Silly dancer

Sorry it's sideways--I forgot I couldn't turn it like a picture.

Mobile munchkin

Guatemala

Have I mentioned that we're going on a missions trip to Guatemala this summer? We're taking middle & high schoolers (and a bunch of parents). We'll be gone the last week in July for five days (the 23-28, I think). I'm excited, but more than nervous about leaving Emily at home--even under the outstanding care of Papa & Grandma Hale.

Birth Certificate

After only 9+ months, we received Emily's birth certificate.

Bubble eater

Silly (and apparently hilarious) sounds

Investigating green beans

I started taping her because she was hilarious playing with the green bean. Then she started with the weird squinty face, which has resurfaced. Sorry it's so dark.

Pictures from yesterday

I promise it's not all drool...
Her kisses are a bit off, but couldn't be sweeter.

Fuzz is very interesting.
Practicing standing

Just pictures

Grey's Anatomy

My latest addiction is Grey's (um, two years late). I borrowed the first two seasons of the show from some teachers at school, and I am slowly but surely catching up (I'm in the middle of season two). However, I can't decide whether to catch this last month of season three, or wait until it comes out on DVD...

Crawling

An attempt to get video of the crawling (commando crawling--like how she drags one leg?). I'll try to get a better video later.

Glow bracelet

I know this doesn't look like much, but it's the glow bracelet that I had to pry from Emily's warm, sleeping fingers tonight after youth group. To say that she LOVED it is putting it quite lightly.

Bed head

Emily's hair is now thick & long enough to get messy when she sleeps. The other day she woke up with a mohawk that I tried to capture on film, but it's pretty hard to see.

Today's walk

Since we got our ID cards back on Monday, I've been walking on base after school. Today Emily's favorite entertainment was dangling her pacifier off to the side and watching it sway. That apparently wore her out, because she passed out, even with B-52s flying overhead.
She did not choose the most comfortable of positions.

Kronk update

We finally heard from the vet (after I called) yesterday about Kronk's tumor. It's a "grade 2" tumor, which basically means that it's not a regular fatty tumor, but it's not necessarily cancer. Of the three options--1. watch it; 2. go in and cut out more from the site to make sure all of the tumor was removed; or 3. referral to a specialist who would do more tests and then chemo/radioation if necessary (ha!)--we've chosen #1. Our vet feels like he got all of the tumor, so we'll keep an eye on him.

Crawler

Yesterday, while we were sitting in H & R Block finishing up our taxes, Emily crawled (as a birthday present to Jeff). Or scooted. Whatever it was, she covered about three feet to make it from her cheerios to me. We're in trouble.

Easter dress

Grandma bought Emily this cute Easter dress...
but since it was 40 degrees outside we had to wear Aunt Cindy's jacket over it.

Easter basket

Emily got a rattle and a touch & feel book, along with some snacks from our cupboard :). If only all of her Easter baskets would be this easy...

The best part--grass

Spring Survivor

This weekend (Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning) our youth group--middle and high school--went on our "Spring Survivor" retreat. We headed out to our pastor's mom's house on Lake Bistineau (where Jon had Man Camp in the fall). The teens were split into two tribes, with a college-age leader for each. Jon and Ron were the hosts/coordinators. Luckily, the hosts, wives, & babies all slept in the house :). Over the weekend the tribes competed in a variety of challenges, and had fun & free time along the way. Unfortunately, a cold front hit on Thursday, giving us a high that day of around 60, Friday's high was about the same, and that night it went down to about 40-45 degrees. We canceled our night game of capture the flag due to the cold, and a few wimpy high school girls slept in the house.

Fishing from the dock

Friday we bundled up to watch the games. I'm pretty sure Emily took this ball from a dog...

Em & I watched from the end of the dock as we were line judges for the raft relay.

There was basically a petting zoo out at the lake house. Here's a picture of one of the lion/dogs. The rooster that the kids all loved hearing in the morning
Emily wasn't quite sure what to think of the chickens at first, but later thought they were very funny.
Miniature horse; Emily kept saying "Da!" like she does with the dogs. Poor girl--we have a dog that looks like a horse, there was a dog that looked like a lion...she may never get it!

Emily in her chariot, making sure things ran smoothly. Setting up camp in each tribe
Tribal council
Some late-night swimming in the pool. It only takes middle school kids a few minutes to understand that while the pool might be warm, the air is still cold (about 45). Sadly, those minutes are usually after they're in the pool.

"Easter bunny"

After we waited 25 minutes for the Easter Bunny to show up (supposed to be there at 11), we just pretended and took pictures on his set.

Car wash

Yesterday I redeemed a Christmas gift from one of my students and took Jon's car to the really awesome carwash. They have a wall of windows so that you can watch your car go through the actual "wash," which Emily thought was fascinating. She also enjoyed watching them vacuum, wipe down all of the surfaces, and clean all of the windows inside & out. I think maybe I'll go again today with my car...

Playpen

Some people spend tons of money on fancy playpens...here in Louisiana, we just use what's available :). She actually LOVED banging a wooden spoon around in there, and had a great Cheerio hunt.

Project completed!!

I finally finished the duvet cover, and we now have our king-sized down comforter (bought with Christmas money way back when) on our bed! I tried to show how it matched the walls & sheets, but the flash kind of goofed it up.