Emmett Quin Arnold

Olympic Sculpture Park

2011-10-22T21:24:00.001-07:00

Love time with G&P

2011-10-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Gramma and Papa, for making the trek shortly after your Greece/Turkey trip!

Giddy Up 'Lil Cowboy

2011-09-20T16:09:00.001-07:00

Emmett rides Jasper with his first teacher friend, Nanny.

Last time he did this, I think he was half the size.

The Arnold kids are excited!

Emmett displaying his crane pose from The Karate Kid.

Such a lil ham.

First Day of School

2011-09-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Now I get one hour exclusively with Emmett before we pick up Anya from Nanny's. Having this time to go to the park, take a walk or grab a hot chocolate is cherished. I have missed time with my sweet boy. He loves mommy all to himself, too.

I just look at this photo and think 'wow, really? when did he get SO big?'

Big brother is taking his role seriously these days and loves showing his sister how to be a good student/friend at school.

Melts. My. Heart.

Boys Boys Boys

2011-08-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

A visit to our famous troll under the Fremont Bridge.

Our Spiderman Flower in full effect.

The infamous "Gum Wall" at Pike Place Market. Yes, we left our mark.

Hangin' on the pig in front of the famous fish stall that throws the catch of the day.

We made a daily fort because that's what kids love to do.

The boys pretending they're on a date.

What happens to boys after cotton candy.

We made it all the way down to first row with no problems. The upside to a losing team.

Baby Dominic being pushed at the zoo. Stroller took a beating that day.

We were inseparable for 6 days. There was so much action I needed a vacation when it was all over. I found myself laughing constantly throughout the day and realized why I love boys. THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN!

Zest for Life

2011-08-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

We've talked many times about how we wish we could bottle up Emmett's energy and sell it. Hypothetically speaking, let's say we do.

Take Jodi's marketing kahunas, Justin's financial savvy and then throw in Anya's cute, charismatic sales self and we're retiring 10 times faster than Steve Jobs said iQuit (can you believe he just resigned?!). We would also go down as the world's first gazillionaires. Emmett, our son, we love you and don't go a changin'.

Cousin Penn

2011-08-22T21:31:00.001-07:00

What a happy, content and o-so loved baby boy. Meeting our nephew/cousin for the first time was the highlight of the trip!

The facial expressions here simply crack me up.

The girls.

The boys with our sweetest/cutest/newest member of the Arnold clan. Welcome, Penn Nevin!

Cousin Dominic

2011-08-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

The boys just before our float down the Bitterroot River. SO MUCH FUN!!!

We launched our rafts from Angler's Roost. We will make this an annual thing for sure.

The first Bourne Lane Theater production. Both took their roles quite seriously with a much deserved standing ovation.

Boys love playing in the back of the truck. Neighbor boy, Reece, joins 'em.

Cousins forever and so much fun making memories in MT!

They have so much fun together and Emmett really looks up to his big cuz. I'm impressed they can hang out as long as they do being five years a part.

For a good laugh...or two...

2011-08-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Five Years Old

2011-08-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some of our favorite pics from our boy's surprise Spiderman party. We've learned the celebration plans need to be less known in order for him to sleep well a week prior. The morning of the Solstice Parade we secretly turned our house into a Spiderman Extravaganza, which he absolutely loved.

He cried to me that night and when I asked him why he said, "you and daddy did so much for me." So sweet and I'm happy he feels how much we love him. Happy 5th buddy!

Stats for our growing boy!

2011-08-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

Five year check up: head is no longer measured. Blood pressure normal. Vision checked and all is 20/20 with those big, beautiful eyes.

Height/Length: 45.5 inches
Weight: 51 whopping pounds (hardy just like we want it)

"He's doing great" says Dr. Munson and we're grateful for a happy, healthy, zestful little boy.

Yoga Camp at 8 Limbs Studios

2011-07-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

The light in me sees the light in you.

Mountain Pose. Strong, Brave, Still.

Warrior One.

Yoga Rules...number 5 is my favorite...Come into Stillness.

Their final performance that was incredibly adorable. They even wore masks and told a story through poses.

Tree Pose. Strong, Safe, Beautiful.

Misty

2011-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

This morning we had our usual routine and frankly, we were happy to be in it after two big trips to MO and MT. When deciding what to do today, I looked outside and said, "well, it's kind of misting right now." Then Emmett followed up with, "mommy, I wish I could bring Misty back from the dead for you."

Awww, I loved that dog SO MUCH and now my son wants me to have her again. It was a great opportunity for us to talk about her spirit and how she is really happy. He said, "oh, I know where she is...she's in heaven." I told him some like to think of it that way and I consider it a place with lots of white light and love.

Emmett finished the conversation with, "mommy, she's in heaven. I'm in heaven." :-)

BIG SMILE on my face.

Lake Chelan, Part 2

2011-06-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

We spent one glorious night at Lake Chelan Winery. 80s and sunny!

Emmett felt inspired and peaceful with the sunset that night. It is kind of hard to see, but he sat down just before the vineyards and put his hands together for "namaste". An indelible memory that makes my heart smile.

Hands in the air and then back at the heart center.

Love. Joy. Freedom.

Lake Chelan, Part 1

2011-06-20T12:27:00.001-07:00

Baseball with Papa and Emmett has become a favorite past time.

The boys.

Daddy sure is going fast Gramma, isn't he?!

Our First Mate for the day.

Red Fireballs Soccer!

2011-06-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

We started the season slowly (sat out for 3 games). I learned a lot about competition with preschoolers. It's a lot for them to handle and Emmett hated to "see his team lose". We didn't push him and it wasn't until the second to last game that our boy blossomed. He did a complete 180 and was running the field, stopping goals and breaking a sweat.

The team with Coach Katie.

His first trophy! Yes, he did sleep with it one night.

Easter Fun

2011-05-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

Emmett and the boys.

Emmett and Beckie Boo.

Emmett and Ruby the trooper.

Cupcakes we made for the brunch.

The goodie basket the Easter Bunny left behind (aka the loot). I will make sure next year EB hides more healthy things and less sugar. Why not yogurt covered raisins or grapes or money?! Too much sugar!!!

Spring Break Edition, Part Three

2011-05-02T20:50:00.001-07:00

"Staycation" at Hyatt Olive 8 for Friday night was a great time for the Arnold family. We spent one night at this luxurious downtown hotel that we knew would be a hit with their salt water pool. The room was sleek and gorgeous, too. Yes, that's sweet Anya's head peeking out and yes, this cleanliness lasted all but two minutes. Maybe just one.

Emmett told us his favorite thing from the stay away was not the pool, but the arcade. Whoa! We have a HUGE arcade downtown called Gameworks that is multi-level with hundreds of video games, skee ball, air hockey, sports bar and grill. Anya soaked up all the sights and sounds while the boys spent a lot of time shooting things like dinosaurs, pirates and anything else requiring a gun.

Spring Break Edition, Part Two

2011-05-02T20:44:00.001-07:00

Easter was just around the corner, so we had fun decorating eggs and cookies with the Keegan girls!

