I don't know where you came from, but you are such a little ham. It was reinforced to me as I uploaded these pictures of you over these last few months. Your Aunt Abby said it perfectly a couple of weeks ago when you slept over at her house during the school break. You ended up coming home early, having come down with strep throat. Aunt Abby said, "I knew she was sick. She was not her usual bubbly, happy self!" The K-3 director at your school said to me just this Friday, "I just have to say that your little Emmi is just adorable. Every time I would look at her today she would have the biggest smile." She went on to ask if all of my children are always that happy, and I said yes but the more I thought about it later, I realized that you are definitely the most bubbly and happy of all my children. It might be partly your gender or just plain your personality, I don't know, but it is so fun to have your infectious spirit in our home and I am so proud to be your mom.
Last week you came home from school with a "card move" for being disruptive. I saw it on your learning plan and said "Em, what is this for?" You looked at me, broke out in a big grin and and exploded in this sinister giggle that only you could do. I said, "No, really Emmi, what did you do?" You said, "this IS what I did" and starting laughing again. Ha ha.. we had a good laugh about that. I can see why you got that card move.
You are no stranger to a "card move" here and there, but overall you are doing so well in school, and getting very good grades. All I hear from the other teachers is that you have lots of friends and like to chat, but that you are a very good girl. Now that I am there at your school full-time, it has been so fun to see you in the halls and out at recess. I see you way more than I see your brothers, and I always look forward to being with you out on the playground, sharing snacks, jumping rope and chatting with you and your friends. I hope you like me being at the school as much as I like being there. I hope to be there for years and years.
We had such a great time in Disneyland back in December with our family and you were such a good sport driving to and from, with having Grandma B's dog, Baby, with you in the back for part of the trip. You do love animals, especially dogs and I knew you would take good care of her.
You and your friends love to play school and I can hear you in your room trying to teach your friends (would do not go to APA) how to teach APA-style. You were so excited when I started substituting and let me practice my group instruction with you, and you helped me when I needed it. You say you want to be a teacher and I do think that if you want to, you could be a great one. I also played school and wanted to be a teacher when I was little. For Christmas, Santa brought you an easel so you could stop playing school with markers on your mirror (arrrgh!) and a kid-friendly tablet. Over the break your big brothers finally taught you how to pay Minecraft on the Xbox and now it is also a favorite thing of yours to do (to your brother's dismay). I love to hear the three of you playing in our new game room together though, laughing and having a good time.
Unfortunately, I had to pull you out of piano lessons. I could never remember to have you practice and when I did ask you to practice, you never were willing. It is too expensive if you are not going to practice so we had to pull the plug on it. I hope that one day you will have the desire to play and practice on your own. You were just starting to get good. So right now you are not taking any lessons, which is nice for me as I am still getting used to working a full day, but I hope to put you back into something soon because you were born to entertain.
I love the funny faces you like to pull, the way you like to look at yourself in the mirror, your continual obsession with gum, and how you have to have lip gloss if I am wearing any. I love how you memorize things so easily and sing the Articles of Faith all the time. Me and your Dad love you oh so much. I can't wait to see all the good things that you will see and do in your life.
Love,
Mom
Last night as I went in to turn off your lamp for the night, I paused for a moment at your side, taking in your sweet angelic face as you slept. I thought to myself how beautiful you were (the leftover eye makeup that we hadn't taken off yet didn't hurt), and being your mother, of course I would think that anyway. But you really looked like a little angel, and I had to force myself not to wake you up and tell you how much I love you, and instead I said another quick prayer of gratitude for you and let you sleep.
I was so anxious to watch you on stage yesterday at the Miss Payson Pageant, more so than I probably should have been, and my terrible shaky job recording it is proof. However, I am so grateful you got the opportunity to do so, and that Kate asked you to be her Pageant Pal. I thought you handled yourself so well and was proud at how beautifully you shone on the stage. You and Kate were good sports about not winning, but I think you both had a wonderful time in the process. Who knows, maybe it will not be your last time in a pageant, although I don't know if I am cut out to be a stage mom.
You sure do love to sing, and we frequently hear your brothers asking you to stop when you start belting it out in the car. Your favorite is Let It Go off of Frozen, but will sing to any song that you hear on the radio. Consequently, you are doing really well in your musical theatre class and we are excited for that recital here in a few months.
At school you are still getting A's and a few high B's and all your teachers have nothing but good things to say at parent teacher conferences. I love how you come home from school almost every day telling me that you fell down. I really don't peg you for a klutz at home, yet you have a new scrape at least once a week from recess. It must be all the running you do, getting chased by the boys. I also always hear tales about a particular boy named "Marlan" that likes to tease you. If someone made you fall it seems to be him. Honestly, I am thinking that he sees how cute you are.
Already you are learning multiplication and have beautiful cursive, which is absolutely amazing for a 1st grader. You are looking forward to your birthday so much, and seem to ask me every day how many days (or weeks) it is until then. Me and your father have seen a few emotional outbursts that we would expect from a daughter, but really not very many, and let's hope that continues.
All I know is that I am indeed so grateful for you, for the opportunity I have to have a mother-daughter relationship and to try to raise you to be a good wife and mother some day. You have a lot of good examples of women on both sides of your family, and I hope that you will try to follow in their footsteps.
Love,
Mom
Dear Kids,
I have to document our little vacation to Scofield. Your papa's boss and family kindly let us borrow their cabin for a week, and we sure made the most of it. It was in a beautiful place surrounded by trees, very quiet and relaxing.
We went up on Monday with Grandma and Grandpa B, Uncle J, and their dog, Baby, and didn't come home until Saturday. We watched movies, ate lots of food, read lots of books, took rides on the 4-wheelers, played ping pong, got in the hot tub, played games, did a puzzle, to name a few. I paid a babysitter to let Birdie out of her cage a few times a day, so we left her home.
On Wednesday, we were excited to have Aunt Midgie, Uncle Rob, and baby Eddie join us. Then on Thursday, we got the Ames'. It was more the merrier, and the cabin had plenty of room for all of us. We were lucky to have Uncle Jeff come up since he has a fishing license and was able to take you fishing and even shooting with Papa.
I loved roasting marshmallows, long late-night talks after the kids had gone to bed, playing Mexican Train with dominoes, and who could forget Jack out of the blue calling Uncle Jeff, Ralph? ha ha ha! I hope you will remember the "forest fairy" and how Grandma B and Uncle J made little sacks with your names on them for you to leave out every night. Then, she would fill them with surprises for you to play with in the morning. It was very sweet, and you kids thought it was so cool. You have been blessed with such great families on both sides. They love you so much, as do I.
Love,
Mom
I was so proud to be your mama today and be there for your baptism. You looked so handsome in your little white jumpsuit. I could tell you were very excited and maybe a little bit nervous too.
I hope you will always remember this day, as I have looked back fondly on mine. I hope you will remember the love that you felt from all of our family, and even dear friends who came to support you. I hope you also felt the Holy Spirit during the baptism and confirmation. I know this church is true, and I hope that you will find that out as well.
It was a wonderful service, Grandpa Hunsaker doing such a great job on the Holy Ghost talk, and Grandpa B saying the opening prayer. You also got baptized with Cameron Carroll and Trinity Fredericks from our ward. Afterwards, we went back to the house for pizza and lots of other fun food, enjoying family and playing with cousins.
You are also officially a cub scout now, and want to work in book every night. That is something that I love about you, how much you love to learn and try new things. You do the same thing with your homework too. Your enthusiam for everything is contagious, and our family would truly be dull without you. I love you Sam.
Love, Mom
