Emma’s 3rd Birthday Party

Emma’s birthday was a really fun, small family shindig. 

The party had an ice cream theme and it was fitting because Emma can’t really eat cake and cupcakes with frosting because of reflux and texture issues so we had just a few cupcakes and a build your own sundae bar for dessert instead of “cake”.  : )  She ate her cupcake cone sans frosting with gusto!  My Mother made one of the best cheesecakes I have ever eaten and she brought it in honor of my sister’s birthday. 

I had a wonderful time putting together Emma’s party decorations and I was able to make many of them myself!  I made the hats, the banner (I don’t think I managed to photograph the banner), the invitations and I even decorated Emma’s birthday shirt by printing her t’shirt design onto iron on transfer paper and then ironing the design directly onto her shirt!  It turned out very cute!  I made all of the decorations using the Ice Cream Party and Summer Treats Trinkets kits from Shabby Miss Jenn Designs.

She looked so adorable!  She was very excited for the guests to arrive!

 

Just a few of the birthday goodies and decorations.

Emma LOVED this piñata!  We found this GINORMOUS piñata at the Minnesota State Fair and we knew right away that it would be perfect for Emma’s party.  Emma knew that the piñata was in the guest bedroom and she talked about it for WEEKS before her party.  She had so much fun helping me to fill it up with goodies.

My niece Grace’s turn to give the piñata a good WHACK!

My niece Izzy managed to get the job done!  This piñata was TOUGH!  : D

Showing us her candies!

The girls soon discovered that the cone shapes from the broken piñata made fine princess hats!!

In this photo, Emma is smiling because we are all singing Happy Birthday to her!  Hee hee…she LOVED it!  When we were done singing, she asked us to do it again!

Blowing out the candles!

One of her favorite gifts!  This pizza set is so cool.  The pizza slices have velcro tops and the toppings stick right onto the slices…so cool!  The slices also velcro to one another.  I love the broccoli is one of the toppings…maybe it will serve as inspiration…hee hee.  ; D

Here she is after her party playing with all of her new stuff!  In the background, you can see pieces from her new Snap ‘N Style doll.  What a wonderful little doll!  The clothes simply snap on and off the doll and the doll is adorable…perfect for a 3 year old!  I am going to buy more of the dolls and the outfits for her for Christmas.

I think this card says it all!  Isn’t it adorable?  My niece Grace made it for Emma.

Emma IS growing up so FAST!  : O  Several months ago, we converted Emma’s crib to a toddler bed and she has been sleeping happily in it…and TONIGHT was her FIRST night in a TWIN bed!  It is so bizarre to walk into Emma’s room and see a twin bed in there instead of her crib/toddler bed.  This transfer has been kind of difficult for me and a few tears were shed last night after Emma was tucked into her crib/toddler bed for the last time.  It is so fun to see our little Emma grow and change and I feel honored to be her Mother!

God bless,

Tera

THREE???

Surely, my BABY girl does NOT look like this…

And, there is just NO WAY that she could possibly look grown up  like this…

*SIGH*

Just ONE year ago she looked like this…

And this…

*SIGH*

The tutu that Emma wore for her 2nd birthday went down to her FEET…that same tutu now comes down to her KNEES!!  : O

Where oh where did my baby go???

And, just three SHORT years ago, my teeny tiny baby looked like this…

And this…

And this…

The photos immediately above were taken when Emma was around three weeks old. We were able to visit her for the first time in Guatemala while we were signing a bit of preliminary paperwork to get the Guatemalan side of the adoption process going. Emma was barely five pounds at that time. Look at how TINY she was compared to Jason’s hand! Can you believe it?  She was swimming in the preemie clothes that we had purchased for her. 

We were SMITTEN.

I ache to reach into these photographs to hold my sweet and oh so tiny baby girl.

Emma, you are a true GIFT.  You are a treasure and Mommy’s dream come true.  Feliz cumpleaños.  Te amo mi amor.

 

Don’t worry…

More party pics to come.  : D

God bless,

Tera

My Grandpa

My Grandpa passed away last night.  He will be missed.  He is missed.

He was…

*  Always in my life.  My Grandparents  lived just a few blocks away from my childhood home.  They were always a constant presence in my life.  It was rare for a week to go by without hearing from them or seeing them.

*  A carpenter.  He was amazing with wood.  He could build intricate toys, games and furniture pieces, clocks, etc.  He custom built a desk for me when I was young that fit perfectly in a little cubby hole in my bedroom.  He built countless items for me and for family members and friends through the years.  The last piece that he built for me was a custom size sofa table that sits in our living room.  I love it.  Whenever we were working on a home project, he would always offer to come over to help or we would just see his Buick pull up in front of the house and he often offered to help to pay for materials.

