Here she is waving 4 fingers.
Tony took lots of pictures on his camera of the family celebration last night, but he hasn't downloaded them yet. This was the big present from us - a new very sparkly 16" bike. We also bought her a basket and Emma a "sister present" matching basket. Emma also got the old "sister bike". They both had fun riding around the house last night (Emma was mostly being pushed but she is starting to learn to pedal).
This is what she did after school today. She wanted to put on the dress up tiger suit, back-pack for her baby doll, and the dog in the basket - all birthday presents from wonderful Gram!
I spent some time while they were at school today looking at old pictures. Here she is just hatched, 4 years ago.
Just a few weeks later...
Her first birthday - the start of a life-long love affair with icing!
Second birthday - shared with Hurricane Ike. This was the first of 10 days of no power.
And her 3rd birthday. I know she looks almost exactly the same as this now, but I know she's much larger because that dress doesn't fit anymore. It fits Emma now. :)
Here's some other pictures from the past few weeks that I just downloaded from my camera. While I hosted Jessica's shower, Tony and and the girls were doing this...
They went down to 59 diner for lunch.
Tony was thinking of going to a museum or zoo, but instead they came back close to home to do this... 
This is at Sports Authority. Tony wanted to check out the bikes and make sure Anna is big enough for the 16". Looks like they got distracted. I suppose going to a store with your kids is really fun if you don't really have to accomplish anything and you have time to kill!
I guess they also have an interest in football.
This is her mean face!
This was probably that morning - Anna likes to go into Emma's room by herself when Emma wakes up. This is what I found when I came in. Anna was actually reading the book (well she had memorized it anyway). 
Emma fell asleep watching TV one day. I don't think this has ever happened before. I'm happy to have a sweet picture of her sleeping though!! 
Random cuteness! 
Anna riding the little bike without training wheels. 
A fun night playing with Anton... He taught Anna how to pose for a picture like a rock star. :) 
Anton got into the dress up fun too! He also put on some fun music and danced around with the girls. 
:) 
This was the girls first day of school last week. We just happened to see Joanna and Natalie and Jessica in the parking lot so we all got to walk in together. Emma is still in Mother's Day Out, but Anna and Joanna are officially in Preschool now. Here they are with their big girl school bags. 
Lucky for me Anna's and Emma's classes are right across the hall from each other. It's very handy! 
Emma was trying to give Natalie a hug. I don't think they fell over, but the actual "hug" picture didn't turn out well. 
Anna in front of her class. She was SOOOO excited to start school. So was I!! 
Here's Emma in front of her class. She was very excited too! That makes me so happy! 
I lingered a bit and took some pictures through the window. Emma started her day with a puzzle. 
Anna started out at the craft table, using scissors no less!! I'm really surprised, and really thankful, that she hasn't asked for kid scissors at home. 
Emma has moved on to some toys in the back. 
Anna is still cutting. That girl sure does love her crafts!!! 
Our 3rd football game was Friday night. It's always SOOO fun! The drumline is busy playing almost the whole game. I keep meaning to ask Anton if his arms are sore at the end of the games. Anyway, they totally rock!! Hopefully I'll be able to post some actual videos soon. 
In case you are wondering, #21 is the number of a classmate, Joseph Stanton, who had an accident on his skateboard at the beginning of the summer. He suffered a very severe traumatic brain injury, and is still in a drug-induced coma at a specialty neurological hospital. He was a swimmer and football player and nice, outgoing kid. Some friends of his family have made several varieties of "Team Joseph" shirts (as in prayer team). It is so touching to see the stands full of these shirts at the games, and the team carries out a GIANT "Team Joseph" flag as they run onto the field at the start of each game. His parents keep a journal online if you care to follow his story. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasjosephstanton Please keep him in your prayers. 
Emma eating her hotdog bun. In case you are wondering about her face, I tried to paint a panther paw on it, but it didn't go on very well. I'll have try some different paint next time! 
Here's Anna playing with a drumline girl who can't march due to a broken ankle. She was quite the entertainment for Anna, mainly just by allowing Anna to jump all over her repeatly. 
