Seriously Adorable Pics

I was trying out my new studio strobe tonight and captured these pics of Emma. She looks so grown up...and so beautiful! You can see the rest of the pics here.

100 things...

I found this idea from Katy's blog.

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold / change the colors of the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!! When you post this on your own blog, come back and link me to your post!

*Hint* If you are using Blogger, before you paste the text, click over to the "edit html" tab instead of "compose", and when you paste, it will keep the vertical formatting!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (orchestra)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Learning Italian

Well, Shawn and I have decided that we are finally going to learn Italian. Shawn's grandparents spoke it, but his dad does not. He really loves to learn about his heritage, and wants to share it with Jacen and Emma. So, we are taking on learning Italian, and our plan is to immerse Emma in it, so that she learns it to. She may not be Italian by birth, but she is Italian because of her Daddy. It is her heritage now. We just don't want Shawn's Italian history to die with him. So, this should be an adventure! You may be seeing some Italian here and there from now on :)

Happy New Year!

May God bless you and yours in 2009!

Christmas Night

We had Christmas dinner at our house again this year. Shawn's parents, my mom, Aunt Kristin, and Ron all came over. Emma opened presents from Shawn's parents and had a great time. She really got so much for Christmas this year, and got everything she wanted. We finally broke down and got her a Kitchen set. She has had a blast playing with everything. And, the most important thing about this year, she knows the true meaning of Christmas...that Jesus Christ, our savior, was born on that day. God bless all of you!

Christmas Morning

We had a quiet, low key Christmas morning. We woke up, opened presents (including Miss Heidi), and ate homemade cinnamon rolls. Emma had a great time and this was definitely the coolest Christmas we've had yet. Emma was so excited about Christmas. She was most excited about giving out the presents she bought for everyone at the Wiseman's Warehouse at school. She got Mommy a buckeye necklace and Daddy a #1 dad mug. She did a great job. And, was so incredibly sweet, worrying about how everyone loved the presents she got them.

Christmas Eve

We went to Grandma C's house on Christmas Eve day before we went to dinner with Shawn's parents and his mom's family. She got lots of great stuff. The last picture is of her opening her Swim to Me Puppy. She is practically having convulsions, she was so excited. She opened it up and said, "I was so worried about this!" She was so cute :)

Buon Natale!

Here's wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas!

Augurando tutto Buon Natale!

Dancing with the Dog

One of the characteristics of Schnauzers is "dancing" on their hind legs. Heidi definitely likes to do this. Emma and Aunt Kristin were dancing and Heidi decided to join in on the fun. It was hilarious seeing the three of them dancing in a cirlce. One Heidi had had enough, Emma decided to dance with Schnitzel, her toy Schnauzer. They are such cool dogs :)

Fashion Show

Emma and Aunt Kristin put on a fashion show for Mommy and Daddy last night. Emma was so cute. She took off her sunglasses and whispered, "Mommy, it's just me." Aunt Kristin looked like a hip hop bag lady...hehe. They had a blast. After the fashion show, they turned on some Christmas music and were dancing. Heidi decided to join them!

Rudolph and Santa

Aunt Kristin has been staying with us for the past few days, and Emma has been having a blast playing with her! Mommy took a nap yesterday (after working that night), and I awoke to a puppet show. Emma was so excited to show me what she and Aunt Kristin had put together. It was absolutely adorable! Her Aunt Kristin is so much more creative than Mommy when it comes to things like this... :)

Merry Christmas Eve

Here's wishing that everyone has a Blessed Christmas this year! It's hard to believe that the Christmas season is coming to an end. I am still amazed at how blessed I am every single day. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, amazing children, and the best friends a girl could ask for. Here's to you and yours!

Preschool Christmas Party

Emma had her preschool Christmas party last Wednesday. She was SO extremely emotional that day. I'm not sure why. Everything was making her cry. Overall, she had fun, after we got through a few meltdowns. They had a book exchange, and got to make an ice cream cone Christmas tree. Now, we are on Christmas break, and Mommy is so glad that we get to "relax" for 2 weeks with no school!

3 more days til Christmas...and I've yet to wrap a single gift! YIKES!

Emma's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
I want you bring me presents. Maybe it's a new puppy or anything I love. I love everything. Maybe I can have a Max & Ruby game. I love you Santa. I want you to stay at my house and see Heidi.
Love,
Emma

Christmas Pictures

Last week, I set everything up to take the kids' Christmas pictures. UGH! It's so much easier to photograph other people's children. Jacen and Emma did nothing but complain! We got a few good shots, but not what I would like. Not to mention, Jacen is at the age where he wants his hair a certain way. Shawn and I feel so old when we are constantly saying, you need a haircut! I think it looks AWFUL, but Jacen likes it, so we're dealing with it. So, here are a few of the more decent pictures of the bunch.