It snowed in the south...

On December 11th it snowed in Louisiana.

So it may not have been like the snow that our families get in Vermont or Chicago, but who would of thunk it this far south.

See that's snow falling. Not sleet.

70's - 80's party

Rob and I went to the annual Swamp Stop. This year was 70's/80's theme. We had a blast.

I loved how Rob looked as my Pimp Daddy.All decked out. By the way I had an awesome time getting ready. It was so nostalgic.

Rob actually cheezed it up for me. (I think he was feeling pretty happy at that point of the night)
My big pregnant belly. Any guesses as what "it" might be?

Pumpkin Patch in Missouri October 30th, 2008

While visiting my parents the week of Halloween, we all took a drive out to a pumpkin patch/farm. It was a great time.

Emma sitting on top of a truck load of pumpkins

Looking for that perfect pumpkin.

(Emma seemed to think the bigger the better)

She finally decided on two small ones that she could hold and carry.
They had a corn kernal play area. Emma had a blast.
She played by herself for a very long time.

We took a train ride that was pulled by a tractor through the actual pumpkin patch. Emma loved it.

She even posed for a picture with her Nana.

She's such a good girl.

October 20th, 2008 - Our family is reunited

October 20th 2008

Rob getting off the plane. YEAH!!!!!!

Our little family picture. Wish we had been there to see them land.

Emma and Daddy.

A moment of unsureness and then it was back to being his little girl.

My Sailor's Return from Iraq

FINALLY.. well almost finally. Since Thursday we have been anxiously waiting for Rob to get back stateside. He and the last of his team are finally back stateside and we are truly hopeful that they will all be able to catch a flight back home to us here in Louisiana/Mississippi tomorrow. This deployment is almost at an end. THANK THE LORD!!!!
My next post will be when he is at home with Emma and me.
GOD BLESS

October 2008

Emma let me take her picture this morning before taking her to daycare. She looked so cute. (but she doesn't ever want to smile for the camera these days.)Evil eyes here. Thinking of something naughty to do.
This one was from last week when we had some nice days that weren't in the 90s. We went for a walk and anytime we go by this one house, she has to stop and walk the bridge a million times.

Emma at the spray park in July 08

I have just found these pics from the day I took Emma to the spray park. Looking at them tonight brought a smile to my face as she had such a good time.

Vegas May 2008

Finally got the pictures uploaded from my camera from our trip to Vegas.

That's Andrea everyone... my best friend

BREAKING NEWS......

As you may or may not be able to see on the poster that Emma is holding.... we made this for Rob to tell him the exciting news of Emma becoming a big sister by the time she turns 2. Actually she may be turning 2 and becoming a big sister all at the same time. Today I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound done and its official... we are having a baby. Due date is December 27th. Emma was suppose to be due on the 24th if you all remember. I know what you are probably thinking... HAHAHA.

(Em's Sign says "Pink or Blue, no matter it's true,

I am going to be a big Sister by the time I turn 2".)

We are very excited about this and can't wait to find out if its a boy or girl... but not until the baby is born. Sorry all you pushers. Rob already tried to talk me into finding out what the sex of the baby is when its time.
My theory is this... everything today is a known fact. This is one of the only true and good surprises left to us in this world of Science that we live in. And to be honest, what difference does it make as long as the baby is born healthy. I would be happy with either or. No matter.

CURRENT PICS OF EMMA

June 6th started our camping trip with my family in Nashville Tn. We camped at a Gov rec area called Seven Points. It was so nice. Emma and I camped out in a tent. (we still need to learn how to operate the 5th wheel) But we had a great time. Here are a few of the pictures I took with my camera while in Tennessee.

Playing at the Pirate Ship playground.

Being mommy to my babydoll.

Building my princess sandcastle.

Feeding a family of ducklings

Ready to go floating at the Lake

Out on the boat and ready to get into the water.

Picture with my Mommy

Making funny faces for the camera.

Posing with my cousins Nora and Jessica at the Nashville Country's Music Hall of Fame.

