Emma on Piano

Emma has been taking piano for a few years now and this August got to have some songs recorded. During the recording session her teacher also video tapped her performance and put these videos together.

Here she is:
Emma playing - Clocks

Emma playing- Safe and Sound

Losing her First Tooth

Bridget has had a wiggly bottom front tooth for a few weeks and this week decided to make an effort to get it out. Throughout the week she pushed on it with her tongue and wrapped it in a tissue so she could twist it. Last night before bed the little tooth was hanging completely forward but she was too tentative to give it that last yank it needed. We talked about what happens if you lose a tooth at school and Bridget was excited to go to the nurses office to get a tiny plastic treasure chest designed especially for tooth holding. Bridget decided she would pick out a purple treasure chest.


At 4 AM, Bridget's worried little face appeared by my bedside. She said her tooth fell out and now she couldn't find it. I was glad to hear that she had been holding it so at least I knew it wasn't swallowed. We got flashlights and quickly located her tiny white tooth laying on her bed. She wanted to hold it again but instead I got a plastic baggie and labeled it with her name and date. She fell asleep grinning with her hand resting on the baggie under pillow.

This morning Bridget bounded out of bed, with the baggie in hand, and tried to explain to Papa her news. Her grogginess made the story a little hard to follow but Jim knew what she was trying to say and shared her joy. She wanted to bring the tooth in to school to get the treasure chest but we explained you have to lose the tooth in school for that and I had her feel all of the other teeth in her mouth that might come out while in school. Plenty of chances. Papa then explained his job in our family as the tooth fairy and let her pick out a foreign coin from the special stash.

The baby tooth is tiny and will soon be replaced by the adult tooth that is ready to come up. Little by little she will lose more of the baby things and traits. I hope each transition is graced with the same enthusiasm and smile.

Fall Activities

Our fall schedule is in full swing again, with a few adjustments this year. We sat through multiple school orientations, volunteer training, and Back to School nights for 3 schools. Religious Ed on Tuesday nights is back in session but this year Emma doesn't have to go and Bridget won't start till next year. Megan is in the same Brownie troop as last year. Emma and Rachael are now in the same Girl Scout troop that has girls from 6th -12th grade, which means one less meeting to add to the calender and more steam lined scouting activities. I am not leading Rachael's troop so that is a lot less on my plate. I am happy to have less responsibility but I kind of miss planning things. I'll get over it.

Megan is back at her dance studio and is really excited to be doing lyrical dance as well as classic ballet instruction. We went with the Saturday Combo class and dropped mid week evening classes so our school evenings are less hectic. It cuts down on travel as well since the studio is 30 minutes away. Megan is the only kid in her Saturday Combination class and is loving it. I just hope they don't cancel the class because of enrollment.

Bridget is anxiously waiting for her ballet class to start. We switched her to a studio close to the house that most of her cousins dance with. The biggest thrill of this class is that Bridget best buddy Sarah dances there and Bridget gets to be in her class. Bridget really misses Sarah since school started and is so glad she will now get to see Sarah once a week. Bridget's class starts in October.

Rachael is again playing Rec Soccer through our local league. This year she is playing on the yellow team and it has been a big revelation that as she becomes one of the older girls in the league there are younger girls new to this age level who have a lot to learn. Rachael team won their first game and Rachael was one of the best players on the field. The 2nd game was a loss but again Rachael played well. It is nice to have Rachael active in an organized sport again.

Emma had planned to play field hockey this fall but since she didn't make the high school team there was a void. A few of her friends play soccer on the Rec league and their teams were short girls. Emma had played Rec soccer in Elementary school and liked the idea of getting back out on the field. So we contacted her friend's coach and they were happy to have her.

Our Saturday took on the very familiar juggling act. Rachael had the 9:00 AM game and we all went to cheer. Megan had dance at 10:15, so Jim stayed on the field with Rachael and I took Megs to dance. Then Jim took the big girls to Emma's game. Megan, Bridget, and I then joined them at the field to cheer Emma's team on. Before we got there Emma scored. She has been playing fall sports for years and this was her 1st GOAL EVER. We were all so excited for her.

We have a crazy few months that take a good bit of orchestration to make happen. And happen it does.

33 weeks

The weeks keep ticking by and our baby continues to grow. Pumpkin moves around in different ways now. The kicking has shifted under tighter quarters to rolling and bulging movements. The big sisters get a laugh out of watching the rising and poking motions of Pumpkin that can be seen on my belly.

