Emerson's Birthday Party!

We had a birthday party for Ms. Emerson on Sunday. It was a small crowd but just the right size for a first birthday. She was such a good birthday girl. I was a bit nervous when she only had a 30 minute nap, but she made it through. I think it might have been all the sugar cookies with frosting I kept seeing her with. When I figure out who her supplier was I'm going to have a talk with them. We kept the menu to kid friendly finger foods - egg salad sandwiches, dino nuggets, fruit salad, veggies, deviled eggs and cream puffs. =) Tom had LOTS of fun de-shelling (not sure if that's a word) the eggs. I could hear him mumbling some not so nice words as he worked away. Hannah and Cole opened presents for Emmie as she was more interested in the food on Madison's plate. She would come around every once in a while to check it out, but she really could have cared less. When it was cake time she ever so daintily picked her sprinkles off her cupcake and ate them one by one. Hannah helped her with the frosting on her face. I think Hannah wiped her finger in the frosting and then ran it across Emerson's forehead as she walked by. Such a nice big sister. Here are a few pictures of the big day.

My great idea...to make "watch me grow" trees, the night before. Each tree had a picture from her first year.

Can you see the crankiness, I mean enthusiasm, for the eggs?The culprits? Madison & SeviAunt Julie & Emmie

Sevi is looking guiltier in each picture...Cole & Hannah opening presents.She wasn't really as close to the flame as it looks, really...Sprinkles

Notice her forehead?Uncle Rob has the magic touch. I think they should have another!

Christmas

Warning...long post ahead...Christmas morning was such a blur. Emmie woke me up at 7:15 and we were met by Jake and Madi as we headed down the stairs. I wish that I could have captured the excitement in their faces but I honestly don't think pictures would do it justice. You couldn't help but be excited with them. I handed Emmie off to Becky and brushed my teeth and put my eyes up and then we headed in to wake Hannah. A few days before Christmas she got it in her head that she wanted me to wake her a special way. We even had to practice so that I got it right. I was to get down real close to her face and say "good morning sunshine, it's Christmas...I mean Christ-mas (said in my best Spongebob voice)" and give her a kiss. So that's how I woke her. I hesitated waking her so early seeing as though she had just gone to sleep but it was Christmas! The six of us (Becky, Madi, Jake, Hannah, Emmie and I) woke the rest of the house in the most obnoxious way. Hannah ran into Nonnie and Papa's room turned on the light and woke them. I heard later that Caitlin, who was sleeping in their room on the floor, knocked her head on the bed frame thanks to Hannah. For the rest of the family we went room to room wishing them a very loud Merry Christmas. =) Becky the barista made us all lattes while we examined the reindeer hoof prints, and made sure Santa ate his cookies. Hannah was most disappointed that Santa only ate half of each cookie and not the whole thing. He also didn't eat the fudge. Brittany and Jacob handed out the presents and after that I don't remember much. Just lots of wrapping paper flying a few screams of joy and lots and lots of chaos.

Caitlin and her headache.Merry Christmas???The Wii.

A box...really, mom?

Snow on Christmas morning - it doesn't get much better than that.Santa brought Hannah a Fancy Nancy doll and a Princess Dora Mermaid bath doll and Emmie got a pull along telephone and a Barnyard friends fridge thing. =) Between the gifts from Santa and everyone else those girls are set! Tom and I had agreed to not exchange gifts because we got the Wii and the Wii Fit earlier on in the year, but he decided since we had extra funds in our Christmas account we could shop for each other. Nothing like being told that the day before Christmas with one car, a sick baby and lots of snow. =) He did really good with his gifts for me but I felt bad for the gifts I gave him, kind of lame. Oh well, there is always next year. Let's see what else...Jake and Madi got their Wii (finally) and Caitlin and Brittany both got a laptop among other things and Spencer got an Xbox 360...and here I thought we were in a recession. I do have to say that the Henry family gave me one of the best gifts ever...an all edge brownie pan and a Costco box of brownie mix. For those that like the edges of brownies, you must get one! Each brownie has two edges! We tried it out today and YUM-O is all I'll say.

We left my parents house around 2 and headed to Issaquah. We had a nice dinner with Judy, Kevin, Kim and Paul. We had a little birthday celebration for Emerson and the girls each got to open a few gifts from Aunt Kim - we're celebrating our Christmas with them in January at the Ocean when Rich and Leina come over. It was a pretty relaxing evening compared to our hectic morning. My camera was still on the fritz so I didn't get many pictures there either. Thank goodness for Kevin who figured out what I had done wrong and got my camera back to normal.

When we left there we went back to my parents house and opened stockings. Hannah was so cute, with everything she unwrapped she said "how DID he KNOW?" and "oh...my...goodness" Oh, the joys of being 4.

Pheeww...that was long. Sorry about that.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a pretty uneventful night. At least compared to what we're used to. We would normally get together with all the Bielser's but because of all the snow and ice everyone decided to stay home. We still got together with my sisters and parents but it just wasn't the same without the Bielser clan. We played a few games (poker in one room, 3-13 in the other) and the kids tracked Santa all night long. It was pretty funny...the closer Santa got to Washington the more Hannah would freak out. By the time Santa was in Missouri she was ready for bed. I took her and Emerson up (we all stayed the night) to bed and each time I tried to leave the room Hannah would open her eyes and ask where I was going. It was around midnight when I finally just told her that I was going to get some water and that she'd be fine. Thank goodness for my husband and Caitlin who got everything ready because as soon as I got my water I heard Hannah yelling for me. The poor girl was terrified. She was so concerned about Santa coming into the house. When Tom came to bed at 2:30 I made her get up with me to go look at the presents that Santa left, and as soon as she had seen that he'd been there she went right to sleep. Silly girl. Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve. I was having difficulties with my camera - I changed a setting and couldn't figure out how to get it back to normal - so I didn't get many pictures.