Taking a break... Vacation is hard to keep up with.

This concludes this portion of the pictures as I will have to get the ones from my Mom and Brother before I can post any more.

Vegas and Nana & Papa's

It's June already... YEAH!!!! that means only 4 more months until Rob is scheduled to return. (although that is not any guarantee.)
So Emma and I drove up to my parents house with the dogs on the 25th of May. My parents graciously agreed to watch her while I went to another conference. (my last one this year until Rob gets home). She seemed to have a great time with Nana and Papa. Papa being her buddy all during the day and then Nana's girl first thing in the morning and once she got home from work everyday. Emma got to eat all of the fun stuff that we normally don't have at home - Ice cream, candy, chips, and she even had popcorn for the first time with her Nana.
And of course Nana and Papa got her another exicting toy to play on... They bought her her very own Step2 roller coaster. It didn't take Em long to figure it out. (although the girl is a bit lazy and would rather you push her down than use her own legs). Nana took her out on the 4-wheeler again, and she played on her tree swing. She even got to go shopping. I think she probably had a better time than I did in Vegas. (well maybe not... LOL)

Speaking of Vegas... that's where my conference was at. The actual conference was o.k. (thankfully it was somewhere fun) but the best part was that my BFF Andrea met me out there. We had a great time just the two of us (for the most part) without any children. We went and saw Mystere - Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, and of course went and had massages and paraffin wax treatments. Did I say I had a great time? We were going to do a little sightseeing the last afternoon we were there... but opted to head for the pool at the Hotel instead. (much better idea).
We had a nice little visit with her brother and his family. They only live about 4 hours from Vegas in Cali and so they drove out to see Andrea. All in all it was a good time.

Back home this week. Back to work too. But getting ready for yet another fun and exciting trip. Saturday Em and I are back on the road for our family vacation to Nashville Tennessee. We will be meeting my parents and my oldest brother and his wife for a week of camping. It should be a load of fun. Two of my nieces from Milwaukee will be flying down on Tuesday afternoon to join us too. Can't wait for that.
I will post pictures of Emma's stay up north and my trip to Vegas along with pics from our upcoming vacation after we return. ( I really will)

News on Rob.... much of the same. He is busy in and out of the field. Tired as always. The boy still has not gotten a commercial email address for all of you that are looking for one. He is slacking a little bit in that department, but I am sure he will eventually get one. eventually.....LOL

Hope this finds all of you out there doing great and gearing up for the summer. It's already hotter than Hades down here. YUCK!!!
Taataa for now.

Flat Stanley visits Iraq

This is Flat Stanley. He has been traveling all over the U.S (and Iraq) starting from a 3rd grade class in Massachusetts. Rob took him with when he left for Iraq. I put up a few of the pictures he sent.

~~~~THANKS ROB~~~~Flat Stanley standing Guard duty with a couple of Army Soldiers.
Flat Stanley getting ready to go out on Patrol.

For more information on who Flat Stanley is visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley

Just a picture of Emma

Just a picture of Emma. No special occassion. She was just being her cute little self.

Emma's New Swing Set

I finally went and bought Emma her swing set last weekend and put it together Wednesday night. Yesterday we went out side and played in just a diaper as it was 77 degrees out at 5:30p.m.

Emma is big enough now to sit on a big girls swing and be able to hang on while she is swinging. (So glad I didn't bother to buy the baby swing)

Going down the slide... wwwhhhheeeee!!!!

Completed projects

Our yard is back. This shows how Rob redid the front landscaping by adding a retaining wall around our bushes.

Here is one of the patios and part of the back driveway we had done. It is so nice to have these. Our 5th wheel fits perfectly.

See! Behind the fifth wheel we will eventually be putting in a new garage. (maybe turning our current one into an entertainment room.)

This used to be our open back patio. We extended the slab that was there and had this sunroom put it. I love it.

Inside of the sunroom. The nice thing was that the lamp, plant and rug was the only thing I had to buy. Sweet.
Even Ceiba approves.