Summer Lovin'

 

There are so many reasons I love summer. Here are a few of my favorites: 

1. Summer T.V. 

Hands down, summer T.V. is the best. I mean, it's not particularly life-changing, but it sure is fun! Summer T.V. really rocks my world - Real Housewives, Pregnant in Heels, Sister Wives, Design Star, and the Bachelorette. I'm a fool for summer T.V. I'm watching Hatfields and McCoys as I type - because my interests are varied.

2. Booze

If you know me, you are probably thinking "What? Girl you drink during the other 3 seasons of the year!" And you would be correct. BUT during the summer I can have a drink (or two) without the fear of 5 a.m. mini-hangover. 

3. Food

During the school year, I consider making toast cooking. During the summer, I love really trying. Because I CAN cook, I just seldom have the time or energy to do so. Tonight I made baked potato soup. It was amazing. This also explains why I usually gain 7 pounds every summer. 

4. Sickness

What? She loves sickness? I love that if my kids get sick, I can take them to the doctor without calling a sub, calling school, typing lesson plans, and dealing with the post-sub apocalypse that greets me the day I return to school. Emma spiked a fever last night and I was able to simply call the doctor's office this morning, take her in, get a prescription, and bring her home without worrying about how this is going to effect my lesson plans. She's doing ok, too. 

5. Pool Time

In the summer, I like to go to the pool after dinner. I don't have to worry about greasing the babies up like piglets that late in the day. PLUS it wears them out and they go right to sleep after their baths. And it's fun. 

6. The Zoo

Weekends during the school year are insanely busy. I have a hard time getting all of the laundry, grocery shopping, errands, cleaning, etc. done in just 48 hours. I can do all that during the week now, so weekENDS are family time. We took our lil' ladies to the zoo Saturday morning. 

Summer's just begun

 This is going to be a great summer! I (finally) enrolled Lexi in a ballet class and she is so excited!

Baby rabbits were born in our front garden

Lexi an Emma are old enough to both play this year - and they love to play together!

 

 

 For some strange reason, Lexi insisted that this doll sit in the tree and watch us play in the front yard

 

still a Daddy's girl:

ONE-derful!

 

 Happy Birthday Emma! 

One year ago today, this was my baby:

This was my precious girl today

 

Emma did not have the massive 

1st birthday pool party that Lexi got. 

But don't feel sorry for her - she got three small parties 

(one with Paul's family, one with mine, and one with the babysitter) and she preferred it that way. 

Emma doesn't like crowds. 

And poor Emma, due to that pesky peanut allergy she couldn't have a pretty bakery cake (peanut cross contamination risk). 

Mommy attempted making a cute cake. 

 It's safe to say that I will never start a business venture in the cake-baking world:

It's been an emotional past couple of days for me. I am having a hard time letting go of Emma's baby days. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing all of her new words (she says mama, dada, nana, puppy, baby, uh-oh, oh-no, bu-bye, and na-night), watching her mimic her sister, and wobble-walk all over the place. 

But I have LOVED her baby stages. 

LOVED. 

Lexi wasn't a very cuddly baby, and she was pretty fussy. 

Emma is a snuggler and she just wants to be held 

(and fed - she's my chunkster). 

In my mind I've viewed her first birthday as an end point - she's not my baby anymore. 

She's my big girl. 

I'm sad. 

But I'm happy, too - I love each new thing she learns to do or say. 

Even though I am sentimental about where we were a year ago, I am really looking forward to all the things to come.  

I'm an emotional mess.

Paul is just happy - he sees her first birthday as being one step closer to being done with diapers and being awakened in the middle of the night to pop a pacifier back in.

All my mama-drama aside, Emmy Jo had a pretty good little day. I made special Lemon Blueberry Pancakes (that I found on Pinterest - I'm addicted) and Emma ate . . .and ate . . . and ate and ate and ate. 

She's still my pooh bear - short, fat, and proud of that. 

She got to play in her new playhouse from Nana and  Papa. 

It's a hit.

We had my parents over for dinner, cake, and present opening. 

Lexi "helped" Emma open a new book, movie, and toy. 

The cake taste test:

Step 1:

Taste small portion of frosting with finger

 Step 2:

Decide it is sugary deliciousness.

 Step 3:

make a small, but dainty mess, and make silly faces while eating.

Happy Happy 1st birthday, 

Emma Josephine. 

You have brightened our world.