Em turns 4!!!

Isn't she gorgeous?
I'm not the least bit biased either, so don't even go there!!! LOL!!
This picture was taken by me and edited in Picasa 3 Beta!

That's Emily, my middle child!! She personifies everything a middle child is. She's certainly a sweetheart, though. She turns 4 in less than a week and it just doesn't seem possible. This year she wants a Backyardigans party. Now, here's the conundrum. Long long ago, on her very first birthday, I made the mistake of BAKING HER BIRTHDAY CAKES!!! No, I don't really think it's a mistake, but it is a lot of work when I could just buy one. I've made her birthday cake every year of her life. I'd planned to not make anymore just cause it's a HUGE time and energy commitment. I didn't make Zoe's this year, but it just seems wrong to NOT make Em's cake, so I'm going to take a stab at it.

Now I'd show you a picture of Emily's 1st birthday cakes, but unfortunately I learned the back up your computer lesson the hard way. Serious tears were shed over those pictures. I did have them extracted, but the computer guy lost the cd. I do, however, have pictures of cakes from years 2 and 3. If you have any questions let me know.

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday
Wish me luck that I don't lose it at her party. I'm an emotional mess when it comes to my kids and them growing up.

A reflection of our Summer!

As August comes to a close it's time to reflect on yet another Hurst summer. We've had a busy one that's for certain and the Fall is looking to be even busier, but we are all excited in our own special way for we each have dreams of what Autumn will bring us.

June brought us to tears when Zoe started walking, but also brought on our family vacation. We went to Cincy and visited Cincinnatti Zoo, Newport Aquarium, Kings Island, Great American Ballpark and Duke Energy Museum Center. Nancy went along with us and we really did have a blast. (So, this doesn't get turned into a novel I'll be posting those pics in a separate post.)
July brought the end of city league little league, but began our sorjourn into tournament baseball. Man was that a trip. I've never in my life spent so much time at the ball park and I PLAYED BALL!! LOL!! Sleeping in and spending a relaxing day at home was a thing of the past.

July also brought us to the close of Miss Zoe's first year. It was such a bittersweet moment watching her turn 1. She is truly a toddler now. She's climbing everything, talking like a magpie and is truly her own little person. She's a firecracker and has a temper to match.

August brought back Back 2 School shopping, football practice and a reminder that the summer was slowly ending, but new opportunities were right around the corner. Hunter started football practice and school in the middle of August. Emily just went back to school this past Wednesday. She starts soccer this Tuesday and is extremely excited to not be on the sidelines cheering on Hunter any longer.

August also brought us one of my favorite things. The Summer Olympics. Beijing 2008 was amazing. We all spent the evenings in front of the TV watching Michael Phelps win gold and make a place for himself in history. Hunter was very inspired by this young man and he and Emily will begin swim lessons the end of September with the goal of joining the Swim Team soon there after.

As summer ends, it always amazes me how we managed to survive, but we did and now as Fall creeps up on us, my calendar is getting even more full and I'm sure I'll be quite frazzled soon, but that's the story of my life and I LOVE IT!!

Just my luck!!

Since gas is through the roof, Hurst and I have decided to plant a garden. Yesterday while turning the sod, I stepped on the shovel and it threw me for a loop when it hit a rock. I guess you could say I was lucky I didn't break my ankle, but a nasty sprain is nearly as bad. The ER doc and Xray tech said it was one of the nastiest sprains they'd ever seen. It is REALLY horrid. The doc said I was EXTREMELY lucky I hadn't broken my foot.

Since today is Mother's Day and Terry has to work, Hunter and Emily will have to wait on mommy.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!!

YAY!! For standing!!!

Zoe is trying so hard to stand on her own. Yesterday she spent 75% of her waking hours pulling up, letting go and plopping down. I really don't know how she didn't bruise her bum.

She finally mastered standing up. Still working on doing it on her own. Just the other day she lasted about 20 seconds. LOL!! It's so funny cause we catch her doing it and we'll start counting!! Like the poor kid has to break a record or something.

Emily

My darling little girl is getting so big. Today we went to the Louisville Zoo for her very first class field trip. We loaded the entire family up and followed along with the school bus convoy. I had planned to take pictures of the convoy, but Terry was just not keeping up with them well enough for me to do so.

I did get some great landscape shots as we were driving along. I really love taking good pictures. This one of Emily is one of my favorites.

We also met up with Ange, Kristi and Evan. Evan is another July 2007 baby and I met his mom, Ange on the baby boards on Babycenter.com. It was a little odd meeting someone from the internet, but Ange and I along with the other Oops girls have been posting on the boards and chatting on yahoo together for the last 18 months or so, so the awkwardness didn't last long. We hit it off and it seemed as if we were long lost friends in no time. We had an absolute blast.

Once in the zoo we started exploring!! The bird house STUNK!! Pew wee!! It really was horrid. But we saw eagles, penguins, pelicans and even a large Dodo sculpture. Emily even tried to get the Dodo to eat her hand!!

I really LOVED the turtles!! THEY WERE HUGE!!!

I do believe that the giraffes were the entire family's favorite, by far. The Louisville Zoo allows visitors to feed the giraffes. It was fabulous. Emily and Hunter were so tickled. Here's the movie I made of it.

Can't wait to go to Cincinnatti this summer!! Keep watching for videos and pictures from that trip!!

Waiting!!

I hate waiting!! I mean it. I absolutely hate waiting for anything. Right now, I'm waiting for our economic stimulus. No matter. It's free money!!!

Good News

I truly believe that Hurst and I are finally on the right track. I don't want to jinx it quite yet, but it means two vehicles, a house of our own, bills that are paid before the due date instead of the shut off date and financial security. With this new opportunity hovering before us, we have begun to look at houseplans. It's amazing, really the number of houseplans there are out there. It's kinda overwhelming. I can't wait to start picking stuff out and decorating something that's mine.


Hunter is still doing shockingly well in school. He reminds me of a boyish version of me at 8. LOL! He'd be very quick to remind me that he's a boy, not a girl and therefore can't be like me in anyway. Brat!! Gotta love girl-phobic little boys. Baseball will be starting soon. This season should be much easier on me, since I won't be spending my 3rd trimester in the dugout. LOL!!


Emily started Preschool in January. She LOVES her teacher. Melissa Dillon is her teacher, but Emily has renamed her Ms. Alissa. She's doing very well. She does have some adaptive problems, but Melissa and the staff at school says it's to be expected from a child that has never been in a structured environment. She's very independent. She wants things her way and when she says and so it's not surprising she has a small adaptive problems.

Zoe has grown by leaps and bounds. She's nearly 9months old. Just 3 more days. She's been crawling for a month now. She's pulling up on anything and everything, trying to cruise, but she just ends up on her face normally. She's just getting too big. Why do they have to grow up so quickly?

I've launched a new business/hobby venture. I've always wanted to learn how to sew and be crafty. Well, I've done it. Cupid's Bowtique has become a great outlet for me. Check it out, http://www.cupidsbowtique.com/. I'm sewing and designing hairbows, stuffed lovies, pillowcase dresses, and tote bags. OH and I've also made a baby sling. Who'd ever thought I'd walk anywhere near the crunchy side?

Life is good. God is great! Can't wait to see what's coming next?!?