Tell us how you really feel...

Sutton's reaction to the fact that the Antholz Adventures October posts predominately feature her big sister.

Frog of the Week and Freckles

Each child in Emme's class at Little Kingdom has the opportunity to be the "Frog of the Week," which technically spans three weeks :) During that time their pictures and some information about them is featured on a bulletin board at Little Kingdom and they get to host Freckles, the class mascot.

We are just finishing Emme's Frog of the Week run and I thought you might enjoy the little poem and pictures that we put together to include in the journal that accompanies Freckle on his journey with all of the Frogs. I wish I could also have posted Emme's artwork that added some flair to the pages of our journal entry, but this will have to do. I hope you enjoy this as much as our little Frog enjoyed hosting Freckles.

Emme and Freckles
On October 2, Freckles hopped in his bag.
He headed home with Emme Jules and her family that day.
They ate fruit snacks, watched Sesame Street,
and in the toy room they played.

A trip to Memorial Stadium, they watched the Huskers huddle.
Every night they were together they so loved to cuddle.
Freckles joined her for swimming lessons and Husker volleyball.
You can even see an attempt at a family photo for the wall.

On Emme’s special day, they awoke to a party.
Freckles helped sing Happy Birthday,
He is such a smarty.

During their 3 week adventure fast friends they became.
Emme wishes all of the other Frogs and Freckles exactly the same!

Emme's 4th Birthday Recap

October 20 has come and gone. We are left some fun photos and memories of the day. Please excuse the bedhead :) We've decided a VIP family only party immediately upon waking birthday morning will become an Antholz family tradition. Emme was a little overwhelmed by it all, but came around eventually. Sutton on the other hand was ready to PAR-TAY, and as you can see, dig into the cake which probably shouldn't surprise anyone. The party was followed by breakfast together at the venue of Miss E's choice. This year it was Bagels and Joe. Then it was off to Little Kingdom with her cheerleader cookie cake to share with her classmates. When I arrived to pick the girlies up at the end of the day, Emme proudly sported her birthday crown on the playground and recounted how much fun the day was. We ended the evening with swimming lessons.

Today's the Day... The 4th BIRTHDAY!

October 19, 2009

Emme: After I sleep today will it be my birthday?
Mommy and Daddy: Yes, when you wake up tomorrow it will be the day
Emme: YES (Fist pump for extra effect)

October 20, 2009

Today is the day. Our baby is 4 and is still fast asleep. The balloons are hung in the kitchen from the ceiling fan and strung out all over the floor. The cookie cake (the first of the day) is set out on the table with 4 candles ready to be lit. Her birthday presents are waiting on the table. The one she will be most excited about is a scarf. Yes, you read that correctly... scarf. She's been asking for one for weeks... apparently all the cool teachers and kids at Little Kingdom have them :)

She is so excited. So we are so excited. Like I'm sure every parent wonders, this morning as I set out the cake and hung the balloons, I wondered how four years can pass so quickly. Last night we were telling her that it was four years ago at that moment that we were heading to the hospital to get ready to meet her... she was a little confused by that, but at this point I imagine the story is mostly for us :) Quite frankly, while some days that night before we were blessed with Miss Emme feels like a million years ago, most days it feels like it was just yesterday.

We had absolutely no idea what joy, fun, and love one little being could bring into our lives. So today, we celebrate! And oh yeah, we'll eat some cake too.

Party at the Pumpkin Patch

Emme has been counting the days to her class field trip to the pumpkin patch in Roca. Last night, when we told her that the day would be here when she woke up, we got that awesome fist-pump and loud whispered "YES!" She was excited for the pumpkin patch, but probably just as excited for the van ride there and being able to take her lunch to school.

So, our baby bounded out of bed this morning and dressed herself. She came downstairs for breakfast fully accessorized--pink knee high boots, yellow bow in her hair, and wait for it... wait for it... Yes, a pink and purple feather boa. She told me that she couldn't go to the pumpkin patch without a scarf :)

You know what... I totally let her wear the accessories. When you look good, you feel good, right? And at the end of the day, no one knows who might be hanging at the pumpkin patch waiting to discover the next big thing in fashion! I only wish I could have gotten her to agree to a picture. She was in too big a hurry to get out the door.

October... Let them eat cake!

Life as we knew it changed in ways more amazing than we could have ever imagined this month 4 years ago! And so, we eat cake...

Ghosts of Octobers Past

It's official. It's October and it feels like fall. The girls are are eagerly anticipating all that October has to offer--the pumpkin patch, Boo at the Zoo, Emme and Sutton's Halloween Birthday Bash that will take place on Halloween and split the difference between their birthdays. We have conversations daily about what they will be... fairies, cupcakes, unicorns. Round and round and round they go. Where they'll stop, nobody knows!

Turning the page of the calendar to October has got me thinking about the ghosts of Octobers and Halloweens past...