Catching Up...

After being shamed this afternoon by close friends, I am forcing myself to update Emma's blog.  After some trial an error, I tracked down the password for the site and am ready to go.

Emma had some great experiences since the last post.  Most notably was out family vacation to Newport, Oregon.  The entire Holden side of the family spent a week in a house overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The weather was great and we all had a great time.  While there, we took some cool family pictures.  Emma was also able to go crabbing on a boat, check out the zoo, play in tide pools,  and spend some great time with her cousins.

 

Emma was in her first wedding as a flower girl for her cousin Jennifer over the summer.  I am pretty sure Andrea and I were more nervous than she was.  Leading up to the wedding, Emma was not very cooperative.  Ultimately though, she was great.  We were very proud of her. 

Emma spend two days at Disneyland and California Adventure celebrating her Great Grandma Ree's 80th birthday.  Emma was brave enough to go on most of the rides, even riding Thunder Mountain Railroad at night and California Soarin' (she didn't like that one too much).

This summer, Emma played on her first recreational soccer team.  She loved practices and enjoyed soccer but was not a fan of playing in the games.  She did not like all of the parents screaming.  She ended the season scoring two goals. 

Emma was Izzy, from Jake and the Neverland Pirates for Halloween.

 

Emma had a really fun 4th birthday party at My Gym with some of her friends from school.  

One morning in late November, Andrea was running when she saw this man walking his horses near our home.  She grabbed Emma and took her to see the horses.  A few minutes later, Emma and Andrea came around the corner riding in the carriage.  It was pretty cool.

Emma went to the dentist with me and was actually able to be the one that pushed the button for my x-rays.  They also gave her some gloves and a mask so she could watch them clean my teeth.  

2012 was the first Christmas in my 38 years of life that I did not go gome for Christmas.  Instead, we spent Christmas at our house.  Santa brought Emma her gifts and she was very happy.  Unfortunately, Andrea and Emma were both sick.  It was a very interesting holiday.

 

Emma's 3rd Birthday

For Emma's 3rd Birthday, Andrea did a great job of setting things up for her when she woke up.  Her door was decorated and she had balloons and gifts on her table when she walked down stairs.  Here are a few pic's.  Emma had a great birthday.

 The balloons and gift bag waiting for Emma to come down stairs.

 Emma and mom coming down stairs along with Annie, our Aunt's dog.

 Emma loved her balloons and gifts.

 

Catching up on 2012

Time for my bi-annual blog post again.  By the grace of God, I was able to remember my username and password to log in.  I think I might need to write it down for next time.

The Sanders family is doing great.  Since the last post, we have enjoyed Christmas with family, Easter, Mother's Day and a new addition to the family.  Belle is a Cocker Spaniel we got in March. We are working thru the normal puppy obstacles, chewed up shoes, potty and crate training, etc., but overall Belle is doing good.  Emma loves her dog!

Andrea just finished another school year and has the summer off to hang with E.  Trips we have planned this summer include a week in Newport Oregon, time in Lodi for my cousins wedding, a trip or two to San Diego and for me, a trip to Chicago for the Ryder Cup.  It is going to be a fun Summer.

Easter 2012 

Emma wanted an umbrella for Easter 

Emma and Megan eating Easter candy 

 Emma and Belle

 Introducing Belle to the backyard

 Belle with her first toy and bed.

 (L to R) Gianna, Hudson and Emma.  Cousins in Lodi

 (L to R) Aimee, Jennifer, Bri, Sean and Hudson, Me and Emma, Andrea, Aunt Cheryl, Gianna, Aunt Susan hiding and Grandma Ree

 Emma with Poppa Rick

Emma on Christmas Eve 2011

Where has time gone? It's been awhile!!!

YES, I am a slacker when it comes to blogging. It has been almost a year since my last post. It seems like every time I thought about updating the blog I got sidetracked and never followed thru. But at last, here is the latest update.

Emma has had a great 11 months. Andrea and I have had so much fun the past 11 months with her. Needless to say, she is constantly changing. Her vocabulary is off the charts. She talks SO much! I wish we had written down every funny thing she has said the past 11 months. It would bring you to tears!

Auntie Joy has been home schooling Emma since January and that is going better than we could have imagined. Joy is amazing with kids and she has had such a positive influence on Emma. We are blessed to have Joy helping us out.

Here are some pic's and comments from the past 11 months. I promise not to wait another year before the next post.

Emma was luck enough to hit up Disneyland 3 times this summer. Last weekend she went on the Matterhorn and loved it.

A few weeks ago, we drove up to Moapa to a place called Roo's and More. It is a cool petting zoo with exotic animals. Camel's, Kangaroo's, Snakes, Armadillo's and here with a Monkey.

This summer we went to San Diego and caught a Giants v Padres game. Emma is rocking a Giants hat! I Love it.

Emma has been taking many classes over the past year. One is Ballet. She loves it along with Toddler Ninja, Gymnastics, Story and Snack and a Math class. (Swim Lessons too)

While on our Summer vacation, we hit up the San Francisco Zoo. That place is amazing. We all had a great time.

We had a great family vacation to Santa Cruz, Pebble Beach, Carmel and then home to Lodi.

Another one this Summer

Aunt Monette took this pic while Andrea and Emma were in Nor Cal this summer.

Carrie Terrones took this amazing pic of Emma. It is me and Andrea's favorite.

Having a blast at an indoor play area in Henderson

Emma's first trip to the Snow near Kirkwood in Nor Cal.