Dear Momma

The final days of being four

2012-02-10T10:36:00.000-06:00

Emmy comes in this morning, crying, and says we are going to have to miss school. Why?, I asked, with much concern. “When I put my boots on, it makes my socks get a wrinkle in them.” It’s going to be a long educational career for her, I am afraid.

She is so excited about turning five. I think one of the reasons that I get so overwhelmed in throwing her a ridiculous party is to keep my mind off the fact that the baby is growing up. She’s just so big—so quickly! LynnLynn made her a princess shirt when she turned four but, as she says, she can only wear it for a few more days.

2012-01-31T11:11:00.000-06:00

Straight from the Girl"s Mouth

2012-01-31T09:11:00.001-06:00

Emmy Ruth had been terribly upset to have to come home with us after her awesome weekend. She cried for “Aunt Becca and my dentist” and she cried for nana and for AunTee. As she was going to bed last night, she said, “going back to school today after being at Nana’s and Aunt Becca’s was NOT your best idea”. She also told me that I couldn’t stay with them the next time she stayed with Lucas because I tried to take too much of him time. I told her I would just hang out with AunTee and she said that wouldn’t work either because she needed time with AunTee. Finally she decided I could hang with JORGE!, not that she doesn’t love JORGE! but he works a lot so I could go there with him.

For dinner, she requested ChikFilA and since John was at practice, I thought we could have a special treat. She wanted chocolate milk with her kid’s meal but wanted to clarify it wasn’t like the chocolate milk we had at home, the soy milk I had tried. I told her we were out, much to her delight and she said she hated that milk and that tasted like “peanuts on hair”.

Before her bath, she had an upset stomach and when I asked her about it, she said, “yeah, my tummy is upset with you for feeding me too much tonight”.

As we were reading about Rapunzel going to sleep, I mentioned that she looked a lot like her, was she ever worried that someone would mistake her for Rapunzel? “Mom. I have curly hair, look she has straight hair. Totally different.”

However, the best of the day was as we went to sleep and I was singing her lullabies. Since she born, I have been singing “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin to her. It just kind of started since it was one of the few songs in which I knew all the words and I was desperate. Now, we alternate between it and Amazing Grace and sometimes throw in some other good hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and “Up from the Grave He Arose”. Union Avenue Baptist Church as a kid really helps me out sometimes. Last night, Emmy asked me to sing her the song about the horses and the kids drawing on the TVs. It took me a while to figure out where she was getting that. “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz, My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends”. I can see the horses and the Porsches. But the kids drawing on TV…. Thinking, thinking, thinking…. “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV, dialing for dollars is trying to find me”. Aha! She colors or draws and she has no concept of anything other than a color TV. I almost fell off the bed. It reminds me of the time she brought John a record and asked him why this CD was so big.

The Best of Times

2012-01-30T14:14:00.001-06:00

It is all about weekends like this that make me realize how lucky and blessed we are. As Emmy calls, “Team Burton” is pretty lucky. The super talented and generous Doctors Jackson were named Cross County Volunteers of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce banquet this year. I was let in on the surprise so that Daddy and I could attend. We both snuck in late and were pretty sure that they noticed us as we were sitting just beside everyone that was introduced. Thankfully, they didn’t. Our precious friend Joy introduced them as the winners and I cried big tears. I have no doubts that my mother was so very, very proud of them. She loved Wynne with a fierceness. It was something that she was so proud of—being from Wynne—and knowing everyone in Wynne. To see that pride in them as well is something she would have loved. Joy’s speech was awesome”

I am pleased and honored to introduce the 2011 Volunteer of the Year. This year’s volunteer of the year is actually a team…and they are a team in almost everything that they do. Both grew up in Wynne and are graduates of Wynne High School. There are so many things that I love about this team, but at the top of my list is their true love of everything Wynne. They do not understand why EVERYONE doesn’t choose to live here and take it very personally when someone decides to move. They make things happen in our community because they truly want to make their hometown a better place. Both were instrumental is passing the city wide economic development sales tax, they were the Farmfest chairs for the past 3 years, they are member of the First United Methodist Church in Wynne, both are Board members of the Cross County Chamber of Commerce, they are loyal members of the Birdeye Bicycling Club (yes there is such a thing!) and both own their own practice and together employ almost 25 people.

She is a member of PEO and volunteers for the kids marathon and kids triathalon. He has served on the Cross County Arts Council, is active in the men’s basketball league at the Methodist Church, is a Board member of the Endowment Foundation of Cross County, is Chairman of the Wynne Economic Development Committee and is a member of the Wynne School Board. All of this and a treasured daughter and son, adored aunt and uncle, granddaughter and grandson, wonderful friends, and most importantly, wonderful parents to their children Solomon and Rose.

The adored aunt and uncle part is what really got me going—because they are. Emmy loves them dearly and loves to tell everyone that her dentist and her eyedoctor are coming over to see her. It’s quite precious. I told Becca it was the first time in almost fifteen years that I had seen her cry. The next time should be about the time Emmy graduates from high school.

Daddy and I spent the night and had so much fun with the kiddos the next morning when the doctors went to work. Daddy only told me this morning how when I left to get ready, Sol jumped beside him to show him something on the iPad and Emmy warned Sol, “be careful with him, he’s old!” I have cracked up about that all day. Daddy went back to Batesville at lunch and we all napped. Somehow I was convinced to spend the night again and I am so glad we did. Emmy and I went to visit Joy, Julia and John B with the Jacksons. We all had great fun in the hot tub, all but Emmy Ruth. She is more of a cool water kinda girl. But she loved seeing her friends.

Neall and Becca are in the midst of renovating their new house. The wall coverings have come off in the play room and the kids are drawing on the walls until they decide what exactly to do in there. So, the walls are really *neat* looking in the pictures.

Every January, a group of us get a cabin to spend a fun party night together. We never get to hang out and this is our one time each year. As I was driving Emmy to Nana’s, she said something about best friends and I asked her if Lucas was her best friend. She said that he was but that Julia, Sol and Rose were too. She didn’t want to leave her sweet Rose. Rose was crying and tried to slip out the door with us. Emmy got teary and I asked why and she said that it just made her so sad to see Sweet Rose cry. But, she had a fabulous time with Nana. She and Lucas had their wedding ceremony, she’s been wanting to marry him for a while now…. We had so much fun with the Stameys, Bedards, Stevensons and Salinases. What an awesome tradition.

A wonderful, wonderful weekend. We are so lucky.

My Hungry Little Hippo

2012-01-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

Oh how I love this kid. She’s so funny. A few weeks ago, we went and had lunch at Sekisui because they have a great all you can eat hibachi grill special. I felt like Emmy would just eat off of our plates and not really like it. I was terribly wrong. She loved it. This child has lived on chicken of some sort, typically nuggets, for her whole life. However, she would eat nothing but steak at the hibachi grill. The next Sunday, she requested to go again. Apparently it’s our new Sunday after church tradition. She says, “man, I love STEAK!”

This weekend we visited the Salinases in Newport on Saturday night. It was so good seeing them. I can’t put into words how much I miss them being here but it is seriously like no one misses a beat when we are together. The kids are just perfect. They argue like brother and sister but they love each other so much. Its’ quite precious. We went to eat at Who Dats, a Cajun place nearby, and the kids feasted on crab legs. Who knew? AunTee gave Emmy one and she thought about it for a second and then said, “I LOVE IT!” The child has a refined palate I am afraid. Then, last night we went to the Hi Tone and had hot wings. Again… she amazed me with her eating. I am so proud of her for branching out from chicken nuggets. She still says that broccoli is her favorite food ever. John said that the guy at the HiTone told him they were having a pizza thing starting on Tuesday nights. She looked up and said, “you mean cheese pizza? Really?? All I can eat???? Wow.”

I have been trying to watch what we are eating at home and have tried to give her only organic milk lately. I tried to sneak in some chocolate soy milk and that was shot down quickly. I guess it’s back to the organic stuff.

Last night we could hear her in her room watching the Muppets movie and singing along on a microphone. It’s pretty precious. She does have the sweetest voice. I think I am just getting so nostalgic that she is about to turn five. FIVE! That’s a big milestone! FIVE! Not a baby anymore, for sure.

Precious

2012-01-16T06:25:00.001-06:00

>
> Tonight. John went to bed because he has to work tomorrow. Emmy and I are home tomorrow for the MLK holiday. We stayed up late watching TV and I cut out decorations for her birthday party. She played with a princess hair care set and I showed her how to use the curling iron and straightener on Rapunzel's hair.
>
> Emmy fell asleep on the couch sometime during Little House on the Prairie. As I was getting her up to carry to bed, I noticed that she had put on my necklace I left lying on the end table.
>
> I am so thankful for this child. This child that screams "Macy's!!!" every time she sees that big red star. This child that sings the Muppets soundtrack and says "oh this one is a heartbreaker" and "I hope Evan says 'Emmy will you marrrrryyyyyy meeeeeeeee' ". This child that loves her daddy so much that she begs him to sit in the backseat with her. And he does. This child that tests my every fiber with her stubbornness.
>
> This child. Is my everything.

Christmas Night

2011-12-29T21:25:00.005-06:00

On Christmas night, our friends Dan and Natalie came over to revel with Emmy about her new toys. Emmy loved showing off her dance moves to the new Muppets CD Santa brought her.

The Salinases came over and we had so much fun with them. Lucas loved loved loved Criss Cross Crash that we got him. Actually Dan and Natalie loved it a lot too. There is nothing like a best friend that plays with your new Barbie mansion with you.

The next day, we got up and went to the Zoo to go ice skating. John was pretty cute at it.

Afer all, it was such a beautiful day for a trip to the zoo!!! We had the whole place to ourselves.

And the Buddha picture....

Santa did come!!!

2011-12-28T21:41:00.005-06:00

The one thing that Emmy was insistant that she wanted was the Baby Alive. Of course, every new mommy has to check baby's diapers.

And feed and wipe Baby's mouth. And give Baby kisses.

Emmy kept asking for Baby Alive, that potties and eats. John told her that she had Puppy Alive and Kitty Alive so she was pretty certain she wouldn't get it. She was so happy to see her when she woke up!!!!

I will never understand about Squinkies. Emmy loves them and was so happy to find two sets from Santa.

Santa left a nice thank you note on Emmy's easal.

She was soooooooooooooooooo excited when she got in the living room. Emmy woke up and said she was still tired and then about five seconds later, realized that Santa had come and she was ready to go. Momma and Daddy would never let us in the living room to see our toys until we all went together so we had to do the same thing. She had to hang out in the living room while I brushed my teeth and I thought she was going to lose her mind!!!

Poor John was still wiping the sleep from his eyes...

Santa brought Emmy a Barbie mansion. She said "I didn't even as for this, how did he know I would like it?" Oh, Emmy, Santa can be pretty smart sometimes!

It turns out that Daddy is a pretty good Barbie playmate too.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-28T21:28:00.002-06:00

Each and every year is more exciting than the last. Having Emmy makes each Christmas so very precious. The Jacksons came to our house for brunch this year on Chrismas Eve and then John's side of the family came over in the afternoon to celebrate. We had so much fun. Well, poor Sol, he might not have had as much fun. Bless his heart, he fell coming into the house, then I smashed his finger in the door. I felt so horrible!!! He seemed to recover quickly, but my heart is still so hurt that Tawa was the one tha hurt him. In all the excitement, I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I should have.

Sol and Rose gave Emmy an easel. She loved it and drew this picture of Rapanzul.

We gave Rose this tent and she loved it!!!!

Daddy gave Emmy and Rose Princess coloring kits. Rose loves, loves, loves to color. She was content to lie on the floor and draw the rest of the day. She didn't even want to stop to open any other gifts. I love that she is left handed. It is so adorable to watch.

You can see her excitement as she opened the coloring set!

There is no sweeter song than the one Emmy and Rose belted out on the piano.