Another fun activity was Whirligig at Seattle Center. Once a year they turn it into a bouncy house bonanza, so a great place to blow off steam if its raining outside. We met up with friends from SAC, Will and Livi.

Spring Break Edition, Part One

2011-05-02T20:31:00.001-07:00

Sunny day and we hit the zoo with Emmett's closest friend, Ava. We love hanging out at the jaguar cove!

These two love their sugar and show off cotton candy for the camera. I heard one dad at the zoo call it "kid crack"...gross.

One day, we tried to pull off sledding in the mountains. It snowed a ton on us, so much so our tube would not glide across or down anywhere. What was most fun for me is when we drove to Alpental Ski Resort it was closed on Mondays. We had the whole mountain to ourselves and played on the chair lift. Sun came out, too, so we were in heaven.

I Feel Dated

2011-04-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

Today, the kids had an o-so fun easter egg hunt at PCC with the Easter Bunny himself (herself?). Each plastic egg was stuffed with some kind of goodie. Of course, Emmett was into the chocolate more than anything else.

He collected a bunch of these Silly Bandz and when I was putting him to bed tonight he decided to wrap them all around his wrist. I expressed my admiration for his new "bracelets" and he quickly comes back with, "Bracelets? Mommy, these are not bracelets. These are Silly Bandz."

Silly Bandz with a 'z' and not a 's'...duh! Where have I been?! Besides using the term "jungle gym" one day at the park this goes down as my second I'm-getting-old-mom-moment of my life.

Fun with Grams

2011-04-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

We rode out to Bainbridge Island one sunny day and stumbled upon a great park with this cool climbing structure. Emmett had a blast!

Ferry rides are always fun...

Grams hanging with her grandkids. Thanks Grams for the easter stickers and all the fun treats. We love seeing you!

Emmett's Grocery List

2011-04-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

While Grams was in town, we made lots of yummy dinners and even got out Anya's stroller to grocery "shop" for our food. Emmett asked that I write down his list, so here it is:

Apples (one a day keeps the doctor away)
Chicken Noodle Soup (his bf after being so sick)
Pizza (duh)
Indian hot dogs (??)
Dog candy
Hannah and Ryan (shocker)
Logs
Dinosaur toys
Chairs
Couch (mommy slipped him a five for that one)
Mommy's own bed (wow, now a ten)
Rainbow paint for daddy (this makes me laugh out loud)
Big Heart (awwwww)

The list only got better and better as time went on. We've got lots of shopping to do...see ya!

Happy St. Patty's Day

2011-03-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

He's ready to dive in!

These are two are getting closer everyday and it simply warms our hearts.

The Emmett Show with Anya buying it and Millie not.

He Graduates from Ski School!

2011-03-13T21:11:00.001-07:00

Emmett hits the lift chair and you can see he is blowing me a kiss. Aww...then he yelled, "take care, mommy". LOVE THIS BOY!

Emmett and his ski instructor, Adam, had a wonderful bond. Adam spoke highly of Emmett and told me the last day, "you have one determined child" and I said, "funny, that's the meaning of his name!" Determination.

He's ready to rawk this sport for a lifetime. He told me he loves it more than anything else he's done. Yahoooo!

Yogi Emmett

2011-02-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

Mary Lane has a dance/yoga instructor come to class every other Thursday and the kids love it. Emmett and I love to share with each other what we're learning in our practice. After all, his mommy is really into yoga these days, so this brings me immense joy. Here's his high plank...

Three-legged dog...

Half hand stand...

Om.

Namaste.

When I Grow Up...

2011-02-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, on the way to school, Emmett was looking out the car window at this major development going up in our neighborhood with dump trucks, dozers and diggers. Exciting for a 4 year old boy. He says to me in the most serious tone, "mommy, when I grow up, I want to be a St. Louis construction worker".

Today, we went to the zoo as it was sunny and glorious outside. Our first stop was the penguin exhibit as it is one of our favorites and the first one you see through the entrance. We spent a good 10-15 minutes looking at these black and white animals who were enjoying the frigid air and swimming in the water. I could tell he was studying them deep in thought. Emmett says to me, "mommy, when I grow up I want to be a penguin at the zoo."

All serious every time I hear his latest aspirations and always puts the biggest smile on my face. How about a construction worker in a penguin suit at the famous St. Louis Zoo?! Now we're talking.

Other Xmas Goodies

2011-01-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

Saint Louis and Seattle Santas were really good to us this year! Thank you for all the wonderful gifts everyone! We love you and hope you enjoy these shots...

Spiderman with his blow torch, of course!

Emmett's teacher told Santa how much he loves to play with the Marble Deluxe Set at school.

Daddy secretly loves Snuggie's and would never wear one himself (so he says). He was thrilled to see Santa got his son one for TV viewing.

Emmett gets a fighter pilot jacket! WOW! Dreams do come true. Thanks, Santa!

Spiderman Extravaganza

2011-01-08T08:56:00.000-08:00

Santa even surprised Emmett with Spiderman sheets. He sent his elves over on Xmas Day to put them on his bed while Emmett was downstairs playing with some of his new toys. That Santa is so sneaky and so good!

We ate our Xmas dinner as Spiderman. We even went to bed dressed as Spiderman.

Emmett and Spiderman = Best Friends Forever

Santa Train

2011-01-07T21:34:00.001-08:00

Any excuse we have to hang with our amazing friends we're there with bells and whistles on. This was one event we had to keep reminding ourselves, "we're doing it for the kids". It was a 2.5 hour drive down to Mt. Rainier in the pouring rain, the actual ride was in the dark and the train was so old we crossed our fingers it would get us back to the station. They served awful cookies and Santa looked like he preferred the local tavern over this event any day of the year. Lots of laughs with this one and next year, we'll stay closer to home.

Xmas Tree Cutting

2011-01-07T20:26:00.000-08:00

We went to Trinity Tree Farm this year with our dearest friends the Cugiers and Keegans to cut down our trees. It was a glorious sunny day and everyone had a ball. Emmett wasn't up for meeting the man in the red suit and opted for the vintage firetruck instead. We loved our tree and I said it goes down as my favorite one yet in my adult life.

Arnold Family Theme Song

2010-12-23T16:32:00.000-08:00

Arnold Family Bike Ride in FL

2010-12-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Let's hit the slopes!

2010-11-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite photo shoots of Emmett...who knew one could make you smile this much?

It's a Small World

2010-10-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the happiest cruise that ever sailed...my all-time favorite!!!

Jackpot.

Let the Magic Begin...

2010-10-30T15:17:00.001-07:00

Mommy was extremely jazzed to finally be here at Disneyworld with her two children. They, on the other hand, were hot and tired with no clue about what's to come.

Riding Cinderella's Golden Carousel...

You can barely see Mickey and Minnie in this shot, but we stumbled upon a broadway-esque musical about dreams coming true. What else could it be about?!

Our last ride of the day on the "PeopleMover" and it's quite the coincidence someone like Emmett loved it so much.

