Strange morning

Earlier this week when Emma woke up she asked me to snuggle with her. So I hopped on her bed and she crawled on my lap. I sat there with my arms around her, snuggling her close.
Emma: "Mommy, if you died... and we stuffed you...you would make a great Halloween decoration."
Mommy (trying hard not to laugh or focus on the died part): "Um, OK... don't you think it would be creepy to see me stuffed all the time?"
Emma (giggling): "yeah I guess so, but you'd make a great Halloween decoration."
Mommy: "What made you think of that?"
Emma (giggling): "It came from a monkey's tummy."
Mommy: "A monkey's tummy? That's silly."
Emma (still giggling): "Yeah- that monkey!" and she points to the monkey on her dresser drawer knob.
We both started cracking up and that was that.

Preschool Pictures

Stair Master

Emma has never been super coordinated, which we think, is because she is always growing. It's hard to be comfortable in your own skin when it keeps changing. When she was just 2 and a half a great aunt (who happens to be a preschool teacher) gave us some tips and advice for encouraging Emma to climb down stairs like a big kid. Alternating feet as she steps down, only touching each stair once. In other words not doing the step, together, step together motion. It wasn't something that we worried about or even gave much thought to until recently.
Emma turned 4 and she was still going down the stairs with the step-together pattern. Every once in awhile I would say, let's go down the stairs like a ballerina. We would point our toes and reach for the next stair. She liked it but not enough to keep it up for non-ballerina descents. Two days ago I realized for the very first time that Emma was descending the stairs by alternating her feet!  Of course an accolade was out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Emma smiled and thankfully didn't go running away saying, "No! Don't look at me!" I wonder if she had been walking down the stairs like that for awhile before I noticed.

Boys and Girls

Last week or the week before I was commenting to Steve that Emma hasn't started asking about how boys and girls are different. This weekend all of that changed!

Steve usually gives Emma a bath at night and reads her stories. While they were going through this process Emma asked, "Do all boys have a penis?" Steve asked how she knew about that word (or something like that). Emma said that she asked what is was at preschool when she was looking at an art book. (They had been studying Michelangelo so Steve and I assumed she had been looking at "David".) Steve started to sweat balls while waiting for her to ask the next question. "Daddy, are you a boy?"  So it wasn't the worse case scenario, yes was the easy answer. And Steve was most grateful when she didn't ask him if he has a penis.

So the days are upon us when at some point I am sure Emma will want to know what parts Daddy and all other boys have and why us girls are different.

Telling Jokes

Emma has been using language creatively lately by rhyming and making up words and songs. The other night at dinner we were all talking about the dog and how since Chloe has lost some pounds she isn't as content to sit still.

Emma declares, "Is she a lost and pound dog?"

For some reason this absolutely cracked me up, which had Emma laughing until tears rolled down her cheeks.

Emma is 4!

Emma is 4 going on adult- at least according to her!

The celebrations started with a visit last weekend to Great Grandma's where she served up Emma's requested foods. On Friday Great Grandma made apple pancakes for lunch (with two-bite Halloween brownies for dessert). For Saturday's celebration lunch she served raviolis (with meatballs, garlic bread and salad) and chocolate cake with raspberry filling and vanilla frosting. Emma and I stopped at Jewel on our way into town to pick up the cake, and we left the store without paying for it! Grandma laughed but I think she was also mortified that her name was attached to the cake "reciept." I went back to the store and confessed. They had no clue but happily took my money. :) Emma enjoyed her visit with Great Grandma and Sandy. When we left she said she wished she could stay at Great Grandma's forever.

While we were enjoying the Halloween brownies that had ghost and pumpkin sugar sprinkles Emma was making jokes about their being ghosts in the room and finding it all very humorous. At one point she giggled, "I love ghosts! They are my favorite flying animal!"

I went to Emma's preschool for her birthday celebration on the morning of her birthday (the 19th). I shared a lot of stories and pictures and Emma walked around the sun for every year. The kids loved the homemade applesauce and butterfly spritz cookies.

That night we had our family birthday celebration with mashed potatoes (requested menu item that Great Grandma and I didn't think went with raviolis) and squash. For dessert I made and decorated insect cakes because there were 4 different insect shapes and they all have 4 wings (or wing parts). Emma loved it! She told everyone that she had insects for her cake because they have 4 wings and she is 4. Too cute.

Friday lunch was Culvers, cousin Patrick's treat. Friday night we had another celebration with Aunt Margaret, Uncle Dominic and Baby Patrick. This time we had some delicious ice creams and chocolate chip cookie bars.

Then on Saturday after celebrating with Madison who turned 9, Aunt Darcy and family had a cake and presents for Emma at their house.

I think the celebrations are over for now, but the presents are still arriving!

Perfect Fall Day- take 2

We had to make up for a lost fall day so on Saturday we all loaded up and headed in the direction we had tried to go on Friday- Cross Plains. We opted for a different farm, though, because we also wanted to pick our own apples. When we pulled in my hopes fell. The pumpkins were already picked for us and grouped into large and small "patches" on the ground behind the hay wagon and tractor. But again Emma piped up with, "That is a pumpkin patch!"

Inside the small shop Emma was taken with the apple pies and really wanted us to buy one. We opted for apple donuts instead. Emma also helped Aunt Susan pick out some soaps for a present for someone. Outside we sat at a picnic table and feasted. Aunt Susan bought some apple cider and the snack was enjoyed to the last drop.

Emma borrowed a wagon and picked out pumpkins for our relatives coming for a visit next week. We thought we could have a pumpkin decorating day with Emma's cousin. We filled the wagon and then went on the hay ride. Emma was timid at first, but then she seemed to like it. She helped answer the questions about bees when we stopped at the hives! (Steve stayed behind, and when Emma saw him napping on a bench she promptly ran over and woke him up.)

We picked lots of yummy Empire apples and some Red Cortlands. Emma decided that she didn't want to try the tire swings under the oaks. Then before leaving the farm we bought some cider brats with apple-onion relish to-go.

The drive to Blue Mounds State Park was beautiful. Although she repeated what I had said earlier it was still adorable. "Look at this beautiful country-side we are driving through!" It was followed closely by, "Can I have a snack please?"

At the park we found this awesome oak and maple shady spot with picnic tables and sat down to feast. We had the cider brats (delicious!), fresh apples (yummy!), and some cheese from home. Emma then enjoyed her caramel apple that she had convinced Daddy to buy when they paid for the 19 pounds of apples we picked! Check out the video.

The day ended with some swinging and a quiet ride home. It was the perfect fall Wisconsin day! (Now we just need to find a real pumpkin patch.)