Emmy stayed in her pajamas all day. Thankfully Rose and Sol wore theirs as well. We really had no excuse for the afternoon though.

Beginning of the wonderful season!!

2011-12-28T21:17:00.003-06:00

Just a few pictures of the weekend I wrote about earlier. Rose was determined to wear her nightgown. She's pretty cute in it:)

Emmy was pretty proud of her gingerbread house!!!The beautiful birthday girl!!!

What a face!

I love this precious picture of Neall and Rose.

This must have been a frightening movie!!!

My handsome Solomon.

Elf sightings

2011-12-06T10:12:00.000-06:00

Overnight, the Elf arrived. Emmy was so thrilled to wake and find her Elf was here. He brought a note that he had hoped Emmy would like his Elf cousin, Elfina, because they both had blond hair but since she didn’t, he was here to watch here this year. She has decided to name him “Pretty”. Pretty and Elfina have no idea what they might see at the Burton house this year.

It's Christmas Time!

2011-12-05T10:49:00.001-06:00

I can’t help but sing about the most wonderful time of the year. I have always loved Christmas but this is just the best one ever, with our precious girl. We have the trees up, Emmy has decorated and hung the stockings with care.

We have Friday night craft night and she wasn’t much help this Friday night, which is unusual. When I asked her what was going on, she patted me on the back and said, “Mama, I just don’t like this, but don’t worry, I got ‘ya next week”. I ended up making moustaches on a stick alone; what a sad thing.

Saturday night, we went to the awesome Smith party in Birdeye. I am so thankful that they invite me and I love getting to go to a grown up party each year. The food and company is wonderful and we have so much fun. Emmy and I stayed the night with the Jacksons. Sunday afternoon, Nana’s family was having a Christmas party for the kids. They do this each year but AunTee was in charge this year so you know it was something special. She rented a suite at a hotel in Jonesboro with an indoor pool and invited us along as well. Of course, I couldn’t leave my Sol at home so he joined us. Rose was not happy to be left, but Becca bribed her with ornaments to paint. We had so much fun!! The best part was Santa showing up at the pool! He looked so funny with his Grinch swimming trunks over his red suit and a swimming ring for a hat!!! But, he brought Emmy a Wubbles making kit and she was delighted. Sol got a transformer, which he loved, but he did tell Santa, “I thought you knew I wanted Beyblades”. So, hopefully Santa is holding out the big stuff until the big day.

On the way home, Cherry Valley had Christmas lights up in different shapes, like Santa, Rudolph, gifts. The kids would yell out what they were, but there was a little confusion. The holly leaves were mistaken for cherries, and Sol saw the exaggerated cross and said, “look a transformer!”

We got to Julia’s house just in time to celebrate her 4^th birthday party with an awesome gingerbread decorating party. Mrs. Joy is just so very cool. We love all the fun stuff we get to do with them. And Emmy loves that Julia’s daddy is named John like her daddy.

I tried to pull off a generic elf instead of the official Elf on the Shelf and I got shot down. I told Emmy this morning it was in the living room and she rushed in there. When she saw it, she rolled her eyes and pointed at it and said, “THAT is not an elf.” She was not buying it for a moment. I have to go today at lunch and buy the real, overpriced version if this is ever going to work.

Pictures

2011-12-02T15:41:00.001-06:00

We had some family pictures made recently (actually twice…) and here are some of the sneak peek pictures we got. I am in love.

She's one Funny Kid.

2011-12-02T15:40:00.002-06:00

With the holiday approaching, we have been talking a lot about what Emmy is going to ask Santa for this year. I suggested she tell Daddy she wanted Santa to bring her a baby sister. She said, “Mama, Santa can’t make that!”, much to John’s delight. Then, we got to work on the list. She put “money” on it. Interesting child she is.

We have let her back in our room and we are trying to get her back in her bed. But it is so hard! John and I both love having her there with us to snuggle. I told her that she needed to learn how to sleep in her room. She said, “you remember when you went to that wedding and that lady stayed with me? I went to sleep in my room that night. I know how, I just don’t want to do it”. Touche!

Every Friday night, Emmy and I have Friday night craft night. This week, I came home and she and John were working on a Grinch wreath together. I asked in horror, “are you crafting without me???????” She turned to John and WHISPERED “what day is this?” then told me “it’s Tuesday night craft night!” with great flair.

I do love that kid.

Cutie Marks

2011-12-01T18:34:00.003-06:00

Emmy Ruth loves loves loves My Little Pony. On the show, the ponies get their cutie marks that shows what their talent is. Emmy always asks when she will get her cutie mark. Now she thinks that mine and John's tattoo are our cutie marks. Pretty silly.

She loves playing with the Nutcrackers that we have out for Christmas. And Momma's nativity scene. I love hearing her in there talking with the figurines. It's pretty awesome.

Ahhh.. that girl.

2011-11-22T10:14:00.001-06:00

We have a lot of trouble getting Emmy and going in the mornings. She has started saying she can’t wake up because her eyes are controlling her and won’t let her wake. This morning it was her ears. I told her she needed to be in control of her body and get up. Now.

Last night as we were going to sleep, Emmy had a blanket that Grandma Jackson made. I was telling her about Grandma and how they had birthdays so close together and she asked where she lived. When I told her heaven, she said, “really, is there anyone NOT in heaven?”

Every day, she has asked her teacher at school to braid her hair. When I do it, she tells me I don’t do a good enough job. She wanted to sleep in her braid the other night and I told her it would make her head hurt. The first thing she did when she woke was to come and shake her head around and say “see? I told you it wouldn’t hurt me to sleep in my braid!” We also have had to deal with a little build up on her scalp. She asked me this morning if it was all gone and then asked what it was. I told her it was gone and it was shampoo build up. She is convinced this means she never needs to shampoo her hair again.

uh-oh

2011-11-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

We carpool during the week with a boy in our neighborhood. This morning, I overheard Emmy telling him “My mama says she has eyes in the back of her head, but don’t worry, she doesn’t. When she is driving and I ask her to help me she says she can’t because she has to watch the road.”

Funny, funny, funny!

2011-10-31T21:01:00.002-05:00

I sat down on the couch and Emmy said, "you won't believe what Bill did there". Bill, the dog, was not around, and I was slightly worried, thinking that she should have told me whatever it was before I sat down. But, she ended up telling me that Bill pooted so badly that it "got in my eyes!!!!"

She often starts with "you, my friend...."

This week, someone was baptised in our church. When Emmy saw her go under water, her eyes got huge and she said, " WHAT IN THE WORLD???" The entire sanctuary looked at her!

Halloween is officially here!

2011-10-31T20:24:00.005-05:00

Well, its been a long long Halloween season for us. We will have to work backwards. :)

Nana brought Emmy a bag of dress up clothes and she had this wedding gown in there. She was so excited about it. We put it on this morning for school and then tonight to trick or treat. I grabbed a bouquet of flowers with a matching pink bow and a pair of Grandma Jackson's pearls, and we were in wedding business. Emmy said she was a wedding girl. Here she is with her friend Lathan aka Harry Potter.

We got to hang with the Jacksons at Zoo Boo Sunday night Emmy took Grandma Jackson's pearls (Rose was wearing them) and said, Look they can be boobies too!

Julia loved showing off Baby John B. We were so happy we ran into them!And we saw Emmy's friend Alex from school. We love him and he was a super Batman.

It never dawned on me that Rose wanted to ride the airplanes and I got in big trouble when the other kids got in without her. She yelled at me!!!! But once I got her strapped in, she was delighted.

My favorite monsters.

You cant tell much, but I was the Fairy Godmother. I asked Julia if she knew who I was and she said, "Yes, you are Tara!" However, the cape is one Momma made for me for a princess costume in college. It was perfect for keeping Sleeping Beauty warm!

Emmy is so very protective of her Baby Rose. She loves her dearly. She let Rose use her Barbie trick or treat bag but told Aunt Becca to email it back to her after she emptied the candy.

They had a maze of recycle buckets. This was Emmy's favorite. Go figure.

Poor Alex lost his front tooth at school this week while we were gone. He looks like a big boy now!

On Saturday, we went to Trunk or Treat at our church. Emmy was Little Red Riding Hood. She had so much fun doing crafts and bouncing!

Her basket was very carefully selected with foods that a grandma would love. Initially there was an onion, but she took it out. She decided on a potato, an orange and a cupcake. The little napkin kept falling out and she would have to stop and reorganize it each time.

On Friday night, I came home from a business trip in Orlando. We were so lucky that Emmy has Aunt Becca and Uncle Neall who love her so so so much. They let her spend the week with them even though they were moving and spoiled her rotten. She got home and told me she didn't like her house because it wasn't like Aunt Becca's. But, she did get to play like crazy and I think she missed me a little. Nana picked her up and brought her home and the sweet girl didn't get out of my lap. It was quite lovely. When Nana got her, Emmy said, "nana, I don't want to spend another night away from home". Oh that sweet girl.

How do you rock it?

2011-10-31T20:21:00.001-05:00

Seriously. The girl rocks.

I am not sure how hurt I am but this is Baby Tara. Emmy Ruth and John have named this Baby Tara and carry her all over the house.

It's the little things that make me love her so

2011-10-21T13:51:00.001-05:00

We have been carpooling some with a little boy in our neighborhood. The other day, he got in the car and said my car stinks. While I had hoped for a little support from Emmy, she said, “no, that’s just my mom’s hair”.

Last night as we were going to bed, she was being a little snippy. I have tried to talk to her about how you need to be kind with your words as they can hurt. I asked her if she knew that there were lots of boys and girls out there that didn’t have mommies that loved them like I love her. Her reply? “Do you want to go live with one of them?”

In other exciting news, she has gotten so tall that she has outgrown almost every pair of pants she has. I ended up buying her some size 6 pants yesterday, of course they were too long, but the fives had to be tucked into boots for her to wear. I am not sure where she gets this height. It must be a Jackson thing.

Little Rantings from the Nutcase

2011-10-13T10:44:00.001-05:00

When we got home from church last night, Emmy watched one of her DVDs for a bit while we got ready for bed. By the time we get home, get everything ready, it is really starting to get late. She asked to watch another one and I told her no, that it was time for bed. She told me I had destroyed her life and ran out of the room in tears. It’s a tough life for her, I know.

For Valentine’s Day, I had given John a metal orange Crush lunchbox with a little cheesy note on it. Emmy has taken the lunchbox from him and put her things in it. this morning, she wanted to take it to school so I double checked to see what was in there. An acorn, three pinecones (which she calls chicken bones for some reason), a Batman spinning top and some hair. I finally realized that John saved some of her hair from her first hair cut and put it in the box, thinking he would put it in her baby book and it just didn’t make it there yet. I am sure the school is wondering what in the world we are doing sending her to school with hair in a lunchbox.

On the way to school, Emmy saw an orange car that she thought was “so adorable”. She said we should get it. I told her we already had a car. “Mama, what would you rather have? That adorable little car or this old dirty one?”

Funny girl

2011-10-12T10:38:00.001-05:00

Emmy is apparently pretty sweet to mosquitos. She gets attacked every time she is in Arkansas and we have to keep lots of Benedryl on hand. She tells everyone that she gets them in Wynne, Arkansas. No matter where she gets them, she always says that they came from Wynne. And she calls them Po-skee-toes.

Lucas is into ninjas right now and Emmy told me that he was dressing up as a nin-jer for Halloween.

Halloween is on the way

2011-10-10T20:32:00.002-05:00

Emmy is all about us decorating our house more spooky. We were playing I Spy at dinner and she told us that there were no monsters or dinosaurs in our world. I told her that there used to be dinosaurs in our world and she said, "Yes, I know, but God got rid of them and monsters so we wouldn't be scared".

We are really excited to see her costume this year. She is going to be a Fairy Princess Little Red Riding Hood.

