Thursday, October 31, 2013

Lego Catalog

I love it when we get a new Lego catalog.  Drew looks at it so intensely.  He looks at every single page, in the most careful of detail.  I was able to capture just a moment of this, until he realized that I was recording him……

And then he completely shut down, and was over it......

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Happy SEVENTH Birthday, Emma Lucille

Dear Emma,

It's hard to believe another year has gone by.  Another year that you have amazed me with your energy, your spunk, and your sassiness.  I have always said this - and I always will - your beauty and brains amaze me.  You are beyond your 7 years, Missy Lucille.  You challenge me to the core.  You intuition and ability to understand "the world" is amazing.  

You care so much for your baby brother, your mom and dad, and most importantly God.  Your spirituality has really grow this past year.  I am so proud when I see you praying on your own, or asking if we can pray together as a family for some one in need. 

As challenging as you are, you are even more compassionate for those you love.  Your family.  Your friends.

You are my superstar, Emma.  And I love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Momma

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










Emma's 7th Birthday

We celebrated Emma’s 7th birthday at Sky Zone.  We invited all the girls in her class – 14 girls.  (Hello!  She has 14 girls in her class…..and only 8 boys.  I’ve always said Girls Rule and Boys Drool….)  And would you believe that every single girl could go?!?  I thought, for sure, that there’d be some who couldn’t go.  It was on a school night, after all.  And it was in FISHERS.  I mean, Fishers, people………..all the way up north!!!

So, with all the craziness that ensued, I didn’t take nearly as many pictures as I would have liked.  I didn’t even get a group shot of all the girls!  Oh well.  That didn’t take away from the fact that the girls (and Drewbie!.....and his friend Cole, Ava Marie’s bro) had a blast.  In fact, Emma said that it was her best birthday ever.


So I guess that’s all that matters!

Getting their instructions for jumping



Emma, working on her jump shot.

Pizza and cake time!

Mr. Ghetto-Fabulous

Let me introduce you to Mr. Fabulous.  As in, Ghetto-Fabulous.

You see, Mr. Fab has been with me through some very monumental times in my life.  Most notably, the birth of my baby boy.  He’s taken some hits over the years; he’s been rear-ended by a truck, he’s been side swiped by the kid’s play-Jeep, he’s been battered and bruised by various flying objects that have come his way.  But the biggest hit that he’s taken of all, was when Andy rear-ended a fire hydrant whilst backing out of a driveway.  The “hit” itself wasn’t so bad……

Until he drove forward, thus removing part of Mr. Fab’s bumper.

That happened back in May.

And I’ve been driving him around, with a band-aid on his boo-boo ever since.  Until one mortifying day in the parking lot at SPX.

It was just another ordinary day at Pick-Up.  I was waiting in the back parking lot, minding my own business…probably catching up on Facebook, while Drew hung out in the back seat, doing what he does best (telling me stories about some ninja or bulldozer he saw that day).  All the while, completely obvious to the fact that Mr. Feb’s band-aid had come off, leaving his poor exposed boo-boo for all to see.

So when it was time for 2nd Pick-Up to roll around to the front parking lot, I drove Mr. Fab right around, with his boo-boo flapping for all to see.

And it wasn’t until I got out of the car to go chat with one of my mom-friends, that I saw it.




Needless to say, I’m no longer driving Mr. Ghetto-Fabulous around.  Andy has now been awarded with that privilege.

Friday, October 18, 2013

The Beast

Here's a glimpse of what we [lovingly] refer to as "The Beast."  

What is "The Beast" you ask?

The Beast is what comes out when Emma is tired and cranky.  Much like Beyonce gives herself the name Sasha Fierce when she's performing, we give Emma the name The Beast when she's acting like one.

We have a very loving family.



Spa Factory Fun

Another event that our Girl Scout troop attended was "Spa Factory Fun."  While it was a crazy, unorganized event, the girls didn't seem to mind because they got to play dress up and create some lotion and perfume.  And what 6 year old girl doesn't like that?!?




Uncle Matt's Birthday

We celebrated Uncle Matt's birthday a few weeks ago.  Complete with all the necessities only Swickheimers require:

  • Loud, obnoxious talking
  • Over-indulging on good Italian good, and
  • Embarrassing Opera-like singing
Blow those candles out, Uncle Matt!


Nice photo-bomb, Emma.

Classic:
Emma with food in her mouth and Drew making a silly face.

Say CHEESE for Uncle Matt's birthday!

The Olympian In Me

Sports, sports, and more sports!  Some girls from my Girl Scout troop engaged in some sports activities at NIFS (National Institute for Fitness and Sports) last month.  They participated in high-energy fitness programs and learned about women in the sports world.  It was a great opportunity to expose these girlies to women's sports, showing them how empowering they can be!

These are the cute "shorties" of our troop.  They couldn't touch the pedals on the bikes, so they simulated it on the ground!



Climbing the treadwall.

Maggie finishing the obstacle course.

Rainbow Loom

Have you heard about the latest craze that kids are into right now?!?

No?

Well let me introduce you to the Rainbow Loom.

The Rainbow Loom does not discriminate based on gender.  The Rainbow Loom does not discriminate based on race.  No, the Rainbow Loom does not discriminate based on anything.  Boys and girls, black and white, LOVE, LOVE, LOVES the Rainbow Loom.

So naturally, Emma has jumped on the bandwagon and has been loom-ing ever since!





Thursday, October 17, 2013

Emma's 1st Forged Signature

At age 7, Emma has already mastered the forged signature.  

Every night, we have to sign off on her homework (Yes....EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.  And yes, she's only in 1st Grade).  Well, little Missy Lucille decided that SHE was going to take care of this little task.
My signatures are the top two.
Emma's forged signature is the bottom one.