My Number 2 Turned 9

Per Emma's request: cupcakes, mini samwhices, chips n salsa...

(above) Alexia, Emma, Sidney, Abby, MeShell, Erin

So serious.

(above) Sidney, Emma, Sarah, Alexia, MeShell, Abby, Alyssa

Oh too fun. Emma turned 9 last Sunday so we had a little party with her friends on Saturday night. While her emotions are all over the place and she still hates homework or doing anything I ask her to do, this is a fun age for girls. They made me laugh all night. Who knew that Disney's Dance Dance Revolution and Sing It for the Wii could be so entertaining... for me? Ok so I have had fun playing the games myself, but watching the girls was hilarious. Apparently The Climb by Miley Cyrus is a bigger hit than I realized. Every single one of them knew the words. So funny. And I think that for the most part they all had tried some kind of dance mat game so this was no scare for any of them. You find out, too, what kind of rockers their parents are at a party like this.

This video is a couple of minutes long, but kind of funny. Feel free to skip out on the end if you get bored, but otherwise crank up the volume and rock out with them! :)

Sunday was her actual birthday so after church we went over to the B's for cake and ice cream. And this Sunday we will go to the J's (we obviously have no qualms about stretching it out for the whole month). We gave her those little fashion mannequins that you design your own line of clothing with (can't remember what they are actually called) and they were a hit. Emma hasn't stopped "designing" since she got them. And all her cousins had a great time playing, too. Okay - and so did Tasha and Cari and I. It's addicting.

Emma has decided since you have to take them all apart after you put so much into it, she'll take a picture of every outfit first.

p.s. I know there are many of you out there that are very happy this time of year due to March Madness (my hubby included), but I hate waiting for Survivor! Ugh!

It's GREAT to be EIGHT!

Today is Emma's eighth Birthday! I can't believe my Emma is ready to be baptized. They always tell you that time flies and to enjoy your kids while they are young - "they" are right. It does go so fast.

Emma was due on April 6, 2001. She was born almost 3 weeks early, on March 14, 2001. She was born at LDS Hospital at 2:30 in the afternoon and weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. (Good thing she came early - who knows how much she would have weighed by April 6th). She was going to be named Erin, however, when she was born, she didn't look like an Erin. We named her Emma Louise and gave her sister the name Erin four years later.
Emma got a new set of scriptures! She is official! Even as young as she is, Emm reads her scriptures every night and never forgets to take them to church.

Group hug! McKayly, Erin, Emma, Kailee, Caelan

Emm had a "princess party." The girls got to put make-up on and had fancy hair up-do's! Cari brought her Mary Kay supplies - they LOVED it!

If you know Emma, you know that she is a little beauty with a beast nestled inside. She definitely has a personality of her own. I am terrified of the teenage years with her. Hopefully before she turns 13, the screaming and stomping and slamming of doors wears off.

Here are eight things I adore about Emma:

8. Emma is the most compassionate and affectionate person ever! She loves everyone and meshes with people of all ages. Her best friend is her four year old sister, yet one of her favorite things to do is hang out with her grandma. She has two grandmas and three great grandma's and I have countless pictures of her loving them.

7. Another love Emma has is for animals. She collects FurReal Animals and has 13 of them now. But, I know if she had it her way she would have 13 real pets. Her dream is to work with animals in some way when she is older. As soon as she is 14, she can work at Hogle Zoo. Most kids look forward to getting their drivers licence, but not Emma. She just wants to be old enough to work at the Zoo.

6. Her hair. I know this is a silly thing, but I do. I love the girls hair. I always had thin straw like hair when I was young. She has a full head of gorgeous, thick hair.

5. Her giggle. This is something I can take credit for. My nickname when I was little was "Giggles." She definitely could take the name. It's contagious when she gets going.

4. Her talents. Emma is a natural at a lot of things.

3. I love Emma's love notes. I don't know that a day goes by that I don't get at least one love letter from her.

2. I love that Emma is a daddy's girl. Still, at eight years old, she loves one on one time with her dad. She loves to have "movie night" with the family so that she can snuggle with her dad.

1. And the number one thing I love about Emma is ... drum roll ... the dimple in her smile.

Happy Birthday, Emma Lou!

note to family members: Emma will be baptized on Saturday, March 28. I will send invites with where and what time.