Tea party

Aunt Grace hosted a tea party at her house while we were all home. Emma enjoyed helping bake, and it was fun for me to watch her help her aunts. This girl does love to lick the spoon! 





And then...she had an audience. She was playing the part of her music teacher at school.

Getting ready for Valentines Day

Today we made treats for Emma’s class for their party tomorrow. Emma’s picked these off Pinterest, and they were a success! And they sorted their valentines to be ready to deliver tomorrow.

Sorting Valentines 

Heart-shaped Rice Krispies 

Piping white chocolate

Sure do love that smile!

All done!

Fun with family, after Christmas

This trip was very much needed. I got to sleep in (thank you Tory), I didn’t have to cook (thank you parents), and I had lots of free babysitting! Oh how my brain needed that break. And I am always more at ease when I know Emma is with people who love her. She needs them, too. She loved being silly and horsing around with grandpas and uncles...and aunts. She colored, cooked, and played games with everyone. And I went to the movies, shopping, and did I mention sleep? It wa great fun.

Hanging out at Aunt Suzanne’s House the day after Christmas.

Hi Uncle Alex

Going for a ride

Trying to walk on his feet?


She can’t just do a nice cheese 

Oh the yummy food!

I went shopping with Aunt Faith one night and Emma stayed and cooked with Grandma Connie. They are wearing the matching aprons we got for Christmas.

Emma got Papa Mike minion glasses for Christmas.

Riding Aunt Tory.

Christmas Day

It was so nice to be with family for Christmas. We started at my parents house, then went to Steven’s parents. Emma had a blast opening presents, it was fun to watch her. We were also excited to see everyone, and eat lots of yummy food...the first of many good meals!

Presents! She loves her Little House books!

Emma got Aunt Tory a sword for Christmas.

And she got Papa Steve a light-up hat. 

Christmas with the Bencys.

Kitty sheets!

Packing cubes...which she uses for everything.

I think she may like cats. ;) Also notice the paws at the top.

Chillin with Uncle Alex.

Swaddling her newest kitty, which she named ‘Tory.’

Valentines Box

Last Saturday we made Emma’s Valentines box for school. Apparently you can now go to Target and just buy a pre-decorated box, but that’s no fun. Although craft time is also not my favorite activity... I have more practice cooking with her, so she knows the rules better and I anticipate problems more often. Crafting involves scissors and glue, and tape....and patience. But it is done, and she likes it.

And glitter...did I mention it also involves glitter? 😫

Sparkles, ribbon, glitter, crosses (which she grabbed out of my scrapbook stash), and shiny paper.

She also wanted to put Christmas garland on it, but I vetoed that.

All done and at school!
It has a veil

Fun with friends, cooking...and cleaning

We had a busy weekend! We worked on Emma’s valentines box for school, went to Scotty’s promotion party, then Sunday we had church, a meeting, Noah’s birthday party and the Super Bowl. It has been sunny and 70 degrees here, and we are enjoying it! They are having an exercise on base this week and so most of the gates are closed...so we are just having a low key week...which is what we needed. 

Noah turns 6 this month! He had his party at the movie theater. 

There were a TON of kids. 

Singing happy birthday!

She cleaned her room and wanted me to show daddy.

So I was not prepared for this weather. Emma has a large “too big” box full of clothes and shoes. However, no summer clothes. So in February, we had to venture out and buy some shorts and we also got a pair of sandals. She loves this shirt, and has worn it 3 times this week already...and might again tomorrow.

We made our yummy red velvet cream cheese brownies for Valentines Day! 

One of the other moms took this at Noah’s party.

These two...This popped up in my Facebook time hop. 11 years ago. 😭 I was just wishing Pepper were here to clean out my empty peanut butter jar and eat my steak scraps. They both look so young in this picture. 

Emma has been cleaning like crazy this week. It’s nice, except that she doesn’t always listen. Our house does look much better though.

Daddy drew this for Emma and sent it to her. Pretty good!

Busy days

Sorry, thought iu pleaded this earlier!

We have had some busy days this week, just doing normal things and doing the many things needed to move.  We have finally been cleared medically to PCS, so hopefully orders will come soon. 

We had a conversation about playing instruments. So we got our the trumpet...it’s always a fun time.

Her “all about me” poster from when she was queen bee. We did this at the beginning of the year. Her favorite animal is a cat, not horse. She has changed her favorite color to green because that is Daddy’s favorite color. She said her favorite food was a nana until I told her what she wrote down. Her favorite place she said was different (I can’t remember what it is), and she couldn’t think of her favorite thing to do. The others are the same. 


She wanted us to be pigtail buddies. I figured she won’t ask me to do this for much longer.