Family Night at the Richardson's

If you asked me what is something I enjoy doing with my family, I would have to say, spending time at home playing the Wii and listening to Ema laugh. Last night we had one of these nights. Kirk and I played the Wii and Ema joined in as usual. She is a little young for the Wii but her creative mind never ceases to amaze us. Everyone knows what a Wii controller looks like, right? Ema gets her pretend flat iron and that is her controller. Can you see the resemblance?



Kirk loves to play basketball and golf on the Wii. Ema joined right in. It was so funny because she would watch Kirk and then tried to copy everything he did.





She really thought she was doing something. She would say, go Ema, then she would say to Kirk, High 5 Ba'!





She is growing up so much. This time last year she was so little and very overwhelmed by all the new surroundings. She has come such a long way and has developed her own personality that brings us so much joy.

Our Surprise Snow

What a surprise, more snow! Now that Ema has her new boots, she can go out and play! We built our first snow woman. Ema wanted to name her Ducky. I am not sure why, but that is her name. She was a small snow woman but she was BEAUTIFUL.

Originally she sat on the ledge around out air conditioner but Kirk moved her under our Japanese maple tree right outside our breakfast window. Every night, Ema would go to the window and tell her good night!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRK

We celebrated Kirk's Birthday on Tuesday. Most of you probably don't know this but Ema LOVES telling you HAPPY BIRTHDAY. We think it is because her birthday party last year was the most exciting thing she had ever been to so she loves Birthday's. For example, at night she will say.... I Love You Ma', Happy Birthday Ma'. I Love You Ba', Happy Birthday Ba'. It's really sweet. We think her saying Happy Birthday is like the ULTIMATE I Love You! She was thrilled when I woke her up and told her it was Ba's Birthday. She couldn't wait to get to him and give him her card!

SNOW DAY #1

Ema loves the snow this year. Last year we had just gotten home with her so she wasn't to crazy about it but that is not the case now. Our first snow day was not that great because Ema was getting sick and we wouldn't let her go out. At the time she just had the usual runny nose but that progressed into a low grade fever, then to a very high fever I could barely keep down, then to trip to the pediatrician on Monday to find out we have the FLU! It's one thing to be snowed in but to be snowed in with a VERY sick baby is another thing. Before she began running fever we did let her go out on the patio for about 2 minutes just to feel the snow since snow is rare here in Tennessee. Here are our pictures from our first snow day in 2010.






Ema kept telling me lay down momma! She wanted me to make a snow angel. Then once we came inside she wanted to call her Nanny and PawPaw to tell them that she went outside. She said Ema put hat on, Ema put gloves on, Ema put jacket on. Ema have no boots. So guess what.....Ema now has a cute pair of cotton candy Croc boots! That girl already knows how to work the grand and great grand parents!

This post is way out or order but it is too cute not to post. In the fall, my mom went out of town and my dad was going to take Ema to church while Kirk and I ran in a race. I had everything laid out for him so he would not have a hard time. When it was time for them to come home, Ema was asleep in the car seat and to my surprise this is what I found.......



That's right! My dad didn't know that the E went in the front and the buttons went in the back. Yes, the shirt had tags! And all I was worried about was that he would forget to put the hair bow in. Next time I will label FRONT and BACK! We still laugh about this!

Ema's Gotcha Day Party

These days it seems like all of my post should begin with "Lets play catch up"! I am not sure why God speeds up time when you get a child but MAN I could use a little more time in my day to CATCH UP!

Anyways, Here are a few pictures from Ema's gotcha day party. We had a great time with everyone. We had all of Ema's favorite foods:Chick Fil A chicken nuggets, chocolate oatmeal cookies, homemade banana nut bread mini muffins without the nuts, Nana's chex mix, tootsie rolls, M&M's, and Hershey kisses. We watched our video from Vietnam and literally could still remember everything like it was yesterday. Thank you to everyone who could make it. You all helped in making Ema's day special!

Happy Gotcha Day Ema!

