Happy 2nd Birthday Emery Rose!!!

As usual I'm a little late on posting Emery's birthday extravanganza!  But better late than never, right?  We had a fabulous time!  It really was the most perfect night!  I could finally breathe once it was over.  I just wasn't on my game this year.  I was a little behind.  At the beginning of January, we were having a playdate with a few friends, and one of my friends announced her son's birthday party date.  It hit me like a ton of bricks!  "Oh my gosh!  Emery's birthday is in 3 weeks!"  So I looked at my calendar and set a date right at that moment!  It would be Jan 26th, a Saturday.  But my planning did not take off from there.  No, in fact it was a week and a half or so later that I finally figured out where we would have the party and then sent out an evite.  Luckily, I did at least tell everyone to save the date.  Whew!  And it was only a couple days before that I had any plan of what I would be doing. Sheesh!  I'm just a procrastinator!
I needed a theme.... Well I decided to go with a zebra and hot pink theme.  I needed a location.... Sean had just been hired for a job as a leasing consultant at our complex 2 weeks before and so we were able to use the clubhouse without charge.  I was so excited!  But, that meant we had to have the party after hours.  So the time was set for 5:30.  Which meant now I needed to come up with a dinner menu.... The day before I finally decided to do pulled pork and a warm pasta salad with sundried tomatoes and feta.  I served it with rolls.  I wanted it to be easy and simple but more of a dinner, than a lunch or appetizer feel.  But here's the thing... I have never done pulled pork.  But thank you Jesus, it turned out awesome!!  I needed a cake!.... I had made my sister-in-law's white chocolate cake for Christmas and had the brilliant idea to make it again as cupcakes for Em's party!  They were a hit!  After one failed batch of orange frosting... ugh!... I stuck with white on white and made the fondant hearts pink in a zebra stripe cupcake cup.  They were so yum!!!
And I needed a birthday outfit....  I met a friend on facebook when I was back in Fresno and Emery had modeled a couple outfits for her business last year.  She agreed to use Emery again for her business and sent us an outfit for her Valentine's season.  I had been wanting to get Emery some cowgirl boots.  I mean, we ARE in Texas!!  I shopped and found, on the day of the party, the most perfect cowgirl boots and it just so happened that the whole outfit went perfectly together!  (although not zebra and hot pink, but that's ok.  I didn't have my act together that much!  ha!)  And best of all, her papa wanted to buy them for her so I was able to get better boots than the original ones I found!  Yippeeee!!!  Thank you Papa and grandma Sherril!
I had lots to do from the time I got off work Friday night until the party the next day!  When I woke up that morning, I was off and running!  And I prayed so hard that Emery would take a good nap.  Both, so she would be rested and also so I could get a ton done.  She did!  yeah!  At 4pm I headed over to the clubhouse to start decorating.  Our best friend Tom came into town that morning from Fresno (on business but he came a day early to stay with us!) and, lucky him, I put him to work!!  And thank God he was there!  There is always SO much to do an hour before the party!  But everything got done, the food was awesome, and the way everyone met and got to know each other was great!  We had two long-time friends, the Carlsons and the Caughrans, and two of my new friends, Shane & Stephanie O-Dell, and Karah Johnston (her hubby had to work) and they all fell in love with each other.  And in all, we had ten kids with ages ranging from 5 months to 18 years.  It was a fantastic night!!

 The Outfit!  ... Emery getting ready for her party!

 The entry into the clubhouse.... Loved the balloons!!!  

The clubhouse really felt like we were in our home!  

Everyone kept mentioning that it didn't feel like we were in an apt complex.  

I was so glad for that!  I just wanted it to feel warm and comfortable.

 The party favors for the little ones...

 My friend Karah and Emery playing with her son, Aiden.  So sweet!

 The gifts and decor! 

Emery had a blast opening her gifts!  So different from last year!

Emery was showered with so many wonderful gifts!  She got two baby dolls, puzzle, coloring books, crayons, a big pink and white ball, two musical tea sets, clothes, the burlap pillow (which I'm convinced is more for me!  hehe) and her boots.  She had so much fun opening the gifts and receiving help and being cheered on by all her new friends.  