33 weeks

I have gotten to the uncomfortable phase of pregnancy. My belly feels very heavy and I get exhausted some days. Last Sunday after Mass I was really tired but it was the annual local Arts Festival, which I wanted to go to. I went into my room to change out of my dress and laid down on the bed for a minute only to wake up 2 hours later. I guess I really needed a nap. I have been lucky to be able to take naps this pregnancy. Now that all of the girls are in school everyday I have enjoyed the luxury of napping when Ben naps in the afternoon when I need it. Being this pregnant makes me realize the things I take for granted: the ability to bend over, the ability to carry large things or heavy things, walking without stressing out some muscle, lemonade and apple juice or any spicy food. And I miss the time when the phrase "I just threw up in my month" was funny and not literal.

I've had 2 doctors appointments since I last blogged about this pregnancy. I really like my OB, and I am happy to know that she remembers my explanation of fast deliveries and takes it seriously. I have been having contractions every day for the past few weeks. They aren't regular but this is the same pattern as with the other girls, so my OB checked me at my 30 week appointment and was glad to know I haven't dilated. I was 30% effaced so we know the contraction are doing something. This coming week I'll probably be checked again. The contractions are inconvenient when trying to get daily activities accomplished. It is tough to actually stop what I am doing and let the discomfort pass so most of the time I just slow down a little but keep going.

I went through the baby items I have kept and we do have most of the major gear items, like the swing and bouncer seat. We do need the carseat/stroller travel system so Jim and I went to the store today and picked it out. Jim's parents sent us money for a gift for Pumpkin so we will pick it up next week when a coupon is active. Along with the gear I saved a lot of outfits, but I realized she'll need some of the basics plus we need new bedding. Today we did pick out a quilt set and that feels really good. This is what we got.

Things are starting to come together.

We also got floor plans for a rear addition to go over today and I am glad that the home renovation plans are moving again. It has been such a schizophrenic stopping and starting and shifting of plans since we decided we needed to do something. We'll be making the actual decision on what changes we will be making in the next few weeks and I pray God leads us to the right one. I want a plan in place but I am trying not to stress out that we don't have one yet. The business of our daily life keeps my mind occupied, God's grace keeps me peaceful and Pumpkin keeps me hopeful.

Emma turns 14

September 1998

My little elf eared newborn that slept almost constantly her first week, is now 14 years old. Emma is an amazing kid and I am so glad to say that she is mine. Her birthday was on a Thursday this year and celebrating during the mid-week of back to school season was a little crazy but we made sure to get plenty of birthday fun in. We modified our breakfast in bed tradition because Emma gets up at 6AM and that was too early for everyone to be up. Emma was happy to get up and get ready and then have the family join her for pancakes made by Papa. There was no morning dragging and instead everyone bounded out of bed to say Happy Birthday and share breakfast. Then we sent Emma off to the bus. Rachael started a serenade of Happy Birthday from the front door that Megs, Bridge and I joined in on as Emma walked down the street. Emma was beaming.

Stringing the New Bow

That evening when everyone got home Emma opened her gifts from us. The highlight being a bow, with arrows. She can't wait to take it out and shoot. That evening was Back to School night for high school and being rookies we really needed to go. We made a quick dash to dinner at a local favorite picked by Em, Matthews 1600. Dinner was pleasant and I so enjoyed that all of my girls love to share the happenings in their days. Jim then dropped me off at the high school and took the girls to get a treat at Sweet Frog, a frozen yogurt shop. Everyone got to bed late that night. We were all having fun, celebrating Emma.

Birthday Dinner

Then on Saturday we had Em's friends over for pizza, cake and presents and then Jim took the 6 teenagers to the mall to see a movie. Emma was hoping for Wreck it Ralph an animated comedy but that isn't out yet so they decided to see a completely different genre "The Dark Knight Rises".

With her Mocking Jay Cake

Emma has been grinning non-stop for days. I love it! She is worth celebrating.

Back to School Pics

Emma off to High School

The sun was just coming up when she went to the bus stop

Rachael ready for Middle School

She wore her favorite green shirt and cons

Bridget ready for Kindergarten

Nervous and Excited

Megan heading to 3rd grade

A pro

Sisters

Bridget's class listening to a story

Her cubby and a snuggle from Lamby

Megan at the bus stop

So much easier to get on the bus while holding your big sister's hand