Thanks to Susan and Cris for the awesome info about free, cute blogs. See comments on post below. Anyone know why my blog has pencils near the comment links and tools near the html things? How do I rid my blog of these? Thanks.

Pretty Blogs

Just wondering where all of my blogging friends find these beautiful templates for their blogs? The only ones I can find are these generic ones. Oh how I long to join the land of pretty, pretty blogs. Someone help me... please...

Long time, no post!

I'm BACK. Between Christmas and our 2 1/2 week trip to Louisiana (and recovering from the trip), it's been a while...

The highlight of January was Emma's 5th birthday last week. We had a fancy, princess tea party with 7 of her friends. It was a lot of fun preparing for the party and the day was great! We even had a guest princess (our pastor's daughter dressed up). It wasn't a Disney princess kind of party. Emma is into GiGi, God's Little Princess, so the party was all about how to be God's little princess. We have book called, " I'll Be Your Princess". It's great... it touches on lots of character qualities that kids should strive for. Princess Hannah also talked a little about manners with the kids. We had tea, punch, and other tea party foods (and some non-tea party foods like cheese balls). The girls made princess dress jewelry holders for a craft(the only prince at the party opted for a royal chest instead). We played a few games, danced (funniest "royal" dance ever... to country music and everyone was boogy-ing!) Geneveive also dressed like a little princess.

Super Emma!

One morning a few months ago, prompted by a song on a cd of her favorites... Go Fish and an episode of Clifford, Emma asked me if anyone could be a super hero. I said, "YES!" She said, "Well, Cleo on Clifford said that you have to be born a super hero. I said, "Anyone can be a super hero for God if they love and trust Jesus and spend their lives doing what He wants them to do... being kind, helping others, being honest, working hard, trusting Jesus as their savior... She said that she wanted to be a super hero for God. Then she asked for a super hero cape. She gave me the exact specifications: pink and purple stripes. When my mom was here recently, we ( she sewed and I designed) made the cape. It came out great. Emma is so adorable when she puts it one... she swirls around the house and says, "Super Emma is here and ready to help!" When I want her to do something really helpful, I encourage her to put her cape on first... amazing what it does for her willingness. She also talked me into making a mask... that was interesting, but I finally got it to work. Enjoy the photos.

Motherhood Tag

My friend at peterspeapod.blogspot.com started this different twist on tag, so here are 7 things about my journey to motherhood:

1. I had the displeasure of two histerosalpinograms (one before Emma and one before Genevieve)... second time around was much more uncomfortable than the first.

2. We conceived using Clomid... we were on our second to last month using it and if it had not worked, then we would've been done pursuing fertility treatments... God's timing is perfect!!

3. I had gestational diabetes in both pregnancies... the downside was lots of phone calls and visits to the specialist... the upside... monthly ultrasounds to see my little beauties growing and thriving inside.

4. We did not find out Emma's sex (Andy's choice), but we did find out with Genevieve (on the 3rd try) (my choice).

5. Infertility was the most difficult trial for me, but it was also a time of tremedous growth in my life personally and in our marriage... after that battle, we were rock-solid in our marriage and in our relationship w/ Christ... we had to lean on Him and one another SO much and it was SO hard.

6. I had two c-sections and compared to what I thought they would be like, I was pleasantly surprised at the low level of pain. Again, the second was tougher than the first all the way around. One thing that I wish is that I could have just felt one contraction to know what one feels like... all my vaginal birth friends are cringing and saying, "oh no you don't."

7. After infertility struggles before conceiving Emma and beginning the "process" again when we hoped to get pregnant again, we were surprised and delighted when we got pregnant with Genevieve w/o the help of anyone but the Lord... we were especially amazed b/c it was the summer that I spent weeks home and in physical therapy for a torn miniscus in my knee... needless to say that baby making was the last thing on the agenda, so becoming pregnant was even more of a miracle.

8. OK... I'm cheating and adding one more: I breast fed both girls Emma for 11 months and Genevieve for 15 months. They were so different... Emma would take a bottle or the breast easily. Genevieve (after the second week of her life when she was forced on a bottle b/c of an illness and medication I was taking) NEVER took a bottle... she was all breast all the time. That's one gift that I am glad to have given them both.

So that's a bit of our journey toward parenthood. Being a mom is the most amazing and challenging blessing that I have ever had in my life... I love it and my girls!!

Fall Fun! Part Two

Emma posing on our front stoop in front of her loot from the pumpkin patch.

Hey... that guy is just my size... is he a friend??

Mama and Genevieve

Love the shadows!

The cutest 2 pumkins in the world!

Genevieve, the little pumpkin girl.

Emma, the big pumpkin girl... notice the green (leaf/vine) bows.

The pumpkins are as big as Genevieve.

This is kinda cool...

Hay anyone??

G was not too sure about the hayride thing... spent most of the time with her head on my shoulder... checking out the decorations on the side of the wagon.

Emma loved the hayride and the fun music.

Emma and Andy having fun on the hayride... it was chilly.

Genevieve sits with Daddy for a while... but still hangs on tight.

Fall Fun! Part One

We actually got this one at Shop-Rite b/c Emma really wanted one to paint before we went pumpkin picking. Our YUMMY apple pie... all ready for the oven.

We went apple picking... the girls had lots of fun. Emma especially liked picking the HIGH ones on top of Andy's shoulders.

She decided whe wanted to "try before you buy." But I made her wait until we paid and until I cleaned it off (germ-o-phobe).

I LOVE this one... Sweet Sisters and the shadows behind them.

This is in honor of my two friends who can't enjoy fall the same way they once did. It is my second favorite time of year... after spring. Unfortunately, my allergies cause me to miss more of the outdoor fun than I would like to. Saturday, after our hay ride, I was so sick... itchy, burning eyes, terrible headache, and generally funky feeling. It was worth it to see the girls' smiles and hear their laughter. Emma is a fall fanatic. She was counting down the days until October 1st and then she started begging me to decorate for fall. It's been fun watching her joy as we experience everything fall. Next post: Pumkins and Hayride!!