Star Wars and Solomon Clark

2011-09-11T22:02:00.005-05:00

My sweet Sol had his 4th birthday party this weekend. FOUR! I can't believe it! He loves Star Wars, just like his daddy, so this was a fabulous party. Neall and Becca always plan the best parties and this year, they had the high school drama department have some kids put on a Jedi Training Camp. It was fabulous. The kids loved it. As soon as Darth Vadar came out, Emmy said, "I don't wanna be at this party anymore!!!" Thankfully, we had Solomon come over to protect us. He wasn't about to tussle with Darth up close and personal so he took care of Emmy and I. It was so sweet of him. I so love that boy.

This one melts my heart. My favorite boys. When Tara and Lucas were leaving, Solomon told Lucas he could come and play any time. They spent about an hour dueling with their light sabers at the end of the party.

There were moments that Emmy and Rose weren't quite as impressed with all the boy action. But then, Emmy will take on her Lucas.

Jedi Training.

Cooper was hysterical! He is all boy. He went at Darth Vadar.

Happy Birthday, my precious boy.Rose will never leave a cake uneaten. Or leave her clothes on for an entire party.

Princess Leia showing off her Princess Leia cake pop.

The cake pops were awesome.

I'm sure this is how Princess Leia wore her shoes.

After the party, Emmy and I decided to spend the night since we didn't get much one on one time with Sol and Rose. Sol wanted to sleep with us but a couple of hours into the night, he decided he wanted his mommy. It is pretty priceless to have a boy strong enough to fight the dark side but sweet enough to love his momma.

Recovery Mode

2011-08-30T20:26:00.006-05:00

We seemed to have recovered from the drama of the other night. When I finally got her up Monday morning, Emmy said she was so tired because she had been up all night-she was so worried because she knew Jesus was mad at me for being mean to her. However, by the time I picked her up on Monday, she told me that she loved me "more than most". I suppose this is a good thing.

We went Sunday to a Rock and Romp and it was so much fun!!! Emmy had a blast!

Now, on to our past weekend. We got to hang with the Jacksons on Saturday after ballet. Solomon did a Small Fry Tri(ahalon) so we were so thankful to have such an accomplished athlete spend the night with us Saturday night. John even fixed him pancakes... in bed!... at 11pm! I sent Becca a text that poor Sol was wearing a Dallas cheerleaders uniform and they said that they were on the way. The next morning, Sol had to ride Emmy's Barbie bike. I knew he needed a helmet too but all I had was a Dora helmet. John said, "really? he's on a pink Barbie bike, with a Dora helmet and no pants? Thankfully, I didn't take any pictures.

I love this picture of Emmy and Rose discussing costume outfits. Rose's little fingers are spread in delight and excitement!!!

We went to Beale Street and the kids went to tip the band. Here is a picture of my peanuts....We went to get yogurt....Rose gave Emmy a pedicure....Sweet Rose in her princess outfit with her purse.My brilliant kiddos playing on the computer....Sweet girls with curls on the trolley.

OMG

2011-08-28T19:41:00.002-05:00

I want to start this by saying that I am not happy with this behavior nor do I find it cute. But, I want to make sure that we remember these precious moments so that we may tell her about them when she is older.

Emmy was in a peach of a mood all day and no matter what we did to be the best parents ever, she was not happy, much less thankful. We went to get her new ballet shoes and then took her to Rock and Romp, this awesome kids thing held monthly in Memphis. There were so many people there with kids bands and kids independent films playing. Thankfully, there was also beer.

We got home and she was a little irky so I took her to her room and had her chill out for a while by herself. She seemed better so we kept on with our evening. On Friday, she told us all the kids in school knew how to tie their shoes and she had to learn this weekend. We were working on it tonight and she kept getting frustrated so John and I were both telling her it was no big deal but she just lost it. She yelled that we were stupid so I told her to go to her bedroom. As she was walking by me, she looked at me, stopped and picked her nose, pointed the booger at me and then wiped it on the dining room table. Moments later, I heard the shoes I left in her room being throwing down the hallway.

After I finally controlled my laughter (which she did not see), John said, "what in the world are we doing wrong here????"

I let her chill out for about thirty minutes and went to check on her for our talk. She sat in her chair "reading" and, in the words of Richie, gave me the fish eyes. I asked her why she did that and she told me she just didn't like anyone. No one. Alrighty then. I told her she could stay in her room all night then and when we got home tomorrow, she could come directly in there again all night. She didn't even budge--just that snarky look.

I am so afraid. Afraid of her being a teenager.

John said, "make sure you turn the lights off! I don't want anyone who doesn't like us using our power!"

Happy Birthday to US!

2011-08-22T21:17:00.003-05:00

Ever since we were little, we always celebrated Neall and Daddy's birthdays at Grandma Jacksons together. Now, mine has gotten thrown in too and there is nothing more precious than these kids for a gift. Joy and Julia came by too and it was lovely seeing these monkeys play. Poor Rose, is always trying to keep up with them!!!! Sol dressed up as a Transformer and chased Princess Emmy and Princess Julia around the castle. Over and over. Emmy came over and said she was tired but when I felt her, she was dripping sweat. Poor Julia said that Emmy ran really fast and Sol was just tired of these girls! Aunt Becca let Emmy wear a maternity dress of hers once and now Emmy thinks it is her princess dress every time she is there. As soon as she walks in the house, she asks Aunt Becca for it.

I am still getting used to my new camera lens and missed a hundred fabulous shots. Very sad. :(

Forget Me Nots

2011-08-04T05:52:00.002-05:00

A few more Emmy quotes that I don't want to forget:

--The other night, I suggested that Emmy and John have a daddy daughter date night and go watch the Smurf movie. She looked at me exasperated and said "But Daddy can't drive!"

--I do love the start of school with all the new school supplies. I have an obsession for pens and pencils and notebooks; I am sure it get it from Patricia. :) I got Emmy some new crayons and as we were coloring, asked "is there anything better than new crayons?" She thought for a minute and then said, "yes, princesses".

--As we got in the car yesterday for a day that hit 107 degrees, Emmy said, "it's crazy hot out here!"

The Girl's Gotta Rock

2011-08-03T20:45:00.005-05:00

John played a show last week at the HiTone, a club near and dear to our hearts. Not only do we know almost everyone there but it was an all ages show that started at 8ish. I was seriously tempted to take Emmy Ruth to see her daddy (with ear plugs of course) but decided to take her to visit him as he loaded in instead. The girl with her favorite rock star in the world... Daddy.John says this picture reminds him of every show we went to as a couple. Me sitting on that turqoise couch ready to go!

Then we headed to swim lessons. We are so glad Emmy go to take from Miss Allison again this year. Its a far cry from the little girl last year that jumped out of the pool and ran down the driveway!!!!

One of those conversations I had to fight crying

2011-07-28T16:04:00.001-05:00

Pat and Paul gave Emmy this little Bible storybook for Christmas one year. It’s really a neat book with pictures (of course a necessity) and has several stories that are only a few pages each. One night we were reading a story about how the people tried to build a stairway to heaven. Emmy knows her grandmothers are in heaven so when we read that story about how the only way to get into heaven was to believe in God, she very quietly asked me, “did my YiaYia believe in God?” Oh yes, Baby, she did. It was one of those painfully precious and heartbreaking moments. It is only appropriate that she asks a question like that when she is reading a book that Patricia gave her.

Who knew?

2011-07-26T08:31:00.001-05:00

Emmy: “Mama, why do you like the Razorbacks?”

Me: “They are my favorite team.”

Emmy: “My favorite team is the Hogs.”

Me: “The Hogs and the Razorbacks are the same team, just different names.”

Emmy: “So we have the same favorite team?”

Me: “Yes”

Emmy: “Who knew you were so smart?”

Yes, who did know???

In other backseat conversations, she mentioned the other day that her legs now looked like daddy’s because they have hair on them and she wants that gone. In the past few months, I have been thinking of how now I know she is a little girl and not a baby anymore because of her little legs so to hear her mention it even brought the point home more.

Awesome article about my church

2011-07-21T16:35:00.001-05:00

http://elaineblanchard.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-baptist-church-in-memp
his.html

Two Year Old Girls with Curls

2011-07-20T09:13:00.001-05:00

When I saw this picture of Rose after her birthday party, I immediately thought of this picture of Emmy on her second birthday. Eeeeek! I could scream they are so cute!

Princess Baby Rose

2011-07-20T09:09:00.000-05:00

This weekend we celebrated the precious princess’s birthday. Not only did the Fairy Godmother come to read stories, but Cinderella and Snow White both came to wish her a happy birthday. Rose was delighted and squealed with excitement. I left my camera at home so I am stealing these pics from my wonderful sister in law.

Fun times in BurtonLand

2011-07-20T09:01:00.001-05:00

Oh we’ve been so busy! Where does all the time go? Let’s see… Emmy saw a bedroom that she wanted so we did a few things to try and copy it for her. We did a few tweaks here and there; instead of a cameo of Sleeping Beauty on the wall, I made a silhouette of Emmy Ruth; the castle isn’t quite as grand scale as the one in the picture and I made the bed—complete with storage cubbies on both sides. I am so proud of myself! I worked all day one Saturday and did everything on my own!

Emmy is doing such a wonderful job of sleeping in her room; even if it is with one of us going to sleep with her. I know I shouldn’t do it, but my goodness, I just love snuggling on her so much. One of these days, she won’t want to snuggle with me and I am going to desperately miss it.

This weekend, Emmy stayed with Nana while I went with Leigh to visit our friend Courtney. It was so good to see long time friends and spend some good quality time together. Nana called to see if I had packed Emmy’s swimsuit but Emmy told her it was okay if I hadn’t, I could just email it to her. When I picked her up, she was quite sad to leave, she ended up turning around and saying, “just forget it, I am moving in!” I think her daddy would have a tough time with that!

This morning she asked me when we were going to have another baby. I tried to tell her that we were probably going to have only her and that we loved her so much. She went on to tell me how it wasn’t fun to not have anyone with whom she could play or share her room. I am pretty sure she’d feel differently with a little sibling but…. She specifically wants a sister so I asked what if we had a boy and she told me that was fine, we could have one of each.

Oh my sweet monkeys at the zoo!!!!

2011-07-08T22:38:00.002-05:00

We got to go to the zoo with the Jacksons this weekend again. OH MY GOSH. I cant say how I love these babies.

Those curls on Rose remind me so much of Emmy at that age.

And Rose is mad!!!

eeeek!!!!!!!!!!!! those curls. I could just scream!

All of our monkeys in the stroller.

If you look through the waterfall, you can see Emmy and Sol hugging. LOVE IT.

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it... Vogue, vogue!

It's hot!

2011-06-28T10:33:00.001-05:00

I have a habit of saying that Emmy is so “stinking cute”. The other day she said “it’s stinking by God hot”. I told her that we didn’t need to use the Lord’s name in vain and she said, “but Mama, it’s more than just stinking hot”.

Now that Emmy is able to buckle her own seatbelt, she usually hops in the car through my door and then climbs back to her seat. The other day we got in the car after church and she stopped in the middle of the car and raised her dress over her head to let the vent cool her off. I couldn’t say much because I would love to do the same thing.

This weekend we were in the backyard and as she was swinging on the tire swing, she cried out “JAPANESE!” I asked her why she was saying that and she said, “Japanese is how you say ‘wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee’ in Chinese”. Obviously, we need to work on her foreign language skills.

But, she has learned how to write her name. She is having some trouble with the M’s but I think that is a tough letter to master. She’s so proud of herself!

Her imaginary friend Lucy has really been getting her in trouble lately. When John or I get on to her for something, she says that she didn’t do it, Lucy did it. Then we go into a whole other issue of her telling stories. Last night, she woke up in the middle of the night and when she came to our bed, she told me that Lucy kicked her out of bed. I told her we were going to have a big talk with Lucy this evening and she would have to spend some time in time out.

