Dear Emma

Today we celebrated your 5th birthday.  I can hardly believe it's been 5 years already!  You continue to amaze me with the capacity you have to love others.  You are beautiful on the inside and out.  Your love and concern for others far exceeds your years.  Your testimony of the gospel is so strong!  You are the one who always remembers we need to pray before eating and when Monday night rolls around you make sure we have Family Home Evening.  You love order and organization.  You volunteered to scrub the toilet and wipe down the table for your chores.  I love how you can keep track of things I've done better than I can.  Today I couldn't remember if I had worn a jacket to the church and you assured me that I hadn't.  You're so cute when you remind me of things.  Everyone always comments on how well behaved you are and how sweet you are.  You are very soft spoken and I'm consistently having to tell you to speak up.  I hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the butt!  Lately you have become concerned with others actions when they don't act in an appropriate way towards you or someone else.  We've had many long and in depth discussions about how to treat other people and I love that you listen and take the things we discuss and put them to action.  The world needs more people like you in it.  I hope that you will always be kind to everyone around you and befriend those who need a friend.  Always remember that everyone has a story and we need to not judge them.  I'm grateful every day that Heavenly Father sent you to our family. Your smile makes me smile.  I love that you still want to sit and snuggle with me.  I hope that will continue into your teenage years.  You are a wonderful, beautiful and intelligent little lady.  Always remember that you are of Divine heritage and therefore a princess of your Heavenly Father.  Daddy and I love you so much!

Some things you are interested in this year:

• Barbies
• Coloring (you have started trying to stay in the lines and use different colors to show greater detail in your pictures)
• T-ball (we had you try T-ball this year and you are so excited to play again next year)
• Reading!  You are sounding out words and with a lot of encouragement are reading simple books.  We have you read a sentence and go back and ask you questions about what you just read.  You are for the most part able to read and comprehend what you just read.  It may take you a couple times of re-reading to understand it but that's the hardest part of reading.
• Dancing.  You love dancing to music.

Stuff

Linnea has started talking a lot more lately.  I love it!  I am not the type of mom who really enjoys the baby phase.  I love how silly they are and how snuggly they are but I can't stand the not knowing what they want thing.  And this phase that Linnea is in is exciting and frustrating because I can understand most of what she is saying but when I don't understand her she can get pretty ticked.  She is usually very patient with me but sometimes that Swedish blood runs strong through her veins. Linnea's sense of humor cracks me up!  She is so goofy.  We went to the circus about a month ago and she laughed her head off during the clown act.  I was relieved that one of my kids gets that kind of humor.  (Emma didn't find it funny at all).  Linnea is for the most part a very happy little girl.  She stands up for herself and has been known to make Emma cry from pushing her off of the piano bench.  How my little Linnea does that to her big sister is beyond me.  She's a feisty one.  It's been hard trying to figure out the right way to discipline her because what works for Emma doesn't work for Linnea. 

Emma is getting to be such a big girl!  She has lost 2 teeth already and looks so cute with her toothless smile.  She is getting really good at cutting things.  The other morning when I was teaching preschool we did a review on shapes.  I had them cut out a bunch of different shapes and glue them on a paper and then I put clear contact paper over them to make place mats.  One of the shapes was a star and most of the kids butchered it but Emma cut it out perfectly!  I was way impressed/shocked that she did it.  Jacob has also been going outside with her when he gets home and throwing pitches to her and she's been hitting them with her baseball bat.  She is a very loving big sister and friend and a great helper to her mommy.  Emma is my rule follower.  If anything happens that isn't supposed to she freaks out. (Not really a good thing if you ask me).  Before I close the door at night to the girl's room she asks me what we are going to do when we wake up.  So I tell her and then she asks what we are going to do after that and after that and after that. The girl wants to know exactly what is going to happen in her life.  I've tried to break her of that cycle because I know down the road it's going to cause some serious problems. 

This last week...

This week has been a messy/sleepy week.  We've gotten a lot done around the house and as you can see the girls have been worn out.  (And we have a thing with elephants in our house. Linnea loves them and Emma has decided that they are pretty cool too).

Silly Sisters

Linnea is really into shoes right now.  She needed a little help walking from her big sister.

Both girls sat on Emma's bed and read stories together for over an hour the other day.  I got so much laundry done!

"Snoooooooow"

That's right.  Linnea has learned a new word.  Emma is in love with the snow and Linnea was out in it for about 2 seconds and has vowed to never go back out in it.

4 years old!

