i HEART old navy!

Let me preface this story with a "I NEVER WIN ANYTHING"....until Saturday came along...

Friday night my dear friend Amanda told me that Old Navy was doing a Grand Re-Opening (they just remodeled) Saturday morning and giving away things to the first 200 people through the door....things like graphic t's, jeans, $200 shopping sprees and one $500 shopping spree. I was like the 50th person in line 15 minutes before the store opened (and there were only a few people behind me....I don't think they advertised it very well. Anywho....to make a long story short.... I DREW THE (ONE) LUCKY ENVELOPE THAT CONTAINED THE ONLY $500 SHOPPING SPREE!!! I didn't believe it at first! Actually, I was in shock and Amanda was the one screaming and freaking out!!! I sure felt lucky!! I went home, picked up Brett and E and we went back to do a little damage :)

Emri loves looking through bags when we get home from shopping...but usually it's just boring groceries! Today was her lucky day! Clothes...shoes...sunglasses...swimsuit...

She doesn't want to take off her new sandals! Thank you Old Navy!!! (and amanda for letting me in on the info)

I have such a water baby and I love it....cuz we all know summer is my favorite time of year! One day I met up with a friend at the Bunny Fountains and realized they were closed for maintenance once we got there. Bummer.

So.... I ran to Target and got a kiddie pool for the backyard. Hey, as long as there's water....this little one is happy! It's a good alternative to Zoombezi Bay on the days we only have a short amount of time to play. Love those lop-sided teeth :)

We had a BBQ with some friends one of the night's the boys were on break...Emri had fun playing with Reese...

...and also tried to keep up running with the older boys!

She also insisted on playing in the pool....

but mom forgot to bring a swim diaper to go along with her swimsuit! oops!!!

I swear that thing was 15 lbs!! ha ha! The best part was watching her try to keep her balance as she walked! Ba-Donk-A-Donk!!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

THANKS TO ALL THE FATHERS/MEN IN MY LIFE THAT HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON ME PERSONALLY OR MY FAMILY! I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT FATHER'S DAY!!

ESPECIALLY THIS ONE.... I COULDN'T HAVE WISHED FOR A SWEETER, MORE CARING DADDY FOR OUR LITTLE GIRL.

BRETT HAS BEEN ON SUMMER BREAK THE PAST WEEK AND A HALF. TO SAY EMRI IS ATTACHED TO HIM IS AN UNDER-STATEMENT! WE WON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT HIM HERE TOMORROW WHEN SCHOOL'S BACK IN :( WE LOVE YOU BABE! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Santa Maria

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety-two..... and he landed in..... OHIO!

Ok, actually, he didn't...but this world's most authentic, museum-quality representation of Christopher Columbus' flagship is actually anchored in our very own downtown Columbus, Ohio in the Scioto River.

I think we picked the wrong day to go on our little "tour." It was super hot and muggy...and E was running around like crazy! I spent most of my time chasing her around... The ship didn't look very home-ey at all....No beds, the sailors just slept on the hard wood decks, wherever there was room.

She did stay here for more than 10 seconds....loving the ring "toss" game!

She was on a dead run as soon as we de-boarded! We were all so sweaty as you can see by E's red cheeks.

As soon as we got home these two assumed their usual positions! ha! We lent Emri's bouncer to a friend and recently got it back....I haven't put it away yet....and this cute girl thinks she fits in it quite nicely?!?!?

A few factoids about the Santa Maria

• The Santa Maria was a wider, clumsier vessel than was typically used as a cargo carrier. It carries 5 sails.
• Columbus mentioned later in his voyage that the Santa Maria was not very well suited for exploration.
• After approximately 70 days (including a month in Canary Islands for repairs) the ships (Nina, Pinta & S.M) sighted new lands, which centered around what is now called Cuba and Dominican Republic.
• The sailors relied only on the wind and current for propulsion and a crude compass or the stars for direction.
• Overall length: 98 feet (definitely not as big as I would have thought---no way would I be out on open ocean waters for months on that thing).
• The Santa Maria never left the new land. She ran aground and became stuck Christmas Day 1492 on the island of Isla Espanola. Her equipment, supplies, and 39 men were left behind to await Columbus' return.
• When the crew needed to "take care of business," they climbed over the side edge of the ship, held on, and basically squatted into the air. For cleaning purposes, they (ALL) used the frayed end of a (COMMUNITY) large rope...which quite honestly looked like it would feel like a pinecone scraping on your delicate parts! It was then rinsed in the ocean and left hanging there for the next lucky guy! It was properly named "The Bitter End." Our tour guide said it had to be changed monthly, "whether it needed to be or not!" ha ha!

E's First Pony

Last week we got a larger-than-life package on our doorstep from the UPS man!

To: Emri

Love: Papa and Grandma Max

She obviously was beside herself!

A PONY!!!!

Checkin' things out....getting familiar with eachother...

Instant Love....

It's a HIT!

(Seriously....my FAVORITE part about living away from family--packages in the mail, especially ones that don't even fit in the mailbox!)

Thanks Papa and Grandma! I'm sure it cost more to ship than the actual purchase itself....but that cute little face enjoying the pony is priceless! We love you!

PS...Yes, sometimes it's ok to go topless around here. Brett does it all the time.

SO MUCH FUN!

The weather last week was AMAZING! So, we definitely took advantage of it at the Bunny Fountains, Zoo, Pool, and a BBQ!

The Bunny Fountains are perfect for little kiddos! The bunnies on top of the hill are a little creepy though! We went 3 different times last week!

Emri was fearless....and ON THE GO!

Her age is perfect....it's fun to see her get excited about little things!

We went to see the new polar bear exhibit at the zoo with her friend Averi. The bears were so fun to watch!

Emri insists now that she controls the spoon (*sigh*) at breakfast. Basically there's milk everywhere by the time her Cheerios are gone, but she's getting better each day! Look at that concentration!

And when I tell her she can't eat with the LARGE serving spoon....I get this face in return!!

And then....well, she enjoys feeding herself with said Large Serving Spoon! Yeah, we all know who's in charge!

Memorial Weekend Bexley's pool opened and she invited Emri to go swimming with her....so Brett and I tagged along too. Bexley was so sweet to share her floatie!

And after a while she wanted nothing to do with us (the moms and babies)....

And she decided flying through the air with the help of the dads was WAY more FUN!

The Man Triangle....with Emri as the football. Good thing I trust these guys! Emri was having the time of her life!

It was nice to have Brett home for a long weekend. Since he's never experienced the Bunny Fountains we went on Monday. I cracked up at this picture...Like Father Like Daughter?! They even have the same wrinkled brow! ha ha!

There was a chance of rain, but we braved it and pretty much had the place to ourselves!

It was bright and sunny the whole time!

Emri spent lots of time filling up her watering can and dumping it back out.....

Water up the nose?!?!?

We went to a BBQ Monday night and Emri couldn't keep her lips off the rusty nail in this swing...

....Or the cap cover from the propane tank....or the dirty rocks! What is with my child?!?! She did have fun with her friends Averi, Abigail, and Taylee too! They're so fun!

Sorry for the LOOOONNNG post! If we stop having fun or if it rains (like it is today) then I will sit down long enough to post more often :)