Leading up to Disney, we had a sick boy on our hands who was frankly, scared of many things we saw at Universal Studios. Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Incredible Hulk--kind of scary when you are a fearful foursome! When we landed in Disneyworld, it was like Emmett came alive or we got him back. We saw him smiling and jumping, laughing and playing. Those famous ears have some magical power. I don't know how else to explain it.

More of Animal Kingdom

2010-10-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Emmett and Mommy with "Mount Everest" in the background. It evens has a roller coaster that rides through it with a Yeti inside (no joke!).

The entrance to Kiliminjaro and the unforgettable Safari ride. We loved our lunch at Tusker restaurant, too, that was authentic african food (best meal of the week!).

Emmett and daddy in front of the Tree of Life! Yay!

One of the many things we saw at DinoLand.

A better shot of our boy with Everest in the background. Maybe one day we'll visit the real deal?!

Animal Kingdom's Kiliminjaro Safari

2010-10-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

All I can say is that Walt Disney does not mess around. This safari was unbelievable as we pretty much saw it all. Lions, leopards, ostrichs, baby elephants and much, much more. This is a small snapshot of what we experienced. It was a true adventure and baby girl slept the entire time. The rest of us were on the edge of our seats!

When we turned the corner and saw this precious site, we were elated!

This giraffe was no more than 30 yards from us.

Just a hippo hanging out in the sun...

Cousins are THE Coolest

2010-10-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Cat in the Hat is Where it's At!

2010-10-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

Our boy loved this ride, One Fish, Two Fish...!

Let's face it, Harry Potter is dark and scary for a 4 year old. Fortunately, we had Seuss Land not too far away. The little ones loved spending time here.

Emmett was hesitant when he saw the Grinch and I am glad he went up to him anyway!

Lillian wouldn't take her eyes off him! Too funny!

First Grown Up Roller Coaster Ride!

2010-10-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

Emmett was reluctant and told us he was not going to do it. No pressure on our end, so I stayed back while Justin ran in for the ride. Five minutes go by and out of nowhere, Emmett says, "mom, let's go!" You can see the roller coaster to the left of the light post under the Hogwarts sign. The Flight of the Hippogriff was awesome and we were so proud of him for going for it!

Riemer Muggles descend on Orlando

2010-10-30T14:27:00.001-07:00

Yes, we've arrived at Gate 9 3/4 and we're ready to explore Hogwarts!

Emmett really wanted this sword and got to play with the Quidditch brooms.

Hogwarts Castle had a 3D ride inside called The Forbidden Journey--we got to "play" Quidditch with Harry while fighting dragons, spiders and ghosts! AMAZING!

More of the town...

This was the entrance into Harry's theme park. We all felt overwhelmed with joy and excitement as all 16 of us walked in together on Dad's 70th! It was the best! Thanks Dad!

Mustache Series: The Weasel

2010-09-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

What I love so much about our boy is that he (almost) always gets into character on the spot. A daddy trait passed onto the next generation for sure. We're always entertained!

Four Year Check Up

2010-09-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

This annual appointment was a big one as he got his final immunizations until he is 11 and also did the vision test (stands far away and calls out the objects). It took me back and made me feel old.

Our one concern we wanted to address was his high level of energy (okay, fine, hyperactivity). The doctor said its very common for 3 and 4 year old boys and not to worry. If he's like this at 7, we need to consider further evaluation not just for him, but for his parents, too. :)

He is doing great and here are our busy boy's stats from the pediatrician.

Height/Length: 43in. (95%)
Weight: 45lbs. (95%)
BMI: 17.1
Vision (Left): 20/30
Vision (Right): 20/40
Both: 20/30

Whidbey Island Fun

2010-09-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Took a boat tour through Deception Pass and it was lots of fun. The waves were HUGE and Emmett laughed a lot while Anya did not towards the end.

Emmett joined us for a 1.5 hour guided kayak tour close to Deception Pass. We got to paddle into a cave, look at wildlife and enjoy the beauty of the NW. It was his first kayak trip and we were so proud of him!

Emmett made sure to be the first to board our ferry to Port Townsend.

The was our first time digging for clams and mussels in Penn Cove. I was hoping he would enjoy this more than he did, but maybe another time? They were tasty!

Emmett and Papa John

2010-09-12T20:44:00.001-07:00

Emmett and Papa doing an ice cream dance while waiting for the Port Townsend ferry.

Papa throwing Emmett a smooth pitch down the middle. Emmett swings and hits a long drive.

Here they are in Penn Cove digging for mussels and clams. Emmett was not as excited about this one and went along with it to be with his Papa.

First Day of School

2010-09-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

Emmett had his first day of school on Thursday at Mary Lane's in Madrona. This was a sudden change and happened only 3 or 4 weeks ago. Mary was always our top pick from day one as Nanny raved about her and said "she would be the best fit for Emmett". Shortly thereafter, I find out Mary is in Penny's Book Club. Small world.

Mary and I spoke frequently and she simply had a full roster of boys. Thank god Mr. Michael dropped out last minute for family reasons and Mary called us right away. Anya and I drove over the next afternoon. We spent a few hours with Mary and fell in love with her school, her energy and just knew this was perfect for our boy.

On top of that, he has his dear friend, Ava in class with him. We're thrilled and know he will thrive in the upcoming year. Oh, and they teach the kids spanish, too. Mucho Gracias, Mary!

Cake and Cool

2010-08-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

Before we leave for the zoo...

E: "Mommy, do you think I'm cool?"
Mommy taken by surprise. A 4 year old just asked me what?!
Me: "Emmett, I think you're wonderful. I think you're happy, silly, cool and amazing! I love you so much."
E: "Thanks, mom."

On our walk up to the zoo...
Me: "Emmett, we don't pick our boogers. That is icky."
E: "I think they taste good."
Me: "What do they taste like?"
E: "Cake".

Lake Talapus Hike

2010-08-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun on Rattlesnake Ridge that we were hungry for more. This time we went farther east along I-90 to Lake Talapus. Emmett took this photo of Anya and I while Justin was parking the car. I thought it was a good shot for a little guy...Anya's face makes me laugh and smile from ear to ear...

This hike was great for the kids as there are numerous bridges and half the time your hiking along a beautiful mountain stream. Emmett would occasionally say to me, "this is peaceful, mommy." Jackpot.

More Family Fun in Montana

2010-08-03T20:44:00.001-07:00

In the summer, we love picnicking and swimming at Lake Como just south of Hamilton. The boys had lots of fun on their rafts...

Dominic and Emmett play so nicely together and found a box of hats! There are so many hats and too many to post...I'm inspired to get the kids a hat box!

Emmett got to meet his Great Grandpa's brother, Bill, and his wonderful wife, Ann. We had so much fun catching up and listening to Riemer Family stories that date back all the way to Russia.

Two boys with lots of energy and Emmett giving his 'cuz a BIG squeeze!

Emmett's first sparklers!

Something about boys and trucks...

Mustache Series: The Grandpa

2010-08-03T20:07:00.000-07:00

In 2010, I would have to say that Emmett's favorite word (besides potty talk that we don't approve of) is "mustache". I think it started back in spring time when Aunt Julie came from St. Louis and Emmett constantly asked her if Uncle Andy has a mustache (never has, probably never will)?

