hand over my mouth she says “now don’t be scared grandma” She is so much fun!
Last night when daddy came in to see her before he had to go bowling she was playing like she was a doctor. He tried to get her to doctor him telling her that he was sick. As he was getting ready to go he wanted a kiss from her and she would only give him one on the cheek. He said “I don’t get a real kiss?” and she said “No, daddy, I don’t want to have to get medicine!” She was remembering he was telling her he was sick.
I think she is recognizing certain words now also. She was wanting to watch a show and when I had the menu up to see what was on she asked to watch Scooby doo but the only one that was on was a 2 hour movie and I knew she would have to go home before then. I said “It isn’t on” and she said “Yes it is”! I know we can’t spell out Elmo anymore without her knowing what it is saying.
She was writing me notes in some old thank you cards I had from when Jordan graduated high school. She would say “here grandma, you got mail” and I would “read” it. I said it says “dear grandma, I love you very, very much! Love Emma” Emma’s eyes grew really big and she said “did I write good?” She thought she actually wrote all that with the scribbles she made.
Even though I hadn’t written in this for 2 months I still enjoy Emma and the time we spend together so much. She is my little Grandma’s girl and the bond we have will never be broken. I love you so much Emmalyne.

October 12, 2009

Emma is one little girl who you cannot get ahead of. She is so wonderful and funny and so smart. She also is so open and as the minister's wife said Sunday "you just wait to see what will come out of her mouth next"... she didn't elaborate on what she was saying downstairs to her at church though. I do know she makes me laugh each time we are together.

Grandma Mert and I took her to Rapid City shopping last week. Emma really is a good little shopper. She does take after me on that. I have come to the conclusion that she is a democrate though after that shopping trip. At lunch at Applebees, I took some cash out of my pocket for a tip. Emma looked at my hand and said "ohhh Grandma...you have LOTS of dollars" I said "oh do I?" and she said "Yes.... you need to share!"

We went to Target to look for her Scooby Doo costume. Brianna had seen it there a week or so before but it was gone when we got there. Emma was so distressed over it and very dramatic. She would say "I KNOW it was here, I seen it, grandma!" We looked and looked and didn't find it so I said "someone else probably bought it" Emma in her most dramatic voice said "WHY? Why would someone buy MY Scooby doo costume?" I said "perhaps they want to be Scooby Doo for Halloween too." She said "Oh no... someone else wants to be Scooby doo?!!" Then she added "hmm.. call them, maybe they will bring it back for me"

On the way home from shopping a car passed us on the interstate. Emma told Grandma Mert "Grandma... Let's race them.... go faster grandma, go faster!" She kept pushing grandma to race telling her "I know we can beat them... come on grandma go faster!" She had grandma Mert laughing so hard I thought she was going to have to pull over just to be able to see the road through the tears. Then when Grandma Mert was trying to get comfortable by shifting in her seat, she jerked the car a bit to the left and Emma sat up straight asking "where is the deer?". What a funny kid she is.

Yesterday I picked Emma up for Sunday school and she was in a "not listening" mood. She talked loudly through church and wanted to play around so I kept telling her "shhh" and to be a big girl and talk in a quiet voice. After church she was still acting up when we pulled into the grocery store. I put my eyes right up to hers and said "Let me see in those eyes... know what I am looking for?" She said "what?" I said "that good little granddaughter of mine who behaves herself so nicely.. I know she is in there!" She looked into my eyes and said "I am looking for my good grandma" I said "isn't grandma always good?" She said "No.. she was being mean" I said "When was grandma being mean?" She said "when you said "Shhhhh""! Again she got in the last word since I was laughing so hard, I couldn't say anything more!ous

She tells her mom now, when they are out running errands "We need to go to grandma's house" Brianna will ask her why and she would answer "because I need to talk to Grandma for a minute" It is so wonderful to be loved so much!

She is doing pretty good on her bike. She rides it around and around in a big circle in the garage since we have lots of snow now. She has learned to steer pretty good too... not running into anything.

She is so much fun, so perfect in every way and I love her so much.

