Chocolate Doughnuts

Hi Friends!
We've had a really busy and fun summer so far and I wanted to take a moment to get you up to speed.

• I've been fishing with daddy several times.
• We've been to several picnics and fireworks shows.
• I am continuing to love the Frog room at Goddard School.
• Each week I get better at coloring and painting "in the lines."
• My vocabulary is exploding, according to mom.
• One of my favorite phrases really confuses mom and dad -- I like to say "it is, but it isn't, but it is." and "I did, but I didn't...but I did."
  
• I took a trip with daddy to watch the World Cup with Grandma and Grandpa Loepertz and many cousins in Michigan.
• We took a family trip to the U.P. to see Grandma and Grandpa Brannstrom and Aunt DeeDee and Uncle Jimmy.
• And, I told my teacher that there's a chocolate doughnut in Mommy's belly.

Huh?

You see, when we got back from the U.P., we didn't have a lot of groceries in the house. Mom and I went to the store to get milk and produce. While we were shopping, we split a doughnut with chocolate icing and sprinkles. It was delicious.

That same day, mommy told the daycare that she is having another baby!! I am going to be a big sister! And, later that day a teacher asked me what was in mommy's belly -- so I told her, "A chocolate doughnut, and we shared it!" Everyone got a good laugh, and I don't really understand why, but maybe you will think it's funny, too!

I'm very excited to become a big sister. I tell mommy all the time that I am a big girl, and I try to help out as much as I can. It's a lot of work to be a big girl, but I like it. It's more fun than being a baby, I get to do so many fun projects and really use my creativity.

Thanks for stopping by - we'll keep you posted in the weeks ahead. Mom and I are pretty busy now though, as Daddy's is gone for 5 weeks at training. He left me a recordable Hallmark bedtime story to listen to -- and I listen to it every day. I sure do miss him, he's an amazing daddy.

Have a great week!

I'm three

I had two parties for my birthday. One with my girl friends and their mommies.

And another with family, neighbors and additional friends.

It was a really special time of celebration, cupcakes and baby dolls. I think three will be my best year yet.

Getting so big...

I've been sleeping on my mattress all week and am getting eager for my new twin bed to arrive. Tonight mom and dad are taking apart the crib and the changing table.

Mom and Dad have been busy getting ready for my party. I'm excited for my little friends to come celebrate with me! And, I'm getting so pumped for my extended family to come party some more over Memorial Day weekend.

Our weather has been wild lately. A string of warm days, followed by cold days, then rainy days. It's making it hard to decide what to wear in the morning. I love sundresses and fun summer clothes, but the weather isn't quite ready for that. Maybe next week when they're calling for 80s.

We have been watching a momma fox and her babies play in the yard. The little ones love to run circles and play and play and play! They come nearly every evening if we're not outside. It's fascinating.

From mom:

• Emily uses the word "Actually" quite often lately.
• She has only wet her bed once since potty training, even though she wants a glass of ice water every night
• She wants to help us when we're cleaning.
• Loves Kielbasa - calls it a hot dog
• Any kind of art project and she's in heaven
• She's transitioning into the preschool room at school over the next two weeks
• Em is definitely a daddy's girl, and I think it's sweet
  

Harrisburg and Sleeping in a nest

Last weekend we took a visit to Harrisburg, PA. I got to see our old neighbors, Len and Sue, and eat some delicious food. My favorite activity was playing with a scissors, glue and pipe cleaners. I also made a bunch of paper airplanes and enjoyed running in and out of the screen porch. Good times.

While we were there, I slept in a little nest on the floor - made up of a sleeping bag and some sheets and blankets. Last night, since I was such a good girl, mommy let me sleep on my crib mattress -- on the floor! Soon it is time for mommy and daddy to get me a big girl bed!!

Over the next two weeks I will be moving up to the 3 year old room at Goddard because I am right on track with all of my key milestones, including potty training. I'm excited to move into the next room and do even more projects!

A few weeks ago I delighted mommy on Mother's Day. I told her that she is my "Sweet, sweet friend." I thought she was going to cry!

Next week I turn three and mommy is throwing me a little party with some of my girlfriends. I can't wait. And then for Memorial Day weekend we are having an even bigger party with friends, family and neighbors. It will be so much fun! I'll write more after the festivities!

Hope you're doing well!

Oh - in other news, mommy thought it would be funny to jot down the following:

I love calling daddy a Sinkerpot, or a Stinkersaurus
I know how to access apps on daddy's iPhone. My favorite ones are the Dora games, the piano, coloring games...and the fart noise app. I giggle like crasy when I make those noises...

Turkey-Lurkey

I haven't been avoiding you, but mommy and I have been very busy playing and traveling for the past month or more. Have you missed us?

Daddy has been in Turkey since March 16. He is almost ready to come home (Tuesday) and we have missed him a lot. However, I am really good at keeping it in perspective and I know that if I am a good girl while he is gone that he will be very proud of me when he gets home!

Mommy and I took a week-long trip to Wisconsin to visit Grandma and Grandpa "Poppins" and Uncle JimJim and Aunt DeeDee the week before Easter. It was an awesome trip - we got to see several friends and relatives, too. I even got to see some horses and cows on great grandpa's farm and visit a large Easter egg house at a bakery. It was fun to go Madison and it was kind of hard to get back into a routine after we got back. The best part -- Uncle Jim geared me up with some new badger clothes!! Go Bucky!

At the end of March my pacifier was broken (I have a hunch mom was involved) and I decided to throw it away. We don't even talk about it anymore, so I know that it was the right time for me to be a big girl. Hopefully when Daddy comes home we can upgrade my crib to a big girl bed so I can use my new Dora sheets!

For Easter we got to visit with our next door neighbors and another military spouse. It was a beautiful weekend and also perfect for the 20,010 egg hunt at our church! Good times.

Last weekend mommy went to a family readiness conference, so Gramma Diane came to entertain me. We had a fun time cooking and doing bubbles and 3-D chalk. It was really good to see her!

Mom says I am a social butterfly because I like to talk to people at stores and restaurants. Never know what I'll say next! She's just hoping I won't tell anyone that she wore daddy's t-shirt and boxers to bed last night because she misses him! Haha!

I've been taking Tumbling Lessons at Gym Xtreme Kid Sport in Canal Winchester once a week. It has been very fun and I like the ability to use the bars, beams, trampolines, mats, etc. They really expose us to a lot of different things and it's been a fun time. I probably won't do it this summer so that I can take swimming classes instead. Mommy wants Daddy to take me!

This weekend we have a few fun things planned, and I know mommy also wants to make some posters and fun things for when daddy comes home. Maybe we can even make him a cake because his birthday is on Thursday.

Have a great weekend!

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Mommy Update:
Emily loves to use the word "Forlost" -- I think it's a blend of forgot and lost, but she often says, "I forlost it." or "Did you forlost it, mommy?" It's pretty cute.

She also uses the food GooseBus instead of School Bus. Although last week she upgraded to "Yellow School Bus" so we may be outgrowing that cute term!

And, in early March, she picked up a phone in our house while I was in the middle of a 30+ person conference call. I think I had a mild heart attack, but everyone else got a good laugh out of her "Hello? Hello! Hi"...

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My little smartie

Look what mommy found today!
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