Emily was learning how to use chopsticks to eat her dinner. Grammy was helping me out, so that I could offer attention to Julia. Emily was very enthusiastic about wanting to use chopsticks, but couldn’t hold it tight all the way to her mouth without help. She ate shrimp and squash with the chopsticks and the broth soup and rice with the soup spoon. She seemed to really enjoy the dinner as long as the cook didn’t make any fireballs.

We celebrated Julia’s birthday with a visit to a corn maze and pumpkin patch. The day was overcast and cool with a steady breeze. We dressed Julia in her Halloween cow hat for a fun look and to keep her head warm. She enjoyed her ride in the front pack around the maze and patch. Grammy and Granddaddy joined us for our fun farm day.

Emily enjoyed hiking the maze trails, walking through muddy puddles, and flying over big ones. She wanted to punch her card at each of the posts. And for some odd reason she wanted to walk in the back of the group. She loved riding the tractor wagon to the pumpkin patch and looking at the different pumpkins in the patch. Emily also tried her first corndog as she shared her mother’s one.

A fun visit with our Florida grandparents just came to a close. Visits are too far apart and always too short. Especially at the speed the girls are growing. During their visit we went to visit the Mayfield Dairy and saw how they make jugs, fill them, and move ice cream around the plant. We also ate some yummy ice cream. During their visit we ate good food, splashed at pool time, did some shopping, and stopped by a park for some quick play before a storm blew in. In and between all the other activities there was also a lot of play, hugs, and stories.

I lucked onto the idea of the grandparent photo by the swing. It worked really well to keep the two year old contained and looking somewhat toward the camera. You can’t get enough photos of grandparents and their grandkids.

Emily playing with the Big Boy toys at Aunt Jolie’s.

(15 months) Mommy, Daddy, and Emily took a vacation in late April to Florida. We spent a day with Aunt Jolie and the extended family. Then Emily traveled on to Miami with Grandma and Grandpa while Mommy and Daddy took a couple of days to visit the coast. For the last part of the trip Mommy and Daddy joined Emily in Miami for a couple days of play. Emily enjoyed her visit with her grandparents and didn’t miss Mommy and Daddy too much.

My mother, aunt and brother are camping in Georgia this week, so Mommy planned a short trip to see them. Emily really enjoyed her day visiting with them.

Grandma was surprised when Mommy and Emily showed up at the campsite.

Emily likes to collect things. We call them “her treasures”.

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Emily-090712_edited-1, originally uploaded by netdoc73.

Emily works on her "chop".