The Black Family

Chef Emma

2010-10-02T19:32:00.004-06:00

Our budding chef, Emma, is enjoying her Paula Deen's My First Cookbook! Last week she cooked Porcupine Meatballs, and tonight, she treated us to Pigs in a Blanket. (Mama's side note: Hot Dogs, what a shocker--they are her absolute favorite food. She is only allowed to eat one at a meal and once she tricked the baby sitter into giving her four! I really expected sickness that night.) She really enjoys her night to cook. She even sets the table. Now if we could just figure out how to get her to wash all the dishes..... :)

All set and ready to cook!

On tonight's menu.....Pigs in a Blanket

Emma rolled up all of the hot dogs in crescent rolls.

Ready for the oven!

Cooking, cooking, cooking....

All done!

Now, that's a kid's favorite meal if I ever saw one (oops, add fries, subtract green beans and they'll be happy)!

Two happy kiddos!!

Ballet Class

2010-10-02T19:23:00.002-06:00

Emma started taking a Princess Ballet class in September. She is really enjoying herself. The class will last all school year and she will have a recital in May. They do warm ups, dance some, have a princess story time, and then they put on tutus and dance more. One day they danced around the room pretending to clean like Cinderella. Sorry for the terrible pictures--the ones during class are through a one way mirror looking at Emma's reflection in another mirror.

All ready to go to class

That's my little ballerina!

A Rite of Passage (of sorts)

2010-08-25T11:45:00.003-06:00

After much deliberation over the past year, Emma decided that she would get her ears pierced! We found out that our pediatrician's office does it, and we just so happened to have an appointment for Mac. She was a little undecided last night, but the first words out of her mouth this morning were, "Mom, I've decided that I definately want to get my ears pierced today." Okay, I still thought she would waffle on her decision. Nope. No way. No how. She did not waffle. So I called the doctor's office and they could do it at the same time as Mac's check up. Emma was a tough little thing. She didn't even get very nervous. I didn't even have to hold her hand. Stoic. So here's before:

Then getting her ears cleaned and marker dots put on:

And wah-lah! Sparkly little earrings for a sparkly little girl. She didn't even flinch, though she was a little stunned when all was said and done. It took a minute for it to sink in that she actually put holes in her ears, but after that minute was up, she was ecstatic!

Krispy Kreme

2010-07-02T20:07:00.004-06:00

Woo Hoo! We found a Krispy Kreme in Alexandria! We were so happy to stop on our way home from Mount Vernon. The kids love to watch the doughnuts being made, and of course, love to eat the doughnuts. Yum!

Mount Vernon

2010-07-02T19:56:00.003-06:00

Greg's parents and nephew, Brandon, came to visit us yesterday! We have kicked off our week of sightseeing with a trip to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. We enjoyed VERY nice weather, and got to see the mansion, some demonstrations, animals, and even the grist mill.

Greg, Brandon, Emma and George's family

Little Punkin

Brandon in front of the mansion

Brandon and Emma in front of the Greenhouse

Emma and Mac

Cheese!

Greg and his dad

More Swimming.....

2010-07-02T19:45:00.002-06:00

Emma finished up her first round of swimming lessons yesterday. We are very proud of our girl who was declared 'ready to move up' to the next level. We have a busy July planned, but might pick up another class in August. During swim lesson time, McGinnis and I just hang out on the other side of the pool. He thinks the water is great!

Emma waiting for her teacher.

Mac in the water

Emma during her lesson

Mac getting the water gun ready....

Mac sporting Emma's goggles. Ready for class, Mama!

Trailside Park

2010-07-02T19:42:00.004-06:00

On Saturday we found a terrific park while on our bike ride. The kids had a fun time playing there while we took a little break.

Swimming Lessons

2010-06-22T12:50:00.004-06:00

You know it's summer when it's time for swimming lessons! This is the first time that Emma has taken lessons, and she really enjoyed them. After her lesson, she practiced putting her face in the water, and of course in true Emma style, practiced her 'tricks'. McGinnis and I took advantage of being at the pool and did some wading on our own. Mac is fearless in the water (scary!!).

Above: Emma is by the teacher.

Above: Emma is on the right

No Training Wheels!!

2010-06-19T18:54:00.002-06:00

Emma has decided that she wants to ride her bike like a big girl without the training wheels, so today, she and Greg got out the tools and took them off. (She actually wanted to do this last summer after Daddy went to Iraq, but Mama vetoed that idea.) After a few wobbly starts, Emma took to riding without them very quickly! She is very proud! We told her we would get her a bigger bicycle once she learned, so I guess bike shopping is on our to do list.

Cooling off

2010-06-18T18:18:00.006-06:00

The kids had a great time with their new sprinkler today! With it starting to get pretty hot and muggy around here, it's nice to cool off a bit. We don't have much yard, but we live at the end of a street that doesn't get much traffic, so we (and all the neighbor kids) block off the street and end up playing in it! I am sort of feeling like we live in a big city!

Firehouse Kids

2010-06-13T20:52:00.003-06:00

Tonight we ate dinner after church at Firehouse Subs. McGinnis had never eaten there before, so it was a special treat to get a big boy fire hat! He had to wear it all during dinner, and he was really angry with it in the car since it wouldn't sit right on his head while he was in his car seat. When we were leaving the restaurant, as Mac was running to the door, the hat kept flying off of his head. He would stop and pick it up, laughing the entire time. He also ate oreos for the first time. Life will never be the same again.

