Playing a little catch up!!

I thought I'd better play a little catch up since my last post was a really looooong time ago!!  Well as you know, Emery started ballet last August.  She made it until April and after 4 months of gently forcing her to go every week (which she did and always enjoyed it once she was there), I finally let her quit.  Oh how I hate that word.  And it's definitely something I want to teach her NOT to do!  But after much prayer and self debate, I decided she was very clear that she simply didn't want to go anymore.  And there will be many more opportunities to teach her commitment, responsibility to her group or team, and the blessing of not quitting but following through.  She still is so young.  So with all that said.... here is a picture of her mini-recital back in December (when she still loved going).  She was sadly "the one" that sat it out on my lap and didn't perform.  But I learned grace that day.  But darn she looked SO adorable!!!!!!!

She was very shy and, honestly, I think not too sure about this performance idea

Emery with her Christmas box (dance prop) she painted

Read to perform.... ready to run off stage ;)

And this is what she would have performed in in her final recital in June had she stayed the course!  So freaking adorable!!  (Kills me.... but I'm moving on.  Yes it was a long process of grieving and prayer searching for why I grieved so much at her quitting ballet.  I mean come one!  She's only 4!  What's wrong with me?! lol)

Cutie-patutie!!

The next few pictures are from Christmas time.  This one we took Emery into "big church" with us for the candlelight service.  She did great!!

Then afterward we went for our Sunday ritual play time at Southlake Town Square where she dance like no one was watching!

These were taken when we went as a family down to Grapevine to see the Christmas Lights (think downtown Clovis!)  We walked the street and took lots of pictures!  It was such a fun night for us as we seldom get these family times together!

Daddy and Emery walked the light tunnel

Family Christmas Picture!

And we went to the Gaylord for the second time since we moved here!  Always a fun time!  This time Emery appreciated it a lot more!!

One day I decided to take Emery to downtown Grapevine for all their weekend Christmas festivities!  It was way better than I had expected!  I hadn't planned to stay long but we ended spending the entire day out there!  It was so much fun!!

She rode the horsies!!

Can she GET any cuter??!!

We watched the Grapevine historic train leave with all its passengers.  During Christmas it's known as the Polar Express!  One of these years we will take Emery on it!  I hear its awesome!  We hung out here for awhile on the grass dancing and chasing each other.

What can I say?  I LOVE this picture!!

My friend Amber and I took our kiddos to NorthPark Mall in Dallas to see some of the Nutcracker performed by the Dallas Ballet Theatre!  It was so amazing and so up close!

Exhausted after our trip to the mall!

Emery at Pro Bass Shop on the merry go round.  We went for free pics with Santa but they were all booked up. :(  Still had fun though!

And now into the new year!!  Emery turned 4 and continues to grow into such a beautiful big girl!!  She is always learning and getting stronger at everything she does!  Most of all, she loves to come home and tell us what she learned in church that day.  The stories of bravery, forgiveness, being kind and Jesus' love for us all!  And it shows it all that she does.

She asked daddy if she could pray for him... his back, head and whole body.  

I love this picture of child-like faith!

Carefree and loving it!!

Emery had her first "big girl" check up complete with paper gown!!!  lol  

She was so excited!  It was too cute!  

Then she took the clipboard and started asking me questions as if I was the patient! lol

And her first complete "big girl" dental cleaning!  She did so good! And I loved her dentist!   I was nervous for her but she complied and stay very still the whole time!  Even did an x-ray!!  woohoo!!!!  So proud of her!

Just another day at the park... Keller-Smithfield Park... one of our favorites!

This girl has no fear!!  This rock wall is like 6 feet tall!  And she climbs up all by herself the entire way!  Of course I'm right under her but she does it all by her own strength!  We would love to get her into a rock climbing class.  She would LOVE it!  

A monkey at heart (just like her mama!)

Loves the zipline at the park!  The faster the better!

Movie time in the middle of her friends!  Hannah, Aleah, Emery, Emma, Daniel

Latte time is still one of my favorite past times.  And I'm so thankful to share it with my baby girl!  I love that she loves to do the same things as me.  That she can find fun in anything we do.  She took this picture of me enjoying my latte at Redefined Coffee in Grapevine.  

One of the best moments of my life.... receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers... at work... from my husband for Valentines Day!!!  I couldn't believe it!  He's the BEST!!

More park dates!!!

Keller-Smithfield Park in Keller

I took her on a first little hike down (and back up!) to the creek where we looked for anything cool we could find!

Dove Park in Grapevine

Pure Bliss!!!!!

This girl can seriously do anything!!!!

We had two snow storms this year!!!  Always my favorite time of year! (not sure how fearless I'll be next year without an SUV, but I'll make my Honda work for me!) They came late this year... as late as March!

I picked up Emery from Aunt Tyranie's after work... it snowed a LOT that day!

The next day all the kids went out to play!  The parks were alive with children sledding and playing!  Again, I missed it all as it always storms when I'm at work! :(  waaaaah!

 Emery had her first sleepover at her house with Meagan and Hannah!! It was a great night!

Emery working on her abc's and 123's!