Her new boots!!!  (she wears them all the time now!)

One of the precious gifts from Karah, a handmade burlap pillow.  

Her birthdate on the opposite side.

her newest friends....  Ari (Karah's daughter), Emery and Griffin (Stephanie's son)

 The cupcakes I made with lots and lots of love!!!!!...

...And then we all sang to Emery!!!

The after party when Tom cut down the balloons and freed them all!!!  lol

Emery back at home having a nightcap before bed.  ;-)  She was one tired little girl!

It was a relaxing evening, everyone talking and getting to know each other.  The kids running around and playing together.  Emery had so much energy as she ran around with them all!  We ate, we had fellowship, Emery opened gifts, we ate more!  lol  Pretty much your typical birthday party.  But WAY better!  :-)

I really felt so blessed for all that God provided for our family on Emery's birthday.  The week before, I was overcome with sadness that our family and closest friends in Fresno would not be here to celebrate her birthday.  Last year, we had 30+ people in our small home, all for her! And this year, I knew it would be different.  Not even at Christmas was I sad.  But when it comes to Emery and her birthday, I really was.  But throughout the week, I just kept praying and, as always, God totally covered me and all of us and provided every single thing we needed.  It goes without saying that I would have given anything to have our family with us to celebrate her.  But, throughout the night, I truly was overcome with contentment and joy and an overwhelming feeling of richness and blessing from the friends, new and old, that God has brought into my life (our lives) in only 6 months.  There was so much love and support in that room!  The air was thick with it!  God is so good and His love for us endures forever!!!!

Family, Friends and Fun! First week of January!

Well, this post is just a little late getting posted.  But our New year started out with a bang!  Our first week of January was a super fun week full of friends and family visiting from Fresno!  It just happened that they all decided to come the same week!  But, we had a blast!

First off, my friend, and just so happens to be my hair stylist, came out with her family for a visit.  They traveled all around but landed in Fort Worth for about 4 days.  The first day they were here, I was working.  I recommended a restaurant for them to go to near the stockyards.  They she tells me they're going to Billy Bob's afterward.  I have to tell you... once we knew we were moving here, I swore I wanted to go to Billy Bob's and get down on some line-dancing at least once.  It just seemed like something you have to do.  I didn't realize how big and well known it is.  Well, she was my ticket to get there!  So I met up with her and her husband and two kids and we sat right beside the dance floor and enjoyed some food and drink.  And yes, we DID get out there and line dance!!  There was a live band (which I loved the opening band!) and we had a blast!  We stayed for a couple hours. This place is huge, complete with pool tables, bar, restaurant, dance floor, stage and even a rodeo stadium!!!  So awesome!  I think I was the only one that didn't have cowboy boots on!  But I think my desire to get me some started tonight!  lol  

Tammy and I in front of the dance floor

lots of great dancers out there!  Was so fun to watch

An arial view of the place

The last night my friends were here, Tammy was gracious enough to come over and cut my hair.  The last time I had it cut was 5 months earlier, by her, two days before I moved!!!  I'm pretty sure the last time I went that long without cutting my hair was in high school!  It just stresses me out to find a new hair stylist and money has been tight.  God knew this ahead of time and prompted me to cut it really short before I moved.  So it hasn't looked to bad.  But man!... does it feel SO good to cut some layers and thin it out!!!  Whew!  I'm letting it grow so I probably won't cut it again until I come home for a visit in June!  lol

So they left and before our next visitors came, I had time for a playdate with a few new friends from bible study.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship and just having fun!

Emery, Emma, and Griffin

Ari and Emery

Emery and Griffin

And just a fun picture of Em and me. :)

On Thursday night, my nephew drove in from Fresno.  He is on his way to Tulse, OK to attend Oral Roberts University.  So he decided to stop here and visit for a few days.  It was so wonderful seeing him!  We had spent a couple lunch dates together over sushi in Fresno.  And I was excited for some more time with him.  I felt so special that he wanted to come visit.  We pretty much chilled Thursday night since he had been driving for two days.  Then on Friday we all went to the airport to pick up our good friend Heidi.  She was on her way to Florida to visit her parents and extended her layover to stay the night with us here!   

