Saturday before Christmas

We were out and about running last minute errands before Christmas and we stopped by City Park to let Em run around and enjoy the weather. I wonder how old she will be when it stops being cool to have your parents take a picture EVERY time you climb to the top of something...

 

Veteran's Chapel

I never posted pics of the Veterans Chapel Performance the Lower School had at Dunham last month.  Em had a small speaking part.  The kids made a Patriotic poster for the parade.

 

Duncan Dog

Duncan Dog is loving the new house, but mostly the new yard.  We had no trees at the old house, so we had no squirrels.  He spends hours chasing and hunting and at times you can hear the squirrels screaming at his from a branch or the fence.

 

It all starts here

The Easy Bake Oven...  She was so excited to have gotten one.  So, we made pretzel sticks so far.

 

Aunt Holly gave Emerson this super cute Snoopy Gingerbread House kit. It had 4 houses to decorate.  Jackson hung out with us this day, so he decorated 2 and she decorated 2.  These are em's 2 houses. 

Christmas 2012

Since we did not put up a tree this year, we had to take pictures in front of my parents tree.

 

For some reason I have very few pictures of Christmas morning this year.  I videoed more I guess.  I think Denny has a few on his phone, so I need to get those.  She got a few things off her list, like a new bike and a Wii.  She has been playing the Wii a good bit, but not as much as I thought she would be.  She did get an Easy Bake oven and I have some pics of that I will post next.  Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  It seemed so different in the new house.  I guess the newness of it all and no decorations.  Christmas Day brought water issues with one of the Hot Water Heaters.  Luckily we have 2 units, so we only had to replace one at this point.  Just one of the perks of home ownership.  So, what did we get from Santa this year... a new water heater.  Hot water that does not look like mud is a good thing...

Simple

Home for the Holidays

I have been getting questions about why I have not posted any new house pics.  Well, just not enough time in the day and well not much to take pics of yet.  We aren't decorating this year.  When Denny first suggested this I admit I had a hard time imagining the thought.  But, it has turned out to be the best thing and has allowed us to focus on getting settled and just not stressing about the Holidays.  Here are a few pics of what we did decorate...

 



 

We had a discussion with Emerson about not decorating this year and she really was not the least bit concerned about it- as long as her trees were put up IN HER ROOM.  She happy!

Dunham Breakfast with Santa

I guess you could say we have been doing the Breakfast with Santa circuit the last 2 weekends.  This was our first year to attend the one that Dunham puts on, but it will not be the last.  SO, SO cute and well done.

 

 

Em and Mandi after the breakfast.

 



 

Santa 2012

Shaw Breakfast with Santa always produces the best picture I think. This year did not disappoint. She just looks so big...

Strike a Pose

 

Pictures these days are not easy with this child.  She has a pose of some sort.  I did get a chance during the break to take her to the movie with a friend.  Perkins Rowe has their decoration up and she always has to take a picture with a gator.

 

 In River Ranch last weekend. And she has started carrying a purse everywhere she goes.  Too bad it doesn't have any money in it...

DIY

Denny and I took a chandelier that came with the house and put our touch to it for Emerson's new room.  Emerson is thrilled and what 6 year old would not love a pink chandelier!

Thanksgiving 2012

 

While the painters spent Thanksgiving Week painting the entire interior of our new home from top to bottom, we spent time remembering all we have to be thankful for.  

 

She has always loved to take photos by my parents lemon tree.  Even with all we had going on, Denny and I missed her very much and are glad to have her back.  Even though we were not in the new house yet, we wanted her to be involved in the work as much as possible.

We're Back

 

We are back and all moved into the new house.  Unpacked and settled...well that is a whole other issue,but I am working very hard on getting thru the boxes.  So, here is what has been going on.  We sold our house and bought the new one the Friday before the Thanksgiving Holidays.  We shipped Emerson to Jackson that Thursday after school to hang with the girls and allow us to pack and move.  As long as she is with Bella and Avery, she is happy.  So, she said goodbye to the house and we were off.  They had a great time in Jackson.  They stayed busy.  They went to Disney on Ice, a Matinee Performance of the Nutcracker that Bella is in and lots of other social engagements. Emerson has her crew in Jackson and when she rolls into town, she has to do lunch or dinner with them all. 

 

 This was how the ride home went.  Exhausted!!

 After an hour nap in the car all the way to our "meeting spot" in McComb, she was ready to go again.  We said our goodbye's to the girls and headed home.

Denny and I worked alot in the house while she was gone and got alot of prep work done before the paining, floors and cleaning took place.

Halloween 2012

 

Hope everyone had a good Halloween.  We had our last Halloween Open House in this house and it was quick and low key.  I did no decorating and it was kind of sad.  Emerson was a Monarch Butterfly.  Costume was not as elaborate as in previous years, but it was what she wanted and was thrilled.  That is all that matters!

 

Emerson and her buddy Jack Higginbotham having a snack after Trick or Treat was over.

Now with the packing...  It looks like my cabinets threw up everywhere, but I am also going thru stuff also.  I see no need to pack stuff I need to get rid of!  Very exciting to be moving, but very sad at the same time.  This was our first house and we were fortunate enough to have built it.  All of  us went into this house including Emerson.  This is the only home she has known and is talking alot about moving and how unsure she is about it.  Our lives will change for the better to be in Baton Rouge and we are trying to talk about all the positives for her.  Sleeping an extra 30-40 minutes each morning is a huge positive and she likes to talk about that alot. So, packing is no fun at all, but the result is worth it.  This will be the last post until after the move in 2 weeks. We'll be back soon.  Take care and wish us luck in the transition.

Sassy Pop Star Spa Party

These days, at least one day of our weekend is full of friends birthday parties. And just like her father, Emerson lives for the parties.  Last weekend, Emerson's classmate, Stella had a Sassy Pop Star Spa Party.  You just thought I made that up didn't you?  Oh no, this was the party and it was held at the Sassy Spa.  Emerson was extra excited about this party because she has stopped, at least for the time being, biting her fingernails.  She has the longest, prettiest nails now and could not wait to get her nails done. So, here is the Sassy outfit...

 



 

And here is the after.  They got their make-up and hair done, as well as, mani's and pedi's.  She was a great time and it was fun to go to a place we have never been before. 







 

Hurricane Isaac

We were lucky to say the least.  Never lost power, but we sat around for 2 days waiting for it to go out, so nothing productive was happening at our house.  There was however, A LOT of Beauty Shop going on.

 

 

Duncan was, by far, the worst kid during the storm. The days of constant rain kept him inside too much!

 Once the rains slacked up enough to go outside and we knew the worst was over, Denny had to take Duncan out to run some of his energy off.  I am sure the neighbors were close to calling Child Protection on us as Emerson was walking up and down the street in the middle of a hurricane.