Not only would he say "mustache", but every time he said it he had to put each finger above his upper lip forming a beloved 'stache. He said the word so much that our tenant, sitter and friend, Elise, searched high and low throughout town to find our boy A Mustache for Everday of the Week. Elise, you know him too well.

Who knows, maybe Uncle Andy will surprise us one day? Emmett would be thrilled.

And folks, he summits his first mountain (well ridge, but who cares?)

2010-08-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Emmett hiked a total of 3.5 hours all on his own two feet to get to the top of Rattlesnake Ridge. There was resistance and the lollipop incentive was quite effective. The ascent was actually pretty easy (thank you tootsie pop!) and the views up top were epic. Truly a five star day. It was the descent we had a few break downs and all was fine as we took it very slow. He shed a few tears and said his feet were tired, but he pulled through. This was a glorious day for the 4 of us! He was so proud of himself and we are, too!

Happy 4th to Me!

2010-06-28T20:40:00.001-07:00

Special Visit from Uncle Andy

2010-06-20T19:47:00.001-07:00

Uncle Andy was so cool and taught me tricks on the guitar while I jammed out. Then we tried to take photos with that baby who-has-no-name and I really wanted Uncle Andy all to myself.

Uncle Andy came into Seattle on a special mission to arrest some "bad guys" as we told Emmett. Emmett was extremely interested in this story and frankly, was in awe that Uncle Andy "gets bad guys" as his job in life.

Lately, a certain someone is obsessed with "bad guys" and wants to know "where do they live?" and "what do they do?" We try to divert his attention to good guys and talk about firemen, police, paramedics and loan officers. Tee hee.

Yeehaw for Montana!

2010-06-20T10:21:00.001-07:00

Now that Emmett is bigger we find Montana more appropriate for our 'lil cowboy. He confidently roamed the land for the first time with his sidekick, Ruby, always close by. It's the perfect get-away from our urban setting in Seattle. We feel free and have lots of fun. Nana Peggy is a wonderful host, too. Thank you!

A big highlight for sure was riding the lawnmower or as we call it "mawn lower".

Another fun adventure was finding a toy gun when out and about with Ruby...ka-pow!

A Big Year at Nanny's

2010-05-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

The last year at Nanny's has not been easy. Emmett missed the big end of the year party last August because it fell on the day Anya was born. Then he had two weeks of no school while realizing his life had forever changed, due to this little newborn that sleeps, cries, eats and requires mommy and daddy's attention 24/7. To say his first 6-7 months of her life were tough on everyone is an understatement. We had many phone calls and meetings with Nanny to figure out what needs to be done to help our boy adjust and get back to being the good boy we know he is capable of.

Nanny was tough on him. We learned quickly we needed to be tougher on him, too. Boundaries, structure, rigid rules. All the things that Justin and I did not believe in for our lives were now coming into our world as a necessity for parenting a spirited child. Nanny asserted her expertise and devotion to show us the way. And guess what? He responded very well. It paid off. No, it was not easy, but worth it.

Words cannot express how much we appreciate her love, patience and guidance. She has been a pillar of strength for us throughout a year of crazy transition. New baby, Jodi not working, Justin working very hard, Emmett now has a sibling, etc. We love her and Kenny so much. If only all children in the world had a Nanny by their side helping them get their two feet on the ground, we would be a much happier, peaceful, compassionate planet.

Last Day at Nanny's

2010-05-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, was Emmett's last day of the regular school year at Nanny's. It was nostalgic for most moms including myself. In fact, I teared up with Nanny this week. More on this later. Here are two of Emmett's friends, Taoman and Reece.

We did a class photo and will be giving a personalized gift for both Teacher Nanny and Teacher Jackie at graduation this August. What cuties...

I post this one below because Emmett absolutely loves his friend, Lulu. Also, Lulu's mommy, Elaine, is the brave one trying to coordinate 12-3 year olds to stand still for the photo shoot. We had some good laughs about this one...

Social Skills

2010-05-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

For half of Emmett's life he has been a student at Nanny's School in Washington Park. This program is truly one of the best in the country and we're grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of the Nanny's community. Nanny and Ken Stephens are kindred spirits who go above and beyond the call of duty to teach our children to be loving, kind and highly socialized. Did you know that Emmett's conversational skills over lunch are the best at school?! We've been told he has "a gift for conversation" and all I can say is that's my boy!

You might be thinking right now, what does a three year old ask his friends? He loves to ask fellow students what they were for Halloween and what they're going to be. Lately, he is focused on where people are going on vacation with summer around the corner. I'll never forget just before Thanksgiving (he is not even three in a half), we were eating dinner and he asked Justin, "dad, how was your day?" We almost dropped our utensils in disbelief.

Museum of Flight

2010-05-22T10:13:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite spots in town sits right next to Boeing Field. It is full of action and lots and lots of planes! Emmett has become very interested in outer space and perhaps one day we'll see him bouncing on the moon. Emmett with no gravity would be quite the sight.

He loves the Kid's Flight Zone that has actual planes for the kids to sit in. His buddy Liam joined him on the helicopter. We talk lots about helicopters and he plans on riding one next time we go to Hawaii. We'll have to wait and see about that.

Emmett, Beckie Boo, Liam and Maceo got to take a sneak peak into Air Force One. Here is Beckie Boo, our next American Idol from Toledo, OH. Sorry Crystal!

Teatro Zinzanni aka "Grown Up Circus"

2010-05-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

Emmett was excited he got to dress up "fancy" for the big event at Seattle's one and only Teatro Zinzanni. TZ is an amazing artistic preformance full of magic, opera, theater and comedy. It's an unforgettable experience and we went to support a fundraiser for Children's Country Home, a 24 hour medical facility for our most fragile children.

There are so many acts happening simultaneously and the music is definitely loud at times, so Emmett had a solution...

This artist was a juggler extraordinaire...juggling 5-6 hats at a time plus more...

We are still talking about this "circus", so we know it was a big success with our boy!

Lesson Learned: Collars are for Dogs

2010-04-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Recently, Emmett and Ruby have become the best of friends. He always wants her in his room whether its sleeping at night or making Quiet Time a little less lonely. A man's best friend and it's one of the reasons why we love Ruby so much.

To prevent her from waking him up while he is sleeping (very important!), we take off her collars at night, so they don't rattle around. The other morning, Emmett decided he wanted to wear her heavy one realizing it easily goes on, but not the other way around. We tugged once, twice then once or twice again with no success. The tears would not stop flowing as he was convinced it was permanently stuck around his neck. Well, it was and the only solution was serious, industrial-size pliers. Whew-what a relief!

Easter is Fun!

2010-04-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

Emmett really loves this holiday for one reason only-chocolate! It helps that Gramma and Papa came in town, too. His one request in all honesty was to "hug Easter". Yes, they have always been on a first name basis.

Yes, he not only got the hug, but we got the pic to show it...

The brunch at CTC offered face painting fun, too. The spider was probably not the best idea as later in the week he experienced night terrors and spoke the next morning of spiders. Maybe Thomas the Train next year?

