Emmerson’s Journey

We have been very busy since we got home to Florida. We cleaned the house from top to bottom. We spent several days Letterboxing in a local park. I am reconnecting with the toys and stuffed animals I left for nearly a month while we were on vacation! Mommy has been trying to schedule lots of play dates so we can see our local friends again. I got to go swimming in Lochness at Innisbrook again! I LOVE that pool! Thank you Goldman family!

Today we joined up with Breighton’s pal, Zachary, down at their beach home. We saw lots of seabirds at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and then played on the beach for a while.

I like being part of the gang. I know someday Breighton will cast me off, but until then I am right up with what the big kids are doing!

I didn’t want to get wet today so I stayed up on the beach. The real issue was I didn’t want to get my new “baby shoes” dirty. Breighton and I got matching shoes while we were in North Carolina!

Racing to show Mommy my shell treasure! I found the SMALLEST shell! BABY SHELL! ME HAPPY!

I put it in the bottle for safe keeping.

Too bad I looked away! This would have been a cute picture… I was distracted by the birds!

We came back to the Goldman’s house and got all showered off! I LOVED the shower! It was like rain. I snuggled up with the big kids for some Scooby Doo!

I got bored with cartoons and saw Miss Lynn in the kitchen doing something that looked way more interesting than TV. I came out to help. She was making challah for Shabbat tonight. I helped kneed the dough.

Pound pound pound!

Miss Lynn showed me how to stretch the dough and then how to braid it to make a beautiful loaf of challah. I even made a “baby challah” ( i can say challah!!!) that was about an inch long and not braided!

I had a wonderful long day of play. Time for bed!

We had a busy day again today. We took a trip to Cradle of Forestry again. Aunite Kim (her Friend Mr. Gary) and Cousins Anna and Ian came into town late last night. I haven’t seen them in a long time so this was a real treat for Emmerson and me.

He enjoyed a long drive and them some lunch and a long walk.

I liked playing in the box of sawdust.

I have a future career as a bell ringer. I just didn’t want to give it up.

Yeeee HAW!

Mommy keeps forgetting to mention the new game I like to play in restrooms. It all started at the YMCA in Ohio. If my hair is wet (and now even if it is dry) I found a new way to dry it.

WEEEEEEEEEEE! Air drying. It makes my hair nice and hot and straight!

We made a few scenic stops along the river and Blue Ridge Parkway (a few pull outs and the fish farm again) and then ended at our last stop at the river to play in the water.

As usual, I had a blast in the river. I help on to Mommy’s hand for most of it but then I let go to move LOTS of rocks around.

I liked helping Breighton and my cousins build a dam.

I got changed and then we headed back for home. I was out like a light in no time flat. What an exhausting day for me!

Today I tagged along to Breighton’s “Woodsy Owl’s” class “poking in the pond”. I am truly Breighton’s shadow. I wanted to do everything he was doing. I didn’t care that the class was for 4-7 year olds. I am 2 and a HALF (tomorrow at least I will be 2.5!!) and I will do what I want!!!

I didn’t leave the bucket. I had to check out each bug that was put in. I have ZERO fear and kept reaching in and grabbing the bugs and letting them wiggle in my hand.

Then I discovered the magnifying glasses. I had to check out EVERYTHING!

Checkin out Mommy with my magnifying glasses.

I showed Grandma Jo all the bugs. Fearless! Frighteningly so says Mommy.

When we were all done we dumped the bugs back into the pond and had to carry everything back to the classroom. I INSISTED that I carry the bucket and nets all by myself. Some man kept asking me to carry his tiny green net in exchange for my big nets. I laughed at him and said NO!

I even had to participate in the game at the end and correctly put my bug in the right place.

At the gift shop Grandma Jo bought be a stuffed chipmunk and a magnifying glass. I bounded out of the shop giggling and saying “ME HAPPPPPPPY!! ME HAPPPPPPY!!!”

Then we visited the Trout Farm and Fish Hatchery. We found three adorable baby birds in a nest on top of a sign.

I really enjoyed feeding the fish! I just giggled and giggled.

Breighton showed me that you could drop the food near the edge and the fish would splash and splash. f

So much fun!

What an amazing day. Time for a long nap and snuggling with my chipmunk and magnifying glass.

We went to Bryson City, NC to go on a CHOO CHOO ride today! I was SO HAPPY! I got completely lost with the trains. I fell in love. I want trains all over the place! trains trains trains!

Mommy had to keep picking me up to see the trains.

Then some time at the play train table.

Then back over to watch “Thomas” go around the train with his coaches! CHOO CHOO Me HAPPY!

Daddy took his whirl at holding me up to see in. There were buttons to push that turned trains on or made other fun things happen. I loved pushing the buttons!

Waiting outside in the drizzle with Breighton to board the train. He was being a major dork!

HUGE CHOO CHOO!

The train whistle was super loud and I kept covering my ears.

Watching the trees (and kudzu) go by.

I was getting wet in the rain and my hair curled to an amazing new level of curl! Mom kept teasing me and pulling my curls and saying “BOING BOING”.

