Two-Year Pictures

Does this look like an ideal photo shoot to you? Looks can be deceiving! While you might think a two-year-old girl would love the opportunity to dress up and smile for the camera, our precious one clung to us like a frightened baby monkey! You can see in the family picture that she is reaching up to grab Scott's neck. They were able to snap a lucky shot with a grin. I guess she was confused and scared with the bright lights and strangers trying to make her laugh. We had to call it quits when her face became blotchy from crying. We still had a few more outfits on deck. In the end, we did get some wonderful pictures of our darling Emma!

Bubble Mower

One of Emma's birthday gifts was a bubble mower. She has so much fun pushing it around the yard and chasing the bubbles. And she often reminds us, "Daddy's mower, no bubbles."

See Spot

I took Emma to a summer reading event at the local library. They read a Spot book and the real pup performed the parts of the story. Afterward, the children could play a game, eat a treat, and take a photo with the guest of honor. We also wandered around the set to explore the scenery and peek out of Spot's hiding place in the basket.

Trike Rides

"How 'bout trike ride, Daddio? I get my shoes. Don't forget my helmet!" This is Emma's new favorite activity. She loves to go outside, even in the hottest weather, and ride her tricycle. Scott tries to take her out early in the morning or we go after dinner to beat the heat. She's been great about wearing her helmet and sunglasses and learning to pedal. We are thankful that it has a push bar for parents which detaches when she can pedal and steer at the same time more accurately.

Elmo Party

The furry red Sesame Street monster, Elmo, helped Emma celebrate her second birthday in early July. Many family members were able to come to the party as well. It was great to see everyone! As this slideshow proves, she had a blast opening gifts. She's wasn't fond of the "Happy Birthday" song, and began to cry. Being the center of attention is a lot of pressure!

Discovery Day

Scott and I took Emma to the children's museum on the morning of her birthday. (July can be a brutally hot month, so we tend to opt for indoor fun most days.) We made paper bag puppets in the Art Studio. Guess who crafted the Batman puppet? Emma also really liked plexiglass painting. Notice the dual paint brushes. She insisted in having one in both hands and tried to use them simultaneously on the painting wall.

The Grand Tour

I took a few photos of the house before it became overwrought with boxes on moving day. We have everything unpacked now, but are still tweaking things. A few rooms are without wall decor, and we are searching for "den" furniture.

Home Sweet Home

Watch our house become a home in this slideshow! We began the process in mid-February and closed in late June. I've been saving the photos to share as a collection. I'll try to add another with the new grass soon.