Cousin Jayson and Emery waiting for Heidi

on the people mover!  Emery loved this!

I just realized I have no pics from our time with her.  :(   But from the airport, Sean and I took them to The Feedstore in Southlake for some great BBQ!  Then we took them to Townsquare, then over to Buon Giorno for some local coffee in Colleyville and then to Parr Park.  Just giving them an overview of the kind of food, shopping and beautiful parks and trail systems we have come to love here!  It was a full but fun day!  It just so happened that Jayson is really good friends with our friends here, Steve and Tyranie Caughran, who also just moved here 2 years ago.  They really wanted to see him as they've kind of adopted him as one of their own.  We had talked about all getting to together but Friday actually looked the best for them.  And we had wanted to spend some time with Heidi.  So Emery and Jayson ended up having dinner with the Caughrans and we took Heidi to Habaneros Tex Mex.  We all had a great evening!  We hung out for a little while when we went to pick Jay up and Heidi fell in love with this family.  Unbeknownst to her, it is truly the love of Christ that pours out from that family, even the kids!  They are rich in love!  We have been so blessed by them!

Saturday morning, Sean took Heidi to the airport on his way to work.  And Jayson and I headed out. I wanted to take him to the Stockyards and just do some fun, touristy stuff.  We got there in time for the cattlerun of the Longhorns down the historic downtown.  

Emery patiently waiting for the Longhorns!

Jayson holding Emery as they went by

I wanted to take Jayson to Riskey's BBQ in the Stockyards.  The only problem was this guy who came in, making animal balloons for the kids, shortly after we ordered.  There are two pics I took but I decided to leave the one out of Emery desperately crying because this clown-guy came to our table and talked to her.  As long as he was in the restaurant, she wanted no part of it!  I had to take her out so she would stop crying.  When we finally ventured back in, I hid her from seeing him.  He felt bad that he was the cause of her crying.  lol  So, lunch was cut short.  Jayson finally took her out so I could finish and pay.  But it still was a great time!

After lunch we walked around a bit. I wanted to look for boots for Emery, as well as myself... just for the fun of it.  Jayson humored me.  He was kind to smile and not say much as he is, obviously, not into the cowboy thing. LOL!!!  I've always had a secret 'like' for some of it.  And its only proper, now that I live in Texas, that I own my own pair of cowgirl boots!  They have to be stylish though, of course!

She was pretty proud of her boots, as she smiled at the admiring customers

I did love these boots, but did not buy them that day, but said I would be back to buy them for her birthday!  Well, they did not have them in her size when the time came.  So I ended up at Cavendar's, where they have a much bigger selection and found her an even BETTER pair!!!  (thanks to her Papa and Grandma Sherril!)

It was the cutest thing ever watching her try to walk in them!!!  (she has her birthday boots now...pics to come... and is getting better at walking in them...hehe)

We soon made our way back home and Emery and I napped.  We hung out that night and had a fun time with Jay.  He was supposed to leave early Sunday morning, but they found something wrong with his car.  So... Uncle Sean got some precious bonding guy time with Jayson, trying to help him fix it.  In the end, they both decided it would be faster and probably safer to pay to get it done, which we helped him out on.  He soon was on his way!  It was such a blessing to have him here... my family!!

Just some more randon pics and videos from the first of January....

I kept trying desperately to get Emery to the park after her nap and beat the sunset.  The was one of those days... We barely made it.  Fortunately I dressed her for the change in temp.  But I was not so prepared... I was fuh-reezing!!!  lol  I just haven't learned yet!

I turned around and found Emery GETTIN' DOWN to Zoe Girl!  lol

Talkin in the tub!

just a little play time

And then, here is one of those things you have to watch out for in Texas!  

Looks innocent, right??.......  just wait and look really close!

Jesus... Jesus...

