Choir Practice, School Birthday and Gardening

The children's choir at church is doing a musical next weekend, and Anna has had a few extra practices to get ready.  Tony took her last weekend and took some pictures.  There's about twice this many kids in the choir.  I guess it helps me to remember the extra weekend practices since 4 of my good friends help run it.

That's our friend Amanda with the pink headband.  I don't know why she's wearing it, but she's the kind of fun lady who does stuff like that.  I love my church friends!!

 Looking at Pappa!

I love Joanna's face.  I think she's going to be a star someday, especially if she ends up with a voice like her mama!

 Now Anna is getting into it. 

 That Tuesday I brought cupcakes to school for Emma to eat with her class.  I ran into Anna's class heading out to the playground on my way in.

 Emma was very excited.

 They have a fun little hat with 4 candles.

 Her amazing teachers Patty and Allison.

 I saw Anna again on the way out.

 I love it that she likes to have her picture made!

 We were going to go camping last weekend (this is actually the same day as the choir practice).  The weather was amazing but Emma had a fever.  So Tony took Anna to the nursery instead and got supplies to make a garden.  She has been asking for one for a while.

 Emma was feeling well enough to come out and help.

They planted tomatoes, canteloupe, green beans, carrots and radishes.  The flowers are supposed to keep Junior out of there. 

Then my camera died.  I dropped it a few times when I first got it before I got a strap and case.  I guess that's why it died.  I am a clutz, and I am always dropping cameras, phones, etc.  Maybe I can find a cover for it like the fancy iphone ones.  Tony is gone again, so it may be a while before I have pictures to blog with... I'm scared (and not allowed) to use his camera, but maybe I'll make it to Best Buy to get another little one.  God is good, and so I praise Him!

Christ the Lord is Risen today!!!

Well, I guess it was a couple of weeks ago, but every day is like resurrection Sunday for believers right?  Anyway, Anna and Emma checking out the Easter baskets on Easter morning...

 Tony got up early and put eggs outside.  We let them find a few and then made them wait for Anton to wake up.

 I convinced them to put their dresses on before going back out.  I wonder if Anton will have a little girl someday... :)

 I knew the dresses would make for cute egg hunt pictures.

 My beautiful 4 year old Emma!!

 Anton was sneaking candy while the girls weren't looking.

 Do you like the stamps on their hands?  The Easter bunny brough little resurrection-themed stamps.  I didn't think about how that would work out with the Easter dresses.  I edited them out in most of the pictures...

 And Emma refusing to be in the picture again.  Someday she'll ask me why I have so many pictures of Anna and Anton without her.

 We headed up to the balcony for church and found the Pences. 

 We ate at Skeeters for lunch.

 Emma's actual birthday was on Easter Sunday this year.  We had a little family celebration after lunch.  I asked her a couple of months ago what she wanted for her birthday.  She told me she wanted a girls Star Wars puzzle.  Anton just happened to babysit the day I asked her this, and he had done his old Star Wars puzzle with them (it's 1000 pieces - he did most of it I'm sure).  I figured there was no such thing (I was right) so I asked again a few weeks later.  She said she wanted a girls Star Wars puzzle.  That was it.  There are 48 piece Star Wars puzzle with women on them, but they also have men with drawn guns/lazer swords on the puzzle, so I didn't want to do that.  I convinced her this was a girls Star Wars puzzle.  Anna's not convinced and has tried to spoil it a few times, but so far so good.

This is the cake she picked out to have on her birthday with just her family.

 And blowing out the candles. :)

 It was a fun day to celebrate Jesus' victory over the grave and our promise of eternal life with Him, AND our gift of Emma.  I am so blessed to be her mama!!!

Happy Birthday Emma

Emma turned 4 on Easter Sunday.  We had a little party for her with a few school friends that Friday.  She mostly just plays with a handful of girls, so it started out as a small girl party.  Then a few days before the party she asked me if Henry from school could come.  After a couple of "we're just going to have girlfriends" with a "do you have Henry's phone number?" response, I caved.    There were a couple of little brothers here and Tony too, so he wasn't completely outnumberd.  It was a very sweet party. :)  They played outside a lot.  Tony always loves to see his handiwork put to good use.

I'm Emma H. and you are Emma V. 

She wanted a dolphin party, but I took her to the party store to pick out supplies and she settled on My Little Pony since there were no dolphin party things.  They had a little stick the rainbow on Rainbow Dash game. :) (Rainbow Dash is the name of the pony on the poster).

I found a My Little Pony cake kit at the last minute (that I put on the cake that I bought, not made myself).  I forgot to leave room for the candles.

She was excited to put the candles in herself. :)

Eager for cake!  I covered Henry's pink pony hat with green construction paper.

She loved her pony cake! :)

It was yummy. :)

Fighting over drumsticks.

They're starting a band.

 Presents are so fun!!  Emma got great loot!! 

 My sweet butterfly!

 She made me wear a hat after everyone left, but she wouldn't take a picture with me.  I got her big sister instead who is wearing a painting shirt so she can use some of Emma's new crafts.

 There's the birthday girl.

 There's our birthday party photographer.

 The next morning Anna was excited to help Emma use more of her new crafts.

We went to a wedding that morning.  This is Suzanna, Anna's first babysitter.  I met her a physical therapy.  She was an OTA at the time who helped get my hands better when I had tendinitis really bad after Anna was born.  I went for months, and she would always hold Anna and keep her entertained while my hands were in a little therapy machine.  She babysat the girls a lot when they wre smaller.  She's been busy at graduate school and falling in love the last few years, so our babysitters are all teenage girls from church.  Anyway, Suzanna is wonderful and we were so happy to be a part of her special day.

We had a yummy lunch and got to say hi to the bride and groom.

My handsome man with his girls.  Emma hasn't been into getting her picture taken lately.

The wedding was at the Junior League down in Houston.  They have a beautiful garden area.

While we were partying, Anton had spent the last couple of days at a church retreat for the seniors.   The girls in the picture have been in my small group for the last few years (and have done lots of babysitting for me - the girl in the blue shorts is Kate, our favorite).  They are awesome!  I took this pic off our youth pastors facebook. :)

 And this one.  Apparently he didn't have enough money to get as much food as he wanted when they went out to eat somewhere, so he ate a 1 pound burger and got it for free + the t-shirt.

I guess he's ready to go off to college now. :)

He came back that afternoon and inspired sillyness.

Then we all headed to the playground.

 :):)

I love walking into the playroom and finding toys set up like this.  The girls had a birthday party for their dolphins and the dog.  They served fish, pineapple and cake at their party.  :)