New Pack and Play?

2010-06-09T21:50:00.003-06:00

Who needs a pack and play or an exersaucer when you have a giant bathtub to corral your children?? Our new bathroom includes this lovely feature for budding imaginations! Emma and McGinnis had fun tossing in lots of stuffies and playing while I was getting ready. The faucet only got "accidentally" turned on once.

Walt Disney World Trip, April 2010

2010-06-09T21:32:00.002-06:00

We are finally back in the world of blogging! It's been a crazy few months for us, but hopefully we are starting to get settled back down. Since we last checked in, the Blacks have moved from Colorado to Virginia! We decided to take a bit of vacation time on our move and stopped in Alabama before heading down to WDW. It was a LONG ride and we were definately glad to be out of the cars when we finally got to Virginia, but we had so much fun along the way! Here are a few pictures from our WDW trip.

Boys Will Be Boys

2010-02-25T19:14:00.002-07:00

McGinnis is using his toys in whole new ways these days! His sweet little jungle that he used to lay in front of and kick is now something to dive over. At least the frog pillow breaks his fall. Crazy boy!

Water Music

2009-12-07T22:56:00.007-07:00

McGinnis always sticks his tongue out! Crazy boy.

Bathtub time at our house is fun. Emma and McGinnis love to jump in the tub and play until the water gets cold. They have a new 'talent'--they fill up the teapot with water and hum/blow into the spout end. Well, that's confusing, so see for yourself:

Okay, video to come... sorry...technical difficulties...

Chefs for the Day

2009-12-07T22:53:00.002-07:00

Poor McGinnis. As you can see, Emma has decided to "share" an apron with him. I think they were pretending to be chefs that day. One day, Emma will be forced to play boy games, or play elsewhere. At least they play well together for now.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T19:41:00.002-07:00

So, I guess a few pictures are better than no pictures at all. Luckily, I had uploaded these pictures from Thanksgiving Day to Blogger before the hard drive crashed. I had some really cute pictures to add, too! Needless to say, I am completely bummed, but I will offer a little advice: "Backup your hard drives, people!!" I wish I had backed up mine a little more recently. I am thankful that I think I only lost my Halloween and Thanksgiving pictures. It could have been MUCH worse. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Spaghetti Face

2009-11-05T16:45:00.002-07:00

Do you think he might like spaghetti? It's a good thing, since we have lots of leftovers!

Playing with Cans

2009-11-05T16:42:00.001-07:00

Who ever thought that a case of Diet Cokes could be so much fun? And who would have thought a 4 year old and a 14 month old could play together with it? Well, this morning McGinnis starting taking the cans out of the box and bringing them to Emma. This turned into a building exercise, and then into rolling them on the floor, and then stacking them on the tray, etc, etc, etc. I'm so glad they had so much fun. Mama had to pull the plug when they started tossing them down the stairs!

Playing in the Tent

2009-11-05T16:39:00.001-07:00

Emma has a tent that the kids love to play in! McGinnis thinks he is just as big as Emma, and loves to play inside it, too. We are also building quite a few tents with blankets these days. Oh the joys of childhood!

Playing Outside

2009-11-05T16:37:00.002-07:00

Sometimes after school, Emma's friend Connor comes over to play. They love to play outside together. They have decided that it is really fun to slide together, and of course, collapse in a pile at the bottom. Here's a picture of them holding Mac (who is almost as big as they are!) at the top.

More Halloween Pictures

2009-11-05T16:26:00.004-07:00

Yep, Emma has learned how to cross her eyes! Now the mother in me is saying, "Stop it or your eyes will stick like that!"

Pumpkin #1

Pumpkin #2

Pumpkin #3

Ems was Tinkerbell for her school Storybook Party.

Emma and her friend Connor the Transformer at school.

Playing a marble game at school during her Halloween party.

Emma and her teacher, Mrs. Hart

The Cowpokes

2009-10-31T23:26:00.003-06:00

We had a great time tonight. We trick or treated at a few neighbors' houses, and then went to church for a Trunk or Treat. Emma and McGinnis were cowpokes.

A side view of Mac's chaps!

What in the world is that?? And can I make it dance again??

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-16T20:51:00.001-06:00

To see a halloween funny, click below:

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/JbbWJwJN5LjfCh5J

Sprague Lake

2009-10-16T11:58:00.009-06:00

Every time we go to Rocky Mountain National Park, we have to stop off at the Sprague Lake trail. It's not much of a hike--more of a stroll around a beautiful lake with a breathtaking view of Hallett's Peak. The kids love it because they can run, throw rocks in the water, see the ducks, and watch the fish lazing in the shallow stream. Enjoy!

Grand Lake, Colorado

2009-10-16T09:10:00.007-06:00

When we go to Estes Park, we always like to try to cross over the mountains on Trail Ridge Road to get to the other side and the town of Grand Lake. We didn't see any moose this time, but we still had fun. Grand Lake is more of a village than anything, and in the winter, they have lots of snow mobiling. They have a truly "Grand" Lake and have lots of those beautiful polished wooden boats, too. If you ever get the chance to visit, it's a beautiful place! We ate lunch there and spent the afternoon strolling the street and playing at the playground. Robert and Jennifer were with us there too.

I can slide!!

Emma, McGinnis, and Grumpy walking on the 'sidewalk'.

