Honesty is the best policy

Dec 21, 2010

I was preparing dinner and had given Rosa some blueberries in her highchair to placate her during the process. Emmy comes over and begins to eat them off her tray. I turn around to see this and say, "Hey that's not very polite. Can you ask to have some? That would be the polite thing to do. Are you polite?"

"No, I like to take things away from everybody."

During the week of Christmas no less!

Which reminds me of something from this weekend. I was downstairs with the girls and Emmy was loading the kitchen set with everything available. Rosa was trying to play with her, but Emmy was breaking into tears, cupboard blocking and telling her "No!" and telling me "Rosa's ruining it." I said, "Just let her get one toy out. You need to share." Emmy begrudgingly allows Rosa to reach into one compartment. Rosa reaches in, grabs the devil-horn head band and hands it to her. "Here you've earned it."

Kitchen set $199
Novelty head gear $3
Calling your sister the anti-christ before you can talk - Priceless

Genetics?

Apparently the cheek press is built into the DNA.















A good check press always nets a lazy eye.

















I think this one popped out an extra tooth.

THAT'S A TWO-FISTED PRESS OF LOVE!

Are We Related?

YES.
















Are school teachers beginning to get nervous?
YES.

Pentwater Day One - The Ice Cream Experiment

August 14, 2010

We were on vacation, so we figured, why not let her try ice cream?

The First Spoonful
















The First Impression
















The First Thought of Betrayal















The First Annoyance with the Cameraman

"Did you find that funny old man? Wait 'til it comes out the other end."

Pentwater Day One - Little Bill

Step One - Little Bill spontaneously generates out of Big Bill.























Always a wet comb away from business class. Little Bill.






















But party-mode always on call. Make it a double. Double Little Bill.





















100% - GRADE A - ALL LITTLE BILL!!!
























The essence of Little Bill (but not real little Bill), paid for college doing fashion shoots.

Pentwater Day One - Part Two

August 14, 2010

Adjusting to Pentwater, the adventures continue...

First bike trailer ride.
















The fundamentals of baseball, tennis-style.






















The front porch.
















So hot even Emmy got a little funky.















There's Mama!

Pentwater Day One - Part One

Still ironing out the details of the move, but trying to put some pics up.

August 14, 2010

First full day in Pentwater, MI visiting Nana and Pop. It was quite warm.

Off to the beach we went.

Hello Sand.



































Happy swing, happy surf.





























Happy Family.















Strolling in the heat. On the right is Little Bill.





























Everybody (especially Emmy) loves a bubble party!















Pop - Bubble Master

Is it a Baby Daddy?

Feb 27, 2010

Differences

Jan 08 2010:

Good to look at - Babies.





















Good to chew - Birds.

Emmy likes snow

Jan 07, 2010

"First, guess who dressed me?"





















"I'm going to throw snow on you! HA-Ha-ha!"















"That was a surprise!"





















"I guess you are OK for an old man."

Shots in a Park

March 18, 2010

Contemplation &















Satisfaction.

Portrait of a Camera Strap Eater

March 18, 2010

The Lover

March 5, 2010

The Intimidator

March 5, 2010

They're Real...

...all-natural, full, and delicious. (Mar-07-2010)

I had a Great Golden Pig...

... and I called her Steve. And on March 7, 2010, I hath rodeth her.

Phrases I enjoy

One of our computers is down and possibly out, so no pictures at the moment. So I will post some Emmy phrases, so I will have a record later.

Thank you - "Tack Nu" (although I just asked her to say it and the "y" sound has begun to appear, blogging just in time.) Sometimes, "Tank Nu"

I also tried to get her to say I Love You for Christmas this past year and got - "I Nuv Nu." I should try that again.

When she throws a ball in the air and hits you. "Car-e dada" - Sorry dada.

When you are in her way. "Coos me" - Excuse Me.

The only stuffed animal given a name for the first several months was a panda from Build-a-Bear, her name: "Goo-ga." Then we got a second panda. Now we have "Little Goo-ga" and "Normal Goo-ga."

And my absolute favorite is "That thing there that I don't currently know the name of" - "Choo-do-cha." Origin unknown. Actually everything about it is unknown.

She has a very good vocabulary, just missing a few letters in pronunciation. Can do the alphabet with a little prompting, counts into the teens, and can finish the lines on numerous books. I feel reading time has been successful. Just yesterday I pointed to a picture and asked "What are these dancers called?" And she nailed "Ballerinas". That seemed impressive, although she does have a big noggin.

New Year's Day Tradition - Year One

January 1, 2010

We decided that New Year's Day would be a good day to take an annual family photo. We took ten takes. This was the best.

















Except for the single "funny face" take.
















I did enjoy this album cover of Emmy and the Friendly Animals. Emmy is the lead singer with mystique. Almost Famous, a classic.















Lastly, we did a "Christmas in January" posing, since we were on a roll. I am still working on a caption. A blue, blue Christmas. Snazzle in any Season. Suggestions welcome.

Negotiations

Ni-Hao, Kai-Lan is a drug. We try and monitor the dosage and use it as a "reward" for desirable behaviors, such as taking a good nap. Today was not a good nap day, so no post-nap reward. After a mild withdrawal period (4:15pm)...

"Ni-Hao peas." (attempting to spell as spoken)

"No. You can watch it if you eat a good dinner."

"Ni-Hao peas."

"No. You can watch it if you eat a good dinner."

"Ni-Hao peas."

"No. You can watch it if you eat a good dinner."

"Emmy eat NOW?"















Comprehended my objection, found the gray area, restructured her argument to meet my parental demand and satisfy her withdrawal. YIKES!!!

She is still not watching it, but I am a lot more nervous about the future and what I can only assume will be her requests for written contracts. I will have to parental block legalzoom.com.