My Five-Year-Old

I cannot believe it's been five years since our little Emma Grace was born. The years have ticked by like seconds and it's amazing and wonderful and a little unfair that so much time has gone by so quickly! We cherish our time with our girls and try to appreciate and celebrate every new development, with the caveat in the back of our minds, "it all happens too fast". Nevertheless, I am continually shocked by the passage of time and how it accelerates the older I get.
Happy Birthday, Dear Emma Grace.
I love you so very much. You have such a kind heart. There are so many things I love about you...and these are but a few: you are an amazing big sister. I didn't realize small children had the capacity to emphathize, love, and share as well as you do with Kaia. It's remarkable how much you love her and how truly helpful you are. You are one of the most artistic people I know. I am not surprised, considering who your daddy is...but I love your creativity and artistic eye and always look forward to you running over to me with your latest drawing to share what you've created. I love your fashion sense. Sometimes I wish I could still dress you in whatever I want...that time was over much too quickly. Still, it's really fun to see what you come up with to wear. Every day is a surprise! I love your independence. I love that you can make yourself a sandwich or get yourself a snack...and you've gone from needing help with each step to doing it all yourself!
I love being your mom.

A little update...

Playing in the sprinkler in the crazy January warm weather!

Our fabulous new driveway....great job, Lewis!! It's an abstract leaf pattern he designed.

70's night...we went to a theme party for our lovely friend Erin's 40th birthday!

Peace out, yo.

My girls love to make faces.

See? Kaia does this almost every time she sees the camera.

I have her trained. I don't know how to un-train her!!

The New Accounts representative at Grandpa's new credit union building.

Setting Dapa up with an account.

My three loves.

I am kind of shocked she's not winking here, too. So sweet!

My little silly girl.

Em, on her 5th birthday.

Kaia on Em's birthday.

I have to put it up here because this is such an awesome picture. I love Kaia's new tricks!!!

Madagascar 2, Em's favorite movie and a birthday present from Mama and Dada.

Sushi, as per request, for Em's birthday dinner. Yum!

The birthday "doggie".

Em at her preschool party, with her homemade bubble-gum ice cream sandwiches, per request!

Emma and her birthday hot cocoa, with 5 marshmallows!

My silly girls.

Kaia being fancy.

Superbowl Sunday. The football got stuck in a tree in an impossibly perfect way. Lewis wanted photographic evidence, so here it is!

I love this face!

Mmmm....cupcakes.

Daddy's little Eagles fan.