Emma

Emma at the wonderful park in downtown Grand Lake!

Mac and Jennifer

A relaxing ice cream break

More, please!

Dancing on the sidewalk again!

Our beautiful girl!

I am a big boy-- I can play, too!

McGinnis

Emma and Robert

Just hanging around!

Cub Lake

2009-10-09T22:45:00.005-06:00

Emma hiked 5.6 miles from the Cub Lake Trailhead to Cub Lake and back! She was so proud of herself, but the next day, she said she would only go on a hike if it was short. Crazy girl. We went hiking with Robert, Jennifer, and Grammie.

The group with Grammie snapping the picture.

The beginning of the hike.... Amazing scenery!

McGinnis had the best seat in the house! He rode in a carrier on Robert's back and loved every minute of it. Of course, hiking to the top of really big rocks and playing in the woods is every boy's dream!

The boys in our bunch....

Split Rock -- this was actually a pretty steep climb from the trail, and Emma did that too!

What a poser!

McGinnis would have loved to get the caterpillar off of Robert's glove!

And, Emma did get the caterpillar!

More of God's handiwork.

The crazy chipmunks at the lake clearly picnic often with hikers. They were not shy at all.

Elk wading in a big mud lake.

We made it!!

Estes Park

2009-10-09T20:29:00.004-06:00

Here are a few pictures from Estes Park. More pictures to follow of our hike and our trip over Trail Ridge to Grand Lake.

Yee Haw!

2009-10-04T23:19:00.002-06:00

Emma just loved this pink cowgirl hat while we were in Estes Park. She knew right away that she wanted the hat to be a souvenir of our trip. She likes it so much, that she has changed her mind from being Tinkerbell for Halloween to a cowgirl. Now I must get to work on that costume!

McGinnis's Milestones

2009-09-22T20:36:00.009-06:00

Mastering the Stairs

If you aren't around McGinnis, here's a glimpse of his funny crawl. He looks like a little monkey, but he can carry things around with him. Just for the record, he can crawl the right way, but does this most of the time. And, he's fast!

McGinnis is now growlinig. He growls instead of screaming like a girl, which is a good thing! So, if you ask him what a tiger says....... GRRRR!

Mac is WALKING!! He is still in the staggering stage, but it's so adorable! He gets irritated when he falls down, and usually jumps right back up. My life will never be the same......

Zoo Trip

2009-09-21T23:23:00.004-06:00

We went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo with Emma's school on last Monday. The kids, of course, had a great time. Emma hung out with her buddy Connor. This was McGinnis' first visit to the zoo where he actually realized that we were looking at animals. He LOVED the giraffes, so, Aunt Terri and Uncle Rick, thanks for the giraffe shirt!

Emma and Connor

Ems

Our first animal sighting!

We have to hug the giraffe leg every time we go!

Is this thing Jabba the Hut or what??

Emma weighing herself to see what kind of an ape she is.

War Eagle!

2009-09-05T16:27:00.002-06:00

So, you can take the boys out of Auburn, but you can't take Auburn out of the boys! As seen in the pictures, there is a stadium in Iraq named Jordan-Hare Stadium! The origin of the name is a little unsure, but they are thinking the guys that built it were Alabama boys who were poking fun at Auburn. But the Auburn guys there now sure are proud!

More Pics from Iraq

2009-08-29T21:58:00.005-06:00

Here are a few more pictures from Iraq. It really sounds like Greg is doing well over there. He will travel to another base once a month to perform quality checks, so he will either ride in a helicpoter or in a convoy. He went last week in a chinook and came back in one also. Thanks for all the prayers, well wishes, and mail that Greg is getting.

Greg's vehicle - Land Cruiser

Greg had to add his own personal touch!

Note the black flag and the reading on the chart. It was over 127 degrees!

The transport that took Greg to the other base he visited - a chinook helicopter.

This is looking out the back of the Chinook, looking at the buddy Chinook flying with them.

Inside....Note the female gunner....

Greg on the Chinook

View out the back

Sunset in Iraq

Greg's room

A bit of countryside

Iraqi Hummers

Greg in front of an Iraqi Helicopter

Greg in the cockpit of the Iraqi helicopter

Up close - Iraqi Helicopter

Gray Fox -- local wildlife

Red Fox

2009-08-18T11:08:00.006-06:00

Here are some pictures that Greg has sent home so far. He is settled into his quarters, and is very comfortable. He is starting to learn his job responsibilities, and has already been there almost a month! I hope time continues to fly. He is able to call home often, so that is nice, and we have been able to skype so the kids can see him.

This photo was taken in the Baltimore Airport on his way out of the USA.

Greg's tent he shared in Kuwait.

One of his roommates in Kuwait.

Why does he have a flowery bedspread?? Maybe his bunk is not made up yet....

Leaving Kuwait

Greg and another guy in the C130, flying from Kuwait to Iraq. Greg said it was really hot on the plane (look at that red face!)

Setting foot on the ground at Badhdad International Airport.

A Dirt Devil

Greg getting the keys from the guy he is replacing.

Greg's first sandstorm.

Apparently, sand gets everywhere!!!

Terri and Tony's Wedding

2009-08-15T21:18:00.002-06:00

We had the loveliest afternoon at our friends wedding today! Emma was the flower girl/ring bearer. The wedding was in Garden of the Gods, up on this great, red rock. The view of the area was amazing from up there!

