Can You Tell Me How To Get, How To Get To....

 Ses"Emme" Street?
       -Brought to you by the Letter E and Number 1

We do first birthday's big around here, so for Emme's third and final birthday party we spent it at our house. We decorated Ses"emme" to the max although I only took pictures of some of it for some reason. It's always more stressful to be the host and I don't always get to take the pictures I want. We had a blast though and everything turned out great.

The dessert area.

Emme's birth aunt drew this picture.  Talk about amazing!

Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster showed the way to the party.

Thanks to Gregg's cousin for making her cake.  For the record I did do most of Elmo.  :)

These are my beloved cousins whom I lived with for a while when I first moved to Utah.  Emme is making what we call "turtle face".  She makes it when she feels awkward.  She made it a lot at her party because of all the attention she was getting.  So funny.

Turtle Face

Total Pro at this cake stuff now.

I love K's face as she's laughing at Emme.

PAPER!!!!

Cue turtle face.  I didn't realize how many times she did it until I did this post. 

Let Them Eat Cake

We also had a little party with my parents and brother's family while still in Idaho. Yep, that's right two parties so far. We celebrated all month long.

Emme and I share the "don't bug me I'm eating" attitude.

Not afraid of getting dirty. 

Playing with Colby after.

You can't tell Colby likes Gregg or anything can you?  I think because we've spent so much time at their house, he's gotten used to us. 

First Birthday

Gregg and I were so excited for Emme's birthday party with her birth family. Most of them hadn't seen her since she was born so we were ecstatic to show her off. They were so cute and got her balloons and the cutest gifts. Emme had no problems warming right up to them. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see her birth mom this time, but we love her and we're so glad we got to see everyone else. We felt such a fast connection to them when we met a year ago and it was as if we had always been family. Hanging out at the hospital with them was like hanging with people we had known forever. We are so lucky to be connected to such great people.

Emme with her birth brother (K) and aunt.  Doesn't K and Emme look so much alike?

We went with a Ses"Emme" street theme this year.

She had no fear of the cake.

Here, you have some.  It's good!

Best. Day. Ever.

Getting a kiss from her birth grandma.  Isn't that the cutest thing?

You want some cake?

K got her a baby doll, that she loves dearly.

Loves

This is typical Emme.  She'll eat any paper she can find.

They surprised us with a giraffe costume.  So dang cute.  Contrary to this picture she loved wearing it for Halloween.

Great picture of the two of them.

Emme is so happy.

Chilling with Papa.

It's tradition

I don't think it was by any accident that Emme was born in Idaho so close to when the Eastern Idaho State Fair is. It has been a yearly event for my family and me since I can remember.  So it just makes sense that we are now able to take Emme with us and at the same time celebrate her birthday with not only my family, but her birth family as well.  The best part was we ran into Emme's birth grandpa (fittingly called Papa just like Gregg's dad) and birth aunt while we were at the fair.  Crazy to think a year ago we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of this special girl.

My aunt and uncle were in charge of this little car area.  Emme never wanted to leave.  I can't say I blamed her. 

I love taking her to see all the animals.  If you notice her poor eyes, it's not allergies.  I had her tested for cows and she is not allergic, but her poor tear ducts won't let her tears drain so any time spent outside is no good on her eyes.

Another tradition.  I couldn't count the number of these hats I've had in my life time.  We even have a  video of my sister wearing one of these while imitating their commercial.  "HEEEEYYYY CULLIGAN MAAAAN!!!"

I just can't get over this smile. 

Happy National Adoption Month!

Here's hoping it's a healthy month too!

A Bunch Of Sickos

The winter colds and flus have come early to our house this year. Between me recovering from a minor surgery and Emme having surgery to get stents in her tear ducts then shortly after us all getting sick sick sick, October has not been in our favor. I love fall and all the fun activities that go with it, but this year we have been watching the leaves float to the ground while laying on the couch. Gregg has once again proved worthy of being a great husband and dad by cleaning up throw up twice (one mine and one Emme's) and holding Emme all night while sitting up so she could breath and get some rest. Being sick while being a mom proves to be a thousand times harder than before. Not to mention having a poor sick baby at the same time. Hopefully the Alexander house will get back to normal soon and we will return to the real world. I have too many products that are half done and a ton that haven't even got started. So watch out for us in the future. We're gonna blow yo' mind. But don't hold your breath.

The picture of Emme is of her playing with toys while in the pre op room before surgery. I love that she gives loves to all babies fake or real. That girl is too cute.

July

July is my favorite month. Even more so now that I live in Utah and get an extra holiday {Pioneer Day}. We went to two parades, saw three firework shows, and had lots of outdoor fun. To quote my niece Kenzie while watching the fireworks at the Bee's game, "I wish every day could be July!" Me too Kenzie, Me too. 

Fourth of July in Idaho

Emme was a little sick on the Fourth and just wanted to cuddle.  She ended the day with a blow out so it was pretty cool. 

Snuggling with dad.  I was so excited for her to experience her first parade, but such is life when you don't feel good.   

Draper Days

We were nervous what Emme would think of the noise at the fireworks so we brought plugs.

She loved them.

Annual Canyon Dinner

Family of dogs.  Note that Gregg and I got engaged at this very spot eight years ago.  CRAZY!

One tired girl, or grill as we like to say.

Emme is a bit of a bully to her younger cousins as you can see in these pictures.

"Lissy can I please have some of that hair?"

Cute Lissy.

Butler Days

Please ignore me in these pictures and focus on Emme. :)

Much better time at this parade. 

"Candy over here please!"

Not documented is the Bee's game and Bountiful fireworks. Apparently, we were simply having too much fun to take pictures.

Goodbye July...until next year.