Emma Turns 3

Emma celebrated her 3rd birthday this weekend with a "Fancy Nancy" Party with a few of her closest friends. We played dress up, read "Fancy Nancy" books, and ate cupcakes and parfaits. The fun started even before the party on Sunday, as Emma donned her fancy tutu throughout the weekend for entertainment...

Who Knew....

tooth floss

could be so much fun... There was a web all over the house when Fancy Emma was done

Emma helps to decorate her cupcakes before heading to bed

In the morning, Emma got up by herself and decided she could go potty on her own...She earned herself a big treat!

Attempting to show how old she is...can't quite get that third finger up

Opening presents from family

Waiting for friends to arrive

Ready for a party!

Emma helps Kaylie pick out accessories

Cupcake time!

Blowing out the candle

Yummy...

Yum...

Yum!

Reading Fancy Nancy

With all of her friends
We head a great time celebrating with all of our friends!

Splashing in the Rain

We have finally gotten a good rainy day here in Northern California, and what better activity to expend energy than to go puddle jumping with Daddy!

Emma trying out her rain boots

A good splash!

"I can't believe Mommy and Daddy are letting me do this"

Rainy weather is fun!

Finding out where the "stream" went. Now time for a warm bath!
(This is one of many posts for catching up over the last few weeks! Scroll down to see what we have been up to!)

A "Paci" Transplant

Well, the time has come. We have been talking to Emma about how big girls don't use pacifers for a while now. She was down to using it for just nap time, but the last few weeks she has been wanting it for night time, too. It was time to go cold turkey. As a way of keeping beloved "paci" close, we decided that we would make a special friend for Emma to snuggle at night when she thinks she needs her paci. And yes, her special friend does have an important "internal part". Along with putting a heart inside her friend, Emma also placed her paci inside before it was sewn up.

Emma chooses her new friend

Showing off Paci and Elephant before the "surgery"

Stuffing the Elephant (please ignore the big pregnant woman in the background!)

Checking out the finished product

Giving Elephant a bath
We tried to get Emma to name the elephant "Paci", but she went for the more traditional "Ellie" instead. Right now, Emma and Ellie are in bed, and this is only after coming out of her room 2 times instead of the usual 5 or 6! Let's hope this works! Big pregnant woman in the background needs her sleep!

The Jungle

Emma and I had some free time last week, so we headed off to an indoor play area called "The Jungle". It was great because it was not too crowded and Emma got to run around and get some energy out! She loved jumping in the balls the best!

3,2,1 Blast Off!

"Swimming" in the Balls

So much fun!

Grandma's Birthday Cake

We also got to visit last weekend with Grandpa and Grandma. Emma loved playing with them all weekend. She also got to make Grandma a cake to celebrate her birthday, which was last week.

Emma and her masterpiece (she got to put the funfetti on !)

Emma and Grandma singing happy birthday

More Ice Skating!

Emma is really enjoying her ice skating classes. She is getting more independent, but moves a lot faster when some one is holding her hand. Here are a few pictures from class last weekend...

Emma and Daddy, her skating partner

Playing Ring around the Rosy

On her own

Ball time!

Collecting balls to put away

Following the pathway

Touching this ice and then jumping

Emma and Gretchen, my cousin and one of Emma's teachers

After skating, it is off to Red Robin for lunch

The end of an era for Emma

The first class Emma ever took was Gymboree. We started taking Gymboree classes when she was around 6 months old and continued until today...Our last day of Gymboree. Emma and I have both loved our experiences with the classes, but she has slowly outgrown the classes and it is time to move on to other adventures. In honor of our last day, I found some pictures of Emma's younger Gymboree days as well as some pictures from today. When did my baby become such a big girl???

When we started Gymboree, Emma could not walk

She needed help from Daddy

The little things were exciting

Parachute time was a little scary

But it could be fun too

and she loved bubbles

Now Emma loves to see what is in the "mystery bag"

Story time

Feeding a "barrel of monkeys"

Crawling through tunnels

Climbing up ladders

Riding on the "zoo train"
After class, we picked up bagels at the little deli next door


(and yes, we are outside with no coats on in February... we are having a cooler day today, high of only 65 :)
Gymboree, we will miss you... Emma will not know what to call Wednesday now if it is not Gymboree day!