All ready to go!

The Wedding Party off to the ceremony!

It was starting to sprinkle, so Tony was keeping the girls dry.

Look closely, and you may see the people on top. That is where we hiked for the ceremony!

Emma had the honor of escorting the bride in.

Here's the awesome view....

Waiting for her turn to bring the rings....

That ring is in here somewhere!!

Oh, I have the other one, too.

Job well done! Emma was on the way back to her seat.

Crazy Colorado Weather!

2009-08-15T21:09:00.002-06:00

Last Monday, we had a wicked hail storm! It blew up out of no where, and to begin with, there were some huge hail stones! To top it all off, there was a ton of rain, and the wind was blowing like crazy. You could even see the sun if you looked toward Pikes Peak. I guess it's true--'if you don't like the weather here, stick around a few minutes and it will change'.

The cool cloud after the storm was over.

Park Pictures

2009-08-15T20:58:00.005-06:00

One day last week, we went to the park down the street from our house. Ems just loves to go there and play. It seems like just yesterday we had moved to Colorado Springs and she was too little for the big kid equipment, and now she handles it like an old pro!

Martha and Josh's Wedding

2009-08-15T20:47:00.002-06:00

Our friends, Martha and Josh got married on July 18th. Emma was their flower girl! Mac was an honorary ring bearer with his little tux. Emma did a great job walking down the aisle. She had her very own flower wand to carry.

Counting the Days!

2009-08-07T21:02:00.002-06:00

Greg left for Al Asad, Iraq on July 19th. We are glad that he is finally over there, so we can start counting the days until he comes back! He has gotten settled in his quarters and is learning his job. So far we have had excellent communication both through phone and skype.

Schriever AFB Picnic

2009-08-07T20:55:00.003-06:00

Greg and Emma got the chance to go to the Schriever AFB picnic before he left. They had a ball! Every summer the base throws a fun picnic with lots of neat things to do.

In one of the MANY bouncy houses

Getting ready to Euro Bungy

Lovin' every minute of it....little daredevil....

Like my face painting?

Me and my Daddy!

Happy 1st Birthday, Mac!

2009-08-05T21:28:00.008-06:00

Since Greg deployed in July, we decided to have McGinnis' first birthday party before he left. Technically, Mac won't be 1 until August 13. We decided to use his party as a disguise for a 60th birthday party for my mom.

Our Big Boy

If you know Mac at all, you will understand the monkey theme.....

He loved the icing! Boy after Mama's heart.

Grammie's old people accessories....

Sixty and Sassy

America the Beautiful Park Picnic

2009-07-31T17:12:00.003-06:00

So, it's been a while since the last post, but folks, we've been busy!! I have quite a few pictures to upload, so I will hopefully gradually update. These are pictures from our bike ride on July 14th. We went to America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs. Since Grammie was in town, she volunteered to bring the kids and a picnic dinner for us bikers. They have a really cool playground with very unusual play things. The kids always love it. They even have a huge sculpture that is also a fountain that you can play in. Unfortunately it was turned off by the time we got there.

"Faux Hawk"

2009-07-01T16:27:00.004-06:00

Check out my 'faux hawk"! Thanks Auntie Connie!!

Glad to be out and ready to eat!

Yep, all those bikes belonged to our group.

We went on a family bike ride last night. We had a great time, basically riding to dinner downtown and back. I think there were 11 adults and 4 kids if that count was right. It was dark enough on the way back that we got to use bike lights, which made it more fun.

Estes Park, Colorado

2009-06-23T22:06:00.004-06:00

Last weekend we went to Estes Park with our friends, Kevin, Connie, & Jin. We had a blast! We squeezed in a hike to Nymph and Dream Lakes in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park. Emma made it the whole way again, and McGinnis loved riding in the backpack. Most of the time, he had his little face sticking out the side so he could see around Daddy's head! We also had smores, cooked hot dogs over the fire, and were treated to a home cooked breakfast (by Chef Kevin) both mornings. We even squeezed in a game of Spades. I can't imagine a better weekend.

The Boys

Emma and Connie

What a view!

Kevin, Connie, and Jin

Cool Tree

Nothing like a Mountain Stream....

Cooking Dinner

The View from the YMCA

Still lots of snow at the Trail Ridge Center on top!

The Crawl

2009-06-03T22:24:00.005-06:00

McGinnis is mobile. Is he walking? No. Is he crawling? Sort of. It's a hoot. See the video for yourself. I will say that since I took this video 2 days ago, he has crawled the correct way a few times, but he always reverts back to the weird crawl. He's a funny little guy, and loves the camera!

Emma's First Hike

2009-05-25T23:10:00.007-06:00

Also while we were in Ouray, Emma went on her first hike. It was a soggy day, but the group hiked somewhere between 3 and 4 miles around Cascade Falls. Greg said she even hiked almost all of it on her own. She was so proud of herself, and we are so proud of her, too!

Telluride, Colorado

2009-05-25T22:48:00.005-06:00

We spent a morning and afternoon in Telluride during our camping trip to Ouray. What a neat little town Telluride is. I would love to go back and wander through town. We rode the Telluride ski gondola up to the top of the ski hill and got off. We were treated to a lovely view (minus all the snow you would see during ski season). We also got to see our friend Brad propose to his girlfriend Nikki! After we walked around at the top for a while, we rode the gondola down the other side of the mountain to more of a resort area, ate lunch, and then rode back up and over the mountain to our cars. What a beautiful place!