*  A generous Grandpa.  He never spoiled me or his other Grandchildren but he was very willing to give his time and finances to help us when we were in need.  When I was in my 20s, my little car had nearly rusted out.  Grandpa helped to buy me a reliable set of wheels.  There were countless times that I would leave his house after a visit and find money in my purse on the way home…sneaky, sneaky…hee hee…it was so appreciated and never taken for granted.  When we adopted Emma, Grandpa generously helped us here and there whenever he could…it was so sweet and I will never forget it. 

*  Attentive and fun.  He helped my sister and I to learn to fish with a cane pole.  He played countless board games with us, shared his chocolate stash and we had many lunches at Bridgemans and Happy Chef.  He always genuinely wanted to spend time with us.  If he didn’t hear from us for a week or so, he always made sure to call.

*  Always thinking.  Most of the time, this was a good thing and sometimes, it could get him into a bit of trouble…hee hee.  : )  If he found out that you were having a challenge, he would spend a good part of the day mulling it over and over and then you could almost count on the fact that he would call you sometime that evening to offer up solutions…hee hee hee…that was Grandpa!  ; )

*  Someone you could never forget!

I love you, Grandpa.  Thank you so much for loving me, for loving us. 

We will miss you at Emma’s birthday party.  She has been asking if you will be there.  She loves you and she will miss you and Grandma very much.  Thank you for loving her and for welcoming her with open arms into your heart.

It is a very a strange and sad feeling to know that my Grandma and my Grandpa  are no longer here.  Their constant presence in my life will be missed in countless ways.

God bless,

Tera

Catching Up

I have soooo much catching up to do here at my blog it’s not even funny!  Emma’s Grandma who lives in North Carolina came to visit, we went to the State Fair, to the zoo, etc.  Here are a few “catching up” pics…  (there will be at least one more catching up post to come soon)

Roasted corn at the Minnesota State Fair!  We didn’t think that we would end up going to the fair this year, so we really did relish our time there!  (Pam…these photos are for YOU, friend!!!!)  : D

The carousel…Emma’s FAVORITE.

If you have ever been to the MN State Fair, then you are familiar with the GIANT SLIDE!!  Can you spot Jason and Emma?  Hee hee.  : )  Emma walked up ALL of the steps by herself up to the tippy top of the slide and she was not scared at all about going down.

A tradition…we enjoy our guacamole and Beer-garitas from Tejas as we watch karaoke.  Hee hee…  : )  GOOD TIMES!!

A few photos from this week…

I have to throw in a pic of Gumpus…’cause he’s just so CUTE.  : )

This time of the year, the high temps are usually in the low 70s.  However, today we reached the mid 80s and Emma ENJOYED an afternoon in her pool! I think she went down her slide about 344584754857487584 times.  ; D

And, I took about 344584754857487584 photos of her that look just like this.  : )

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh…the summer has been sweet!

God bless,

Tera

Just Do It

When I am busy, and when I think about blogging, I have to remember to JUST DO IT!  Late summer busyness has kept me away from my blog!  But, I wanted to check in so that you wouldn’t wonder what happened to me.  ; )  I hope to have a new post here SOON!!  Some cuteness for you before I sign off…

Can you believe that I am gearing up to send out invitations to this beautiful little girl’s THIRD birthday party?  Emma is going to be three years old very soon…how can that be?

God bless, Tera

August Fun

Fun and random photos from August 2009.  Enjoy!  : D

My girl likes her boots.

Vintage Little People.

Sticker fun.

Gumpus’ first bath in our house.

(Who is “Gumpus”? See previous post!)  : )

My little lounger.

That IS a bike…with TRAINING WHEELS!!

Where oh where has my baby gone?

My beautiful nieces.

Yeah, baby!!

Love this.

Love this even more!

Fun at the MN Zoo splash pad.

 

So cute…

Even cuter…

Okay…cuter still.

YEEEEHAAAW!!!

I cannot believe that August is half over…can you?  Crazy!  : )

God bless,

Tera

Silly Gumpus

We have a new addition…

Yes, a PUG!

A pug is on the premises.  : ) 

If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, then you know about this already. 

Life has been so busy here for the past couple of days, I haven’t taken the opportunity to blog about our new little pug.  : ) Emma wants to get up from her non-nap (hee hee) so I don’t have a lot of time to post this but I will tell you that our Pug’s name is “Gumpus”…short for “Silly Gumpus”.  He was named by his breeder.  He is two years old.  He is getting along great with Emma.  We are in a two week little trial period with this little guy…but, so far so good.  He is very sweet and gentle.  Here are a few pics:  : )

  

 

 

  Hee hee…so sweet and cute!

God bless,

Tera