Easter Bunny left Emmett Mr. Potato Head, which is an all time classic. Emmett felt the need to dance like he does, so who knew he was also a dancing potato?

I love Anya in the back watching the egg hunt in full force...Emmett seems pleased he is getting all the eggs and someone else is not...

Mine all mine...

Gramma and Papa know much Emmett loves anything that flies and brought him a very cool helicopter. He loves it and really wants to go on one next time we're in Hawaii. Maybe in 15 years.

Without further a due, here are some precious pics of our favorite spring time holiday.

My Saint "Wewis" People

2010-04-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun playing with my Grams. We got to eat ice cream and run around the Seattle Gymnastics Academy. I decided this trip I wanted to call her "Grammy" and I don't know why.

Aunt Julie is lots of fun. I was so happy to have her here that I asked her not to leave until I am 12. I was so lucky to spend time with mommy and Aunt Julie at the market. Aunt Julie even bought me hot chocolate with candy sprinkles on top! Wow-she can visit whenever she wants.

Papa is the best and frankly, I don't like sharing him with Anya. I am slowly getting used to it and if it makes Papa happy then I guess I'll be okay with it. Sigh.

Questions

2010-03-26T12:11:00.001-07:00

My dad loves to remind me of all the times I used to fire off lots and lots of questions. It usually had something to do with sports because I knew he loved them, so I was curious to learn why. I can vividly remember sitting in our family room on Cannonbury, dad is watching the Masters and I wanted to know, "what is an eagle?" or "what is par?" or "who is the golfer?" and "where is he from?" My dad would patiently answer every single question, but one or two times I recall being asked to do something else. Well, we're coming full circle and Emmett definitely is our inquisitive little boy.

Our neighbors are slowly building a fence right now. It's taking them longer than we prefer as we have to look at an unfinished project. Emmett asked James a few days ago, "when are you going to be done with the gate?" Yesterday, James was unloading the car with supplies and Emmett asked, "what are you doing with those things?" James replied, "building the fence". Emmett then wondered, "where did you get those things?" To which James added, "Home Depot". Emmett turned to me and asked, "mommy, did you and daddy make me there?" I have yet to see James crack a smile until yesterday and the laughter this brought our neighbor made him speechless with joy.

Where I struggle with all these questions is when it has to do with boy body parts. I don't have a penis and neither one of my siblings do either, so this is a foreign subject to me. Yesterday as we are driving home the car is silent and then all the way from the back I heard, "mommy, why does a penis grow?" The car didn't swirve or brake, but I was surprised and thrown off nonetheless. How do I explain this in 3 year old terms? Um, how? Help? Okay, here we go, "it grows because there is blood in it and sometimes it builds up before going down". He bought it! For now.

Why can't I be the baby?!

2010-03-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

Emmett will occassionally remind us that he still needs to feel like a baby. One time he told me he has boobs and can feed the baby, too. We get lots of mixed messages to say the least and I feel the acceptance of his baby sister is getting better day by day. In fact, in the last few weeks, I've seen out of the corner of my eye him giving her a hug and has even called her "sweet pea", "missy", and "baby girl". Progress!

This particular night he inisted on sitting in the high chair he grew out of about 2 years ago. Surprisingly, we managed to get him in. Justin even provided a bottle prop. It was slow-going getting him out, but it made him very happy. I've learned if Emmett is happy then the whole house is happy. Emmett Quin, you will always be my baby boy and I love you with every ounce of my heart and soul. Always and forever.

Fun in the Sun in Fremont

2010-03-09T17:09:00.001-08:00

Mommy and daddy took the whole family to Seattle's only Urban Beer Garden one Saturday in February. They could taste organic beers and I got to play! They had a cool motorcycle I could ride along with a big box of toys to enjoy. Fun for the whole family!

I see this face on daddy a lot after he's had some beers...he is really happy and silly!

I got to hang out at this table held up by these big, funny silver looking things. We even brought Ruby in with us! Fremont is such a fun, funky cool place.

My mommy and daddy tell me Fremont is like no other place on earth. We even have a gigantic troll that lives under our bridge and it's crushing a VW bug! Mommy assured me trolls are not real, so I agreed to take the picture below.

Winthrop with our Dear Friends

2010-02-25T16:47:00.001-08:00

This makes Emmett's 4th trip out to the Methow Valley. I guess that goes for us as well. We're fortunate to experience 40 acres of pristine mountain top land in a modern home that is "off the grid" courtesy of the Fredlunds and Overman families. It's deep in the North Cascades and worth the drive for the spectacular views and simply get-away-from-it-all experience.

Going this year with our wonderful friends, The Cugiers and Keegans, was the best! We have many fond memories from the Cugiers car not making it up Uphill Road, creating our own luge/sled course, defending ourselves and kin from vicious wasps (only 3 stings!) and cheering on the Saints at Sun Mountain Lodge for Superbowl Sunday. I think my favorite memory is Emmett creating his own man-made sled by simply rippin' it down the hill on his belly. He was in heaven and so were we!

Emmett's Video Again...Mama Reminiceses

2010-02-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

Emmett is on my lap right now as we sit and enjoy You Tube clips. Our most favorite by far and always will be the one we created when our boy was just 6 months. As I watch this, I think about Anya being the same age today and I tear up. How can our precious babies grow this fast? I am reminded to simply enjoy the ride each and every day because they'll be grown up soon enough.

Enjoy this again if you've seen it before or sit back and smile if its your first time!

Transition has not been easy on little guy

2010-01-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

The last 5 months I feel have gone exceptionally well. Anya is predictable and already sleeping through the night. We're more experienced parents and the confidence level doesn't even come close between the two children. Sometimes I feel the mom guilt with Emmett wishing he had me as the mom I am today right from the start.

The toughest transition is watching Emmett go from 'the world revolves around me' to 'why do I have to share my parents with her?' I'll never forget an hour after Anya was born he turned to the room full of people and exclaimed, "I don't want to be a big brother anymore!" There was a chuckle or two, but inside I felt sadness for him and the loss of being the only child. Even though we all know it's good for him one cannot help but empathize and being his mom, well, how can I not hurt seeing him this way?

Witnessing Emmett pull her hair or drop a cup on her head was brutal. Mama Bear came out in me and for the first time, I found myself yelling at one child to protect the other. I think this is taboo talk for many, but I had to figure out what to do and that meant consulting his teacher, Nan. Nan is the toddler guru of WA state and she truly is a saint. She eased my concern by letting me know "yelling is common" and "don't beat yourself up". We agree Emmett is a bright boy and can use his words to communicate his emotions.

Immediately, I share with Emmett my love for him and how I know this is not easy on any of us. I said when he feels these emotions to tell me rather than taking it out on Anya. A day or two later, he said to me, "mommy, it's hard having a baby sister." I asked him, "what can we do to make it easier for you?" His reponse, "more hugs and kisses."

I could not have been happier and more pleased! I told him how proud I was of him and how much I love him. I see this as my gateway to LOTS and LOTS of affection with my growing boy. Of course, I started going bananas with hugs and kisses. Now all I hear, "mom, too much love...too much love!"

