Last Day with Nana and Papa

LOVE this picture! Had to get a picture of her with the lake in the background...just love the added butt crack shot!!

Building sand castles!! Of course I thought of the shovel and bucket AFTER we got to the beach!

Friday was my parents last full day here in Michigan. We had to do the tourist stuff because it wouldn't be a full trip to Michigan without it! We left in the morning and headed to lake Michigan. Emily had so much fun! Ever since we left, she has been asking to go to the beach...which she just asked upon seeing the pictures!! My mom realized how I get my ocean fix at the lake. You can't see any land when you look out and it is just like the ocean...except warmer! Emily even decided that she was going to attempt to put all of the sand on the beach back into the lake...I took a video of it because it was just too cute!

After the beach, we were going to go to lunch at the Olive Garden, but then thinking about it, I realized that there are Olive Gardens everywhere and my parents could go to one in Oregon! So, I opted to go to one of my favorite restaurants back here....Quaker Steak and Lube!! The have the BEST hot wings! We had to drive to Portage, IN to get there, but it was so worth it. I think my parents loved it.

After lunch, we headed over to the famous Notre Dame. Now, having lived here for nearly 3 years, I have yet to step foot on or near the campus! We had fun looking around at everything and my dad was in heaven when he seen the stadium!! We finished off at the book store and got a few things. My dad got a hat, my mom a shirt, and then little miss had to get a pink Notre Dame shirt...which her uncle Rob was just thrilled over...NOT!!! We are Michigan fans out here!! I got some magnets so when I move into my apartment on August 26th, I will have a start to magnets to hang up Emily's drawings!

My parents had to leave Saturday and Emily decided that she was going to help take down the air mattresses!! I took the cutest video of her rolling across the bed to get the air out!

The time flew by, not helping was me having to work so much while they were here, but they got a lot of time with Emily at least. Emily is still asking to go see Nana and Papa...aka the king!! She has the greatest imaginary play. She and my mom were the princesses one night, and my dad was the king. From that night on, it just stuck that he was the king and would correct me if I called him papa! I am praying that I get to go to Oregon in March...I am already missing my parents!!

More Zoo Pics

Yup, I went out to my car and got my camera!!! Here a couple more pictures from the zoo trip today!

Zoo Trip

Papa was in charge of carrying the backpack!! It was just too cute!

Little miss Emily and I watching the camel!

Emily decided that she needed to help her papa and she was going to push him!! Of course she only offered to help on the downhill parts, but it was still cute!

The girls got the opportunity to brush the goats! Emily LOVED it!

Kenneth helped Emily sit on the turtle statue! He is so good with her. He has so much patience and just loves her to death! Emil is so lucky to have great cousins that are so incredibly patient with her!

I have some more pictures of the zoo trip, but will have to post them later since they are on my digital camera...which is located in my car!!! I stole the memory card out of my mom's camera to post these!!

Nana and Papa Visit!

My parents arrived a week ago Thursday and have been having a blast with Emily!! She LOVES to play in my dad's wheelchair. She was such a papa's girl when we lived in Oregon, and it was like she never missed a day with him! She still has to follow him everywhere he goes. It is so cute!

Sitting in her nana's chair! My parents are semi-camping out in Rob and Jen's empty manufactored house and brought camping chairs to sit in!

Emily having fun pushing papa around in his wheelchair!

Papa taking Emily for a ride in his wheelchair! She had so much fun. She kept telling him, "Again papa, again!" She went around the house 3 times before she decied that it was time to push papa around!

Washing dishes! Luckily, Emily is always wanting to help out around the house, so she had to show her nana and papa that she can be a big helper! She washed her princess cup, Tina's cup and Kennth's cup! I just fill the sink up with soap and water and she will stand there and wash the few dishes for over an hour!!

My parents brought back a lot of my stuff that has been sitting in there garage and storage unit! She uses one of the lids to the boxes as a boat!! She has quite the imagination!

Getting sleepy, she got her princess pillow that my mom made her, got her blanket and her puppy dog and cralwed up on my mom's lap and used her as a mattress! They looked quite comfortable

She was watching a Disney movie with papa and she got scared! So she told my dad to, "come here!" Of course he got right next to her and he held onto her while the "scary" part of the movie was on!!

Papa reading one of MANY books with little miss!!!

Happy 4th of July!

Emily was VERY standoffish at first, but as soon as she seen Tina playing with the sparklers, everything was ok! Jen took this picture of Emily hiding behind me...we thought it was cute!

Grandma and Grandpa came over to sit and watch the fireworks. Grandpa even surprised the kids with ice pops...which he himself sat and ate with them! He has the rough cop exterior, but he loves his grandkids!

She was so much fun to watch. Glad that she was able to enjoy them this year. Uncle Rob was at work, so we saved some for when he is home and able to watch the kids.

Hot Days

With the pool closed this year because of the ripped liner, we have had to find other fun water things to do outside this summer. I had the great idea of a sprinkler. That is what I used to play with outside when I was a kid and remembered that I loved it. So, Jen told her mom about it, and next thing you know, grandma Sue went out and bought the kids a sprinkler! Last weekend, they went next door to grandma's had played out in it for hours! Emily LOVED it!

Uncle Rob decided that he wanted something out in the back yard for the kids to play with, so he went to Walmart and got the kids a slip n slide! They played on it all day yesterday and today! Emily is getting quite a nice tan...FINALLY! This poor child of mine I thought would never tan! She is afraid to run and slide down the slip n slide, but loves to be pulled down it and today she even started to sit on her butt and use her feet to push herself down the slide! It is so cute!

And of course I had to get a picture of the classic hand on her hip! I had been telling my mom about her doing this and thought that it was the cutest thing ever. Of course, every time I went to get a picture of her doing it, she would quit. Today, she and Tina used the slip n slide as a runway and were modeling their bathing suits! So, this is kind of an idea of what she does when she she is really serious about something and tries to be an adult!

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I don't have any pictures of my dad and I together, but of course I have some of him and his grand kids!! My dad is probably the strongest man that I have and ever will meet in my life. Not talking physically strong, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually strong. He has been through so much in his life, and yet has the most positive outlook on life. He is also the most caring man that I have ever known. He loves and cares so much for my mom and my sister and I and would do anything to make us happy and keep us safe. The man worked himself to death for years when I was a kid working two full time jobs just to make sure my mom, sister and I had everything we wanted. When he finally took it down to just one job, I got to know my dad and spend some quality time with him. Him and I were never close when I was growing up. Him and I are too much alike that we butted heads quite a bit! Throw in his lack of sleep and my teenage attitude...BAD combination!!! Then, I got to know my dad and he got to know me. He is always there for me and understands me better than anyone else. When I need to vent, he listens. If I am having financial troubles, he offers to help without question. Him and my mom are the most amazing parents ever and I am one VERY lucky daughter to have them both. They both help me with anything and everything and I know that they are both just a phone call away if I need them. I am very lucky to have them. I hate being 2000 miles away for Mother's Day and Father's Day, but I do get to see them in just a couple of weeks when they come to see Emily and I!

But, as this blog had started, and as it will finish, I just wanted to write a blog for my dad to say Thank you for being the greatest dad ever. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy Father's Day Dad!!!

Love -Your Stubborn Daughter!