It's gone too far

2011-06-17T09:15:00.001-05:00

Emmy Ruth and I try to do crafts every Friday night. It’s fun for both of us and I hope it’s helping her little mind to spin. We have made a lot of things, especially around the holidays, but this one is one of my favorites. It’s a flower picture made from toilet paper rolls. She is so proud of it and it hangs over her bed now. (You know, the bed in which she is sleeping these days. The one covered with pillows and stuffed animals and pillow pets and just general pinkness.)

The Girl also has a love for shoes. I am pretty sure that she got this from AunTee, along with her hair. When we to Jonesboro to visit with Tara and Lucas, she picked out a pair of sparkly Hello Kitty shoes to wear because she said that Auntee would just LOVE them. All day at school, however, the shoes were not so kind to her feet and they gave her some pretty bad blisters. She has vowed to never wear them again.

This morning as we were searching for shoes to wear, she saw the Hello Kitty shoes and said “oh no, no way am I wearing those. But wait! Let’s keep them and we can make a decoration out of them!”

Apparently she is OC’d—OverCrafted.

So proud!

2011-06-15T08:37:00.001-05:00

I have been a bad mommy and not been consistent with Emmy Ruth sleeping in her bed. She will do well for a few days and then I get weak in the knees and put her back in our bed. Either I am just so tired that I can’t argue or she doesn’t feel well or I just miss the way she feels and smells when we cuddlebuggle, and I let her sleep with us. This week, however, she has not only slept in her bed all week, but she has gone to sleep on her own! I am so proud of her!

Emmy Tales

2011-06-15T08:18:00.000-05:00

--Emmy asked me what Solomon’s last name is and when I told her “Jackson”, she replied, “oh like Michael!”

--“Mama, why doesn’t my butt jiggle like yours does?”

--We saw this really pretty blue car and Emmy told me “When Lucas and I get married and have a baby, we are going to have a car like that.” I asked her what she was going to be when she grew up so that she could have that car and she told me she was going to design jewelry. Should be interesting.

We had such a fun weekend! Neall and Becca chaired FarmFest this year again and we headed over to enjoy the festival and hang with our super cool kiddos, Rose and Solomon. I love love love spending time with them. As much as I love Neall and Becca, I like spending time with the kids alone because they actually spend time with me!!! It’s lovely. I love that Rose is talking more and more and is such a princess. It’s quite funny since Becca really isn’t so girly; I am not sure where Rose gets it. She reminds me so much of Momma. There is nothing quite as precious as her taking my finger and leading me wherever she wants to go. She also has to have her fleece Disney princess pillow and blanket whenever she sleeps. It is so funny. One of Neall’s best lines at Disneyworld was “I know right now I really want some fleece” as it was 100 degrees and Rose was wrapped up in her blanket and lying on her pillow.

And Solomon. He is just Neall made over. I love his little mischievous smile and his fabulous imagination. He wanted me to play Star Wars and I tried really hard but he said I was doing it wrong. Then, we were sitting at the fountain at Farm Fest and I told him he could his feet in but not his body. “oops. I slipped” he said as he got right in there. He wanted to sleep with Emmy and I and of course we wanted him to sleep with us. He kept being silly and putting his head down at the bottom of the bed, under the covers, and Becca told him he couldn’t do that because Aunt Tara poots all night in her sleep. WHATEVER! John was never supposed to have told that. I love that Sol calls me TaWa. This picture cracks me up of Sol. LynnLynn made him this super cute outfit and he has on his cowboy boots and his Star Wars helmet and gun. I love a man with a sense of fashion and adventure.

Dear Emmy Ruth

2011-06-01T18:20:00.004-05:00

Obviously, Emmy is not able to read or understand all the things I have on my heavy heart tonight. But, if I could write her a letter, it would say this:

My precious Emmy Ruth, I hope you know that when I call you Ruth, it's because I am being especially sentimental and fond of you. It's the most precious name I know, the name of my precious grandmother who loved me more than life. I love you that way. When I look at you, I sometimes have to catch my breath because you are just so beautiful. There are not a whole lot of traits of mine that I am proud of, but the few that I am, you got 'em. Sadly, I must admit there are a few you have that I wish we didn't have. I hope that you have all the happiness that I have had in my life, but I know realistically that there will be some heartache along the way; I pray that you have more grace and strength than I did when I was faced with tough times. I hope you get the grace and strength that Grandma Ruth had.

I very vividly remember Momma threatening to leave me when I didn't hurry. I was in the 8th grade or so, busy with too much hairspray and reapplying makeup for the fourth time that morning. She finally had had enough and drove off. I chased her down Crabb Lane screaming and she stopped. What was I thinking? I should have just said "the heck with it" and gone back in to the house. But what would I have done? There wasn't the DVR or the Oprahs and my friends would have all been at school. Of course, you are much younger, but this weekend, you would not come on so Daddy and I got in the car and backed up about three feet before you came screaming to get in the car with us. I know that one day you will learn to call my bluff. I hope you have the guts to do it well.

When I was in second grade, Mrs. Weeden was my teacher and everyone loved her. I would come home at night and cry that no one liked me at school. Momma went to talk to Mrs. Weeden and she laughed at her! She said "What? she is always surrounded by kids on the playground!" Last night when you told me that Kristina wouldn't let you play with Jillian at school, my heart broke and I remembered being that second grader. You cried that Kristina always stood beside Jillian and that it wasn't fair and she needed to let you take a turn to be Jillian's friend too. There were tears, real tears, that your best friend in the Koala room was no longer your bestie in the Penguin room. And my heart cried with you. You have said that you miss Layla, your other best friend, because she's been gone for a while. I don't have the heart to tell you that Layla moved to Oregon. Her mommy graduated dental school and got in with a practice and it was last minute and they packed up and her last day was while we were at DisneyWorld. I can't tell you that. I just can't.

I could tell you that I remember being that girl who wanted to be friends with Leigh and Nicki and Christy and Courtney and Teresa. I could tell you that I wished that someone had gotten out of the way and let me sit by one of them sometimes. And I could tell you that when I was in college, I thought I was a dumpy stump on a log that no one wanted to be around.

Instead, I will tell you that to this very day, if I don't talk to Leigh at least once a week by email, I threaten to drive to her house and check on her. I will tell you that I think I might still have scars from the mosquito bites I got when being a server at Nicki's wedding because it was outdoors at her parents, near the farm. I will tell you that I only talk to Christy twice a year, but when I do we laugh about everyone and everything and it's as if I saw her just yesterday. I will tell you when my precious Momma was living her last days in a hospital, Courtney came and sat with me. I will tell you that Teresa and I got in a lot of trouble along the way, but if there is no one else that would get here from Colorado if I needed her.

That one girl that was actually mean to me in Mrs. Weeden's class, she moved a year later and no one has heard from her, that I recall. I bet if I asked 10 people in our class if they remembered her, there might be 1 that did.

And, Emmy Ruth, I will tell you that for someone who felt so alone so often in college, I have a lot of friends that I would not trade for anything in this world. I have sorority sisters from my college campus and the entire country that I could call right now for a good chat. I have math friends that I would love to see-just to get our precious girls together. My roommate college even lives down the street from me now!

That's not even going into the others that I am friends with as I have become an adult. It is pretty good being a grown up but, baby, you have a lot of fun times ahead of you in the next few years. You are four! FOUR! How awesome is that??? Just think of all the learning you get to do now!!!!

So, please, sweet girl, don't think you aren't loved and don't think for a second that you don't have any friends. For every girl out there that you are wanting to sit beside at lunch, I bet there are two others who are thinking the same thing about sitting by you.

I love you so much,
Mama

Wonderful Weekend

2011-05-31T10:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I was thinking, “this has to be the best weekend ever” and then I remembered that I called our trip to Disneyworld the best week of my life. I am either turning into Rapunzel (in the movie Tangled, she comes swinging down from the tower and cries out “THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”) or things are just really fabulous for Team Burton now. {I love that Emmy still likes to do family hugs and sometimes we put our hands together and cry out “Go Team Burton!”}

Saturday we got to play and shop all day and then I went out with some fabulous people to dinner. The fun really got going on Sunday when we played with the Jacksons and took a quick trip to the zoo. I had gotten Emmy a new above ground pool and she loves it. We spent some time in there and then went to the Redbirds game with the Jacksons. Uncle Neall was nice enough to invite us to join them in the box seating he had. Emmy and Sol had a great time playing with Uncle John and we got to just unwind.

On the Memorial Day holiday, we did nothing and just played in our pool and yard. It was great. We put a slide going into the pool and Emmy wants someone to catch her, but of course she doesn’t need us to do it, she just wants us to grab her. She said, “I know! Let’s make a pattern! Mama then Daddy then Mama then Daddy.” John didn’t do a very good job of catching her and she went underwater so she said, “Um, let’s make a new pattern, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama”.

She loves to tell us jokes and they are absolutely awful and make no sense but she cracks up every time. I told her the knock knock joke with the banana and orange.

-Knock knock

-Who’s there?

-Banana

-Banana Who?

-Knock knock

-Who’s there?

-Banana

-Banana Who?

-Knock knock

-Who’s there?

-Orange

-Orange Who?

-Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

She is slightly confused on this and now says something like

--Knock knock

-Who’s there?

-Princess

-Princess Who?

-Aren’t you glad I didn’t say apple?

Princess

2011-05-31T10:46:00.000-05:00

I found this picture and thought of a funny Disney moment. Everyone was lined up waiting on a parade to start but we were passing thru to get to Buzz Lightyear. As we walked down the street, Emmy was waving to everyone on the sidelines as if they were waiting there to see her.

Disney pictures

2011-05-25T18:52:00.001-05:00

Disney pictures

2011-05-25T18:43:00.001-05:00

Disney pictures

2011-05-25T18:37:00.001-05:00

Disney pictures

2011-05-25T18:27:00.001-05:00

Disney pictures

2011-05-25T18:12:00.001-05:00

Disney pictures

2011-05-25T17:59:00.001-05:00

Disneyworld

2011-05-25T06:53:00.001-05:00

What an amazing time we had!!! We left Memphis at 645 Monday morning and drove straight through. Emmy Ruth took about a 30 minute nap. Of course, after being in the car all day, we looked awful and immediately ran into the Meyers!

For the first day, we wanted to wait at the gate for the Jacksons and Meyers and we couldn't stand it, we had to get inside!!!! We saw Snow White as soon as we walked in. Maggie, Sol and Rose had their autograph books so we had to rush to get one. I thought Emmy would have an amazing reaction when she first saw the castle but she really didn't. She wanted to ride the Snow White scary ride and we did, but she got scared. Anything dark scared her, so riding Peter Pan's flight wasn't her favorite either. She said, "I'm just gonna close my eyes and cover them with my hands like this" and she did. She loved Dumbo though!

And she loved It's a Small World. I can't say how much that warmed my heart; it's always been my favorite ride too. She said she wanted to ride it five times. I think we did! We took a break at Starlight Café and she danced to the singing martian. I brought us french fries and she said "can't talk now, gotta dance" then we were dancing and she told me "I'm so glad we are friends, God made us that way".

The highlight was Sol and Rose dancing at the castle show. They were hysterical! Rose grabbed a girl's hand and Snow White and Cinderella danced away. We were staying for fireworks but she wanted to go swim so we came back. Our pool is shaped like a guitar and in the middle is a fountain that squirts water at you. She looked up at John and said, "I feel like I am dreaming" he said she looked like she was in a trance… it wasn't fake!

Our second day was the Bibbidy Boppidy Boutique day! Up EARLY to get there and get to our appointment! The fairy godmothers let her pick out an outfit and then it was presented to her in the dressing room. She loved the whole thing. I told John later I was surprised she selected Sleeping Beauty since that isn't her favorite princess. John, in his most normal voice says "well it is the prettier dress" J after that, John and Emmy took off to get in the line for Tangled....before the wait was hours long. Because it was so early, we got there quickly and were able to be in line for the 1015 visit with Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder. After that, we met up with Jacksons. Sol went to get his pirate dress up and Emmy wanted to ride the Alladin magic carpet ride—she drove and scared me going up and down; she loved telling everyone that she made me cry. Daddy managed to find Woody and Jessie from Toy Story. He held a place in line and we met him. I was hoping we could get Sol but he was still being pampered. When it was time to meet them, she and Rose both refused to go up there and I ended up getting my picture made with them.