The dandelions didn't seem like weeds when there were so many of them!

We, of course, had to have our goofy boy shot for Terry.

Did anyone see an Emma-moose in the flowers?

The view of Telluride from the ski gondola.

The kids loved watching the town get smaller and smaller on the gondola.

Just one view from the top of the mountain.

Jocie and Mac

King and Queen of the Snow Pile

The tiny specks in the middle of the hill are actually Robert and Greg.

The Newly-Engaged Couple

Camping in Ouray

2009-05-25T22:27:00.006-06:00

Just wanted to share some pictures from our trip to Ouray, Colorado on Memorial Day Weekend. We met our buddies from Albuquerque there and had a ball. Emma was thrilled to be in the Great Outdoors all weekend, and she did not want to leave. We had a rainy weekend, but our spirits were not dampened. Saturday, we drove to Telluride (see post), and then Sunday, the group (minus Tylitha, McGinnis, and myself) went on a hike (see post), and then the group hopped into the hot springs. We enjoyed many roasted marshmallows, the traditional potato/veggie packs roasted on the grill, yummy steaks, frito pie, etc, etc, etc.

Ty's camper was our gathering spot. We however stayed in a cabin.

Emma really liked the campfires every night.

Mac was just happy to be there (and happy to sample all this big people food)!

Is my girl old enough to sleep on the top bunk? I guess so. She was so proud of herself!

Emma and buddy Brad

Hangin with Daddy

Part of the group in Ty's camper after "camping church"

Jocie and Mac

My sweetie pies

Jennifer and Robert (taken by Emma)

Nikki and Brad (also taken by Emma)

Roastin, roastin, roastin....

Swinging in the Backyard

2009-05-25T22:03:00.009-06:00

We are finally getting green grass and enjoying a little spring weather. Matt and Heidi (Mags and Nathan, too, of course) gave us their old dolphin swing for McGinnis. As you can see from the video, he absolutely loves it!! Thanks!

Say Cheese and Chair Scootin'

2009-05-16T19:37:00.011-06:00

Yes I am a HAM!

So, we think Mac was trying to say Cheese. We kept telling him to say cheese, and this is what we got. What a nut. By the way, McGinnis is now 9 months old. Where has the time gone?

McGinnis LOVES to scoot over to Emma's tall chair. When he gets there, he likes to push and pull it across the floor. No, he doesn't crawl. He just scoots on his bottom and uses his arms to help. It's really funny.

Soldier Emma

2009-05-12T23:34:00.001-06:00

So, Greg brought home a bunch of gear this weekend. Emma just had to try some things on for size. His bag is so big she can lay down in it!!

See my teeth?

2009-05-12T23:32:00.003-06:00

McGinnis is so proud of his new teeth. He gives us cheesy grins ALL the time. So far, these are the best shots I can get of him, but I'll keep trying! (Pardon the boogeys in his nose!)

Girl at Work

2009-05-12T23:27:00.002-06:00

Emma LOVES to work on things. Our friend Connie is renovating a new office space, so we have been trying to lend a hand when we can. Emma gets really upset if she finds out someone is working at the office and she is not there. Her new skills include mudding sheet rock and scraping old glue off the floor. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it!!

The Surrey with Fringe on Top

2009-05-12T23:12:00.003-06:00

What a cutie!

Just to give a little perspective on how TINY this trailer was!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those of you who helped Emma get enough credits to ride the pony. Actually this year, the school hired the same miniature pony, named Ballou, but this time, he pulled a surrey with fringe on top! It was really cute, and the kids really had a fun time. The little boy in the pictures is one of Emma's friends from her class.

Happy Birthday to Emma!!

2009-04-30T22:51:00.004-06:00

Emma posing with her birthday cupcake at school

The Cinderella Cake

After dinner, we played Emma's new game. The object was to get all of your jewelry set first. Mr. Frank won, but we couldn't get him to pose with all of his jewelry on.

Emma posing with all of her jewelry on.

We are so blessed that God gave us Emma. She is a joyful, loving, sweet child who we are thankful for every day.

PPCS Walk Run

2009-04-30T22:42:00.002-06:00

Emma's Class

Emma greeting the Pikes Peak Eagle

Emma on Cloud 9 after seeing the Eagle. See her feet off the ground?

Enjoying snacks after Walk/Run!!

So, thanks to all you Walk Run supporters! Emma's class had a fun time running laps around the field. It was a little crazy, but the kids really enjoyed themselves. We got really lucky and had great weather that morning, too. Next week, she gets to ride the pony, thanks to all those who we mailed a flyer to!

Snow Day

2009-04-30T22:36:00.003-06:00

On April 14th, we had a nice snow storm. We ended up getting several inches of snow, but it warmed up enough that it was pretty much melted by that night. Emma at least got to play a little bit. It was windy that day, so that's the reason for the covered face.

It Must Be Love

2009-04-18T22:03:00.006-06:00

If you know Emma at all, you would know that if you ask her who she's going to marry, she will say Trace. Since we went to the beach last year with Kennamer and Trace, that's all she's talked about. Don't ask her about boyfriends, or she'll say, "Remember? I'm going to marry Trace." When this first started, she called him Frace. Then it changed to Grace. And now, she finally calls him Trace. Anyway, that is all just lead up to this video where he obviously returns the feeling. Just see for yourself.