January 20, 2013
Yesterday was a perfect day from start to finish.  I pretty much had Rita Springer playing all day while I was home.  During one song, I felt led to pray for Sean and his last day at REI, for his day off on Sunday to be peaceful and restful and his first day of work at his new job on Monday to be great!  Emery even prayed with me.  I had decided when I woke up that I wanted to go to my supervisor's baby shower at Chili's.  It was a fun time and Emery did so well.  Everyone was surprised by how good she was.  Not me! :)  Both, on my way to the shower and also as I was leaving, I got to finally discover some really cool areas of Fort Worth.  Although it is a cool city, I hadn't seen anything yet that really impressed me.  But this area, around Montgomery Plaza (awesome!) and TCU (Texas Christian University), was really cool and I will definitely be taking Sean back there for some good eats and to take a bike ride as a family along the Trinity River (so many people out walking, running, riding... beautiful!).  She fell asleep on the way home and went straight to bed.  I had a little quiet time and then did my Insanity workout (Yikes!!!!).  I took a shower and washed my hair and then it happened.  The most perfect moments you can have in a day... me, freshly showered, Rita Springer's worship playing, the clothes dryer running, the breeze coming in the open balcony door and windows and an otherwise very quiet house.  Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.....
But the most awesome moment of the day happened after Emery woke up, after dinner, and after I got her ready for bed again... We had some time of worship together before bedtime.  We both stood together and swayed and hummed (I sang) and raised our hands with our eyes closed.  Then she went and brought me a book saying "bible, bible".  It was her toddler Bible given to her by Miss Avery, my friend Tonia's daughter.  So she sat on my lap and we read all the stories about Jesus.  As I was reading, she started saying "Jesus! Jesus!" and pointed right at his name on the page!!!  That is a first for her to point out the word she is saying!  Awesome!  Then we were back worshipping a little more.  Rita was praying and ministering at one point and was whispering the name Jesus and Emery started doing the same while swaying with her eyes closed.  The most precious moment in a mommy's life!  It was a perfect end to a perfect day!

Birth stories and Family time!!

So the other day I was watching Guilliana and Bill (a reality tv show).  They tried for a long time to get pregnant and finally went with a surrogate.  I was watching the episode where their baby is finally born.  About that time, Emery awoke from her nap.  So I sat her on my lap and she, surprisingly, sat there, interested, for the rest of the show.  We watched as their precious baby boy was born into the world and into their loving, and long-awaiting, arms.  As he was coming (it showed nothing as the camera stayed on Guilliana and Bill), I talked to Emery about her birth story and how we waited for her for a long time.  I shared with her that I could relate to the birthing and also to what they were feeling at that moment.  She talked, as well, about the show.  And as we talked, the tears came, harder and harder.  Because here I was, sitting here with my almost 2 year old daughter, watching another baby's birth, and sharing that experience with her.  Her first cry, her first bath, the skin to skin time, first pictures.  It was the most amazing 30 minutes ever!!!  I sat there and cried, so grateful for this beautiful, silly, precious, sometimes honory, and most amazing little girl I could have ever dreamed of!  Thank you Jesus!  I've never been more blessed!!

 Our daily ritual of walking to get mail!

Well this past weekend was a blessing in disguise.  I had my first weekend of call.  My friend was set to watch Emery on saturday if I needed her, but one of her sons came down with the flu.  And there are severely nasty flu bugs right now here that can be fatal for kids under 5.  So!.... Sean ended up calling in on Saturday.  We were forced to, not only be homebound, but to hang out together all day, both days.  lol  Not that it's a bad thing, but we're usually always doing something and because of call, we couldn't.  Saturday was a very productive day...  we inadvertantly worked through some 'marriage' issues. :)  Then we worked together on our finances and budget (a new thing for us!).  Later we both exercised!  And other than that, we just had a restful day together and with Emery!  Sunday was the same way, but we both started going stir crazy.  So we headed out to the same shopping center, each of us hitting a different store then meeting back up again.  We went home and I went and picked up some food.  Overall, it was a much needed 2 days as a family.  A total blessing!!!

