Let Her Eat Cake!

So here’s an alarming fact.

I like to eat.

Wanna know something else shocking?

Kroger cake with the whippy icing is my fav.

And I just can’t seem to control myself when it gets placed in front of me.  So when my mom got me said cake, I decided to do her proud.

By [nearly] eating the whole damn thing.

And I’m not lying.

I ate about 3/4ths of a sheet cake in one setting.

Gross, huh?  Kinda makes you sick to think about it, right?  Yeah, I know.  I made myself sick as well.  

Literally.

I. Made. Myself. Sick.

Happy Birthday, Chrissy.  Here’s to another 33 years of self-indulging, self-inflicting, gorging!

Yummmm, this tastes so good....

....Lord, I love cake....

....call me Miss Piggy. I don't care....

....Oh, wait. Maybe I DO care....

....I think I'm gonna get sick.....

Headless Horseman

It amazes me – no, it actually tickles me – at how incredibly scared Emma is of the Headless Horseman.  For someone who is fearless, who is all-knowing, who ain’t afraid of “no ghosts” (insert the music [in your head, of course] to the cheesy ‘Ghostbusters’ “I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts” here)…………she sure is petrified of Mr. Headless Horseman!

And it just cracks. Me. Up.

Do I have a little fun, egging her fear on?  Sure.

Do I add to the fear factor by making up stories of him?  Uh-huh.

Am I going to win “Mother of Year” for doing so?  Ummm, probably not.

But I can’t help myself………it’s so freaking funny!!  Drew’s not scared, so it adds to the fun factor even more.  The fact that little baby brother isn’t scared, but Miss “I-can-do-anything-and-I’m-never-scared” sure is!

Everyone's excited to be waiting in line to see the Headless Horseman.
Everyone except Emma.

See? Drew's happy.
But not Emma.

This is why I was having so much fun with it.

I'm sorry, but I can't help myself.

Doesn't that just make you laugh?

Wouldn't YOU continue to egg her fear on?

No?....No?.....anybody?

  

Okay, all joking aside, and once we were done torturing her, we headed along to the other festivities that Conner Prairie had to offer.

Playing a life-size game of Halloween Operation.

BREAKING NEWS

Drew Wells Swickheimer is now potty-trained.

In an unimaginable feat, Drew Wells Swickheimer, son of Andrew and Chrissy Swickheimer, is now potty-trained.  After months and months of failed attempts, it seems as though the stubborn toddler has finally decided that he now wants to put on his big-boy pants (pun intended) and poop and pee in the potty.  When asked why the sudden change, Drew failed to comment but did give an un-apologetic grunt as he crossed his arms on his chest.  His mother quickly stepped in, answering the question, “We do not know why - nor do we care – why he has finally decided to use the restroom like the majority of 3.5 year olds. We are just relieved that our efforts can now be focused on getting him to stop wrestling his sister by body-slamming her on a daily basis.” 

Pumpkin Patch Time

We decided to mix things up a bit this year by going to Russell Farms instead of our usual Stoneycreek Farms.  Emma went to Russell Farms with her class earlier this month, and she seemed to have a good time, so we thought: Why not?  Plus, we had a coupon for free admission!  (always a bonus)

She's so pretty.

And he's so handsome.

My babies.

Photo courtesy of Emma Swickheimer

Photo courtesy of Andrew Swickheimer

She was so proud. She found all the hidden seeds!

This was hilarious:
Emma was trying to put the putt-putt ball through the hole in the pipe.
Her various techniques of trying to do so had me rolling!

Welcome to Russell Farms!

The kids enjoying the donkeys.

Take 1
As per usual, Emma's smiling perfectly. And Drew is [surprisingly] smiling perfectly as well.
Except his eyes are closed.
Dangit!

Take 2
Me: "Now Drew. Do the exact same thing. Except keep your eyes open."
Drew: "Hey look momma, that donkey's pooping!"

Take 3
Emma is - once again - smiling perfectly.
Drew is watching the donkey poop.
[so is Dad]
I give up.

October 10th, 2012

Emma woke up to a doorway of balloons on her SIXTH birthday!

The big 6-year old!

Enjoying her mermaid card.

Six presents (plus her b-day card) for six years old.

Take #1 with Drewbie.

Take #2 with Drewbie.

Happy SIXTH Birthday, Emma Lucille!

Dear Emma,

I am so incredibly PROUD to be your momma. When I see you standing in a group of your peers, my heart just beams with pride. Not only are you a good head taller than all your other classmates, but you’re just so dang smart!

And pretty.

And witty.

And sassy.

Boy, are you ever sassy! As if people don’t know it instantly when they look at you, it’s no secret that you’re my child! With almost every statement you make nowadays, I can remember saying the same dang thing to my mom! (I’m so sorry, mom. I never hated you, bytheway.) And your attitude has been hoisted to a whole new level this past year. Sometimes I really don’t believe that you’re only 6 years old…truth be told, I’m quite scared for what 16 holds!

But with all that sassiness and attitude, you’re one AMAZING little lady, Lucy. Your love and compassion for your little brother, God, and all your family members has simply amazed me. You love God, and you love to remind everyone how to love each other no matter which skin color they have (brown or peach, as you say) or what kind of family they live in (a mommy & daddy family or a mommy & mommy family, as you say).

I love you, little lady.

-Momma

A look back at some of my favorite memories this past year.

Thanksgiving last year, 2011.

Who could forget. You got it, you got it! Your Robeez foot spa!

Meeting your idol, Rapunzel, at Disney World.

Just one of your many fashion "stances."

Mommy-Emma day date, where you picked out your own outfit and hairstyle.

One of our many weekend trips to Starbucks.
Coffee (hot coca) in one hand, iPhone in the other!

One of my favorite pictures of you two!

Your first loose tooth. You lost it in March of this year.

Just one of our many nail designs that we like to do.

You learned how to braid your own hair this past year.
You do it to ALL your dolls.

You even got your ears pierced this year.
And you did a FABULOUS job at keeping them clean! 

Taking a little siesta in Papa's canoe.

You experienced your 1st pet loss this year.
Here, you're saying a little prayer before laying it to it's final resting place.
The sewer.

Your 1st race that you ROCKED!

You won a fish (that later died less than a week later) at the State Fair.

Having fun at OBX!

Enjoying all the props at Kelly's baby shower!