Happy 4th Birthday Emma!

This Birthday hit me harder that most.  It's been a hard summer starting off with a move from a place we loved with amazing friends to a great new place but without very many familiar faces.  The kids and I spent a lot of time together this summer because of that and so I'm struggling with facing the fact that our sweet little red head just turned 4 and the trio are about to start First grade!  Only one more year of Preschool until Emma heads off to Kindergarten and I'm left all alone from 8 to 3 EVERY DAY!  Don't get me wrong, I love that "me time" but it's nice having some time with just my girl before the house gets crazy with the trio getting home.  I'm certainly going to make a conscious effort to soak up every moment with her during this last year. 

Emma completed our family 4 years ago and has since then added so much love, laughter and life to all of us.  She loves nature, animals, unicorns and rainbows.  Hates shoes (or clothes in general) and I always joke with Joe that she's going to join the Peace Corps when she gets older and travel the world  barefoot, saving all the animals!  She does  not like to eat meat but can eat fruit, soybeans and cheese all day long!  She always seems to find the dirt piles and puddles and would much rather hang with the boys than play with the girls!  The things that come out of her mouth seem to always leave everyone saying "where does she think of these things" but I know these will forever keep her strong, independent spunky personality right where it needs to be and make her an incredible person that so many people love!

We had a weekend full of celebrating to include Joe's family visiting!  Friday we took the kids to the Richmond Zoo.  It's a small Zoo but the perfect size for us to walk around for just a couple hours and has all the animals that Emma loves!!

A brand new Baby Monkey!

Saturday the family arrived and we headed to the mall for a little while so Emma could visit the Build a Bear store with Uncle Tommy and Brittany!

On Sunday (Emma's Birthday) we enjoyed lunch out, a visit to the Battlefield and of course presents and cake!

All these presents!

The flying Unicorn from Meme and Poppy

Pie Face from Uncle Tommy and Brittany

Thanks Aunt Jen for all the new Art supplies!

Her new Batgirl costume from Nana, Papa and Aunt KK

 

The flying Fairy from Meme and Poppy!

 

 

 

                      

Of course we ended the evening with a Pinata full of more sugar! On Monday after the family left we headed out to the Botanical Gardens because Emma had been asking about seeing the Butterfly garden there.

 

Decided to sunbathe while waiting for the Butterflies!

This was made out of Legos!!

Another Birthday in the books just like that!  And now we prepare for the new school year full of brand new schools, friends and activities! Thank you everyone for making Emma's 4th Birthday so special!