Our Visit to Nashville

2009-04-18T21:29:00.010-06:00

We packed up and headed to the great city of Nashville while we were on our trip. I have so much family in Tennessee that we really wanted to go visit everyone. We started by seeing my Grandaddy (who is Emma & McGinnis' GREAT-Grandaddy) and my dad's sister and brother in law. Here are a few pictures of that visit.

Emma and Uncle Rick giving a concert!

So then, we headed over to my Aunt Beth, Uncle Kevin and Cousin Abby's house to see my mom's side of the family. We ate lunch (and got a few great recipes from Aunt Beth!) and got to visit with everyone, including Beth's dogs. McGinnis wasn't sure about Rhett (the irish wolfhound) at first, but they became friends. You can't blame poor McGinnis -- the adorable Rhett is huge and is still not full grown. He is absolutely adorable! Here are some more pictures:

Cousin Abby and Emma

Kate McGinnis and McGinnis Alan

Rhett Butler

Cousin Josh and Emma

What happens when the delicious baby is right at nose level?? He gets a doggy kiss!

A Friendship has begun.

How sweet!

Emma dipping her toes in the hot tub with Abby and Kevin.

Having Fun at Sunny & PawPaw's

2009-04-16T22:47:00.005-06:00

It was so nice to play outside in the warm weather! We really needed a dose of spring. Emma and McGinnis really enjoyed swinging outside at Sunny and PawPaw's house, and Emma had fun riding the four wheeler with PawPaw. Major and Gunny insisted on tagging along on the trip!

Bungee Trampoline Girl

2009-04-16T22:37:00.005-06:00

While we were at the mall, Emma saw some kids jumping on this bungee trampoline thing. She immediately wanted to do it. We made her wait until Greg and Grumpy were with us, and sure enough, she still hadn't changed her mind. She REALLY wanted to jump. So, we got in line. The guy running it wouldn't even take our money until she tried it just in case she got scared and didn't like it. Well, no worries there. Emma LOVED it! She even tried to do a flip at one point. The guy would pull the straps on the harness to make her go higher, and at one point she was up to the second level of the mall. I have never seen a better example of adrenoline rushes until she got off of the trampoline. On the ground, she was still jumping around like a bouncy ball. She wanted to go again!

Strapping in!!

50th Anniversary

2009-04-16T22:25:00.005-06:00

Greg's parents have been married for 50 years! In honor of them, we had a reception for them at their church. It was a really fun afternoon seeing lots of family and friends. Congratulations, Sunny and PawPaw!

Trouble, need I say more???

The 'outlaws'

Cousin Brandon playing with Emma on the trampoline. He was so nice to keep her entertained when the afternoon grew long for her.

All tuckered out after a long day. We all went to bed early after church. Emma even slept through eating dinner out!

My New Hat

2009-04-16T22:22:00.003-06:00

Aunt Heidi sent McGinnis this adorable sun hat complete with matching swim trunks. Can't wait to try that one outside!

McGinnis in the Mirror

2009-04-16T22:15:00.005-06:00

McGinnis just loves to admire himself in the mirror. He will check himself out for quite a while. What a funny boy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-04-16T22:03:00.004-06:00

So, we have a LOT to catch up on. We have been extremely busy since Valentine's Day. So, here we go. This year, we had our own Valentine's celebration at home. Louie's Pizza had a V-Day special that included a heart shaped pizza, and Emma and I made a heart shaped brownie for dessert. We decorated the table and even ate dinner by candlelight. Emma thought that was terrific! The heart shaped brownie decorated by Chef Emma.

I don't know what's going on, but I like it!!

A Valentine's gift from Mama and Daddy

The fun heart shaped pizza

A Visit to the Denver Aquarium

2009-02-13T18:24:00.013-07:00

Today we took a field trip with Cassie and RW to the Denver Aquarium. We had a lot of fun seeing all the fish! The Aquarium is really nice and has lots of habitats set up to learn about. They even have a tiger in the jungle exhibit. After we toured the exhibits, we ate lunch in the aquarium restaurant where your table is beside the aquarium glass walls so you can watch the fish swim by your table. We saw sharks, barracudas, and many other beautiful fish. Ever wonder if the sharks in those tanks eat the other fish?? Well, they do!! Emma also got to pet sting rays! Enjoy the photos and videos! (Don't forget you can click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

Emma the oceanographer

Emma and Greg, "Under the Sea"

Emma and Cassie

RW and Emma in the Coral Tunnel.

Family Shot

Laura and the kiddos

Petting the Sting Rays

Sharkey the shark, oops, I mean Emma the shark!

McGinnis, Greg, Emma, Cassie, & RW

Emma called this the tank with Dory in it.

Sharkey the Shark

McGinnis loved watching the fish, not just his reflection.

Jellyfish!!!

I love Aubie!

2009-02-13T18:23:00.001-07:00

Grumpy gives all his grandbabies a stuffed tiger. I would be willing to bet they are all named Aubie, too! McGinnis loves to snuggle up with his Aubie!

My New Bathing Suit

2009-02-13T18:20:00.002-07:00

Emma got a new bathing suit for Valentine's day! Here she is modeling. Thanks M, H, M & N!