Emery is getting more and more funny all the time.  The other day we were out, and a couple of times, she just gave me this look.  I can't even explain it.  There was just so much personality in it that I just melted to nothingness each time.  She makes me laugh constantly!  But don't get me wrong... she has her moments.  One thing I'm constantly having to work with her on is listening to me, acknowledging and obeying me.  Some days its a battle.  I am working with her on saying "yes mommy".  But the more I talk with my friends here, as weird as it sounds to me, I think I need to start having her say "yes ma'am".  I thought I could teach her that one for other people outside of the home, but some think its easier for them to get it when its practiced in the home as well.  (we not in California anymore toto!).  But honestly that's one thing that we loved about Texas... was the level of respect that children are taught from an early age.  And its not just certain families, but as a society.  It's wonderful!   So I'm working through it and hope I can teach her just as well as my friends are teaching their children.  (it's so cute when she's says it anyways!  I can't go wrong! lol)

She is starting to put words together like "I do it!"  "Yes please"  "that's yummy".  She cracks me up as she goes through the place closing any open door or cabinet.  Tonight she was carrying her box of toys back to her room and stopped in the hallway.  I didn't know why until she turned and pushed the linen closet door shut completely.  I didn't even notice it was open!  lol  And when she is trying to get my attention, her voice will get louder with each  time... "mom. Mom. MOM! MOOOOOOM!!!!"  no joke!  And then I realize she is so happy to show me something.  She did this tonight just to show me that she was putting her building toys away into their bucket.  She is so awesome!

She has started pretending with her picnic baskets and her plastic foods.  In fact one day as I was exercising, she kept coming up to me when I was on the floor and having me eat the "cherry pie" and "cheese sandwich".   She is a great workout partner!  I workout out (doing the Insanity videos!) right in the middle of all her toys!  She plays all around me in our tiny living room.  But the best part is she will start doing them with me!  She'll do jumping jacks, scissor arms, pushups, downdog and whatever else she can figure out.  Half the time I'm trying not to laugh (out of breath!) as she crawls back and forth under me between pushups.  She keeps it interesting and fun!  I love it!  I firmly believe that they will grow up doing whatever they see YOU doing!   So exercise!!!  Read your bible and pray out loud!  Eat right!  Respect others in how you talk about them!  Keep a positive attitude!  And work at whatever you're doing with 110%!

My very official "gym" for winter!

Her new favorite thing is taking a shower with me!!!  Almost everyday she wants one, and now cries if I say no.  But she will walk right in and go in and out of the water.  She will stand directly under the water forever and talk and laugh!  I just sit on the bottom with her while she plays.  She is definitely her momma's girl... a water baby!!!  I was a fish growing up and I still am!  I could stay in water all day if possible!  I can't wait for summer and give her swimming lessons!  She's a natural!

Last night I came up with the best bribe!!!  Emery wanted to brush my hair with her new brush.  So I told her she could stay up later if she kept brushing my hair.  I sat her on the recliner and I sat on the ground in front of her.  She brushed... and she brushed... and she brushed!  I was in heaven!  And if she stopped, I told her kindly it was time to go to bed.  And she would start brushing again!  I'm a genius!!!  hehe

I can't believe how fun she is right now!!  It keeps getting better and better (and somedays, harder and harder) every day!  I LOVE IT!!!!

Merry Christmas!!! (afternoon...part 2)

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas... starting with quiet time early in the morning before anyone else woke up.  Well, Emery did not wake up until 9am!!!  We were both anxious for her to wake up so she could open her presents! (I couldn't believe it...crazy kid!)  She opened one and then just wanted to play with it. lol  So we had to keep her going.  But she got through them all and had so much fun playing!  These were mainly from us and also from her papa (my step-dad).  We had two packages come on Christmas Eve but didn't make it to the office in time to pick them up.  So Christmas was extended a few days longer. :)  The day after Christmas she got a bunch more presents!
Emery did so good tearing open her presents.  She was a little quicker and more into it this year, but I think next year will be the fun one!  She'll really get it next year!

Before the unwrapping

from her tante!!

Her first bike from her uncle Brett and auntie Mattie

laptop from mommy and daddy (she's already texting and driving!)

daddy bought her the helmet a few months ago... she loves wearing it.  Now she can!

