Craig's braid

He decorates cakes and he braids hair. Craig is a super star dad. 

Happy Emily and Max

Emily is so happy to play with her boyfriend (of kissing fame) Max at Nadia's house.

Happy birthday girl!

Not long after Belle finished her cupcake, she asked to return to her classroom. What a delight that Belle enjoys school so much! Emily's teacher (Belle's former teacher), Ms. Lori, walked Belle back to her classroom, and Emily and I shared a few more giggles before it was time to leave.

Oh, the fun we had!

The cupcakes were yummy, and the giggles were plentiful.

Emily's birthday celebration at school

I went to the girls' school today to help Emily celebrate her birthday in her classroom. I picked up Belle from her classroom on my way to Emily's classroom. Emily was elated to see us, and Belle got the first Emily hug. Emily's teacher gave her a birthday hat and she got to press the button that makes the birthday bear sing "Happy birthday." It was a lovely midday treat!

Emily is two!

Birthday cake!

Emily's Elmo birthday cake

Craig made and decorated it!

Dinner with Jordan

Belle writes names!

Belle practices writing the letter "B"

The Kiss

Emily holds Max's face in her hands so she can give him a good kiss. Notice her puckering.

Emily kisses Max

Among the habits Emily should break before she reaches her adolescent years: grabbing boys faces and kissing them on the mouth.

Kissing Emily

Emily and Max, who is only a month or so older than Emily, have been buddies at Nadia's house for over a year. Emily feels so close to Max, she decided that she wanted to kiss him yesterday. So she did. On the mouth. ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

At Trader Joe's

Debbie and Emily

Like family

Emily and Mina

Napping and playing in Emily's crib.

Emily ready to help outside

Daddy's girl

Emily loves her father. Often, I'll go to take her out of the crib in the morning, but she'll lie back down when she sees me and ask for Daddy. She'd rather stay in her crib longer and be rescued by her father than get her clean diaper and breakfast earlier. This kiddo loves her Daddy.

Cousins Scarlett and Liam

Six cute kiddos with Grandma Helene and Grandpa Richard

Snacking among the pumpkins

Our take-away from The Pickin Patch

Reliving my childhood

I have fond memories of the free hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick my very own pumpkin that my father would carve while my mother roasted its seeds. With our day off from school, I relived that memory with Belle and Emily. Here we are at the Pickin Patch in Avon.

Emily's future is bright that one set of shades isn't enough

Cousin lunch

Belle and Emily, Noah and Mia

Belle the moose

Emily awake and singing, and snoozing in the couch

Emily: lap-sitting and cake-loving.

Belle Picking Apples

Belle makes a great apple picker

Yummy apples

Apple picking!