Warming up to go on the field. By the way, the Panthers are 3-0. They are totally dominating this season!
This happened to Tony one day while he was on the phone. He was really excited to be photographed. :) Actually he thought it was funny, but I think he was engaged in a serious conversation and not paying much attention to us. 
They went down to 59 diner for lunch. 
Tony was thinking of going to a museum or zoo, but instead they came back close to home to do this... 
This is at Sports Authority. Tony wanted to check out the bikes and make sure Anna is big enough for the 16". Looks like they got distracted. I suppose going to a store with your kids is really fun if you don't really have to accomplish anything and you have time to kill!
I guess they also have an interest in football.
This is her mean face!
This was probably that morning - Anna likes to go into Emma's room by herself when Emma wakes up. This is what I found when I came in. Anna was actually reading the book (well she had memorized it anyway). 
Emma fell asleep watching TV one day. I don't think this has ever happened before. I'm happy to have a sweet picture of her sleeping though!! 
Random cuteness! 
Anna riding the little bike without training wheels. 
A fun night playing with Anton... He taught Anna how to pose for a picture like a rock star. :) 
Anton got into the dress up fun too! He also put on some fun music and danced around with the girls. 
:) 
This was the girls first day of school last week. We just happened to see Joanna and Natalie and Jessica in the parking lot so we all got to walk in together. Emma is still in Mother's Day Out, but Anna and Joanna are officially in Preschool now. Here they are with their big girl school bags. 
Lucky for me Anna's and Emma's classes are right across the hall from each other. It's very handy! 
Emma was trying to give Natalie a hug. I don't think they fell over, but the actual "hug" picture didn't turn out well. 
Anna in front of her class. She was SOOOO excited to start school. So was I!! 
Here's Emma in front of her class. She was very excited too! That makes me so happy! 
I lingered a bit and took some pictures through the window. Emma started her day with a puzzle. 
Anna started out at the craft table, using scissors no less!! I'm really surprised, and really thankful, that she hasn't asked for kid scissors at home. 
Emma has moved on to some toys in the back. 
Anna is still cutting. That girl sure does love her crafts!!! 
Our 3rd football game was Friday night. It's always SOOO fun! The drumline is busy playing almost the whole game. I keep meaning to ask Anton if his arms are sore at the end of the games. Anyway, they totally rock!! Hopefully I'll be able to post some actual videos soon. 
In case you are wondering, #21 is the number of a classmate, Joseph Stanton, who had an accident on his skateboard at the beginning of the summer. He suffered a very severe traumatic brain injury, and is still in a drug-induced coma at a specialty neurological hospital. He was a swimmer and football player and nice, outgoing kid. Some friends of his family have made several varieties of "Team Joseph" shirts (as in prayer team). It is so touching to see the stands full of these shirts at the games, and the team carries out a GIANT "Team Joseph" flag as they run onto the field at the start of each game. His parents keep a journal online if you care to follow his story. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasjosephstanton Please keep him in your prayers. 
Emma eating her hotdog bun. In case you are wondering about her face, I tried to paint a panther paw on it, but it didn't go on very well. I'll have try some different paint next time! Here's Anna playing with a drumline girl who can't march due to a broken ankle. She was quite the entertainment for Anna, mainly just by allowing Anna to jump all over her repeatly. 
Warming up to go on the field. By the way, the Panthers are 3-0. They are totally dominating this season!
This happened to Tony one day while he was on the phone. He was really excited to be photographed. :) Actually he thought it was funny, but I think he was engaged in a serious conversation and not paying much attention to us. 
Count your blessings!!
Don't you just want to poke him??!!
The girls had fun attacking Anton's friend Kyle.
Later on they played dart wars. Check out the tough girls' team.
And the goofy guys
On to some other random photos... Here's Anton making a project for a speech type class last week. It was a "shoebox" presentation about himself so he made one side of the box mechanical to talk about wanting to be an engineer.
Playing trains... Emma love to wear the "baa-bee" princess dress.
Then under the cover for snuggles...
And tickles!