This was also our day to have lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table. To our surprise, Snow White, Belle, Aurora and Arial showed up! Belle asked him her name and I told him to ask her what her name was. She looked at me and was mortified... "that's Belle!". She couldn't have been any closer to 15 years old in that moment. It was priceless!
We rode Splash Mountain and she promised not to tell Neall if Papa Richie cried. He didn't. She loved it but then when we went to ride it again, she was scared of the dark parts.

She kept saying shewasn't tired but she fell asleep as soon as we got on the bus. She slept for two hours and then we got her up and in the stroller so we cold go back to the Jacksons lodge. Mrs. Debbie watched them while we went to eat with the adults. When we picked her up, they told me she took her pink hair out she said "it was killing me".
We went to Epcot on the third day. We walked into the gift shop in Japan and she walks past all the other toys and directly into the fine jewelry department and says she wants a pearl necklace--it was $6,000! We got to see fireworks and had a great time. She wasn't much in the mood for more pictures, but she did love playing in the fountain. In England, she got in the red phone booth. I asked her who she had called and she told me, "Auntee, of course".

We rounded out the week with a final day at Magic Kingdom. I had told her she could get one toy that day. She picked out what we thought was a Minnie Mouse purse but turned out to be fanny pack. When she found something else she wanted, she said the fanny pack was for John. And being John, he wore it so that she could get the toy she really wanted. We stuck around all day and made it to the fireworks and the electric parade that night. We entertained ourselves with some Scooby Doo mystery games while waiting on the fireworks to start.

When we left Saturday morning, she asked me with her perfect pout, "but mama, don't you want to ride your favorite ride one more time?"

Such an amazing time and I am so grateful that we got to spend it with Papa Richie and the Jacksons and Meyers. We are so blessed

Ahh, that girl.

2011-05-12T16:59:00.000-05:00

When I got Emmy’s summer clothes down, I realized that she has outgrown almost everything. I dropped in Macy’s at lunch and got her a few new outfits and she was so excited when I gave them to her that evening. She oooh’d and awe’d over them all and said, “oh thank you mama! They are beautiful”. I ended up having class that night but John said that she tried on them all for him. She is quite the girly girl. And the fashionista.

She likes to tell me how “stinking cute” things are.

Another of her recent things is that she can’t stand to be hot. Ever. When we get in the car, she points to every vent in the car and says “I want that one and that one and that one and that one and that one on me!” She always tells me that she doesn’t like to sweat. “It’s not pretty.”

Oh I love her. Love her so much!!!!!!!!

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T20:41:00.003-05:00

John and I are both so fortunate to have moms that loved us so deeply and taught us so much about family. As we sit here now with our precious--precocious, spirited and rebellious--child, we wonder how we could have done this without having had them in our lives. We wish things were different but we are thankful for the times we had.

In thinking of mothers and the gifts they give, I can't help but think of the other mothers in my life that make such an impact every day. My sisters in law who are wonderful mothers to their own children but who love Emmy dearly. Since John is so much younger than Cathy, she has been so supportive of us. And Becca, oh Emmy adores her Aunt Becca. But who doesn't?

There are the moms who have stepped up to be a surrogate grandmother for Emmy Ruth. I can never thank Nana, Mimi, and Gigi enough for loving her. They don't have to and they have no reason to but they do. And it means the world to us.

There is LynnLynn--what a ready made family she got when she met daddy! Two grown kids and two grandkids on the way. She is so good to us.

There are times when I look at my friends as mothers and I shake my head and wonder how in the world they learned to be so good at this. I see them with their kids and I take bits and pieces of what they do and I try to put it in our routines. I am humbled at the grace and the strength and the creativity and the smarts that they put into every day and I am thankful to be their friends. Emmy Ruth would not be the same little girl she is if it weren't for the AunTee, Mrs. Joy, Mrs. Beth and Nahnah in her life.

It's hard to believe that I am a mom and that this is a day that should be for me, when all I can do is be grateful for the beautiful--snitty, stubborn, and slightly spoiled--child that is mine and the people that love her.

Easter

2011-04-27T19:41:00.004-05:00

What a busy weekend!

Aunt Cathy gave Emmy Ruth a scooter for Easter. I thought I would show her how to use it so I hopped on and ended up doing a 360 degree flip holding onto the handlebars and landing on my knees. John said he was really worried about me but he did agree that if I had not been his wife then it would have been hysterical. This weekend, John hopped on it and Emmy told him not to fall "like Mama". Emmy Ruth was very well protected!

We were so sad that the Jacksons were going to be out of town on Easter so instead of meeting in Wynne like we usually do on the holidays, we decided to go to visit Papa Richie and LynnLynn. The Salinases have moved to Newport and it's so close, that I just invited us to spend the night Friday night and then getting an early start to Papa Richie. That ended up being a picnic after an egg hunt on Saturday morning. That ended up getting rained out as soon as we sat down to eat and ended up in poor Tara's house with way more people than she expected. Of course, as soon as we packed up the picnic and got to her house, there was not another raindrop and we were able to hunt for Easter eggs.

I was selfish and took advantage of Nana and Mimi and Papaw Rickie and Papaw Jim and Ms Denise keeping entertained so that I could talk to Papa Richie and LynnLynn for a bit. I hope they all know how much I appreciate how much they love Emmy. I cannot believe I forgot my camera and had to take photos with my phone! What princess doesn't play in a sequin dress?

Someone was especially tired when we headed home.

We got up and went to our church on Sunday morning. I have said that Easter is the hardest holiday for me missing Momma. I don't know if it is because of the memory I have of her being silly singing "Up from the Grave He Arose" or of the memories of her fighting for us to take JUST ONE PICTURE in the front yard in our Easter Best. I certainly felt like her when I was trying to get Emmy's picture that morning.

I took this picture in the car as she was getting out and it ended up being my favorite. I wanted to send it to MeeMee since she gave Emmy Ruth the Add A Pearl necklace.We didn't have plans for Easter Lunch so I made the executive decision that we should go to the Peabody Hotel for brunch. It was so much fun--John and I loved the food and Emmy loved how everyone told her how beautiful she was. And of course the ducks. This was the best picture I got of the three of us.

A wonderful, wonderful weekend!

2011-04-18T16:47:00.001-05:00

Emmy and I have a lovely new tradition of crafting together on Friday
nights. We make all kinds of things and this week we covered some
plastic Easter eggs with a decoupage to make them a little more festive.
It's really something we have both enjoyed (I think she does anyway) and
I hope that it is a way to get her little brain working. She loves to
talk about how she is using her brain; whenever I ask her how she knew
something or how smart she is, she tells me it's all because of her
brain. Julia Shepherd gave Emmy a Build a Bear Workshop kit for her
birthday so we put her together Friday night as well. Emmy decided to
name her Mrs. Joy and I can't think of a better name for her.

On Saturday morning, after ballet, we met up with the Jacksons and
Shepherds for a little stage action. Knuffle Bunny a Musical was playing
at the Orpheum. After that, we all headed to eat and Emmy and I tagged
along with the Jacksons to Sam's. We really would have loved to have had
them hang out longer but everyone was ready for a nap after that. A few
days ago, I saw this great slide that someone had placed on their curb
and told John about it. It's now in the living room. Really? A slide in
the living room? This is not how I envisioned my home! But, she loves it
and really wants it to stay. We might leave it for a bit longer and then
put it in the basement so that even on rainy days, the girl can get her
playground action. We were so glad that Julia and Mrs. Joy came by to
see us before they left town. Be still my beating heart.... those girls
sat in a dining room chair and played on Emmy's computer for the longest
time. How incredibly precious they are and how thankful I am for them.
John was hanging out at a festival downtown with some friends so Emmy
and I strolled up to a new restaurant in the neighborhood and he met us
there. Out of nowhere, Emmy says, "that Baby Rose is stinking adorable".
John and I got so tickled.

After such a big day, we were pooped and slept in later than I remember
us doing in a long time--I got up at 930 and had to wake Emmy at 10 for
church. I helped in children's church this week so we got to spend the
time together. It was neat to be with her and watch her face as they
talked about Jesus dying on the cross. The teacher was telling about the
crown of thorns and how they smashed it into Jesus's head and how that
after he died, they even took his clothes. Emmy was most appalled about
the stealing of one's clothes. And she thought it was a crown of nails,
not thorns. I tried to show her the thorns on our rose bush when we got
home but she didn't quite "get it". When we got home, John and Jandad
were ready to eat lunch (I will never understand why the promise of a
gumball can make a child behave so well) and then we did a little
shopping, where Emmy scored a hot pink fedora. She kept taking it off
and crying "whoo hoo! Cowboy!" and would not believe us when we told her
that it wasn't a cowboy hat. But, you know, she's always been a special
child.

Emmy is still in love with Elvis. She talks about him all the time but
the only song she likes is "Hounddog". We drove by Graceland around
Christmas to see the lights so she likes to talk about how we live near
him. In the car yesterday, she told us how Elvis lives in the White
House.

Of course, I am always on Emmy about using her manners and saying
"please" and "thank you". I can't even remember what she asked for and I
told her to say "please" and she said, "My pleasing is just gone with
the wind". What in the world? Where does she even come up with this
stuff???

I hope she doesn't think back on her childhood....

2011-04-15T10:44:00.001-05:00

… and only remember me saying “hurry up!” and “come on, we gotta go!” . Surely she will remember some of the other fun stuff.

She has been a handful as of late. She doesn’t want to get dressed in the morning and after reading an article, I told her the doctor said that if she didn’t get dressed, she had to go to bed right after dinner that night. It has worked relatively well so far. I also told her the doctor said that I had to pick out her clothes. Whew! What a break in the mornings!

This morning, she was getting her baby doll, Erica, up from her crib and then feeding her. Of course, here I am in the background, saying, “come on, we’ve gotta go!” while she gets Erica a new diaper, dressed and breakfast fed. I told her I thought we should sleep in here tonight, in her room, but she said Erica really didn’t like her sleeping in there so she should just sleep in our bed again.

Oh, and Emmy’s changed her name to Crystal….

No matter, what crazy things she does, she is still a precious sweet delight. The other night, I got home after she and John were in bed. She was wrapped up so tight and cuddly with him. It’s enough to just melt my heart. I knew he’d be a great dad, even when he didn’t, but he exceeds all of my expectations on a regular basis.

Spring Time!

2011-04-08T15:55:00.001-05:00

It’s officially spring time when we can take part in that wonderful age old ritual of…. Sprinkling salt on slugs! You would think that something as cool as that would earn me lots of points with a four year old, but instead she is all about the daddy. She pats me gently on the cheek and tells me she will snugglebuggle with me tomorrow but today it’s for daddy. And she tells me that all of her kisses are for daddy. When I dropped her off at school, she suggested that I come home and take a nap so that she and daddy could go to the park.

Oh what have I done to fail her so early??

Trip to the Dentist

2011-04-05T10:57:00.001-05:00

Emmy did such a good job when she got her teeth cleaned yesterday. I was really proud of her, even if she was a little wiggle worm. While I was getting my teeth cleaned, she stood watch to make sure that nothing happened to the toy box that she would get to dive into as soon as she was done with her cleaning. She did have to cover her eyes while Miss Hannah was cleaning her teeth—that light is just so bright!

This weekend, she and Natalie were looking at one of her memory books. At a picture of Sol, Natalie asked who his dad was and Emmy said, “My dentist”.