Today my baby turns 4!  Jacob and I were blessed with the most beautiful, kind and loving daughter anyone could ask for.  Emma shows so much concern and compassion to those around her.  Her love for others radiates from her.  Emma is very soft spoken but very opinionated. She's independent but still needs her mommy sometimes. I love the morning snuggles and kisses I get from a happy girl every morning.  I hope they continue into her teenage years (but I won't hold my breath). 

It's so wonderful to have Emma as a daughter and a friend. She has a sweet and simple testimony of Jesus Christ that is consistently shown through her actions towards others. Emma is a wonderful example to her little sister of how to share, how to eat at the table, how to fold your arms for prayer and so many other things.  Emma, you are truly a beloved daughter of our Heavenly Father.  He loves you even more than I do which I don't understand how that could happen.  You bring happiness and laughter everyday.  Always remember that you are a child of God like you told me the other day while cooking dinner.  I am humbled and honored to be your mommy.  I loved you before you were born and that love continues to grow with each passing day.  I honestly don't know what I would do without you.  You help me in so many ways and I am so grateful for that.  Always keep your head held high and know that you can do anything if you are willing to put in the work.  Love Eternally: Mom

Who needs horses...

When you have your daddy??

My Baby

The other day Jacob took the front off of Linnea's crib. She was so excited. All smiles and giggles as she climbed up into her "new bed". She slept fine for that first night but last night she wouldn't go to sleep. She didn't take a nap yesterday and then at bed time she just layed there and cried. I went in and rubbed some Vick's on her chest and sat next to her stroking her hair and watched her as she dozed off to sleep. I was overcome with emotions (that happens a lot more now... could be all the hormones running around in there from the pill) and began crying as I sat there watching my baby fall asleep. Then I looked across the room and Emma laying in her bed sleeping peacefully and again was overcome with emotion. As I left their room I was sad that my baby was growing up to be big like her sister. I went and sat on the couch with Jacob who looked at me funny (I don't cry a whole lot). After a while we heard a thud. Linnea had fallen out of her bed and was screaming. Jacob went in to get her and I followed when Linnea saw me she grabbed for me. I took her to the couch and snuggled with her as she sobbed. She did not want to go back to bed. So I leaned over to Jacob and told him I thought she was too little to have the front off of the crib. He agreed and went into the girls bedroom and put the front of the crib back on. (Emma slept through the whole thing). Linnea kept looking up at me and smiling her drunk/tired smile and picking herself up and kissing me on my lips. Then when Jacob was done he came and got Linnea and put her in bed. She went right to sleep.

I'm so glad that my baby has decided to stay a baby for a while longer. While I am looking forward to the day where her and Emma will share a bed and I will be able to hear them giggling together at night, I am thankful that Linnea is still my baby.

Something else that has been on my mind lately on a completely different note/emotional track is my wonderful husband. He is the 2nd counselor in the Elders Quorum Presidency and in charge of moves. There have been a TON of new move ins this summer/early fall (like we've gained half a ward and they have all bought houses) and he coordinates them and gets people to come volunteer. A lot of them have been last minute moves which gets frustrating but that's life. He's had a heck of a time getting people to these moves. And it's not that men aren't available it's that they are unwilling to help. I don't know how many times men have complained and sometimes been mad that he was calling them (or I was if Jacob was still at work) and asking them to help move on such a short notice. Or that they were being called to help with heaven forbid another move. Now I'm not saying that every person he called was like this. There were men that were very willing to help and apologetic when they couldn't help and Jacob was so thankful to them for that. But I felt like asking these other men and even their wives if they realized that while they or their husbands were pitching a fit like a 2 year old that my husband was out there helping with yet another move and he was doing it with a smile on his face and gratitude in his heart that he was able to preform such a simple service to some new members of the ward. I am so thankful that Jacob is so selfless and willing to help those in need. I know that if anyone ever needed anything that Jacob would be there to lend his help. That is one of his qualities that I love the most. I love him with all my heart and despite his short comings in other things he is a wonderful wonderful man. I know I'm not easy to live with and he is so patient and for the most part understanding.

Sisterly Love

Sharing snacks outside.

I know it doesn't look like Linnea is having fun in this picture but she was in the middle of jabbering about whatever it was they were doing on the chair.

I really just love my little girls. They play so well together. I was telling Jacob the other day that I get caught up in cleaning and doing laundry and then realize I haven't played with the girls all day. They are so good with each other and play so well that I get in the zone all the time and almost forget I have two girls. I am reminded daily, hourly that they are there when I hear a delighted squeal coming from their bedroom, the toy room or the backyard. I am filled with so much love and appreciation for my babies. Their beautiful smiles and happy laughs put a smile on my face. It makes up for those days where they fight like cats and dogs. They both can throw humongous tantrums but all in all they are little angels. I love you very much Emma and Linnea. Please remember to always loves each other and be quick to forgive.

