spon·ta·ne·i·ty

First I thought I'd do my normal rambling about how I'm a terrible blogger. This is something I REALLY REALLY would like to change. I think part of my problem is I get a little behind and then I don't think I have the time to make a big post and add all the pictures I want to. I've been meaning to blog our BIG camping trip in June. We stayed a whole week in a tent WITH a baby in the HUMIDITY! I have also been meaning to blog about our trip last month to San Antonio. We had a wonderful time at the River Walk, Sea World and the San Antonio Zoo, oh and not to mention a very YUMMY meal at Red Lobster. haha Avery's first crab legs. :) I started to blog all of this the other day and then lost my post. It is too time consuming to go back and blog everything I want. So I'm starting fresh.......

Back to the title of this blog...spontaneity! What fun! Friday Emily and I went to visit my grandma in the hospital while the kids were in school. My papa mentioned my dad was going to Roaring River this weekend. I though hmmm...wouldn't that be fun. I kind of jokingly told Ryan we should go up just for 1 night. He didn't sound to convinced, but kind of liked the idea. I called my dad and he wasn't going until Sunday, so that was out for us, because the kids have school. In the meantime I had Ryan thinking about it. I let him no around 1:30 or so that my dad wasn't going. He was like well we don't have to have him there. So he decided to go make sure with his supervisor that it was okay for him not to work Saturday...cause he already told them he would. He found out it was and so we decided to surprise the kids after school and head to the River for the night. We had so much fun! It really felt like we were there longer than 1 day. We didn't arrive until almost 8 pm, so it was almost dark. Ryan quickly got the tent put up.



After that we made a Walmart run at 9 pm. I felt funny taking my kids to Walmart so late. haha But since it was so last minute, we didn't have any water or food so it was a must! That night it turned SOOOO COLD!!! We didn't expect that. We decided to pick up a little propane heater at WalMart, but I don't think it really helped. Emily's nose got stuffy in the middle of the night and tossed and turned a lot. She was sharing an air mattress with Ryan and I, so I did not get much sleep. Saturday we got up and got warmed up by the fire.



Tamara, Marshal, Hunter & Bailey showed up just after 7 to spend the day. It was Hunter's birthday. We went fishing for a little bit and then went out for breakfast. It was yummy, but the kids were a little high strung! Then we drove and got Emily asleep in the van, so we let the kids play on the playground while she slept. It's funny all the times we've been down there and they've never played on the playground. Poor children! haha





We went back to camp after Emily woke up and got changed, it was quickly warming up. We dwent to our swimming area and fished and swam for a few hours. I caught 2 fish and Ryan had still caught none. He spent lots of time untangling the kids and himself.











We had a late lunch of hot dogs back at camp and then drove Emily around and got her back to sleep in her car seat. Once she was asleep we went back to camp and Ryan and the kids went to fish while I set outside and kept an eye on Emily. She only napped probably 45 minutes and the kids didn't last too long fishing. We decided to go fish another area...we really wanted Ryan to catch a fish. I was praying he would. I felt bad that I had caught 2 and he hadn't caught any. Emily got fussy at the new spot, so I decided to take the kids and give Ryan some "alone time" fishing for a bit. We went and got snacks at camp and Emily a bottle, then we drove around and then went to the Conservation Center (I think that's what it was called) Something else we had NEVER done there after all these years. It was kind of neat, very small but the kids loved it. They had rattle snakes (which was freaky!) and other snakes, turtles, spiders, etc...

When we went to pick Ryan up it was 5 o'clock and we were aiming to leave by 7 at the latest. So we went back to camp and packed it all away. Took about an hour and we still promised the kids we'd go to the hatchery before we left.




We did that and then headed home and made it in record time...about 2 hours and 10 minutes. We were home just after 9 and exhausted!!!


We really had a great time! I've never really done something like that, so spur of the moment. It was exciting though, and something I think we will for sure do again! Probably not until spring though. Soccer season is upon us and going to be taking up all our Saturdays for a while.

Emmy Sue is 7 months old!

Our sweet Emmy is 7 months old today! She is just the sweetest baby in the whole world!! :)

Poor little thing isn't going to know her real name. She is rarely called Emily by any of us, except Jackson....he calls her Emily. Usually she's Emmy, Emmy Sue, Em, Emmers....probably others that I can't think of right now! She is such a joy! She says Mama and mom mom all the time. I'm sure she doesn't know what she saying, but I'm loving it. The other kids all made dada sounds first. Maybe she's saying Mama cause she hears the other two say it so much...who knows??? She is definitely a mama's girl though. She has some stranger anxiety. She does really well at church though, I'm thankful for that.
Let's see right now at 7 months Emily is.....
Wanting to eat everything...slowly letting her try new things.
Wanting to crawl, but doesn't like tummy time.
Rolls over sometimes, this is increasing in the last week or so. Usually she just wants to sit up.
Very active.
Very happy...always smiling.
Waking up almost every night around 3 am to eat...ugh!!!
Loves her big sister, she just lights up when Avery comes around...so sweet!

I just can't believe how fast it's going. I knew it would, but it still makes me sad. I am excited to watch her grow and see the little girl she's going to become.

2009 Wrap Up

We've had a great last couple of months. Emily has been such a joy to watch grow. She is getting big so fast and getting such a cute personality. She is such a happy, smiley baby and we just love her to pieces.

Em's first Halloween, kitty cat



Jackson was of course...Spiderman! This picture cracks us up!



Avery wanted to be a little scary this year. This is about as scary as we got. ha!


One of the attempted group pictures with cousins Hannah and Samuel.



Those pictures were taken before the Trunk & Treat at our church.

The following were taken on Halloween Day.






In November we had our annual family trip to Branson. This was our third year to go. We look forward to it every year. This year was extra special because Kari, Nathan and the kids were able to come too. We spent a lot of time hanging out in the huge cabin and 2 trips to Silver Dollar City. Ryan and I even road a roller coaster. I haven't done that since I was a kid and Ryan has always been deathly afraid of them. Kari made us ride with her, otherwise it probably would have never happened. haha Ryan ended up riding another one later too.






Emi staying warm and cozy in her sling.




waiting on the Christmas parade





I think Hannah was looking up at the kids on a ride.













In early December we had to say goodbye to Kari, Nathan, Hannah and Samuel. We miss them so much. It was great to get to spend 6 1/2 months with them though. The kids got really close. Hopefully Hannah will remember us next time she comes home.