Miss Hannah told Emmy about Sol getting his teeth cleaned and Emmy told her that his second name was “Bear”. We do call him Solly Bear. J

Little Tara

2011-03-30T14:56:00.001-05:00

I call her Little Tara with a twinge of sadness. She has all the traits of me that I sometimes wish I could turn off—most specifically the sarcasm in her voice. Last night in the car, she literally rolled her eyes and said, “uh-hm”. I can remember Daddy almost jumping up and down in the dining room if I dared give him those fish eyes again. I am afraid of my future. But, here we go with some of her latest and greatest quotes:

“Haven’t I told you not to bother me while I am playing?”

We went to a birthday party Sunday afternoon and aftewards stopped at Big Lots. I didn’t find what I needed so I wanted to hop into Fred’s. I asked Emmy if she could stand going into one more store and she replied, “no, mama, I can’t stand it”. I told her that they might have a toy in there and she said, “okay! I can stand it! I can stand it!”.

While patting me on the back she said, “Trust me, that’s my girl, trust me”.

After reading our story last night, we were talking about what she wanted to be when she grows up. She told me she wanted to be a princess. Well, a princess scientest. So that she could come up with a magic potion that would help give princess dresses to all the little girls that didn’t have them.

Last week, I was telling she and Lucas stories about when they were born. I guess that it really stuck with her beucase she is on a baby kick now. She and Lucas were pretending that they had a baby; actually, pretendig she was pregnant. Lucas came in and told us that babies sure did need a lot of toys. Then, she and Sol were playing like they were babies. Then, she asked me if she was going to have a baby one day. I told her when she was much older. She asked me what she would name her baby and I told her that was something she and her husband would decide. Then, she asked me if it was going to grow in her belly. I told her that if she was very lucky that one day, she would find someone she loved and they would be able to have a baby together.

And then I had a drink.

Little Birdies and a Hog

2011-03-22T09:14:00.000-05:00

Emmy Ruth and I made some bird feeders for the tree our front this weekend. We painted pinecones (or as Emmy calls them… Pineapples) and put peanut butter on them and hung them on the tree. Of course, I had to tell Emmy that if she wanted peanut butter, I would get her some, she didn’t need to eat the peanut butter from the birdfeeders. Such a weird little kid.

And our little fan playing around after ballet practice in my office the other day.

Two Ponies, Please!

2011-03-16T11:56:00.001-05:00

On Monday, Emmy Ruth wanted to wear "two ponies" or pigtails. Of course,
I did her hair that way and I guess everyone has told her how cute it
looked as she has insisted on wearing it this way every day since then.
In fact, Monday night when I took her hair down to take a bath, she
cried that she wasn't pretty anymore without her ponies. Whoa, sister.
We had to have a talk about how SHE was what was beautiful, the hair was
just a bonus. I hate that she is having these types of feelings so
early. Although she is adorable in the ponytails, they are not my
favorite look for her, but here we go... it's her decision, I suppose. I
took this snapshot this morning before we went in to school. She asked
to look at it and said, "oh, yeah, that's my shy face".

Jeez.

She also asked me how long she was going to have to say "ma'am". I told
her that as long as there were people older than her, she would be
saying it.

The Dress

2011-03-13T20:25:00.003-05:00

I was a little late doing it this year, but we did get Emmy's picture made in The Dress. I really want to take her picture in it every year as she is growing up so we can really see how much she has changed.

The Zoo!!!

2011-03-13T19:31:00.003-05:00

Oh thank goodness for a lovely weekend!!!! Yesterday we got to see the Jacksons. It was so much fun playing with them. We stopped by to say hi to Julia and Mrs. Joy too. Emmy was amazed at how they could run and run and run and not have to worry about Mama. It is so strange not having to hold on to her and worry about something happening to her. Ahhh.... life in the country!

We were so tired that we ended up sleeping too late and missing church. We had a great lunch and then headed to the zoo.

Of course, we had to get a picture with Buddha. But, Emmy is in a Daddy mood so he wouldn't do it with out him. They are quite ridiculous together.On the way out, she needed a coin to make a wish. For princesses.This isn't a great picture but it was so funny. We were looking at the flamingos and she pointed to the viewer and asked John what that "contraption" was. Where does she come up with this stuff?

Just a crazy life

2011-03-03T08:07:00.001-06:00

It seems we are always running ragged but I can’t tell you what for sure we have been doing to make it that way. We are really enjoying our new church, First Baptist. As the sign says, “A different way to be Baptist”. I have enjoyed the Sunday services and I have been really thankful to be able to attend a class on Wednesday nights on parenting. It’s been nice to get ideas, nice to hear that no one feels perfect and nice to get to know some people. Emmy Ruth attends a Mission Friends class on Wednesday nights as well. Now, they are collecting items to send to Uganda and it is exciting to see her get excited about taking something to send to her “friends”. It’s lovely and I enjoy it but it certainly puts a rush on Wednesday evening. It seems we get home, eat, then head directly to bed. On Tuesday nights, I tutor so that makes it a rushed night as well. But, here we are ready for the weekend again already!

Emmy did have time for these little nuggets of wisdom last night, though. On the way to church, I mentioned something about her being a big girl now and she replied, “yes, mama, but I won’t forget you now that I am big”. I am not sure what her deal is with being naked all the time, but I walked in and for the thousandth time found myself saying, “why are you naked?” Emmy replied, “I’m not naked; I am wearing shoes”. Apparently to her, plastic dress up shoes can just make an outfit. Literally.

Observations of a busy weekend

2011-02-28T08:14:00.001-06:00

--Emmy and Lucas are about as close as a brother and sister can be without actually being so. When they saw each other this weekend, they immediately gave each other the biggest and best hug. When we left to come home, Emmy Ruth was in her car seat crying because we had to leave. Tara was holding Lucas up to say goodbye through the window and he took her hand and kissed it. In between these two events, there were lots and lots of good times and laughter and fights and bickering. Just like any family.

--As Emmy took her bath, she told me she had to wash her hips and then she’d be ready to get out. Wash her hips? What is that about?

--A goldfish does not have a good chance at life in the Burton household. Emmylucasdaphnevelmafreddieshaggyscoobie (as Emmy named her fish she got for her birthday) went to the big pond in the sky this weekend and we got a new one pretty quickly and Emmy hasn’t noticed. Whew. However, as we left the store, the salesman said, “good luck, m’am”. To the fish.

--Ladybugs found in Arkansas do not travel well to Memphis. Especially in an empty whisky bottle. They are now enjoying the scenery with Emmylucasdaphnevelmafreddieshaggyscoobie.

Crafting

2011-02-25T09:27:00.001-06:00

I have been crafting a lot lately. Poor John left a lamp out the other day and when he came back, I had glued jute to the lamp shade and changed it. He was not amused. But, I have had lots of fun! I have a small ottoman that has seen many better days and I needed to just throw it out but I thought I might try to save it for a little longer. Using some extra material from when I recovered my dining room chairs, I covered it up and then used some linen napkins to make a ruffle. Emmy walked in and said, “Mama, why is that stool wearing a dress?”

I am going to retire my glue gun.

2011-02-21T10:36:00.002-06:00

Emmy and I got to hang with the Jacksons this weekend and we had so much fun. We took advantage of the wonderful weather to play outside a lot. Emmy and Sol played with the sandtable and made me this wonderful pie! They are so thoughtful.

Nothing like Cinderella and Star Wars in the sandbox.

I love this after they got out of the tub. I still have sand in the bathroom! This isn't a great picture but I love that they were all piled on top of me. John came in and snapped a picture. That is pretty good stuff.

I tried to jot down some of the funny things they said:

--When I said we were going outside, Emmy said, "I hope the puppies don't eat Baby Rose".

--We got to ballet and I realized we forgot to brush Emmy's teeth. She got a look of horror and said, "but I don't want to get a hole!!!"

--I have a tattoo of a skull and crossed bones on my back (it is on my sorority badge) and Sol saw it and said, "Aunt Tara, you have a pirate on your back!"

--For some reason, they kept taking their clothes off. I would ask why they were naked again and Emmy said, "we want to make booty faces".

Majestic Ball

2011-02-21T09:55:00.006-06:00

I love all the wonderful pictures we got for the party. Special thanks to Mrs Pat and Becca!!!

The TBs were at the ball!

We were so glad ET could come to the party too!

Julia loved the Cinderella pinata. It's a shame I forgot to do it until almost everyone was gone! Thank goodness Joy convinced me to do it anyway I love that Sol has his knight armor on!This has to be one of my favorite pictures EVER!

This is Layla and Omaida from Emmy's school. They are such good friends and princesses!

Lauren and Jillian go to Emmy's school too. They love each other so much!

Emmy told John he was such a beautiful prince!
The kids loved the cake--even if it was a slight disaster.

She's so little for this.

2011-02-18T10:27:00.001-06:00

While yesterday was nearly a picture perfect morning, today was the exact opposite. Emmy Ruth loves to wear dresses to school. Sparkly ones, preferably. She wore her super sparkly dress yesterday and was quite disappointed that I had not washed it again yet. So, we set out to find something to wear. I try to give her some options and let her choose from them… there was a sparkly skirt with a sweater, a floral dress and a pair of leggings with a matching shirt. None of these would do. She went to pick out something for herself—and it did not go well. We finally settled on a different sparkly skirt (think of a pink tutu with glitter hearts) but it’s a little bit. She put on a Hello Kitty she got for her birthday with it—really sparkly and very fitted so it helped the skirt from slipping down. But then she decided that she didn’t like the skirt with the shirt. Eventually, she wore it—after time out for throwing a fit. Nothing makes a day swell like starting it with time out.

She is four. FOUR! I often have these type of dressing sessions, and there are sometimes tears and fits by me, when I can’t find something I want to wear and nothing looks like I want it to look, or the shirt doesn’t look just right with the pants. I sympathize with her on this but I don’t want her to have these thoughts and insecurities so early. She’s FOUR!

I somehow doubt this is something we will discuss in the parenting class I am taking at church.

My Girl

2011-02-16T11:39:00.001-06:00

I had some ideas for what to say about Emmy Ruth and how she is right now, at this very moment. I want to never forget how funny and sweet and charming she is. Oh, yes, and mischievous. Then, on her actual birthday when we were taking photos at the playground, I thought I could just write an entire entry just on funny things she did that day. By the time we got home, I had forgotten some of them, even thought John and I literally were laughing out loud at the time.

I guess that is what happens when she just says and does so many things to make us smile—it’s hard to keep up with all of them. She makes us both just cackle out loud and then gets her feelings hurt because she thinks we are laughing AT her. We tell her we aren’t—she just makes us smile and laugh and that is a wonderful trait to have. The girl loves to sing and dance, that’s for certain. We listen to the Tangled Soundtrack in the car and she sings along. She often wants it louder and she will say in her biggest voice, “I WANT IT LOUD LIKE THIS!” At the playground, they have this stage with a big chalkboard behind it. Emmy loves to get on the stage and dance but she is very particular that everything is just as she wants it to be. She placed her daddy on the audience bench just as she wanted him to be and then I was to dance in a very specific spot, doing very specific dances. And I was not allowed to sing—only dance.

I have no idea where she gets her bossiness…. Perhaps her daddy.

At home, Emmy alternates between sleeping in her own bed and our bed. I know she should be in her bed all the time, and she often is, but it is just so comforting and soothing to have her in bed with us. I love to cuddle with her. We call it Snuggle Buggle. “Mama, can you snugglebuggle me?” is about the sweetest thing ever. When I was a little girl, I often stayed with Grandma Ruth and I would ask her to “hold my back”. Emmy and I often do that too. It is my most precious time in the day. As sweet as she is at night, the mornings are a different story. She does not wake up well. Sometimes, I carry her into the living room to wake while she is watching TV and she sometimes jumps up and runs back into the bed, pulling the covers over her head. She piddles around so much until we are late almost every single morning. I hate to start the day rushing around and with arguments so I am working on waking even earlier and getting her up even earlier.

