Emma is 4!

I cannot believe 4 years have past since I first met my precious little Emma! It has been such fun to watch her grow into the spunky 4 year old she is today!
Emma was totally different from her brother even before she was born. I often tell of when I was pregnant with Caleb: he would very seldomly stick his foot out to where I could see and feel his heel on the right side of my belly. I soon learned that I better not touch it or he would quickly retract and the cool experience of "seeing" his heel would vanish. Now when I was pregnant with Emma, she would do the same thing, but when I would go to touch it she would just gladly leave it there to get rubbed!
Anyway, I say all that to say: Even before she was born, she had her little personality.
Emma is: sweet, happy, courageous, bright, dramatic, LOVES to sing! (especially while playing by herself!)  shy, but when she gets comfortable - very bold. I am just recently starting to get reports of her "coming out of her shell" and talking when she's in her various classes. She loves playing with her "little people" and her and her bother have named them all - including 2 Sallys of which they had a birthday party for this morning, with a hand written sign and all! (I'm am currently writing this on Nov. 3 even though I will post this as the date of her birthday) She still loves Dora and Little Eisensteins. Emma has a great laugh! She loves to change her clothes! I have to put the reigns on that very often because laundry just becomes too much! She enjoys when I put braids in her hair (not while it's getting done, but once the torture of brushing is over) but at times asks for her hair to be left "flat and squrrily" (down and curly). She loves watching "Little House on the Prairie" and loves Laura.

On Emma's actual birthday, Mommy was at a Women's retreat in the morning :( but Daddy planned a great day that started at IHOP for pancakes where Emma got her usual smiley face pancakes,

 then they drove across the street to Jersey Gardens mall where Caleb and Emma got big balloons from Prato, but Emma's balloon flew away :( Daddy said she didn't cry.Next stop IKEA where they got to play in the ballroom and then ate frozen yogurt.

Soon after everyone was home and Mommy cooked up Emma's requested Birthday dinner: a gourmet meal of hot dogs, chips and salad. (yes, she requested salad :) Pop pop, Grammy Z and Auntie Kel came for the good eats and brought some presents and balloons!

Emma with her presents. She got 2 families from the Lil Woodzeez toys at Target (love these! So does Emma!) And she got some chocolate from Gertrude Hawk. (I gave her the little people sitting next to her on the chair in the morning via a present I left)

 Mommy brought home a chocolate cake for Dessert!

For Emma's birthday party, we had a pajama party!  We had it at Grammy Z's house as usual. 

 We had just family, and that alone gave us a party with 14 kids!

 Fun "Emma" flashlight and bowl from Oma.

The bed cake....

Happy Birthday to you.....

Make a wish...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!

We love you!

Lancaster, PA.... again!

My first time to Aunt Lynn's....
For years, my sis and a few friends have frequently stayed in Lancaster with our friend Jana's Great-Aunt Lynn. Always making sure they are there for Friday when the Green Dragon flea market is open.
So Thursday night my sis and I picked up Jan (along with some mosquitos that ate me alive!) and we were off to Lancaster! Arrived at Aunt Lynn's after stopping at McDonalds around 9pm. We were greeted by Aunt Lynn at the door of her big, old and beautiful house. I was shown the living room where all seasons/holidays are represented on tables and by a big all-year Christmas tree covered in snowflakes she collects. Aunt Lynn seems to have little (some bigger) collections everywhere, wether it be the dinning room with various sunflower things, or a shelf with all things butterflies, or a small section of shelf devoted to her yellow volkswagen bug. And of course the collection I've heard most about... her owl collection. I was given a tour of the rest of the house where I saw the 2 apartments that are attached to the house, a music room with (as much as I saw) 2 pianos and a harp, the purple bathroom (which in thinking back, I don't remember seeing any purple :) Aunt Lynn's dressing room and the infamous "penthouse" on the 3rd floor where we all had the privilege of staying. After my tour we ate our (soggy :) McDonalds and then waited up for Danielle who was meeting us there after spending the day at Longwood Gardens for a concert featuring one of her favorite pianists. She arrived as we were watching her Yankees lose their last game of their season :( We all then retired to the penthouse.

Green Dragon Flea Market

Friday morn, after some english muffins and OJ, we were off to Ephrata where we find Green Dragon flea market! I have heard about this place and seen the treasures brought home for years, but now I finally got to experience it myself. AWESOME flea market to say the least! Great deals, fun/tasty food finds and of course - whoopee pies! :) After hours of shopping and emptying our wallets we were on our way back to Aunt Lynn's with a trunk full of goodies!

Once we got back and freshened up in the penthouse, we all took a walk to The Horse Inn. A cute little restaurant a few blocks away, where we were seated in a horse stall surrounded by lanterns and chandeliers made from wagon wheels. The girls each went with some sort of crab cake dish, while I followed Aunt Lynn's cue and got their beef tenderloin tips (which apparently is their signature dish) and boy was in glad I did! Scrumptious! We enjoyed our dinner while listening to some stories from Aunt Lynn.
I was so tickled that when asked a question, she would start off by telling you a story that seemed to have nothing to do with what I asked, but sure enough, it all made complete sense in the end. I very much enjoyed all of her stories!
After the Horse Inn, we made a quick stop at Giant (supermarket) where I got something to ease my million mosquito bites and Jan bought her mom sweet potato chips which apparently cannot be found in Jerz. Oh, Kelly bought pumpernickel pretzels and pickles. I know, strange! :)
Up to the penthouse one more time and then up in the morn for more english muffins before leaving Lancaster and Aunt Lynn. :(
Had a great time with the single gals, but was glad to get back to my Hubby and kids. Who, by the way, had a trip of their own: sleepover at "Little Grammy's" (what they call my mother-in-law) They spent the weekend with her and apparently went shopping for my birthday presents!
Trip well spent for all of us! ;)

Scribe Hat...

Caleb's quote of the day:

"If God was dead then who would we sing to? Who would we worship? Who would we pray to? Who would answer our prayers?"

(age: 6 almost 7)