Love this!!!  A bedtime story...

After opening presents and playing for a while, it was time to get my dinner going (well, lunch technically).  So Sean and Emery played with her new toys and I set my focus on the kitchen.  My turkey was about done roasting, my sweet potatoes went into the oven and I began boiling my potatoes and makin' my gravy.  This was my first ever attempt at homemade gravy from scratch!  And I must say, it was quite successful.  I had no recipe or anything but pretty much winged it.  I don't know how I ended up with more of a country-style gravy versus a turkey gravy, but it was delicious nevertheless.  So proud!

My gravy...

My slow-roasted turkey...

And the finished platter... fall-off-the-bone turkey, twice baked sweet potatoes with brown sugar, pecan and marshmallow streusel, mashed potatoes, gravy, and yes, Wine!   

It was time for Emery's nap just in time for my dinner to be ready!  So down she went, food went to the table and Sean and I enjoyed the most wonderful Christmas dinner together in the quiet of our new home.  It was the most relaxing, enjoyable time together over good food and wine.  It was perfect!

Then, it happened... it began snowing!  And the day was complete! (ok...almost)  Just as we were finishing up, we could see the rain begin turning a little lighter.  From rain to slush to pure snow!  The snowflakes grew to a nickel size as they floated from the heavens.  Pure bliss!  After a little while the winds picked up and the snow got heavier!  Emery had only been asleep 20 min but we HAD to go wake her up to see it!  (its funny, I had mentioned only a couple weeks ago that it made me sad that Emery wouldn't know what snow is because there are no mountains here...lol)  We bundled her up and took to the street!  She didn't know what to think.  We showed her how to catch the snowflakes.  It was so fun!

the start of the snow

Well we attempted to put her back down to sleep, but of course it was unsuccessful.  So she went all day on a 20 min nap.  But it was so worth it!  Because for the next 3 hours, it snowed and snowed and snowed.  I was so stimulated all day.  I would try to sit down and relax and enjoy the snow out the window, but then would pop back up and to the window or even out on the balcony.  I couldn't sit still!  lol  Sean finally went to take a nap a couple hours into it and so I bundled Emery and I both up and went outside to play in the snow.  It was fuh-reezing!!!!  So we didn't last more than 10 min or so.  But she LOVED it!!!  I am so glad I invested in her super duper warm puffy jacket when I did!!!  Who knew it would snow?!!!

She must have walked back and forth our front porch a hundred times! lol

it was kind blizzard-like conditions... at least for me!

Of course I had to show her the fun of a snowball fight.   Don't let her fool you to think she wasn't enjoying it.  She kept telling me "more more" everytime I threw one at her. lol

Just some more pics of the snow...

My poor plants on our balcony....

 

I pulled my car out of the garage specifically so it would get snowed on!!!  lol

Well sad to say that the snow finally stopped.  But it stuck around for a good two days. Later than evening after Emery went to bed, we went back out to the driveway to check out  how much snow we actually got.  Since we hadn't left our apt the whole day, I wanted to walk up to the street to see the snow there.  The driveway out the gate is uphill and so coming back down on snow and ice was very interesting.  But I made it without falling.  It is just so awesome to see snow where I live.  I had only seen it in the mountains.  It's so awesome!!!  I love it!  Again, we only stayed out 5 min or so because now with the darkness, it was even colder.  I got inside and looked up the temp... it was 22 degrees and 8 degrees with the wind chill!!!!  And it felt like it!!!  I was freezing to the bone (with my warmest jacket on!) and it took a little while to warm up.  But have I mentioned how much fun it was???!!!!!!!

Well we got all comfy and to close the Christmas night out, we watched Polar Express for the first time.  I went to bed feeling that it had been the most perfect day I could have hoped for.  Moving here I was afraid of that first Christmas alone, but God not only gave me peace about it, but gave me Sean, Emery, a successful Christmas dinner and SNOW!!!!  I truly couldn't have asked for more!    Hope you all had a truly Merry Christmas!!!!