The goings on of the past couple days...

Emma loves the metronome.

Musical fun!

We taught Emma how to do somersaults and now Linnea tries to do them too.

Wrestling...they actually stopped wrestling before anyone's feelings got hurt.

Linnea got bit by some kid at the gym daycare. Apparently the kid bites multiple kids when she comes.

And finally the scare of my life... I came into the toy room to find Linnea like this. She wanted my wood letters. The camera was actually in my hand when I walked in. Linnea, you are going to be the death of your mommy!

Emma

My sweet little girl is getting so big! Emma is an amazing big sister. She loves her little sister so much. Today Linnea gave Emma a crayon and Emma turned to me and said "Mommy! Linnea handed me the purple crayon! I'm so proud of my little sis!" It was the cutest thing. She wants to gain my approval with everything she does which I hope continues through her teenage years. I've been focusing on giving her lots of encouragement when she does the right thing. Lately she's been telling little lies to me. It makes me so frustrated. She gets a spank and time out if she lies to me. I'm hoping that doing that will make telling the truth more appealing.

I forgot to blog about a funny Emma story earlier this year and I need to put it somewhere before I forget it. Emma fell down in the backyard and started crying. I was busy and couldn't come to her aid right then so I told her to rub some dirt on it and move on (she was fine). She went to play at her friend's house the next day and when I cam to pick her up she was dirty. I asked my friend what happened and she told me that Emma had fallen down and then gone over and grabbed some dirt and proceeded to rub it all over her. I laughed so hard! I love how literal kids are. Emma brings a lot of comic relief to the house. I love my little Emma!

Some firsts today!

Emma wrote her name for the first time:

Still needs a bit of work, but she was so proud of herself. :)

And Linnea fed herself with a fork for the first time. I wish I would've gotten a picture of the smile on her face right after she did it. Priceless!

Emma Jeanne

I love my little Emma. She is so silly. Life is always interesting with her. She keeps me wondering what she will say next. We went to a wedding on Saturday and she sat there and told stories to a couple ladies that were sitting at the table behind us during the dinner. Her new favorite movie is Disney's Robin Hood movie. She watched it every day for a week this last week when we had all of that rain. Now the sun is out and Emma is itching to go to the park. Please tell me the sun is here to stay!

"My name isn't Emma... My name is Belle"

Shenanigans

These last couple days have been entertaining at our house. Emma thinks she's a little mommy to Linnea which is endearing and annoying at the same time. Jacob and I found them like this yesterday:
They played like this for a long time and then Emma got tired and left her sister hanging.
Linnea LOVES Mr. Elephant. Right now he is getting put into the washing machine because he stinks... like really bad. But she won't ever give him up. These past couple nights we have taken away her pacifier when she goes to bed and she has slept so much better/longer than she was. She's not waking up as often either. She is still allowed to have it during the day sine she seems to have this great NEED to suck on something. If she's crying that is what calms her down. Next on the list is showing her other ways to self soothe. We were so much better with Emma with these kinds of things, but for some reason two kids just is throwing us off. Some days I wish I had had twins so I wouldn't know any better. (That only lasts for a brief moment though).

And this morning I woke up sounding like a man. Kinda weird but Jacob came home early because it's too windy for him to work where he does and on the way home he stopped at this supplement store and got me some tea and throat things and they seem to be helping. I'm becoming a fan of natural herbs. The more I come in contact with them the more I'm liking them.

Beautiful Girl

I love you Emma!

Warmer weather is here!

This last weekend the weather was beautiful! Emma and Linnea played outside all day Friday and Saturday while Jacob and I worked on yard work. We got a lot done and Linnea is no longer afraid of the grass!
Linnea enjoying a bottle out on the freshly seeded grass. Looks pretty good considering the see just came up!

Dora spaghetti O's on the back patio. Emma was in heaven!

After a long day outside Linnea just wanted to snuggle with her mommy. Such a sweetheart!

Trip to the Library

Yesterday we went to the library. I'm not sure why we don't visit more often. The girls LOVE it. Here are some pictures I took.

Emma tried to ask the little girl what her name was but either she didn't know any English or she was REALLY shy (I'm thinking she was just really shy). When I said it was time to go Emma took down her "sand castle" and placed all the pieces back in the drawer after taking apart all of them so they were back to the individual Legos. That part was kind of annoying but that's the routine at home and when we go play at friend's houses so why not the library too right?

Linnea was in heaven! Books, bead mazes and "blocks" to play with. All favorites of hers. She couldn't make up her mind which ones she wanted to play with so she kept racing from one place to the other. Silly kid. Can you believe she'll be 11 months old in just under 2 weeks!?