I got the girls all dressed up and tried to get a picture but this was the only one I got.

Emerson kept tripping on her dress so I put her in her jammies early. Hannah stayed in her pretty dress until bedtime. She loves her dresses.

The Obee kids

The Hun-gery kids (as Hannah calls them). Hannah decided to join their family since Emerson wouldn't stand with her. All the grandkids

Christmas ears

We've been toying with the idea of Hannah getting her ears pierced for quite some time now and well, now their pierced. Every time we would ask her if she wanted them pierced she would always say on "my 4 birthday", then it was "when Madi goes" and when Madi went the first part of December without us it was "on my 5 birthday". It's gotten to be kind of a game with us. We were walking through the mall on Tuesday night and we asked her if she wanted them pierced like we always do and she said on her 5 birthday and covered her ears. There happened to be a girl sitting there waiting to get hers pierced so we asked if she wanted to watch so that she would know what to expect whenever she did decide she wanted them done. We watched and thanked the girl for letting us watch and went on our way. We were in Old Navy and she looks at Tom and I and says "I want them pierced NOW'. Tom and I looked at each other, not really prepared to deal with it and I was wondering if we had pushed her into it. We tried to explain to her that even though the girl didn't cry that it would in fact hurt. Her mind was set. We went back to Claire's and asked if they had two people there that could pierce them at the same time but they didn't. They told us if we came back the next day they would have two "qualified" people there. I was so relieved and happy that she would be able to sleep on it and change her mind if she wanted to but no, the first thing she said to me when she woke up was "I would like to get them pierced today". With the snow falling and our out of control crazy Christmas Eve to-do list I wasn't sure we'd be able to get everything done before heading to my moms house. We told her that more than likely we'd have to go on Friday and she was not happy but she was OK with it. I'm not exactly sure how we did it but we managed to get all the presents wrapped, the bags packed and the house picked up with time to spare. I think the fact that Tom had a snow day helped tremendously! We headed out to the mall, made our way through the nasty slush at the mall and she practically ran to the store. She was SO excited. Once we got the OK that there were two "qualified" people there to pierce she hopped up into the chair and sat so patiently. She is quite the brave little 4 year old. She didn't want to hold my hand or the stuffed bear and she didn't even cry. Her eyes got a little watery but she didn't let one tear fall. As we were leaving Tom and I were under strict orders to NOT tell anyone, she wanted to wait to see if anyone noticed them first. I had to laugh, once we got to my parents house she ran to Papa, who was out shoveling the walk, and pulled her hair back and told him the exciting news. He didn't have a chance to even figure out what she was doing before she told him. Such a cute little girl...with her ears pierced.

So excited!Cleaning the earsWaiting...The second piercer is ready1,2,3Yay!Our big girl with new earrin's!

Trouble

My sister (Susie) was nice and surprised me with a coffee the other day. I think she was feeling sorry for me being cooped up in the house with two little ones and no car. Isn't she wonderful! I left Hannah and Emerson in the other room for a few minutes while I checked my email. I noticed that Hannah came in here with me but Emerson didn't follow her. I asked Hannah what she was doing and Hannah's response to me was "playing quietly on the couch", I peeked in on her and saw this...

She found my coffee sitting on the side table and decided to help herself. Thank goodness it wasn't hot and thank goodness I had already enjoyed at least half of it. She was so proud of herself and boy did she think she was funny! I couldn't help but laugh and grab my camera. My girls love their coffee. =)

Trouble.

Birthday Festivities Part 1

We are having a party for Emmie this coming weekend, but we couldn't let her big day pass without a celebration. Emerson loves unwrapping presents. I was all set to have Hannah help her out last night but she did not need/or want any help. She tore into them as if she's been opening presents her entire life. I think it might have disappointed Hannah just a tad but she made herself useful. =) Hannah found a Cookie Monster Remote Control a few months ago and she decided then that she wanted to get it for Emerson. We should have bought it when we first saw it because after that night it was gone. We've been watching the shelf at Target and we found it the other week, in the wrong spot. Thank goodness for my OCD daughter who must put out of place toys in the correct spot on the shelves. She happened to see it, and then quickly did a few arm pumps followed by a YES! It was pretty cute. She's been so excited to give it to her so when Emerson saw it and gave a big smile I think it made Hannah oh so happy, which in turn made me so happy. She's such a nice big sister. Here are some pictures of our evening and our big birthday girl.

Hannah insisted on picking out their dresses and according to her, everyone MUST wear a crown to a birthday party. Gosh!Ya, I'm one...how old are you?What happens when you eat too much cake. She was asleep 10 minutes after we pulled her out of the high chair. =)

I have to go out tomorrow and get a few last minute things for Tom but other than that I think I can officially say we're done. Nothing like waiting till the very last minute, right? Now we must get wrapping. I'm hoping that Caitlin will be able to come over tomorrow and watch the girls while I wrap, wrap, wrap before church. Tom has to work so we'll be meeting him there, which leaves me with a whole lotta stuff to do. Emerson isn't feeling any better and I noticed tonight that she's sounding a little raspy. Susan has given us some instructions for tonight in case she gets worse. Poor Emerson, but I do have to say I'm loving the snuggly side of her. I've procrastinated long enough and must start wrapping. Happy Christmas Eve, Eve.