We're making progress. Emmett loves his sister and regularly calls her "my baby". These two will be play pals in no time!

Memorable Desert Hike

2010-01-14T22:01:00.001-08:00

This is one of those photos you will forever cherish just like the last one of Emmett mid-air jumping into the pool. Life is good.

Can Emmett be any happier?!

2010-01-14T21:59:00.001-08:00

The importance of vacations with swimming pools for toddlers...

Palm Springs is where it's at!

2010-01-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

Emmett had so much fun on this trip. All of us did so much so we had frowns on our faces the last day. Emmett said, "I don't want it to be over". How can you blame him and frankly, we feel the same way, too. Having a pool at the house was the secret to a highly successful trip. There was never a dull moment to say the least and we always had something fun to do. His swimsuit with a built in vest was a life saver (no pun intended) as we could sit on the side, cheer him on, while not having to live in the pool. If he had it his way, he would sleep outside just so he could be closer to the water.

My most favorite shots are with Emmett and Daddy playing in the pool. Both of them love it so much! This is not only a trip we want to do again in the future, but our hearts are content and thrilled with the idea of coming back to this home on El Camino Way one day.

Our Faves Part 3...This time with Santa!

2009-12-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

Becoming a tradition, we have pizza with Santa at Jim and Char's beautiful home in Shoreline. This year, Emmett was not afraid to walk up to good 'ol SC.

Ah, below was one of those moments you will never forget as a parent. It was our first visit with SC for the holiday season. We had a lovely brunch at CTC with mimosas (yay!) and decided it was time to see Santa. We went down to the library and Emmett's wheels were turning as he knew this was the moment! How could we tell? He was quiet. We turned the corner and immediately head over to sit on his lap. Santa says "hello" and Emmett looks him right in the eye and says o-so sweetly, "I've been a good boy". Magic was in the air!

When asked this year what Emmett wants for Xmas, his response over and over was "train track and fire truck". Santa listened and pull through, so our boy knows he truly has been good. We're still working on the "be nice to your sister" thing, but we're getting better over time. This truly was a joy to witness with both kids on his lap...

Our Fave Xmas Shots Part 2

2009-12-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

Emmett and mommy take a break on the man-size teddy bear. We visited The Teddy Bear Suite decked out for the holidays at The Fairmount hotel. We'll skip it next year.

Emmett, Aunt Penny and Gramma Alex getting into the spirit!

Daddy, too!

Our Fave Xmas Shots Part 1

2009-12-28T09:54:00.001-08:00

Emmett and Papa making a super cool Gingerbread Train. Who needs gingerbread houses when you can have a train?! We love our the dogs and they get their own "stocking" too!

Emmett had a great idea to wear the stockings. Why not?

Sorry Anya, we could not find baby antlers!

Fa la la la la la la la...

2009-12-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

This might take a couple of posts as we have so many photos! I gotta say, I think Justin would agree, this has been THE BEST XMAS EVER! Of course, the one missing thing is our families, but now that we're our own unit it simply was the best. We're creating new traditions and loving the laid-back vibe here in Seattle throughout the holidays. It truly has been relaxing, peaceful and fun every day for the last week!

Last Sunday, we kicked off our week with a night away at The Salish Lodge (http://www.salishlodge.com/) celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary. Romantic, VERY quiet and lots of solitude with two massages in the morning. The best part was this was a gift from two friends who I helped sell their home. We returned on Monday to begin the Winter Solstice festivities. We turned off all the lights in the house at sunset, ate dinner by candlelight, drank hot cocoa by the fire and did a ceremonial wish or intention for 2010. Lots of this footage on tape and truly precious to hear Emmett say, "I wish I was an elephant".

Xmas Eve we spent at the place we had our first date ever, Salty's on Alki then we drove down to an outrageously decked out house for the holidays. Emmett loved the train track the most. Xmas Day was bliss opening presents, eating, playing and walking Greenlake. Oh, I forgot to mention that all week it has been 50 degrees and sunny! Perfection.

Turkey Day with Keegans

2009-12-27T19:53:00.000-08:00

Boy, I sure do love Millie Keegan! Ever since she has moved back to Seattle it's been magical now that I get more time with her and her mommy and daddy. All I know is MY mommy and daddy are so excited to have the Keegans back I heard them say THEY might pee in their pants. That makes 3 of us!

We had a great Thanksgiving at the Fredlunds with Keegans, too. We gave many thanks and feel blessed having "family who are friends and friends who are family". Great toast, Uncle Paul!

Quite the Ham

2009-12-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Emmett has shown us many new sides to his dynamic personality. We're seeing many silly faces, slick dance moves, characters in costume along with playin' it cool. Oh there are so many photos, but here are a few of my favorites...

Love-Hate Relationship with Halloween

2009-11-01T22:38:00.001-08:00

Overall, I would say Emmett enjoys this holiday for the candy, but finds it confusing and scary. We talked numerous times about how "monsters are not real". Our gym threw a "Monster Mash" the Friday before Halloween and I told Emmett we were going. After I tucked him into bed, he called me back in his room and asked, "mommy, are there going to be monsters at the party?" I felt awful as I could tell he was sitting up concerned wondering what kind of party is my mom taking me to?! I mentioned it to the gym and they said, "oh, maybe we need to call it something else next year." Good idea.

We went trick or treating with the Bertrams in Lake Forest Park. It was a repeat from last year after having a great time and this year was even better since the kids were older. Some of the houses go all out and frankly, made me scream. We showed Emmett this one house and told him everything would be okay. Other toddlers were turning around, but our boy wanted to push through the spookiness as his eye was on the candy prize. After getting his treat he proceeds to walk out with his eyes closed and ears covered. I realize this was a rookie parent move on our part and maybe next year we will skip this home.

This is definitely the last year I will have a say in his costume. So sad. I was so happy all of us played the part in our Arnold Pumpkin Patch. One day, Emmett will think this is totally uncool and then hopefully one day, he will appreciate it. Kudos to Justin for playing the part well of Daddy the Scarecrow!

Emmett's 1st Wedding!

2009-10-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Jason and Ashley tied the knot last night and it was hands-down the most warm, authentic and sweet ceremony we have ever attended. One of our favorite memories and there are many is the "kid parade" of all the little ones walking down the aisle before the bride handing out flowers to guests.

Emmett did an amazing job! He looked dapper and adorable with his new haircut and shiny brown vest with tie. When the parade was done and I started walking him to the back room, he turns to me and said, "mommy, I want to do it again." He loved being in the spotlight while making people smile. I dunno where he gets that from? :-)

The other cute-cute moment was just when Ashley gets to Jason at the altar, everyone is quiet and Emmett says out loud, "hi dad" as Justin was standing up at the front by the groom's side. It made us smile and we are so proud of our boy! We are so excited for the newlyweds, too!

Nap Time is Over

2009-10-19T09:47:00.001-07:00

We gave up on Emmett napping months ago. He dropped it well before he was 3 and it took us a few months to finally accept he was done. Now we encourage "quiet time" or "down time" or simply tell him "you need to be alone".

