Happy Halloween!!

We had such a fun weekend! We started off celebrating Colson's bday yesterday with my family. We had a great time at Seven Acre Wood - petting animals, sliding, playing in the sand, eating cake and playing putt putt. It was Emma's first time with a golf club in her hand and she Frank had a ball.

Today after a long drive home, we quickly got into costume to make our rounds and after seeing Cassie we made our way over to the Berra's and the Mollo's. Emma and Fain had some fun. We were all enjoying giving out candy and seeing all the crazy costumes.

Emma got to trick or treat and enjoyed her very first lollipop...thanks to Ellie Berra. What a fun day for Minnie Mouse!!

Can you believe it is almost November????

I can't believe Halloween is next weekend and we are already making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Emma is 22 months old now and is really fun and she seems to be enjoying herself.

She really wants to do as much for herself as possible and objects loudly when you try to help. This includes feeding herself. Gone are the days of a clean kitchen and she has master using the spoon but not quite enough for me. She has ditched the high chair and is now in a booster at the dining room table. It is incredible what a little person she is. She has a new favorite food..peanut butter. I may have already said that but she REALLY likes it. (she licks the plate and I am not kidding)

She LOVES after bath time and evading putting her pj's on. She seems to have finally taken to having a stuffed animal around, particularly for sleeping. She likes this little lamb that plays music and I think Frank has convinced her it is really nice to have a friend when sleeping.

She says kit kat when you say meow and she repeats most words she hears.

We spend lots of time outside lately and enjoy playing at the park. Emma officially slides down the big slide by herself. She would like to slide down the REALLY big slide but -- after protesting she can! do it alone - she sits on my lap and we make our way down.

Sweet Berry Farm

Last weekend we took Emma for a visit to Sweet Berry Farm. We had such a good time! The first thing Emma picked up was this cute little gourd and she dragged it around the entire farm. We got to do lots of fun things:

We picked out our pumpkin and saw scarecrows.
There were horses to ride, we just watched this year though.
There were goats to feed and pet.
We went on our first hayride too!

There were mazes and flowers and face painting! Thanks Michelle for a great idea and for getting us all together. Emma had fun with Fain and Erica and we will look forward to going back in the spring to pick berries!!

More Swimming

Check out these two videos. The first one is near the end of her swimming lessons and is of her swimming to the side. The second is here at home practicing. She LOVES the pool!! We are sad that the summer is winding down and pool weather will be gone soon.

One of the best things we have done so far is the swimming program. She would spend all afternoon in the pool if we let her. She walks around on the steps, lays on the float, swims and and plays with the fountain. She was playing last weekend and her foot slipped and she slid in the water and just started floating. No panic just hanging out until I rescued her. I have to say it is a huge load off my shoulders that she is so comfortable in the water.

Catching Up....

What is Emma up to....she is a very busy, very happy, very opinionated 20 month old. We have moved into the "tantrum" phase. I am crossing my fingers that we have waded through the worst of it and moved on to just loudly objecting when she doesn't want to do something.

She runs to the door when you say let's go....
She loves petting and chasing Nickie beagle around....and the shrieks prove it
When it is time to go ..... she says bye bye..... and blows you a kiss (this also happens a bedtime)

She loves going to gymboree and she loves spending her days with Fain. They are so cute together, especially when they pass food to share.

When she sees Frank she runs up to him, hugs his legs and says Da!

Emma is swimming!

Emma is finishing up a six week swimming class and I am so excited I had to share this. I enrolled her in ISR (infant swimming resource) which is for six weeks, ten minutes a day. I know it sounds crazy but it is an incredible program and I highly recommend it for any moms with little ones.

Emma can jump in the water, come to a float on her back and then turn over and swim. This may sound weird but the last few days, the instructor has the kiddos in the water in full clothes. Yesterday was summer wear and today was full winter clothes. Check out this awesome video! Emma is floating with long sleeves, pants, socks, shoes, winter coat and a regular diaper (can you say five lbs of water weight!)

Felix the super beagle!

Felix was my first baby! I still remember bringing him home the first night and he was as big as my hand. He had the best temperament and loved to give special kisses. He's been with me for a long time, he tolerated Nickie beagle and then called her sister. He welcomed Frank to our family and called him dad. He had to leave us last week after 14 years. We are sad and we miss him but we know we had a wonderful life together and he was loved.