Train Tracks

Zackary has gotten really really good at using all his tracks and making a different railroad each day or week.  Really quite amazing what he comes up with.  

The Big 4th at Disneyland!

This is what a full day at Disneyland for your 4th Birthday will do to a princess-puts you into a deep sleep, wand in hand!  And boy did she have so much fun.  Below are the highlights or her two days...jumping between parks, going on roller coasters, and sharing the fairy dust with her brother and grandma too.

At Ariel's Grotto Emme got to enjoy a birthday dinner with all her favorite princesses.  Belle above (in my favorite disney dress) and below Rapunzel and Ariel.

Mickey and Minnie were followed by Emme throughout both days, repeatedly having hugs and pictures taken, with the help of the rest of the gang...pluto, goofy, daisy and donald.  She would scream hello and wave at them until they paid attention to her.  Determined to say the least!

Little Emme Mouse!  She was in heaven!

Doc McStuffins was definitely one of her highlights.  She showed up to say hello just at the right time...and got to go on a walk with Doc!  I couldn't get over Doc's big head.  

Daddy was definitely reluctant to have Emme go on the Cars Land rollar coaster but I said there is no time like today...and although she screamed and was a bit scared she loved it too.  Her first roller coaster with her Dad and Mom...priceless!

Another highlight...meeting Queen Elsa and Princess Anna from Frozen.  She was nervous to meet them, especially Elsa (she didn't want to be turned into ice) but she didn't stop talking about it after.  They were so sweet with her...it was really a special moment.  The building you wait in to before going into the room with them is really amazing...keeps your attention.

Buzz Lightyears ride...playing a giant videogame...another favorite for us all!

Calm in Grandma's hands...waiting for the parade.  End of the day...joy!

Carousel...really how many times we went on this when there are so many other rides...I had to put a stop to it.  I can take you to the local mall and we can do the carousel there!  Let's go on some Disney rides!  HaHa.

Emme's birthday breakfast was the Disney gang.  They made us gluten free pancakes, and cookies...and it was so good. 

 Emme you were to afraid of Goofy so you were on the sidelines...but you were there!

A view of Disneyland Hotel and pools!  We love you honey...Happy 4th Birthday.  You mean so much to us and fill our hearts with so much joy.  Your determination is remarkable and will take you far.  I loved experiencing Disneyland through your eyes...your belief and imagination made me feel excited like a child again to meet the characters and go on the rides.  You are always sprinkling your pixie dust on our hearts and minds...like no one else could.  Thank you for your cuddles and love...for your hugs and sas!

Happiness is a Horse

"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom." ~ Sharon Ralls Lemon.

Grandma is lucky to have a horse trail along side her house that leads up to the mountains and down to the streams.  You both loved to go on spider hunts and as a side joy would say hello to the horses.  I loved watching your huge smiles as you watched and pet the horses...filling you up as we went along.

San Diego Zoo

Our yearly passes to the two zoo's in San Diego were used twice.  Zackary you really loved learning about all the animals, finding them, watching them at 6 and Emeline you were not as into it at 4.  You both did enjoy sitting on the stone replicas though!

The flamingos put on a show for us and we spent a lot of time watching their pink long bodies interact with each other and laughing at their group meetings they seemed to be having.  Emme you kept saying "Oh Flamingos."  Really funny. 

The gorillas were by far my favorite part at the zoo.  Only a glass wall was separating us from the big dad as he slept soundly.  Mom gorilla was carrying her newborn around and joined dad at the glass wall by us to breastfeed.  Wow what a cool experience that was.  Their was another male (maybe a brother) and it was interesting to see his interaction with the dad as he followed the mom around.  He wasn't allowed to get to close or dad would go after him.  Having this experience right in front of us was I presume one thats close to the African experience, only we have protection. 

See the hippos butt and the fish.  Dwarf hippos made us laugh too.  They swam around as we followed them next to another glass wall. 

Mammoth

We had a wonderful experience in our quaint Mammoth home surrounded by snow.  Our almost 6 hour drive went surprisingly quickly as we were so excited to get to our week away home!  Finally I was able to put you two in all your snow gear that I have had for a couple of years.  Going to Big Bear is sadly never cold enough.  We arrived our first day around 4 and checked into our 3 bedroom home.  It was beautiful and perfect, perhaps best I have booked yet on VRBO.  We quickly unpacked and headed out to dinner at a local mexican restaurant, yummy!  The following day we went to the mountain and arranged our skiing for the following day.  We then went to the grocery store and spent the rest of the day waiting for our peeps (The Girards) to show up.  We had a wonderful day on the mountain skiing the next day (wow did Zackary and Dad do good for their first times).  Emme and Zackary were signed up for separate classes, no other kids showed, so they had private lessons.  Unfortunately, Emme cried the whole morning and was babysat as she wouldn't ski.  That made me sad, but maybe in a couple years she will enjoy it.  Zackary loved that his instructor set up a game for him and he advanced to another level every time he completed the course set up.  I took a workshop and loved it by the end of the day Dad joined me and skied faster and better than me.  Apparently skis are made different now and you learn different compared to back in the day when I learned.  I basically have to relearn.  The following day was spent going to the Village, and in the afternoon finding a hidden, untouched, deep snow area where we sled, built snowmen and had snowball fights!  A definite highlight of the week.  We celebrated Dad's birthday that night and enjoyed a dinner with our friends.  The trip was a new favorite, hard to top I am sure!

Sledding with Daddy.

Emme's 4!

I can't believe you are 4.  Where did the time go?  You were just a little baby.  We were suppose to go to Disneyland for your birthday but we had to reschedule for March.  Luckily we did too because you were getting over the flu and I was apparently getting it and would have had it at Disneyland.  I felt bad we had to reschedule and your Aunt Sara had a good idea to invite Anna from Frozen over and a couple close friends to share your birthday evening with. 

I didn't tell you.  It was all a surprise.  So each friend that showed up (3) you opened the door to a surprise and then Anna.  The look in your eyes...you were trying to figure out what was going on.  Like how can Anna be at my house?  It was so precious.  

You had some good conversations with her but mostly you were just smitten by her being next to you.  She said she wished Elsa could have come but that she had to stay back in Arendelle and take care of the kingdom.

First you guys read the Frozen book (you sat next to her the whole time) and she sang you all the Frozen songs.

Look Amanda came to spend the special evening with you.  She was there from the moment you were about 3-4 months old helping take care of you and all of us.  

Look at all your friends that were there and Grandma.  All from your preschool (Chloe and her sister Siena, Penelope and Zackary).  All the girls loved it.

Next you got your face painted.  You got swirls on the side of your face and Zackary got a dragon going around his face.

Next came posing for pictures.  She taught you the poses from Frozen.

Then we sang Happy Birthday and Anna helped you blow the candles out.  I tried to copy the same blue on the cake as the Frozen theme but it didn't turn out as I wanted but it tasted good.

After everyone left we opened your presents.  You immediately put on your Frozen hat that your Aunt Maggie gave you.  You got a lot of nice presents.  It was a lot of fun.  Happy Birthday honey!  We Love you so much.