Emma's School Valentine Party

2009-02-13T18:17:00.001-07:00

Emma had a Valentine party at school on Thursday. She made her own Valentines to give to her little friends. The kids were so excited from drop off in the morning to pick up at lunch time!

McGinnis has a new sound...

2009-02-07T21:06:00.004-07:00

McGinnis has discovered a new sound to make--He squeals like a girl! It's so funny. When he's happy, it's not unusual to hear him squealing throughout the house. He cracks us up!

Another Zoo Visit

2009-02-07T20:57:00.003-07:00

Emma at the Zoo entrance.

Greg, Emma & McGinnis posing by the snow.

Bundled up baby!

Pretty Zoo Scenery in the new section -- the Rocky Mountain Wild. This happens to be part of the moose enclosure.

Relatives?

The Giggles

2009-01-22T22:17:00.003-07:00

McGinnis just loves his big sister!

A Mountain Zoo in January???

2009-01-22T22:13:00.004-07:00

Yep, you read that right. We have been having unseasonably warm weather this week, so we took advantage! Emma, McGinnis and I went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo this week for a fun afternoon. They have a fabulous giraffe exhibit where you can actually feed the giraffes. This trip, Emma had a new camera that she got for Christmas with her. I had to feed the giraffes while she took pictures. As soon as I figure out her new camera, I will try to post some of her pictures. She is actually quite a good picture taker. We had so much fun!

Beautiful Babies

2009-01-22T22:09:00.002-07:00

Emma and McGinnis wore matching outfits last Sunday to church. They are so cute together if I do say so myself. McGinnis is growing so quickly and Emma is a terrific big sister!

Are We Playing THAT Game Already??

2009-01-10T14:26:00.004-07:00

Yesterday, we noticed that McGinnis started dropping things from his high chair and his exersaucer. We thought there was no way he was doing it on purpose. No kidding, he threw his passy to the floor about 10 times in a row. He's a little shaky getting a hold of it, but then he drops it right over the edge. Are we starting that game already?? He will be 5 months on Jan 13th.

All Tuckered Out

2009-01-10T14:17:00.002-07:00

McGinnis does not like to be put to sleep. He can't stand to miss anything, especially since Emma is a blur of action around him. Today, he was determined to not miss anything. All of a sudden the room got quiet (Emma must have left), and we looked over to see him tapped out in his jumper. Poor kid! We did actually move him to his bed so he would be more comfortable.

Money Sticks to Your Head....if you lick it!

2009-01-10T13:59:00.003-07:00

Need I say more?? Emma comes up with some crazy ideas. This was gave me a laugh, so I had her do it again and snapped a video. Enjoy!

Bath Pictures, Again....

2009-01-05T14:59:00.002-07:00

Okay, I know, I know, another bath picture! McGinnis cant sit up on his own, but he sure does try. Here, he was sitting in the end of his whale bathtub. He really wasn't sure what to think about that.

Hee Hee Hee

2008-12-28T21:35:00.004-07:00

Told you I'd post this, Kevin!!

For everyone else, we played Wii on Christmas Day at Kevin and Connie's house. We had a lot of fun. We especially LOVED the hula hoop contest where Grumpy came from behind and beat us all. Too bad the video wasn't running!!

My Buddy Brad

2008-12-28T21:32:00.004-07:00

Emma just loves her buddy Brad! He is such a great sport and plays with her. Don't you just love his "hair do"?? We enjoyed a visit from Brad, and the same weekend we had Grammie, Grumpy, Robert and Jennifer! I think our new Wii got a great workout! It was really fun to see everyone the weekend before Christmas.

Let's Open Presents!

2008-12-28T21:15:00.004-07:00

On Christmas morning, Emma was so excited, she declared the games open! It was really cute. Emma had a really fun Christmas this year, and McGinnis was just happy to be in the middle of the commotion. Thank you everyone!

Emma's Christmas Concert

2008-12-11T19:16:00.004-07:00

Emma's class at school had a Christmas Concert today. Emma was thrilled to be on stage. For a while, we thought she was waving to us, but she was really waving at Mrs. Lee (her teacher from last year) who was sitting in front of us. Mrs. Lee is crazy, and Emma just adores her. This video is actually both 3 year old classes singing "Away in a Manger".

Happy Little Guy

2008-12-11T19:09:00.002-07:00

McGinnis is just the happiest little guy. He's really laid back and as long as he's in the middle of the action, he's happy. He loves his big sister, and she is really great with entertaining him. We are very blessed to have two beautiful children.

Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-11T19:06:00.002-07:00

Okay, so she looks more like an elf, but Emma was enjoying playing Santa while she was in the bathtub!

Strep Throat!!

2008-12-11T19:02:00.003-07:00

Poor Emma! She woke up in the middle of the night on Friday night crying because her throat hurt so much. Sure enough, I touched her forehead and she was burning up. Luckily, now the Air Force Academy Hospital now has an Acute Care Clinic, so we got an appointment for Saturday. Her rapid strep test must have popped up positive quickly, because 3 people made sure the doctor know Emma had strep. After a few doses of antibiotics and Motrin, she was feeling MUCH better!

Exersaucing

2008-12-01T21:13:00.003-07:00

McGinnis is doing so well holding his head up and playing with toys, that we decided to see how long he would last in the old Exersaucer. He loves it! He has learned how to push the big buttons to make music play, and tonight he managed to twist himself around (by accident, I am sure!). Emma loves to sit with him and play with him. So, for your entertainment, here are Emma and McGinnis!