What could be better in life… a boom boom and a train!!!

Mommy kept singing me “I found a peanut” and I would doze off for a second. I never went to sleep but just rested my eyes. Mommy wanted to nap on the train. She had taken motion sickness medicine and was super drowsy.

At the halfway mark they swapped the engine to the other end of the train to pull us back. We had to swap sides to equally share the view with the other people across from us. Guess what, MORE KUDZU!

I had a great time. I loved riding the CHOO CHOO!

Enjoying a hike in the woods. I insisted on holding Breighton’s hand most of the trek.

I stomped my heart out and shouted loud while walking through the tunnel.

I was enthralled by the weaver.

I did NOT like my choice of drinks. YUCKIE!

Breighton shared the building blocks and let me build a tower!

I helped with this one as well.

Cleaning up the building trees! BOOM!

We went to the little river we always stop at. Mommy, Breighton and Grandma Jo went down first while I took a brief nap while Daddy supervised. These people were DIVING and jumping off of this huge cliff! MORONS! At least it explained why this tiny river was so packed today. There is a HUGE river on the other side of the tiny one!

I had fun walking in the water with Mommy. I needed my hand held the entire time. Once Mommy let me walk alone and I slipped and went face first into the water. Thank goodness no injury!

Daddy didn’t have the proper water type shoes on so he tiptoed over the higher rocks.

Checking out the fish that Mommy caught.

My tummy is still bugging me a bit. I am eating more but Mommy said I am using way too many diapers. Hopefully I will get less grumpy soon.

Today we painted pottery. We don’t get to pick it up for a week but I still had a blast! I INSISTED that whatever I painted had to have both a MOMMY and a BABY. I chose the same dragons that Breighton chose!

We stopped off at a river on the way home to play. Mommy was being silly and blew a dandelion at Daddy.

Off I go… fearless! COMPLETELY FEARLESS! I am trying to catch a “huge fish”.

This is what you call “redneck kayaking”. Yes, that is an inflatable air bed!!!!

Checkin out what B caught.

Icky but having fun!

When we got back to the house Daddy and Mommy went up to the tree fort with B and I. Daddy helped snap off a few dead branches for us to build our fort.

I really love nature!

I have a “baby” pinecone. I also found a “huge mommy” pinecone.

Playing with my baby pinecone in the fort of sticks.

Hi Daddy!

Hi Mommy!

Oh, I found a “nut” too!

Having fun here in Asheville with Grandma Jo.

We have been very busy. We went letterboxing all over town. We played in the lake near Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Today we went to the Health Adventure. I had a fun time playing with all the hands on things.

Watering the corn on Dorothy’s farm. I liked the things to play with in “the Wizard Of Oz” exhibit.

Dropping chicken eggs.

Breighton set up a nice farm scape and then i destroyed it with a top! (a twister Auntie Em). I knocked over the sheep and started jumping up and down saying “ME WIN ME WIN” and then i ran off with the sheep! Mommy explained it wasn’t a game and it was not a prize.

Clicking my heals… there is no place like home.

Grandma Jo built a cool castle that eventually, Breighton knocked over!

Moving blocks on the conveyer belt.

After lunch and ice cream we visited the WNC Nature Center. I was all giggles because I found a MATCH on my map with a snake in a tank. I still love to MATCH things.

TURTLES!

Taking a rest and seeing where to go next.

There was a man using a nail gun off to the right in this picture. It was VERY loud!

Mommy told me to pet the goat… i used my elbow! Mommy eventually came over and covered my ears and then I pet him with my hands!

Grrrrrr.

Hanging out on Breighton’s lap. He kept stealing my stroller! PUNK!

We had a nice, but hot, day out. We came home and built a huge fort downstairs instead of resting. Time for a bath, dinner and a movie!

Tonight we went to the YMCA. I was timid about going in. Finally I got in the water and was having a silly time splashing Mommy and zipping through the water fountains. I went running through them and totally forgot to stop until i tripped and went head first into the side of the pool. I know, i know… been there done that a few weeks back! haha, that is why they call me Crash! Actually, Mommy and Daddy are shocked that I haven’t landed myself in the ER for a major boo-boo.

The lifeguard instantly appeared with an instant ice pack. I cried when it was on my head but Mommy said I had no choice… We needed to make sure it didn’t swell up. Luckily it didn’t puff up much and it isn’t visible as it is on the side of my head. Running forward and I hit the side of my head! That is genetic, at least Mommy said it runs on Daddy’s side of the family!

The lifeguards kept checking in on me and then the head lifeguard came over and asked Mommy a bunch of questions. She must have known the right answers because that was the end of that. 15 minutes later (after the mandatory YMCA lifeguard break) I was back in the pool… but no more running in the fountains. Mommy checked my eyes a few more times through out the evening and at bed. All clear. Not a bad bump. We shall see what it looks like in the morning!

Uncle Matt and Breighton made a neat invention that was able to spin! I had a grand time spinning it. I even decorated it with stickers and stamps!