A night with Cassie and Mom at the Magic show

October 1, 2009

Emma's birthday party was a lot of fun. She was so excited about it, it was all she would talk about for days. The day before her party, she came over and first thing she said was "where's my carebear cake?" I told her that Cassie was bringing it with her the next day. She was so worried about it.

Emma is growing up pretty fast. She got a new bike for her birthday and is doing remarkably well learning to ride it. I tried to get pictures of her riding it but she wouldn't let me. She told me to put the camera up. Her birthday party was a big hit. There were 32 people there and all but 4 were family members. She enjoyed every minute of it and I had to laugh at how protective she was over her carebear cake. Grandma Marla came in not long after I told Emma she needed to eat a sandwich for dinner before we eat cake. Marla teased her telling her she was going to poke her finger in the cake and Emma informed her "No, grandma, we have to eat dinner first!"

I took her to church on her birthday. Brianna and Jordan went with us to Sunday school then Emma stayed with me in Church. For people who have birthdays, they get to put a penny for each year they are old. Emma proudly held onto her three pennies and waited for the birthday announcements, not so patiently. Each time the minister would ask something she would hold her hand up and yell "ME" Finally he asked if there were any birthdays and she didn't raise her hand. I said "Emma, are you going to raise your hand now?" She threw up both hands and yelled "ME ME ME" Everyone laughed and she got to put her pennies in. I think she pretty much won everyones heart there at church. She was so excited over riding her bike, she wouldn't even stay for cookies after church though.

I have to laugh at everything she does. She is so much fun. She was so proud of herself making her own apple pie. She did really well, rolling out the crust herself with her own little rolling pin. She rolled out extra dough for cookies and accidently dropped a small piece on the floor. Tara didn't miss a chance, she gobbled it up pretty fast. Emma was so upset with Tara, she told her "NOOO Tara, we need that for Cookies!" I said "it's ok" She said "no, we need that" Then she looked at Tara and put her hand under her mouth and said "I know... Tara, Spit it out... Spit it out Tara!" I could have fell over laughing at that. What a crazy kid she is. She was so proud of her pie, Brianna said she wouldn't let anyone touch it. I am not sure if they ever got to eat it.

Kevin let her play with a little peddle car he is going to fix up. She would get in it and then told him she needed a key. He gave her a key and she would tell him "you babysit my baby while I go to the store ok?" So he became the babysitter and she went off in her car. Soon she was back checking on her baby and told him she forgot something and would he watch the baby more. Off she would go in her car again. He got such a kick out of her.

Brianna and Emma are in Gillette staying with Cassie and went to a magic show tonight. It looked like they were having a good time. I can't wait to hear about it.

I still find it hard to believe it has already been three years since she was born. She doesn't even look like a toddler anymore. Even so, she will always be my baby. I sure love her.

September 21, 2009

Emma is almost 3 years old. She is growing up more and more all the time. Last week I took her to Church and Sunday school for the first time. I am the pre school teacher for Sunday school and she felt she was soo big now that she gets to go to school. As we were walking into the church I told her "now in church we have to be very very quiet." She looked up at me with all her grown up stance and said "yes, we don't want to wake anyone up!" What a silly girl.

Her birthday party is going to be Carebears. She is so worried about not getting a carebear birthday cake, she is afraid it will ruin her party. Walmart doesn't do the care bears and I was getting concerned when we couldn't find anything carebears at any of the stores we went to. I ordered the birthday supplies off the internet last month. Aunt Cassie came to the rescue though, she called around in Gillette and found Albertson has 2 different carebear cakes they do. So she is ordering it and picking it up saturday.

Cassie was cutting Brianna's hair and she was cutting it pretty short when Emma came in and watched. Cassie asked if Emma liked her mom's hair cut and Emma answered "yes... it's just like daddy's!" Brianna about panicked asking just how short Cassie was cutting it!

We took Emma in for her 3 year old pictures today. She was in a different kind of mood and when we asked her to smile she would press her lips together in a fake smile. I tried making faces at her (she just made them back) we tried singing and playing around and being silly, but she would give us that fake smile or move her hands out of the pose. Even with all the challenges, I was happy to see how all the pictures turned out. She is one photographic child. Such a beauty.