Emma's New and Improved Snowman

2008-12-01T09:06:00.002-07:00

Need I say more?? Brrrrrr!

Put that Kid to work!

2008-12-01T08:54:00.003-07:00

We got lots of snow this weekend! Our estimate is 4-6 inches. It seems like it snowed all day Sunday. Greg and Emma shoveled and shoveled. Emma can't stand to not be out there if Daddy is out there! It's funny though, we used to think the tiniest bit of snow was cause to stay home all day. Colorado Springs has shown us that a little snow is not going to stop anything! Church on Sunday was not even delayed. We had a bit of a shorter service Sunday night, but the roads were getting a little icy.

Happy Thanksgiving and Wii

2008-12-01T08:37:00.003-07:00

So, our friends, (who are grandparents I might add) bought a Wii. So, on Thanksgiving Day, after we all stuffed ourselves full of yummy turkey, dressing, various veggie sides, and pie, we all played Wii. We had never played one before and we had an awesome time. BTW, Happy Thanksgiving to all you turkeys we know!

Ahhhh, Sleeping Babies

2008-12-01T08:33:00.002-07:00

Well, I guess Emma and McGinnis are all tuckered out. Sweet Dreams, little ones!

My First Snowgirl!

2008-11-28T12:31:00.002-07:00

On Thanksgiving evening, we got a little bit of snow at our house. I think we may have topped out at an inch, maybe two. Emma was beside herself to get out and play in the snow on 'black friday'. So, Emma and Greg scraped together enough snow in the front yard to build this little guy. I couldn't believe how big she was for as little snow as we got! Emma thought her snowgirl needed a sweater, too, so maybe next time!

My New Friend

2008-11-28T12:28:00.003-07:00

Emma has a new friend! Actually we all have a new friend, but Emma absolutely adores Cassie. She's RW's wife, so we get to see her every time we go to church and sometimes other places too! This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day at the Ozburn's house.

Emma's Fun Hair

2008-11-18T21:05:00.003-07:00

So.... I have that 3 year old. You know, the one who wants to be a princess. She is OBSESSED with LONG dresses and LONG hair. She is now very opinionated about what she wears and how short her hair is. Emma really wants to let her hair grow all the way to her waist. We'll just see about that, but for now, I guess we will let it grow a little and see how it looks. We fixed her hair this way because it was the only way I could get it to stay back. Turned out to be a fun hair style! I think I am really going to miss that short, crisp, little bob. It was so adorable around her little face. By the way, her hair only looks long the way I took the picture. It still isn't past her shoulders.

Snowball, anyone?

2008-11-18T20:57:00.002-07:00

Last week, we had a little bit of snow. It was Emma's first snowball of the year, even though there was a little snow in October while we were gone. Emma was dying to go outside and scoot around. It's weird posting this, because today we were in the 70s. Crazy weather!

Chuckles!!!

2008-11-13T18:50:00.003-07:00

McGinnis has reached a new milestone! He started laughing tonight. All I could get him to do on video is to chuckle, but it's really cute, in spite of the odd camera angle. He is 3 months old today, and is also drooling quite a bit. He LOVES for you to rub his gums with your finger. Are we beginning to teethe? I guess we'll find out. Emma had a tooth at 5 months, so we won't be surprised one bit if McGinnis does too.

I love my bath!

2008-11-12T17:28:00.005-07:00

McGinnis just loves his bath! In fact, any time you take off his clothes he gets all excited like he's going to get in the bathtub. It's really cute! We let him splash as much as he wants to, and then he usually feels so good that he taps out right after he gets his pajamas on. It's so hard to believe how quickly he is growing! Emma loves to sit behind him and fix his hair. Look out little buddy, your sister is already using you as a guinea pig!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T08:22:00.003-06:00

Emma and her buddy, Connor

My first Halloween!

Last night we had "Trunk or Treat" at our church. The kids had a great time, of course. What's better than dressing up in their favorite costumes, getting lots of candy and running around with your friends in the dark? The cars in the parking lot were decorated with fun lights and decorations. One car even had teeth in the trunk, and the car was making really loud growling sounds! It was great. Our truck managed to look decent with lots of lights, until guess what?? Our battery died!! What better place for your battery to die than where lots of folks can jump your car off? Well, needless to say, we need to get a new battery before winter. My favorite part of the evening?? It wasn't freezing!!

Good Ol' Alabama Rain

2008-10-16T21:34:00.002-06:00

One of the things I like best about Alabama are the rain/thunder storms. We didn't get any thunder on this day, but the rain was awesome. Emma really enjoyed playing on Grammie's front sidewalk with her "sunbrella" as she calls it.

BOO at the ZOO

2008-10-16T21:28:00.002-06:00

We are just having lots of fun in Alabama! Last Friday, we went to Boo at the Zoo in Birmingham with Kennamer and Trace. We trick or treated, rode the train, rode the Carousel (BACKWARDS, I might add), went on a hayride, petted the animals, and even went through a crazy monkey house. The kids had so much fun! The Zoo really made a special event for all to enjoy. I was pretty freaked out that our little Snow White didn't look like Emma at all. Pretty scary!

Peek A Boo

2008-10-16T21:24:00.002-06:00

Believe it or not, McGinnis was down for the count! He was sleeping so soundly one day last week. He looked so cute, I had to snap a picture or two.