As parents sense when their child really needs to rest after a long day, we explain to Emmett the importance of taking a break for the sake of everyone's sanity. Recently, we told Emmett that no nap/down time means he will be really cranky.

We just had a big weekend here in Seattle as our dear friends, Jason and Ashley, got married. Emmett was part of the festivities and rehearsal night, which means staying up late. We begged him to rest before the evening events and yet, he turns it on me...

He said, "Mommy, did YOU nap today?"

I replied, "No, I did not."

His response, "Then you're cranky!"

Emmett and Mommy on TV!

2009-10-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

King 5 did a one hour show on "Learning for Life". They choose Nanny's School to talk about the importance of playing while learning for kids before the age of five. Nanny being the huge advocate she is and well-known expert/childcare educator in town was interviewed. Nanny asked that I get interviewed, too!

Emmett's cameo is brief, but cuuuuuuuuuuute! I love that we're holding hands and you see Anya in my belly!

http://www.king5.com/video/eveningmagazine-index.html?nvid=393158

Enjoy!

First Day of School

2009-09-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Our boy begins another year at Nanny's School and we're thrilled! The last 2 in a half weeks have been life-changing to say the least for the whole Arnold Family in Seattle. On top of our newest addition and Emmett learning what it likes to be a big brother, school was out of session, so structure was missing from our daily routine. Emmett was missing the magic of Nanny and so was mommy and daddy!

Anyway, here is a lovely pic of our adorable son as he starts his final year at Nanny's. His report on his first day back was "Emmett has worked so hard at utilizing his good friend skills...he truly is a leader and makes us proud"! He makes us proud, too.

Big Brother

2009-08-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

On August 20th at 4:33pm Emmett became a BIG brother. He met his new sister shortly thereafter. This posting is the story of Emmett becomming a Big brudda.

In the months leading up to baby sister's arrival Emmett and Mommy frequented the library to find books on little siblings, how they arrive (some in rather graphic detail) and the impact this will have on the family. Emmett loved reading these books before bed and he embraced the idea that a newcomer would arrive soon. He loved to tell everyone that a baby was in Mommy's belly and would soon come out of her "Bagina." Still, some pieces were missing for Emmett and a few weeks before her arrival I remember Emmett asking, "How do I become a big brother?"

Well, that day came and sure enough becomming a big brother was easier than he thought. The tough part was yet to come. In fact, within about 1 hour of her arrival Emmett said, "I don't want be a big brother anymore."

Bedtime came rather quickly that night and the next day the work began. In the afternoon Daddy and Emmett took some time to go out and play at a park. This turned out to be good outlet for some of his energy. While leaving Emmett suggested that baby sister live in another house.

Since that time Emmett has become more fond of "My Baby" and enjoys kissing her and patting her on the head "as gently as possible."

Let's Water the House

2009-07-27T20:42:00.001-07:00

Seattle's summer so far has been a scorcher. To be 8 months pregnant in this heat makes me think this is revenge for doing the same thing to my mom, but in humid St. Louis. Thanks, mom! Anyhoo, we're making the most of it and spending plenty of time outside in the yard with the hose. Our main objective has been to water all the plants. Until now...

One afternoon, Jodi and Emmett are in back taking care of our precious plants. Jodi gets a call and sure enough work requires her to break away for a minute to pull some paperwork off the internet. Jodi turns to Emmett and asks, "mommy will be right back and do you promise to stay right here with the hose?" Emmett nods and we part our separate, but o-so brief ways.

It could not have been more than 4 or 5 minutes. Jodi runs downstairs, turns the corner and low and behold, the hose is in the middle of our kitchen and water is being sprayed EVERYWHERE. Jodi screams, "No!" Emmett exclaims, "mommy, I am watering the kitchen!" with such a level of enthusiasm that it was hard to stay upset. It's just water after all, right?

Let's just say the kitchen was FLOODED. Literally, an inch or two of water on the floor. While mommy was cleaning with god knows how many towels, Emmett of course was outside now with the hose. Within a minute or two, Emmett managed to spray water through the windows saying, "I'm cleaning the windows, mommy!" That's when I knew it was time to put the hose away until he is 10.

4th of July in STL

2009-07-27T20:41:00.001-07:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

3rd Birthday Solstice Celebration

2009-07-27T20:31:00.001-07:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

2009-05-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

Victoria B.C.

The Fairmont Empress

Emmett went with Mommy and Daddy to the beautiful Fairmont Empress in Victoria B.C. We enjoyed a fun trip to and from on the Victoria Clipper Boat which was a scenic 2 hour ride. We found many creative ways for passing the time from listening to Mommy's iPod to Daddy finding out that bloody marys were available for purchase.

The waters made for a pleasant trip and the ample sunshine offered specatular views of the mountains and islands.

The pool at the Empress and Emmett became well acquainted during many visits with Mom and Dad.

We enjoyed our room very much and a little time to ourselves thanks to our "friend" Cindy who came from Spoonfull of Sugar Nannies to play with Emmett on Saturday morning for several hours. Mom and Dad went down to check out the Rotary District Conference and listen to some great speakers.

Evenings in our room started out somewhat interesting due to the fact that Emmett did not want to fall asleep in the presence of either of his parents. Fortunately there were a couple of sitting chairs just outside our room door at the intersection of two hallways. We also got a chance to meet a lot of our neighbors on the floor.

Transportation was mostly on foot in the harbor on Victoria - so much to see and do. We visited the Undersea Gardens and had the opportunity to play with some older kids and watch eels and octopus swim with a SCUBA diver.

The Miniature World exhibit captivated Emmett's attention to the point of forced march departure. We must have spent 30 minutes there as Emmett's mouth was held agape.

Our dinner Saturday night was at a local pizza place that Jodi thought was pretty good, but not very memorable - which explains why we can't recall the name.

We had such a fun time together and enjoyed visiting such a hip, historical town on the West Coast. As always - it was great to get home and then we rocked.

Born to Be Wild

2009-04-17T08:25:00.001-07:00

Baby Sister

2009-04-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

While getting ready for bed Emmett and I were reviewing the names for everyone in our family - Dad is Justin, Mom is Jodi, etc. We talked about Papa is John and Gramma is Alex, he listed off his cousins Hannah and Ryan and we proceeded to talk about his whole family and what everyone's name is. Then I told him that we have a baby girl coming soon and that will be his sister.

Emmett told me that he wants to give his baby sister a hug and to hold her. I asked him what name she should have and he provided an answer other than "sister" or "baby" for the first time. This time Emmett looked up at me and said, "How about Baby Beluga?"

So, for the time being our little prenatal gem will bare the name Baby Beluga.

IKEA

2009-03-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Emmett and I joined Beckie and Liam today at IKEA in Auburn. We had a great time shopping for our kids and eating their swedish meatballs. At one point, Emmett starts running away from me and needs to be stopped as the distance between us was too much.

I yelled, "Emmett, please do not run so far and fast from your mommy!"

Emmett turns to me and says, "Mommy, I am getting my exercise!"