We are still working on our alphabet—it is just not something she is concerned with right now. At all. She does not want to work on them and I am pulling back and not pushing quite as much. I am sure she’ll learn it eventually… She loves to play on her computer, but only for a bit. When she can’t get the mouse to work just right, she gets very frustrated and just stops. I don’t want to encourage this but I also don’t want her to see working on it as a chore so I don’t push too much. When she wants to stop, she can.

The house is a wreck all the time, there are dresses and Barbies and dolls and crayons everywhere. One day, John and I will be sitting awake, waiting on her to come from a date, and long for the time that Emmy Ruth put on her sequin Hex Girl dress and sang “Jesus Loves Me” on her makeshift stage. Having a few crowns and magic wands and plastic dress up shoes just really seems like a small price to pay for such a wonderful life.

2011-02-16T06:42:00.003-06:00

Emmy Ruth is 4!

2011-02-15T21:35:00.002-06:00

Oh sweet girl... I can't say all the things I love about you. I love you so much. I am so lucky to be your mama.

Sweet Love Notes

2011-02-10T21:15:00.002-06:00

Emmy Ruth was making lovely pictures today as I was reorganizing our craft containers. Emmy made a picture for Aunt Becca and "wrote" her a lovely note. She said it was "Dear Aunt Becca, I love you becuase you are the best. Sol is the best too. And you have one of my favorite letters, B! Love, Emmy".

Precious curls

2011-02-09T08:59:00.001-06:00

I took this picture this morning on my cell phone so it's not a good one, but I couldn't resist those curls. Emmy Ruth is doing a pretty good job of sleeping in her bed but last night she slept with us. We went to see Ferdinand the Bull at the Orpheum with Sol and Rose and Julia. She was so excited and wound up when we got home, I knew she would never go to sleep in her room. When I woke this morning, she was lying with her head on my stomach and her curls falling everywhere. It was so precious and I hope I never forget moments like these. Sometimes when we are lying together, she will go to play with her and twist my hair instead. It's a Jackson thing. I do it, Neall does it, our cousin Cathy does it. Some people have tried to tell me she learned it from watching me but she did it as an infant so I am pretty sure it just comes naturally to her.

We have had quite the drama with our wardrobe lately. Emmy initially refused to wear any jeans. Now, she wants to wear dresses all the time. Not skirts but full dresses. We had a major meltdown yesterday when she threw a complete fit to wear a dress. It was hard to reason with her that she had all these adorable Valentines and heart shaped clothes to wear this week before the holiday. I did stand my ground, simply because she threw a fit and she has to learn that is unacceptable. This morning, I convinced her to wear pants since it is supposed to snow but she drew the line and refused to wear the adorable cardigan I had for her. I let that slide... this time.

The zoo!!

2011-01-30T20:47:00.003-06:00

The weather was so wonderful this weekend that we went to the zoo--along with everyone in the midsouth. It was ridiculously crowded but we had a blast. Emmy wanted to see the elephants. We are so glad that we got to go with the Jacksons and Evan Huff.

Bed time story

2011-01-25T07:50:00.001-06:00

Last night, Emmy told me a bed time story.

“Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Tara.

A dragon took her!

A handsome prince named John came to save her.

They kissed and got married and had a beautiful daughter named Emmy.

She wore a dress and it was PINK!

When they kissed her, a crown came onto her head.

Everyone was so excited, they threw their socks and panties into the air.”

Oh my! That is pretty darn excited!

Busy Saturday!!

2011-01-22T18:20:00.005-06:00

Poor Daddy had to work on Saturday morning so Emmy Ruth and I planned an all girls' day. We started out at her ballet class. I read online about a princess party at the Disney Store so we rushed out to Wolfchase after her class. We arrived just in time!!! There were lots of people there so I couldn't get too close but there were lots of princesses. All the girls got crowns and they had princess games and even made their own jeweled tea cups. I wasn't sure how many people would be there since it was limited to 50 kids, so I didn't tell Emmy we were going. I had her Snow White dress in a bag so she threw it on over her clothes. She spent a lot of time studying all the toys there and not paying attention to the games but eventually got into it.

After a little shopping, Emmy spotted the Build A Bear workshop. Nana took her in October and she got her first Build a Bear (named "Emmyruthburton"). Since then, any time we see a store, she goes nuts. Today we got a new bear, in blue, named Alex, after a little boy in her class. She is obviously a pro at building bears--I have never actually been there for the creation process. She knew to step on the peddle so the stuffing would go in the bear. When the seamstress told her to put the heart in with a kiss and a wish, Emmy kissed her bear instead of the heart. Pretty sweet.
Then I thought I would just swing by the Lasting Impressions photo studio since her birthday is coming up and I haven't had her portraits done in a while. Of course we got some cute pictures and spent way too much money.

Fun times!

2011-01-19T15:55:00.002-06:00

This weekend, we discovered that a lot of the activities in Memphis were free on Saturday in honor of the inauguration of Tennessee’s new governor. We were lucky enough to have family and friends with whom to enjoy the good times!

We kicked things off Friday night by visiting Sol and Rose and Julia (oh yeah, and Neall, Becca and Joy) downtown at the condo. They kids had fun pretending to be monster under a big blanket and scaring us all. I swear, we are going to have to cut back on the Scooby Doo she’s watching!! Saturday morning while we were at ballet class, the rest of the group went to the Civil Rights Museum. We all met back up again (with Mrs. Debbie and Laura Ruth) and went to the Brooks Museum, to lunch at the India Palace, and then to the Botanical Gardens to see “My Big Backyard”. We had so much fun and the kids are just absolutely adorable and play so well together. It was so cold and the girls kept sticking their hands in the water!

Rose Ryan looks so much like Neall and Momma in this picture. She is such a delight and I just adore her.

After a quick round of shopping, Emmy Ruth rode to Arkansas with the Jacksons to spend Saturday night with nana and Sunday night with Sol and Rose. I did have some concern that Aunt Becca wouldn’t let me have her back but late Monday afternoon, they came to eat in Memphis and I got to hang with the three munchkins at the house. They are a hoot! Between the dancing, Rose trying on everyone’s shoes and the chocolate milk, we had a big time. Becca kept telling me that Emmy was being ‘perfect’; I was slightly afraid of what child they were going to return to me!!!

We are so very lucky to have so many precious friends and family. I can’t think of anyone that I would have rather spent this past weekend with and I know Momma was smiling seeing them all together.

A heart full of thanks

2011-01-14T16:19:00.001-06:00

Every night Emmy Ruth and I talk about one thing we are thankful for and one thing that needs prayer. When I asked last night what she was thankful for, she said she was thankful for her beautiful hair. Well…. That’s not exactly what I had in mind when we started this routine. But, she quickly redeemed herself. Because AunTee and Emmy both have blond hair, Emmy said she gets it from Tara. So, she said she was thankful for her AunTee for her beautiful hair, Nana for her pretty singing {no offense to Nana but I didn’t know about this singing she does!}, Mama for her best kisses and Daddy for his best hugs.

In keeping with her thankful heart, here we are on the eve of the fifth anniversary of Momma’s death and I am thankful that she gave me her compassion and zest for life, hopeful that she gave me her wit and strength and encouraged that she gave me her love and family.

Tangled

2011-01-13T10:02:00.001-06:00

We have only seen Tangled twice so far, but we can’t wait for it to come out on DVD. Any time I refer to it as “Tangled”, Emmy Ruth corrects me that it is Rapunzel. I don’t have the heart or the energy to argue with her. J I bought the soundtrack on iTunes last week and she has loved it.

I think that is one of my most favorite things about our time right now—her love of music. She loves to dance all the time (she loves to show us her booty dance). Last weekend, Lucas and AunTee came to visit and the kids and I had a massive dance party while AunTee went to run a few errands. She was a little perplexed with the noise when she pulled up in the drive way but was not totally surprised to see me, Lucas and Emmy dancing in the living room to Elvis tunes. I think that counts as my work out for that day. Another funny story about their visit… there is a picture of Emmy and her friend, Alex, from school in her bedroom. Lucas picked it up and asked her who he was and kind of looked at her funny. Then he asked her if Alex was nice to her. I hope he always is such a good “big brother” to her.

One of the best songs on the Tangled soundtrack is “Mother Knows Best”. It’s really not very nice, in regards to the movie; the witch is trying to keep Rapunzel trapped in the tower and she tells her that she knows what’s best for her, but it’s a cute song. The chorus is “Mother knows best, listen to your momma” and I sing it to Emmy every now and then. Emmy has turned it back on me and sings “Kids know best, listen to your kiddos” now. How can I even compete with that?

And in other princess related news…. Emmy Ruth wants a princess party for her birthday this year. We are having so much fun planning it. I know that I am going overboard (which is really no surprise) but I feel like I have waited my whole life to plan a princess party like this! While I don’t want to ruin any of the fun for the festivities, I can say that there are lots of fun things planned, like a scavenger hunt and crown and shield decorating. We want to make sure that all the boys in Emmy’s life enjoy the party too, so we are doing it as princess and knights. So, while the girls are decorating their crowns, the boys can decorate their knight shields of armor. Emmy and I are having a lot of fun working on decorations at night together; this week we are making a piñata. She is certainly a handful sometimes but I can’t even begin to say how much I love this little princess.

Broccoli

2011-01-12T22:19:00.002-06:00

I don't get it but I am so very thankful for Emmy's latest craze. She is all about broccoli. It is all she will eat! For dinner every night, we have had broccoli!!!

Snow Day 2011

2011-01-11T08:46:00.000-06:00

John and Emmy Ruth got to enjoy a snow day yesterday. I am so thankful that not only is John able to stay home on snow days with Emmy, but that he wants to stay home with her. They had so much fun and I think our little Snow Diva is adorable! However, I am not sure the snow angel turned out as an angel or more of a snow slug.

That's One Mouthy Kid

2011-01-05T18:32:00.000-06:00

Emmy’s new favorite word is ridiculous. Last night, I had her helping me clean her room and she told me I was being “ridiculous”. After church on Sunday, I had her change from her dress she wore to church into some scrubby sweats to go play in the backyard. The little princess was not amused. “Look at me” she said, “I look ridiculous!”

We spent New Year’s Eve in Jonesboro and had the best time. We rented a suite at a hotel with an indoor pool and spent some good quality time with some of John’s family. We all went to see Tangled again and then Emmy got to swim and I got to shop. I think that was a win for everyone! Emmy kept telling John’s sister that “daddy beats us up every morning”. It took me forever to realize she was telling her that he wakes up before we do each morning, not that he physically beats us up. I was worried how in the world I was going to explain this one.

I tell Emmy Ruth all the time that she is my favorite water buffalo. It absolutely infuriates her, so of course I continue doing it. She says “I am not a water buffalo! I am a princess! A Princess Superhero!” She is really into the superheroes, for sure. In fact, during Christmastime, she named her Elf on the Shelf “WonderWoman Baby”.

And last but not least, every night, Emmy Ruth has us all do a Burton Family Hug—me, John and her. It’s pretty precious.

Grandma and Grandpa

2010-12-31T13:06:00.002-06:00

We got to spend the night with Solomon and Rose a few weeks ago. The kids have so much fun together and John and I love getting to be around. Emmy Ruth has an adorable habit of calling me Grandma when she is playing with her baby dolls... of course, she is the mommy and I am the grandma. Now, she has Solomon calling me "Grandma!" What in the world is wrong with these kids???????

Skates

2010-12-26T00:33:00.002-06:00

Emmy Ruth got some new houseshoes and they are great for sliding all over our floors. She calls them her "roller skates".

I also call her "sista" sometimes and she tells me she is not a sister. But, the other night when we were walking into Peter Pan, Tara said something, I can't even remember what and Emmy turned around and said, "Now, Sister, that was funny!"

She cracks me up!!!!

An Amazing Christmas!

