Easter Day

The Easter Bunny left some nice presents for the girls and hid many eggs in the yard.  We even caught a glimpse of him while on our hunt!

Easter Cookies

Yes, another batch of cute cookies made by someone who has time as well as baking and decorating talent--not me!  These boxes were a thank you to our Little Jewels teachers and staff.

P.S.  This is our 500th post on Fun with the Foleys!

Easter Activities

Our church held an children's Easter event with games, an egg hunt, and pictures with the Easter Bunny.  It was quite packed, but we waited it out and eventually the crowd thinned and we were able to enjoy the activities.  Lauren was perplexed when we first sat her on the bunny's lap, but gave us a few smiles and never cried!

Here's Looking at You, Kid!

Hi, Mama!

Am I cute, or what!

I have a pain in my ear . . . again!

My cheeks are getting tired.

You done, yet?

I love my sister!

Dr. Emma & Patient Lauren

The Doc McStuffins medical kit is a big hit with the girls.  Lauren likes to wear the stethoscope and mouth the other pieces.  Sometimes she'll actually let Emma pretend to give a check-up.  We already had a medical kit, but this Christmas gift is different because the stethoscope has buttons which activate fun sayings and sounds from the show.

One Year Old

It's been ONE whole year! Here's a look back at the past month!

Emma and Joan

Emma had a friend over for dinner and playtime last week. Joan is a little older than Emma and is teaching her how to walk and talk. Emma was fascinated by Joan's skill! We will all be sad to see Joan and her parents, Jude and Alisha, move to Mississippi in a few weeks. Best wishes!

Story Time at the Library

Scott and I took Emmy to the local library for the family story hour. It's geared toward little ones under the age of five, so there were lots of babies and toddlers to watch! The theme was "Let's Dance!" Two books were jubilantly read aloud, and the kids danced to several songs including "If You're Happy and You Know It," "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," and "Hokey Pokey."

Ewing Manor

One morning last week we took Emma to Ewing Manor in hopes of taking some photos of her on the gorgeous grounds. As we strolled up to the gates, we noticed a photography policy. The two-sided, single-spaced, 10-point font document explained that even amateurs were not allowed to take photos on the grounds without an appointment and fee. Scott inquired with the kind manorkeeper about scheduling an appointment to take a few pictures of our soon-to-be one-year-old. His sweet talking worked wonders as we were granted immediate permission to click away. We did our best with the rising heat of the mid-morning, off-limits grass with fresh fungicide, and a baby interested in feeling the textures of the ground and picking up the most minuscule leaf. She's our beautifully curious baby doll!

Just My Size

During our extended stay at Grandma and Grandpa Schultz's house a few weeks ago, Emma discovered how to climb up into this wicker chair, which was mine as a kid. It is the perfect size. We brought it home for her to enjoy. Notice her puppy dog face in the second picture. Grandpa Mike taught her this trick. We hope to take a video of it to share soon. By the way, this is our 200th post on Fun with the Foleys!

Happy Birthday to Emma!

Emma was born on July 9th at 12:01 p.m. one year ago! Can you believe it? Our baby became a toddler in the blink of an eye. We celebrated this milestone with a trip to Miller Park Zoo, a three-hour nap, presents from Mommy and Daddy, lots of birthday phone calls, and topped it off with a sliver of cake. It was a trial run, and Emma loved the sugary treat! The big party is on Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa Schultz's house. I have a lot of pictures to download from my camera from today, so look for future postings on Miller Park Zoo, presents, and cake.

Constitution Trail

A former train route, the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is the perfect area for taking a walk on a hot summer day. The shade of the surrounding trees creates a cool atmosphere for a little jaunt. On this day, Scott went for a run and I pushed Emma in her stroller. There were so many bicyclists, roller bladers, runners, and walkers to watch and smile at.

Little Firecracker

Look at this little Fourth of July firecracker! Emma was a good sport with posing for pictures, but didn't want to wear a bow or hat. The second I put one on, she pulled it off. Surprisingly, we have a few photos with the accessories.

Clearwater Park

We ventured to another park in town this week and had fun playing on the equipment and watching the other kids. The little ones are so sweet to Emma and like to show off their climbing, swinging, and running skills. She beams at their talents and makes attempts to mimic their moves.

Aunt Stephanie's Bridal Shower

We had a bridal shower for my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Stephanie, in Palos Park on Sunday at her Aunt Janette's beautiful home. It was a gorgeous day! Here are a few highlights!

Like a Fish to Water

Although it took her a few minutes to warm up to the idea of being in the pool, Emma thoroughly enjoyed her first "swim" a few days ago at Grammy and Grandpa Schultz's house. In an attempt to escape the 88+ degrees of our home, we ventured to Decatur for several days until the AC was repaired. Our time in the pool was so much fun! Emma loved the beach balls and floating in her raft.

Happy Father's Day

Emma thinks that her dad is the best! She lights up when he enters the room and chimes, "Da, da!" Scott can make his little girl giggle like no one else. Emma loves his funny faces, goofy sounds, silly songs, and crazy dances. What a guy! Happy Father's Day, Scott!

Fort Foley

We've been challenging Emma with crawling, walking, and climbing on different surfaces. Scott constructed this mini-fort for her to crawl through. Emmy had a lot more fun crawling from one entrance to the other and peeking in to see one of us at the opposite end.

Eleven Months Old

In just a few short weeks, Emma will celebrate her first birthday! We're having fun planning it and reminiscing about the past year. This month Emma began to cruise at a quicker and more dare-devilish pace. She now enjoys drinking from her sippy cup, but thinks dropping her food on the floor is funny. Multiple teeth have made their way through. Her smile grows bigger and her giggles get cuter each day. She's our sweetie baby!