I could not stop laughing!!!!!!!!

Families Visit Us in March

2009-03-25T20:03:00.001-07:00

We're grateful American Airlines decided to drop their fares to rock bottom prices from STL to SEA in March. Round trip airfare for the weekend was $144/ticket, so needless to say, the family had to jump on this opportunity! We were so excited to have Gramma and Papa out first and then we got to end with a bang with Julie and Hannah. Hannah had Spring Break, so the timing could not be more perfect.

Highlights from J&A visit: Justin and John ran the St. Patty's Day Dash in the snow! We had the weirdest day of weather with snow, hail, wind and sun all in one day. It's typical winter weather for Seattle lately and don't even get me started on global warming. John and Alex stayed at the Westin and graciously swaped rooms with us for a night! We stayed on the 31st floor of the Westin, rode the Monorail for the first time into Seattle Center and got to see theater at the Seattle Rep. It was Justin's pick this time, so he went for a irish play about men who drink too much. Hmmmm...

Highlights from J&H visit: we kicked it off at the Space Needle then rocked out at EMP. I had free passes from 5 years ago, so we decided to check it out. Hannah was the perfect age now that she loves her I-pod and I-tunes. We took advantage of EMP's On Stage attraction, which asks you to pick out your own band name then sing a popular song that is recorded 'live' in front of a video screen full of sreaming fans, cheering us on. It was absolutely hilarious as we sang "I Love Rock 'n Roll" by Joan Jett with Hannah on the drums, Julie on keyboard and Jodi playing the guitar. We were bonafide Dudettes and have the rock video to show us strutting our stuff! It was a magical weekend hanging out and bonding with my niece who has grown so much while helping my sis relax since she doesn't have many opportunities in her hectic life.

Mommy's Little Helper

2008-11-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we had to run to one of Mommy's listings to tend to a home that won't sell in this unbelievable market. The owner had installed a security system to prevent his twins from running out onto the busy road. While mommy was checking the house's condition, Emmett decided to run up to the bright, blue lights on the security system. After pressing one button too many times, next thing you know the alarm goes off!

To say the alarm was loud is putting it mildly. The sound was so deafening that we had to run out of the house. I am trying everything in my power to shut the *#!?)@! off and was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, I am calling my client in San Diego in a panic as I don't have the code to turn it off. Oh fun. My client in San Diego is not picking up and Emmett is standing outside asking, "mommy, what happened?" So Emmett goes into the truck while Mommy is running around the house trying to find the instruction manual in a vacant house.

Eventually, the alarm turns off by some act of god as I never retrieved the code. Even better is that no officers arrived to check on the status of the home. I guess our hard paying tax dollars are not enough compensation for any sort of follow up. The good news is that it wasn't a break-in, but simply a two year old who needs to get his hands into anything and everything in site. 'Oi vay--please get this house sold!

Go Obama!

2008-11-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

We are elated beyond belief about the outcome of the election. The monumental accomplishment is HUGE for our country and the world. Words cannot express the emotions we have felt leading up to yesterday and now that it is decided we are relieved. We are full of promise and hope.

We had to hit the town to celebrate and had one of the best nights we've had in awhile. After meeting friends at Spitfire in Belltown, we cheered, cried, laughed, hugged and toasted to Obama's victory. It was truly an unforgettable evening that I know all of us will hold near and dear to our hearts for the rest of our lives.

We had to bring Emmett into the celebration, so when we got home just after 10p we knew we had to wake him up to announce that our next president will be Barack Obama. We woke him and picked him up to tell him "Emmett, Obama won. Obama won!" For the first time in his life he said, "mommy and daddy, I want my crib." We laughed and hugged then quickly got him back to his blissful sleepy time.

We're truly on cloud nine and finally feel like something positive is happening in our country and the world! America is waking up to a whole new beginning!

In the nose, out the crib

2008-06-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning Emmett decided to see what happens if he put some of his cereal up his nose. It turned out to not be that great of an idea. He lodged a "Cinna-Bunny" up his left nostril and it wouldn't come out. At the advice of several nurses and Emmett's doctor we made a trip to the Urgent Care center at Children's hospital for extraction. This painful experience proved that the piece of cereal had already been swallowed or blown out by Emmett.

In other news - Emmett has decided that the crib era is officially over. Emmett crawled out of his crib repeatedly during his "nap time" in an effort to let us know that he decides when to go to take a nap now. Good times.

Dad found this on the web and is seriously considering a similar re-design for Emmett's crib.

Kauai Trip

2008-05-04T21:31:00.001-07:00

What an amazing trip we had in Kauai! 7 wonderful nights on the Southern coast just West of Poipu Beach in a home with impressive views of the Ocean and a wonderful pool. Emmett loved to chase roosters and say hi to all the sailboats going by.

The Arnold family of Papa, Gramma, Uncle Jon and Aunt Lori rallied each day for much fun and laughter as we enjoyed the sun and company of each other. Emmett and Papa particularly enjoyed splashing in the pool together.

Thank you so much for a wonderful trip, Gramma and Papa!!

So Much to be Thankful For

2007-12-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

Our Turkey Day this year was one of the best! We hosted 12 people and the house was complete chaos with babies, 4 dogs, family and friends (old and new). Being a potluck celebration, it took a lot of the stress off of us and I highly recommend it to any host(ess) who wants to enjoy the holiday. In fact, Aunt Penny cooked the turkey while Justin took care of the prime rib. Having cousin Jon as a wine rep was greatly appreciated especially when he shows up with a case of complimentary wine to round off the meal.

The BIG surprise of the day was Julie and Jaimeson showing up from Canada after they recently moved back from Toronto! Being someone who is hard to surprise, I was elated beyond belief and felt that our celebration was complete with our best friends joining us. We simply couldn't ask for a better day with the gorgeous weather, amazing friends/family, wonderful food and wine plus an enlightening discussion I won't forget on Cuba of all things.

Happy Halloween In Fremont

2007-11-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

Florence Fights Back

2007-11-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

I guess I should title it Florence BITES Back. Coincidentally the first time we had to discipline our boy was this streak of biting that came over him. Emmett would bite mommy and daddy anytime we were wrestling around and having fun. Then it progressed to when he needed to get our attention. Needless to say, it was effective and challenged our parenting skills.

One day at daycare, Emmett was crawling all over Florence and not respecting her space. She sent a message and the picture tells the rest of the story. Interestingly enough, Emmett's biting has dramatically decreased and we have The Florence Revenge to thank.

Emmett's Second National Park

2007-10-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

Here we are! Emmett Quin makes an appearance at the least visited National Park, Capitol Reef. This park is truly under rated. It boasts beautiful panoramas of red rocks and spectacular colors. One of our most memorable times in this park was an off road drive through Cathedral Valley to visit the Temples of the Sun and Moon.

The Temple of the Moon is on the right side of this frame with the Temple of the Sun in the background. The drive to these magnificent rock formations took us about 45 minutes on an unpaved off-road that winded its way through some rugged and beautiful terrain.

Emmett found the drive a little less interesting and decided that he would take a break from the DVD and views in favor of some much needed sleep.