Journal Jar Challenge #2

Thanks to Tiffany, I decided to snazz up my blog a little bit and take the Journal Jar Challenge:

"What do they call you? Why do they call you that? Don't have a nickname? What about your kids, or husband or friend-whatever. Your challenge is to do a layout or blog about your nickname(s) by November 13."

Emali:
Of course we can start with "Em" which is most frequently used. But I was trying to dig deep into the past and recall some of the other nicknames I've had.

My brothers call me "Sister" or "Sis". (It is just me and the boys, remember! Don't worry, I always respond back with "brother").

I can remember a dear friend, Julie Jan calling me "Emmy-poo-poo". I hated it! And then I didn't mind it so much. It reminds me of old days after primary softball getting together with the neighborhood girls and climbing trees and getting into trouble.

In college, my dear roommates and I were making matching roommate t-shirts to wear (long live H.E.R.E.) and they were trying to think of a nickname to write on the back and discovered that my name spelled backwards is "I Lame" I know you call all laugh because I'm sure my parents NEVER thought of that when trying to create my unique name spelling.

One of my dearest friends (also a college roommate) dubbed me "Oatmeal" which now gets shortened to "Oats". Don't ask! I don't really remember where that come from!

The last is by far the most special to me. Only those very near and dear are allowed to use it. I'm almost a little afraid to type it because I just wrote that. Honestly I think only 3-5 people used it regularly (my parents' best friends who have known me my whole life, my husband, and now it's rubbed off a little on my husband's family). Drum roll please......

"Emi" The spelling comes from an old cabbage patch doll my parents give me once named Emi as well. I guess I like this one best but there's something to be said about keeping it special by not over-using it.

I'm sure there are some that I missed! So I'm inviting all friends and family to remind me of the names I've forgotten.

It's that time again!

Tonight is Girls Night Out! It's my favorite night of the whole month. I have my cards ready for card swap and I've been rolling the dice to practice my bunko skills! Don't worry Marykaye, I'm bringing my appetite as well. Can't wait to see you girls there! Bring on the prizes!

WE HAVE A NIECE!

I'm very proud to say that I have a niece! Welcome to Seinna Mazie Gardner! She was born at 8:32 am on November 2nd. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 ozs and is 19 and a half inches long. She has lots of dark hair and is adorable!

Congratulations to Michelle, David, and Tyrus!

Happy Late Halloween!

I know I'm late but we had a fabulous Halloween. A few of us in our complex volunteered to host Halloweeny activities for others to enjoy. Here's a few (please excuse the poor quality pics).

The Cake walk at the Young's

Tick or Treating on the way to The Johnston's to paint pumpkins.

At the Goodman's: turning Daddy into Mummy!

Our Cute Duck! (I love the non-expression face!)

My Babies

I went to the Doc on Monday and these are the cool shots she got of the baby...

This one is cool because it's of the front of the baby. Can you find the eyes and little arms and legs? Come on it's looking right at you!

The side view: a little face and eyes, and if you squint and turn your head a little you can see the arms and legs.

My mom found this adorable outfit at a garage sale...I LOVE IT! Thanks Mom!!


You've got to love the Mollenhauer curl! :)


I love this shot. Every once in a while I get a GOOD pic out of my old, crappy, slow camera! YEAH!

New Stuff

So, our family has been bugging us to post some video of Gracie. This is more to appease the wanting masses than anything else. Emali did some fancy stuff with the credits at the end so I don't know if it has made it slower or what but we have been having one heck of a time downloading it and trying to send it out through emails, so this is the best we got. Please let us know if it is too slow or if it messes up, or if you can't get it.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friends and Fam Links

Hey I finally updated my links...that's long overdue! But if I overlooked you I either don't really like you all that much or just that I didn't find your link when I was link hunting. It's probably the first one! Just drop me a line if you feel left out! ha ha ha Can't wait for girls nite tonight! I'll try and post our fun stuff tomorrow!

take 2

More of the catch-up...

Apparently she is smart enough to read upside down!

Alexa came to visit over her Fall Break and we had a blast taking her around town. Gracie was sure sad when her bff went back home.

emocionada!

At a harvest festival corn maze.

This was an earlier pic that I found and I love the galoshes and aprons they provide for the kids!

By the time Alexa left I had maxed out the memory card and was having to delete pics so I could take more. I was annoyed and this was the only pic of our fun trip to the zoo. First, I love that I found these cute leggings at a baby expo. I can still dress her in skirts but don't have to worry about dealing with tights. And seconds, I love when the peacocks at the zoo just walk right up to you for no reason at all. (It's in the top right hand of the photo.)

All in all we are loving our new "home", I think AZ will always be home to us. Lance is surviving school. But he says its definitely not like getting your undergrad. He says they went though an entire semester's worth of information in 1 class period! I think we both realized how much of a growing experience this is going to be for us. We're buckling down, we're going to have a doctor in the family!

I'm Back!!!

I think she's more addicted to Starbucks than I am!! I bought this for myself and lost it to Gracie!

Who knew she loved corn on the cob so much?! She DEVOURS it!

Celynda and Lukas came to visit and we took a trip to the children's museum. They LOVED the water!

Gracie is ready for our morning jog. I have to tell you, this is a gorgeous path around a golf course. Although, as much as I like it we've got stuck 1/2 around once when it started pouring on us. Where was our umbrella you might ask? Where it belongs, of course, in the car.

This is the gorgeous path.

We often get chased by squirrels who apparently thinks we have food.

Ok, so blogging has really not been on my priority list since we've moved. So the next few blogs are going to be a catch up of the last 7 weeks!

Gracie is growing like a weed! She is so funny and is talking! Ok, not full sentences but she really says words! It's fascinating! A few that I can think of off the top of my head are:

ahhh-duh= all done

jes= yes

wassss dat= what's that

cheee --ih= cheez-it

eee-eee (with a closed mouth)= binky

mama

dada

(I know there are more!)

What's more amazing is that she understands more that I know. She follows simple directions in English, Spanish, and ASL.

She signs:

eat, more, mom, dad, light, fan, cold, hot, stinky!, touch down, all done, shoes, oh no, please, (ahhh I can't think of them all!)

I love being a parent!

The Falls courtsey of the Johnston's (again)

So last Sunday a bunch of families from our complex took a little drive to Multnomah falls (it's only about 15 minutes away!).

Isn't this a gorgeous view?

Gracie contemplating taking the plunge.

Xander, Gracie, Taylor, Aidan, and Rilee (Gracie's new friends)