Dear Emmi,

This last week you turned 6.  It still feels like yesterday that I found out I was finally getting a baby girl, and I was over the moon!  I was starting to worry that I would never get one.  Your Dad always wanted a daughter too, and I think he was hoping your big brothers were girls.  We wouldn't trade them of course, but it just shows how much we really wanted you in our family and how happy we were that day.  Your Dad is the one who named you too.  We had some friends just after we were married and living in Cedar City that had the cutest little baby girl named Emmy.  After that, he wanted an Emmi too.  I think your name fits you perfectly.

You are just finishing up Kindergarten, and are quite the little social bee.  All I hear from Mrs. McFarland is that she sees "the back of your cute curlies" quite a bit.  You love to talk to friends and have many in your class.  You did struggle a little bit with your reading at the beginning of the year and you had me and Dad worried.  However, it clicked about halfway through the year, and I am amazed at all the words you know.  You also got your Dad's and big brother Keaton's math gene too, and have surprised your teacher at how well you are picking up addition.

Like I said, you are a little social bee.  You are blessed to have 2 friends live super close, Mary across the street and and Rylee next door.  Every day after lunch, even before I am finished eating you say, "Bye Mom, I am going to Mary's!"  I have had to start to cut back on days you can play with friends because you would play every day if I let you, and while I work in the next room, you make a huge mess.  I am glad you play so well with friends though, and I love listening to you and the girls play dolls in your little voices.

For your birthday, you wanted an "American Girl" doll, but really what you wanted a Target doll, and I was very excited to buy one for you.  I always wanted an American Girl doll when I was a little girl.  You had to go to school on your birthday and I let you play with friends after lunch.  Later that night we celebrated both you and Jack's birthday at the Brick Oven.

Then, just yesterday, we had your first friend birthday party, a little "tea" party for girls in the neighborhood.  We had your Capri Sun "tea, little heart sandwiches, played Bingo, had a scavenger hunt, and a few other games.  I think it was a success.

Emmi, you are my little sweetheart and like I said, I am so grateful to have you as a daughter.

Love, 
Mom

Parties and Parades

One of these years we will go to Chad's annual work party and it will be a bust, but it was not this year.  We had a yummy catered dinner with drumsticks, tri-tip, mash potatoes, etc., and even had a bartender making your choice of Italian soda.  For dessert, this cake was made especially for the event, and the caramel cake was oh-so heavenly.  (I just about snuck some in my purse it was just that good.)

As always, there was cotton candy, 

a face painter, and also a balloon artist.  

It was very family oriented, which is funny being a construction company, but they always have a good time planned for the kids.  They had multiple bounce houses parked on the lawn.

Keaton and Emmi went to battle.

And guess who won that contest?

Sam and Chaston also battled.  They loved having their Mower cousins there too.  After a great dinner, the prize raffle begun.  I was vying for either the 50 inch tv, iPad, Xbox, or other dozen mega prizes that they had, but alas, we got a regular prize.  Chad choose an envelope with a $50 gift card to The Outback and a $20 gift card to the movies.  Date night, baby!! Last but not least, all of my kids got a little bag with candy and a $20 gift card to Walmart.  I mean seriously... how awesome is Vancon?  They are so great!

Me and the kids had to go up and see the Bountiful Parade this year.  Luckily for me, my Mom loves parades and so we got to go with her and Ab's kids.   It was super hot and crowded, traffic was a mess and when we got there we were so far back we could not see a thing, but I am glad we stayed.  We lucked out that my cousin Nate and his family had prime seats and room enough for us to sit with them.  Jack enjoyed the floats with all the animals.  The Madagascar one was his favorite.

My kids were just happy to be there with Tanner and Lauren, and a few candies tossed their way didn't help either.

 

This was the WORST part of the entire parade people... And of course we HAD to be sitting by my cousin that is a huge U fan. That made it even worse.  Ugh.  There was no BYU float, bummer.  That would have lessened it somewhat. 

Now, this was the best part and what we had come to see, the 2,000 LDS "stripling" warriors.  Young men from around Utah came to take part. I saw one in a wheelchair, dozens of YM leaders, and a big group of ones with missionary name tags, but there was 2,000.  We couldn't believe how long they kept coming and coming.  Thinking of the story and how the real stripling warriors were so young like these were, and going up against the fierce Lamanites was a terrifying thought.  But to think that all of them that I saw, and all those that kept coming and coming for like 15 minutes would have survived the battle and return home was simply inspiring.   It was worth all the drive and chaos.  My spirit was touched, and I hope it touched my kids as well.

As a side note, I had to post this picture.  For family night a while back, we watched some family movies, and had some popcorn.  I had forgotten until the popcorn was coming out and Jack was screaming with excitement, that he had never seen this before.  I dare you to find one kid that isn't awed that first time.  I also love Chad's expression.  This pic is just priceless.

And, what other 2 year old that you know loves Perfection?  This is one of Jack's favorites right now and amazingly, what you see above he did all on his own.  What a smart little stinker.