2010-12-25T22:35:00.007-06:00

As a great friend said, "what did we do before our girls?" I am not sure. This was such a fun Christmas season! Emmy Ruth was old enough to ask for things and really get into it, so we had a blast.

First we celebrated with John's family. They came to visit us and brought lots of Rapunzel gifts. Emmy has been into Rapunzel since watching Tangled so they were a really big hit. Gandad also brought a Rapunzel puppet and an awesome music set. Emmy also got a new suitcase. I asked her where we could take her new suitcase--we are planning a trip to Disney World in May and I have been talking it up but I am pretty sure she doesn't "get it". So, when I asked where we could take her new suitcase, she answered, "camping!". We could totally go camping at a fraction of the price.

Aunt Cathy was really good at attaching the Rapunzel hair.

Daddy looked fabulous in the hair too! All she has asked for from Santa was a pink dress and a purple Barbie. She did see a specific pink dress she wanted but Santa brought this one to a Christmas party with AunTee's family. She was so excited that she wore it immediately after Santa gave it to her and then all of the time at home afterwards. She and Lucas had a big time.

She even wore it with her Rapunzel hair!

On Christmas Eve, the Jacksons came over to celebrate with a big brunch. We had a blast. Emmy insisted on putting her own bow in so it was a little lopsided and this was how she fixed her plate---lots of powdered donuts and some oranges and a piece of bread. It is Christmas time and there are no rules for eating then!

Sol and Emmy patiently waited on Daddy to get the toys opened....

Rose really enjoyed the markers and coloring book that Papa Richie and LynnLynn got Emmy.

Tara and Lucas came over so that we could go see Peter Pan at the Studio on the Square. It was great. Before hand, we got to open presents and Lucas loved his Star Wars helmet.

The kiddos were super cute dressed up for the show. We got to sit on the front row and felt super special.

And then there was Christmas morning. Santa was just fabulous to us!!! She immediately jumped on the couch to see what all he left her! The thing she was most excited about was the piggy bank.

Emmy got a super duper roller coaster just like Sol has. She was thrilled!

And she got a Paper Jams guitar and amp. Well, she kinda did... really it was for John.

I am so glad she liked her abacus. I knew that with all the music she and John do together that there had to be a little mathematician in there.

And she got the very dress she wanted. She saw it when I was looking online for her some church dresses and it popped up. Obviously... not a church dress. But, she loved it. And we printed out a picture of it and included it with her letter to Santa so that he woud know exactly what she wanted. And Santa nailed it!

Nana and Papaw Ricky came by to wish us a Merry Christmas. Nana and Emmy had a quick cookie at her new table while they were here.
What an amazing, amazing Christmas!!! We are so lucky and thankful for a wonderful year. One of my favorite gifts that Emmy Ruth got this year were some books from our family in Akron. We don't see them very often and we keep in touch online, but it is certainly not the same as being together. But, Cathy sent the kids some books for a Christmas gift. I was so happy when we sat down to read them before bed. One was the Christmas Story and the other was the Night Before Christmas. I had planned to look them both up online and get a good version instead of trying to rehash from memory. It was very special to my heart that she sent these and I loved reading them to her. Again, a great touch to an amazing Christmas.

Happy Birthday Julia!!!

2010-12-16T20:07:00.003-06:00

Our brilliant Julia had a great birthday party--even Santa came to tell her happy birthday! Here she is blowing out her candles.Rose loved the cupcakes. :)Sweet Sol wanted to make sure Santa knew exactly what he wanted.

First Haircut

2010-11-30T11:32:00.002-06:00

At almost 4 years old, I finally got The Girl her first hair cut. We tried once before and she got scared but when she saw Lucas getting his hair cut, she was all over it. I think she likes being pampered.

Emmy-tude

2010-11-30T11:29:00.001-06:00

Oh she’s a hoot! Here are a couple of her latest and greatest sayings…

--Last night I asked if she wanted to watch Scooby Doo before bed and she said “no, I think a quick game of Candyland should do the trick”.

--This morning, I was trying to put her shoes on and she wasn’t being very helpful and she finally just said “ok, now watch and learn”.

--We were shopping at TJ Maxx and came upon this picture of the Last Supper. Emmy said, “Mom, are these pilgrims?”. Lucas said, “no, Emmy, I think they are superheroes”.

--We put up the nativity scene and I was talking about Mary and Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the shepherds and angel. Later on, Emmy found a snapshot that was in some of Grandma Jackson’s photo albums; it was a baby in a bathtub on the porch of a house, I am sure it was Daddy. She came running in and asked if that was a picture of Baby Jesus. John told her that yes, we had the only snapshot of Jesus.

I am loving that we have Santa Claus to hold over her head to get her to act correctly. She thinks I have Santa Claus’s phone number on speed-dial on my phone. Works like a charm!

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I worked on cleaning out her closet and trying to rearrange her room to give her more play space. When we were lying in bed the other night saying our prayers, she said she was thankful for her new “castle room”. Ahhh…be still my beating heart!!!!!!! And yes, she is sleeping in her own room! All it took was a unicorn Pillow Pet!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-24T05:44:00.005-06:00

Seriously... how do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

These children are just precious. I can't stand it!

Sol loved the sub that was there....

And he's quite the gymnast.

Such a handsome boy.

And Emmy Ruth running. And Running. And Running.

Sweet Rose.
This was the closest I could get of the kids in front of the measuring sign.

Rose wasn't much more cooperative.

Neall was a little more helpful. So was Laura.

The kids all loved the haymaze... especially Rose. She's obviously a genius since she figured her way out each time.

Emmy carrying a pumpkin.

Jumping in the cotton.

Sol was so excited when he saw this gun.... Neall was a little excited too. :)

Boys and Girls

2010-11-12T11:39:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day, so I was off work and took advantage of it by picking up Lucas at school. I loved it that when I got there, the teacher said, “Oh you must be his Thia”. Yep, the one and only.

After a trip to Old McDonald’s, we picked up The Other Tara and went shopping. Lucas was not impressed. They love each other so much but Lucas and Emmy Ruth are definitely all boy and all girl, respectively. Here are my favorite quotes of the day…

Lucas: “Man, I was pooting like a banchee.”

“Go backards, {at Target}, back to the Star Wars movies.”

Emmy: “Lucas, will you kiss me?”

“Can we go home now so I can paint my nails?”

Halloween

2010-11-01T20:40:00.003-05:00

Emmy Ruth has been saying for weeks she was going to be "big Snow White" for Halloween. It took us a while but we finally realized that meant she wanted to wear the fancy Snow White dress and not the simple one she had. My friend Leigh gave her the dress for her birthday and she has loved it! I thought she would want something different for Halloween but she insisted on wearing it. Of course, that meant I had to be the Wicked Queen.

My Lu is 4!

2010-11-01T19:59:00.004-05:00

I can't believe Lucas is already four years old!!! He is so totally into Star Wars so he had to have a super Star Wars party. There were asteroid stomps (on bubble wrap), light saber battles (with balloons) and lots of games and tunnels. It was so much fun and we are so thankful to have Lu in our lives! Emmy Ruth tells us all the time that she is going to marry Lucas. :)

John entertaining the kiddos... A silly AunTee...There were light saber battles... And of course presents to be opened followed by the required picture of all the kids...

Daddy taught Emmy Ruth how to play pool... An amazing Star Wars cake for an amazing boy...

Elvis?

2010-10-21T10:09:00.001-05:00

I have an Elvis postcard tucked in our bathroom and a few weeks ago, Emmy started asking about him. So, after me trying to sing a few songs, we downloaded one of the albums from iTunes. I must say that she was not thoroughly impressed but we are working on that.

Last night when we were reading our library book “The Twelve Dancing Princesses”, I mentioned the eldest one and Emmy said, “Elvis! He is in our bathroom!”.

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy????????

2010-10-07T19:31:00.003-05:00

A decade or so ago when Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Tonya Harding, the clip that played over and over was of Nancy on the ground, holding her knee screaming "why? why?". That is stuck in my mind as I hear that question over and over and over and over.

Watching Mulan, she asked John a thousand questions about why they did this or that.

Why do we have to wear panties to school?

On the way to school, why is the sun up? Why is her school to the left and not the right?

When driving the other day, I almost couldn't figure out what she meant when she asked why that truck was carrying that other truck. I finally found the street sign and explained that if someone parked in the grass, his or her car would be towed. Why? Because there is a law against that. Why? Because cars go on the street and parking lots. Why? Because Mama was apparently a very difficult child to raise and she is now earning it all back.

The perfect gift

2010-10-07T19:26:00.003-05:00

For Father's Day, Emmy wanted to get John soap.

For Neall's birthday, Emmy wanted to get him the latest Kendra Wilkinson book. She said it would be perfect for him. He does love to read.

For my birthday, Emmy told John she wanted to get me scissors.

Aunt Becca's birthday is coming up and Emmy told me tonight she wanted to get her toliet paper.

I can hardly wait to see what our Christmas list looks like.

2010-10-06T15:15:00.001-05:00

I let Bill out in the back yard to do her thing when I go downstairs to do my thing (get dressed). This morning when I went to let her back in, I noticed something moving in the pool. (Yes. it is still up. On one hand, this is awful as it is October, but on the other hand, we were actually in the pool about two weeks ago, so it’s not been up unused THAT long. And I don’t have the time to nag Burton on it right now.) I thought it looked like a squirrel and you know how I am pretty sure my demise will come from rabies so I didn’t want to get too close. I stood on the Adirondack chair to see the little rabid beast swimming in our pool! Emmy was having a rough morning so to kind of snap her out if it, I asked if she wanted to see something funny, there’s a squirrel swimming in your pool! Of course she did.

So, we go out, and I don’t see it. I thought it might be against the side of the pool closest to us and I am not about to get right on top of it and look in so holding ER, I climb up the ladder for the slide and we stand on the top of the slide to look. No swimming squirrel. But one at the bottom of the pool. I said, oh he must have gotten out, but of course she sees it and says “I SEE IT! It’s DEAD!”

In the kitchen, she says, “I’m gonna invite Jillian over to see my dead squirrel!”

At the orchard

2010-10-06T05:47:00.000-05:00

We were very late getting to the orchard but that was ok since The
Girl pretty much had free reign of the place. And she had a blast.

She's still not a morning person, screaming "mornings are not fun"
yesterday as we headed out the door!!!!

Disney on Ice

2010-09-25T08:19:00.002-05:00

Of course, I have no pictures but we went to see Disney on Ice tonight with the Jacksons. Emmy and I with Neall, Becca, Solomon, Baby Rose and Maggie Grace. When we were walking to the Forum from the parking lot, Emmy announced, "We are a family!" It is just the little things she says sometimes that just take my breath away. Of course we are a family but having her little precious voice around to say it is pretty sweet.

The kids all loved it. I wondered at first if Sol and Emmy would ever speak again because during the first act, they sat like stone with their mouths open, staring. Emmy of course loved the princesses and Maggie Grace clapped with delight. Solomon's favorite part was when Toy Story came out at the end. Rose liked the food. She (of course) was sitting in Becca's lap and eating nachos. I thought it was so sweet that she kept putting a chip on my leg until I realized she was licking the cheese off of it and then giving it to me. Then she had popcorn. And a soda. And french fries with ranch dipping sauce.

Cooper Young Fest

2010-09-24T11:57:00.003-05:00

The Shepherds came over to go to the Cooper Young Festival with us again this year and we were so happy to see them. It was so very, very hot so we didn’t stay out in it as much as we might have otherwise. Joy took these adorable pictures of the girls and put them on her blog, so I borrowed them. I just love to see these girls playing together. I would have given anything to have heard the conversations they had in the stroller together. They chit-chatted the whole time!

Of course, Emmy had to wear her fairy wings and skirt.

I really don’t know what to think of Emmy with that crazy rolling her eyes look!

Sweet, sweet smiles.
Then she saw her... WonderWoman. We tried to go see her and Emmy just didn't have the nerve but when her daddy was with her she finally was able to do it.