Kenzie at 14 months

Pumpkin Cake

One of my favorite desserts to bake in the fall, this pumpkin cake recipe is very simple to make. It's like pumpkin pie with crumbles on top.

Mix 6 eggs, 1-1/2 c. sugar, 1/2 t. salt, 1 large can pumpkin, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 can evaporated milk, and 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice.

Pour into 9 x 13 pan.

Mix 1 stick melted butter with yellow or white cake mix. Add to top of pumpkin.

Bake about 1 hour (60-80 min) at 350 degrees.

Outer Banks Vacation

"The Outer Banks" by Marcella Emrick

Woosh, splash. Woosh, splash. The waves try to get me. I run to the water. I run back to the sand. With my shovel I dig a big hole.

High tide! Daddy drives the car forward. The water rushes up and fills a pool of water. We lie on our bellies. New friends pull us on the board. Weee!

"Let's look for shells," Grammy whispers to me. We look on the beach and find lots. Plop! The pretty ones go into my bucket. Black, pink, and yellow ones.

Floating over the waves with Daddy, he holds me up and we swim on our bellies. Warm water, bubbles and splashes. It feels good.

Up, up, up we climb the mountain of sand. "I can do it myself!" Rolly-polly down I rush. Fast, faster, "Look at me!"

Kenzie's Smile

Yes, we have a new baby. Makenzie Joy was born on February 3 weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 20 inches long, the same as her sister Ella. She is now 6 weeks old and enjoys interacting with us, with baby sounds and sweet smiles. Enjoy this video!

We're Moving!

If you haven't heard, we've finally sold our house. Closing was last Monday. We're packing our things and need to be out by December 19th at noon. We'll drive a caravan of vehicles including a moving truck and trailer all the way to New Jersey. Once there, we will will live with Tyler's parents for a few months until after the baby is born and our new house is renovated (by Tyler himself). Thanks to everyone who is helping us with boxes, packing, loading, cleaning. I'm surely not very helpful being 31 weeks pregnant and can't wait to have this move done so I can relax for Christmas.

Another Baby Girl

It's hard to believe that I'm already 21 weeks pregnant! Last week, our ultrasound went well. Baby is most likely a girl although it’s not 100% sure due to baby all curled up and legs together. She opened and closed her mouth, rubbed her face with her hand, and other cute baby movements like that. She is healthy and weighs almost 13 ounces. Due date remains Feb. 9, just before Maddy's Feb. 15 birthday. Crazy, but they could end up having the same birthday!

Happy Birthday Pappy!

Ella Begins Preschool

The first day of school! Ella woke up very early, around 6am, she was so excited. School didn't start until 9:15. When we finally got there she yawned and said she was tired.


What a big girl! Ella wishes she could ride the bus and go to kindergarten every day, but for now she attends the Curiosity Corner down the street from our house. Her 3's class meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings. It's been a great first school experience so far. She enjoyed her two hours of independence from Mom, and didn't cry one tear.


Today was her second day of school. Daddy was working from home so he got to give her a hug and kiss goodbye!


Before we left for our walk to school, Maddy wanted a kiss from Dada too. She gave me quite a scare this morning at the school. In just a few moments she disappeared, and I couldn't find her anywhere. After five painfully long minutes of searching the building with no success, the 4's teacher brought her out of a classroom. She sneaked in there to play with the big kids. Really, this child has no fear! What am I going to do with her?

Raspberry Picking

Another adventure. I do not recommend taking young children raspberry picking unless there is lots of adult help! Maddy picked unripe berries, ate all the berries I picked, spilled some berries, and wandered from row to row exploring.


Ella did a much better job picking and stayed with me most of the time. Then she would worry about her sister who was wandering off and ended up playing with her. Ella does not like raspberries. She only tried one because I made her, and she had a pained look on her face. She didn't want to eat any more.


After an hour, we were able to fill most of a quart container, enough for us to enjoy eating for a few days at home. If you are interested in picking your own berries, I highly recommend Trapp's Berry Farm in Rockford.

Camping

Over Labor Day weekend, we took the girls to Brook Cherith Camp in Pierson, Michigan for a one-night adventure. Brook Cherith is my childhood summer camp, and I was eager to share my love of the outdoors with the kids. Here is Tyler and the girls, waiting to roast "smarshmallows" over the campfire.


Our campsite! Yes, we all four slept in the tent. It was cozy, but we managed. Tyler fell asleep fast and was snoring loudly! Maddy woke up a few times during the night, sat up, and looked around confused. I would tell her that we were all sleeping outside in the tent and she would close her eyes and go back to sleep. Ella woke up once and asked if it was time to go swimming in the lake. That's all she could think about.


Maddy wanted to stay up late and gaze into the fire. Finally she collapsed around 9pm.


Ella liked the flashlight better than the fire. She enjoyed playing outside in the dark, which she never gets to do at home.


My favorite part of our camping trip was finding a beaver dam. We were hiking the trail around the lake, but couldn't make it all the way because the beavers dam and water blocked the trail. It was the closest I've ever been to a beaver dam. I could reach out and touch the mud and sticks..

End of Summer

Ella determined to do her own hair! She succeeded with many barrettes clipped in a row to make a braid.


She finally enjoys swimming again. This warm, indoor pool is where she practices her reach and pull, bubbles, kicking, and jumping into the water. Maddy watches from the side, eager for the time when she can take swimming lessons too.


Ella enjoys spending time with her older friend, Rachel.


Ella and Claire brave their first rides at the Kent County Youth Fair. Ella isn't scared of any of them. Maddy screamed on the carousal, so I didn't try to take her on any other ones.


Ella with cousin Rachel, taking a break from the animals at the zoo. Funny, but coloring this dinosaur was her favorite part of our visit; she wasn't that interested in the animals. Maddy on the other hand... she adored seeing all the animals and could watch them for hours.


Maddy learns to paint. For some reason, she keeps thinking that paint must taste great.

Millenium Park

We just love this kid-friendly beach in Grand Rapids with clean sand, shallow water, and the splash pad.

Canoe trip with kids

The end of our two hour canoe trip down the Rogue River. The kids did such a great job. Ella had her own mini paddle and enjoyed helping. Maddy sat in front of me, mesmerized by the water most of the time, coming to life when she saw ducks.

Enjoying some hot dogs in Rockford after our trip.





And sleeping in the car on the way home.

Surprises in the mail

Dress made by Nana!

Hats crocheted by Nana's friend at the lake.

I just love Ella's curls!

Maddy loves her new hat and wore it around the house all evening.

Monster Mash

Never leave two Emrick children unattended, even for a few minutes!

Happy Birthday Nanna!

Memorial Day

Dolls

Artwork