OK as I post this I can't tell if I am nauseated or excited. I think it is little of both. This week is FULL of sentimental moments for Kirk and I. This week, a year ago, Kirk and I were walking the streets of Vietnam. We had met a precious baby girl and were getting ready to sign those papers to legally make her ours. I cannot believe it has been a year. I never knew how much I could love one person. She has grown up so much in a year. I remember Vietnam so vividly. And I can't believe I am about to say this but Kirk and I miss Vietnam. (Kremers...you told us we would say that) Life is somewhat simple there. We had nothing to do but spend time and bond with Ema. No housework, no cooking, no real world stuff. Just enjoy our new addition and show her that we love her! Who wouldn't love that? We met some wonderful people there and think of them often. We are so grateful to Vietnam. They treated us so wonderful while we were there and made our trip as pleasant as they possibly could. So I have posted some pictures from our trip! Enjoy






I always say I hope I never forget our trip to Vietnam so I decided to write something to Ema about the points that I especially don't want to forget. Sorry if this seems crazy but I want her to know as she grows older what our experience was like.

Ema,
I hope I never forget what it was like meeting you for the first time. I remember being in the room with the orphanage director drinking green tea and seeing the reflection of you and the orphanage worker in the mirror. For the first time in my life I was speechless. You were little person and no longer a picture or a child that I only saw in a dream every now and then.
I hope I never forget how you screamed and kicked because you were terrified of us. You had on an orange jacket and pants with astronaut things all over them. You had on socks that were HUGE. You were the most beautiful thing to us! I hope I never forget the day that they called us to come and get you. How your Ba' and I rushed frantically around the room FINALLY packing a diaper bag for you. I hope I never forget how your orphanage worker brought you out shielding your face from the sun with the hat that they wear there and how you were holding the ladybug toy that we had given you the day before. I hope I never forget how you sat in my lap in the bus with your legs straddled me (you still sit on me that way) and had your head buried in my arm as I sang Jesus loves me over and over to you. (it's something about the name Jesus that is comforting)I hope I never forget how wonderful it felt to finally have you in my arms. Ema, I hope I never forget bringing you back to our room and changing your diaper and dressing you in the kissy kissy outfit with pink flamingos on it and how you cried and cried and cried. I hope I never forget how once you finally went asleep, we ate dinner LATE and in the bathroom because we did not want to wake you. I think I slept 3-4 hours because I would wake up and just watch you sleep. You slept most of the night on your stomach with your booty sticking up in the air. Ema, you will never know how much you have changed our lives. We love you so much and pray daily that God will help us be the best parents to you that we can possibly be. You have come so far in a year and I am so proud of you! You are such a blessing to have! We love you!
Ba' and Me'

Leave, Leaves, and more Leaves!

We had a yard full of leaves last week and couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some good pictures. Ema wasn't sure what to do with them but once we began running through the piles that Ba had created she had a blast. Now we are paying for it with a runny nose but it was sorta worth it. All kids need to have fun in the leaves don't you think?

Happy Halloween

In years past, I have always made cupcakes for all of our trick or treaters. I had decided this year that I was not doing all of that this year. Well I got to feeling guilty and ended up keeping the tradition.


Thursday before Halloween, we attended the carnival at the sports splex. Ema was a bit scared of the clowns but caught on really quick on collecting candy. Ema absoultly adores Amy so the best part about this night was seeing her and of course the tiger sunglasses.



Halloween was a first for Ema and for Kirk and I. I personally think that the whole trick or treating thing was a bit disappointing. We were too pressured into getting to see everyone to enjoy anything. Ema was so strung out on CHOCOLATE that by 6:00 she was irritable and done with trick or treating. She was a pretty cute Minnie Mouse though!

Basketball is here again!

It seems like yesterday that Kirk and were taking Ema to the tiger game and she was just a baby.
3/7/2009
Well I guess these pictures say it all. She is no longer a baby. Atleast she doesn't think she is. She thinks she is about 10 years old. Little Miss. Independent, she is. She has grown up so fast. She has always enjoyed the tiger games. She especially loves the cheer whoaaaaaaa T-I-G-E-R-S tigers!