Emmaline's sweetest Picture

So Emmaline had a really good picture taken during her birthday bath (after the cake and all). I kept thinking that I needed to get it from my mom to post and then forgetting about it but I finally found it, already on my computer! Somehow we must have downloaded all my mom's pics off her memory card without me realizing it.

Here it is!

I saw this picture and nearly cried because it just captures so much of her. She is such a beautiful baby girl and I love her so much!

Snails aren't boring

We bought a fish tank. And fish too. And a snail. When we got the snail it was because we have live plants and the pet store guy said we'd need something to eat all the algy. So we bring him home and I think 'boring!' But actually, he is the most intriguing animal in the entire tank. The first night, no biggy. The second night...what a story.

So I turned the tank light on in the morning to feed the fish and I didn't see him (we had named him 'hiya' because thats the first thing Emmaline said when we asked her what to call him). But, I figured hiya was hiding in the fishy cave as he had done before. So I fed the fish and as I went to put away the food, I found him. He had somehow crawled out of the tank and down the back, into the base. He was all dried up and shriveled into his shell. We were totally freaked out and we put him into water and it took him all day to 'recover' and finally start moving around again. We decided to rename him 'kamakazi'.

So the third morning (we covered all holes that he could have possibly excaped out of) we checked to see that he was there and low and behold! He is eating one of our fish.

Now. There is my story and there is the pet store's story. Mine is better. The guppy has big fins and was swimming around in the plants that had come out of the gravel and floated up to the top of the tank. The snail hopped onto the roots of the plants as they were next to the glass ( he has done that before and you can picture it...well, maybe he didn't hop but he slithered). As he was moving along the plant he accidentially rolled onto the fin of the guppy. But, he isn't one to say 'oops, sorry' and move so he kept going. And eventually he killed the fish by smothering it and then ate it.

So, our kamakazi snail became a murderer.

The pet store guy's theory is that the fish died, floated, grew bacteria that attracted the snail and the snail went to eat it. But thats not nearly as fun as a suicidal, murderous snail.

Then for Emmaline: She loves the fish tank. I should get a picture of her talking to it. But for

now, here is a really cute tub picture- we were trying to spike her hair with shampoo.

Procrastination is an Art form

To Procrastinate is to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done. But, the art of procrastination is putting things off that should be done while LOOKING like you are actually doing something that needs to be done. So, for instance, this blog. Of course, sitting at the computer all day is what I do. So when someone looks over and sees me typing frantically they think 'oh, still working on homework'. BUT, I am actually working on updating my blog. And, if they are presumptuous enough to ask me what I'm doing, I can say, 'oh, I'm discussing the word procrastination!' and they think, 'must be some weird English Major thing she is doing.' Little does anyone know that I actually am doing what I'm discussing and putting off doing what needs to be done. So the ART of procrastination involves the talent and abilities of making others think that you are not one to procrastinate. Have I succeeded?

I think I lost track

Its been almost a week and I've been so busy I seriously think that I forgot I even had a blog! So...I don't have pictures this time but my sister in law posted some pictures she took of Emmaline while we were there and they are really really cute. I think her post was around Jan 9... but don't quote me on that. You'll have to look a few back before you find it. But its titled "Playtime with Cousin Emma." Follow this link to check them out: http://montefuscofamily.blogspot.com/ School started and although I'm not in over my head yet I still feel behind. I still have not recieved two of my text books- not a good thing. One of them I have an assignment that is due by Wednesday and the other text I don't need yet. Thank goodness. I've been babysitting a lot lately too... my sister went on a mini vaca and left her kids with my mom so I helped babysit last Friday. Then this week my mom is in class all day every day so I'm babysitting Julia while she is in class. She is generally pretty good at staying occupied but as any 5 year old does, she asks a lot of questions. And I get distracted pretty easily. Sigh. Matt is starting his final semester next Tuesday. His schedule is really busy because he has two art classes. Art classes are fun but they aren't really fair. Most classes quote the number of credits off how many hours you are in class every week. But art classes don't do that. So Matt has two 3 credit classes (normally that would mean 6 hours of class) but he is actually in class for 6 hours PER class- 12 hours a week. And thats on top of one or two other classes. I'm excited he is getting to take some art classes because I know he'll love it but it takes away from a lot of time we could be spending together. Oh well...he promised to take the summer semester off so we can spend loads of time together before he starts his aviation degree. I hope you all go look at the pictures- they are too adorable to miss!

One of those days

I got up this morning totally ready and excited to get going. School starts today, I still have things to unpack, I'm going to see my family for the first time in a week...a good day. But then I actually started writing down all the things I had to get done and I'm in a slump. I have so much homework already that I wanna just go sleep. I did get several things crossed off my list though, just none of them was homework. Now I'm procrastinating by writing about everything I have to get done. Productive huh. Well, the end of the vaca went well. Emmaline had a harder time on the final flight and was SCREAMING very loudly. She wasn't interested in any of the toys I had and she wouldn't lay down and sleep. She finally discovered a little girl was sitting in the seat behind us and stood on my shoulder watching them. I don't care if they were bothered (they weren't) I was just glad she had stopped screaming. Eventually the girl's mom asked if she could give Emmaline some little plastic lizards her daughter was playing with and that kept Emmaline occupied for the remainder of the flight. Emmaline was so tired that she went down for a nap when we got home around 3, woke up at 5:45, had dinner and was back in bed by 630. She then slept until nearly 730 this morning. Poor child. Vacations must be hard when you are only 15 months.

I'm another aunt!

Matt and I are now proud relatives of Ryder James. Our nephew (from his mom's report) was difficult from day one and finally arrived after 2 days of labor and a C section! He is a very handsome kid. The first part of our trip was exciting. Emmaline didn't sleep for about 9 hours during the first flight, the layover and the first part of the second flight. When she finally passed out she was O.U.T. We got a really cute picture of her during the layover. She found another tiny friend and followed him around for about 20 minutes.

We got to visit Emmaline's great grandparents- who she was too scared to go to. But we got pictures while I held her. Emmaline is terrified of dogs. Although its really actually sad, sometimes I laugh when I see her running from them. Poor girl.

We also got pictures of Emmaline with her grandma and grandpa. It took her a few days to warm up to them and even then she doesn't enjoy hugging and cuddling them much. Its too bad we can't spend more time here to get to know them.

Other than family we got to see Matt's childhood best friend Aaron. We shopped at Ross and Winco- two Western coast shops that really should make their way to Missouri.

Overall the trip was a success. No broken bones or wrecked cars or violent illnesses from anyone. Just like a pilot says any landing where we are alive is a good landing, so goes our vacation.

And one more picture to make you laugh!