New Blog

I have set up a new blog at http://hfw.thewilkes.us Come check it out! Going forward, all new pictures will be posted to the new blog. Please bookmark the new link. See you there.

Hal

Gymnastics, October 16, 2007

Emma has been going to Gymnastics since before she turned one. She is still doing the Mom and Tot classes with Susan, which is essentially like having private lessons, since Susan has been coaching since she was in high school. Now we are just trying to decide between the Mom and Tot classes and regular classes for next semester.

October 16, 2007

This is one of Emma's favorite things to do: JUMP! As I am sure you have noticed by the number of pictures of her jumping on our bed.



Emma crawling through the tunnel.

Emma walking on the high beam.

October 16, 2007

Jumping into the pit is a lot of fun.



Bye Bye Time...

As you can see, we played a little extra after Bye Bye Time.

A little more jumping into the pit.

And some time sliding down the ramp. (Sorry about the color, the flash didn't fire quite right on this one.)

October 16, 2007

Emma on the Swing Rope



High Bar

Tuck Jump!

Clips, October 5, 2007

Susan got these out because Emma's hair was falling in her face. (The one bow wasn't cutting it.) After playing with the clips for a little while, Emma declared, "Put them all in."

Tigger Costume, October 8, 2007

When we asked what costume she wanted for Halloween, she told us Tigger. Amazingly enough, we went to the Children's Repeat Boutique, a local consignment store, and they had one! This is her first day trying it on. It's a little small, but close enough. Hopefully we get as lucky next year.

October 8, 2007

Fishy Face

What a great tuck jump! (and I love the hair)

October 11, 2007

It seems my shirt is a little large for her...

Aren't they adorable!

Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival, October 14, 2007

We went to the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival on October 14, 2007. We were trying to get there early enough to see our friend Michael Millet sing, but we just missed him. (He is having his Christmas Show on December 22nd at the Covington Farmer's Market from 9:30 - 11:30 if anybody wants to see a really great show.) We did have a lot of fun playing in the Children's area. We also got to see John and Jeanne Winters' new boat The Office. They were gracious enough to let us use it for a place to have lunch. Unfortunately we missed them, as they had gone to have lunch on the other side of the river. We did have a great view of the race that ends the Quick and Dirty Boat Building Contest from the flying bridge of their boat.

Emma's First Pony Ride, October 14, 2007

We went to the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival, and they had Pony Rides in the kid's area. Emma enjoyed the ride, and asked for a second turn. Doesn't she look good in her sunglasses?

Look what we found! October 14, 2007

This little critter was crawling on our floor, and Emma wanted to hold it. Her normal reaction to seeing a bug is, "Sooo cute! Can I hold you?" If anybody knows what it is we would love to know.

Vacation, September 15-22, 2007

We took a vacation with Grandma and Grandpa to Orange Beach, AL. We had a great time. It was Emma's first time at the beach, and she had a really good time. Digging in the sand was a hit, but I think she just put up with having to sit in it. She really enjoyed her time playing and swimming, both in the Gulf and in the pool.

First Time in the Gulf, September 16, 2007

This was Emma's first day in the Gulf. She really did enjoy going in the water. We decided it was a little too wavy too try and put her in the floaty swimming suit we used for the pool, so we just held her. That way we could keep her face from getting too big a hit from any of the waves. It worked out great. This was out first day out, and the water was pretty calm. We never had another day this calm, and had a couple where we did not go in at all.

Emma and Mommy getting ready to venture in for the first time.



Emma was a little apprehensive at first.

Here comes the wave!

Emma, Mommy and Grandma

September 16, 2007

Up for the wave.

Looking for the next wave.

September 16, 2007

Mommy's getting splashed!

Grandpa and Emma

Emma swimming

In the Condo, September 17, 2007

Emma and Grandpa



Emma feeding her doll. (Sometimes you just have to be the Mommy.)

Out in the Gulf

We bought a disposable water proof camera to take with us out into the gulf, and Grandpa took lots of pictures for us. Susan tried to hold Emma, but the waves were a little too big for her. So she passed her off to me. Emma had a blast in the Gulf. I stood in water that was about chest deep, and had to jump/tread water when the waves rolled in. It was a lot of fun.

Out in the Gulf

This one broke right on us.





Up with a big wave.



One handing her so Grandpa can get a good picture of her.

We were body surfing on the waves on the way in. As you can see, Emma really enjoyed that.

Breakfast. September 19, 2007

Breakfast, September 20, 2007

Emma is all dressed to go swimming after breakfast.

September 20, 2007

Grandpa, Mommy and Emma having lunch after a swim.



Emma and Grandma at lunch.

The lovebugs were EVERYWHERE when we were in Orange Beach. Emma loved getting to hold them. We were on our way out to dinner when she saw these on the ground and exclaimed, "Look, a love bug. Can I hold you?"

Dinner at The Original Oyster House, in Gulf Shores. Emma had lots of firsts that night, including fried alligator, softshell crab and raw oysters. The alligator was a hit. The raw oysters didn't go over quite as well, but they were not disliked more than any other new texture.

Swimming in the Pool, September 21, 2007

Emma is swimming all by herself!



Mommy is COLD!

Look at her go!

September 21, 2007

Getting Ready to Jump



After the Splash

Chocolate Chip Cookies

We just got finished making a giant batch of cookies. We were baking cookies for my work Thanksgiving lunch tomorrow. I wanted to tell the world how great Emma was at helping. She measured, stirred and tasted like a professional. It is so much fun to share something with Emma that both Susan and I enjoy doing so much. I need to thank Susan for helping so much with the cookies this year (and last). With Emma around it isn't quite as easy to just whip up a batch. Somebody has to keep the evening moving along, (bath, evening snack, etc.) and tonight was my turn to do the bath, so Susan did most of the cookie making.

I have been working somewhat diligently on editing pictures, and I will have some ready to post very soon. I have been going through our vacation pictures, which has taken me quite a bit longer than it should have. I had pictures from three cameras to go through, only one left.

Here is the recipe we make every year:

2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar (packed)
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
4 cups flour
5 cups oatmeal (blended to a flour)
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 oz. Semi-sweet baking chocolate (finely grated)

Cream Sugar and butter. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl, including grated chocolate. Mix wet and dry ingredients together a little at a time. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop dough onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Cool 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool. Makes 9-10 dozen cookies.