Life as Mrs. Emerson

Evangeline loved the Playscape.  We decided to do something really fun for Elijah's 5th birthday and took the family to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  It was AMAZING and we all had so much fun!  Taking the family  to Indy has been on our bucket list for almost three years and I am glad we were finally able to make such a wonderful memory with the family.   Evangeline loves playing in the water!   We were able to go on Eli's actual birthday which made it even more special.  A whole day to play with mom, dad, and baby sister!  What could be more fun then spending the day with your family?  It also meant that the museum wasn't that crowded.  :) We arrived at the museum early in the day before lunch and left right  before they closed.  I had read before that it takes days to see everything in the museum but we were able to see all of the exhibits in one day.  Making our trip just a day trip made it a l...

- November Reads I don't know about you but one of the things that I enjoy most about the winter months is time spent reading by a nice roaring fire.  I read a lot more during the winter since I am not busy outside gardening, hiking, kayaking, or any of the other adventures that keep us so busy during the summer months.  Here are a few of the books that I read in November.   Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, Linda Smith, and Teresa Pitman: When I first picked up this book I thought it would be more along the lines of Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution.  It ended up being different but I really enjoyed it.  The book discusses different nightime and naptime strategies for a family that is breastfeeding.  This book was so refreshing and so delightful to read.  It really encouraged me to continue loving my baby in a gentle way throughout the night if she shoul...

Best friends and filled with giggles. Evangeline was SO enamored with the idea of snow.  Elijah feeling pretty chilly at this point despite the double layers he is wearing.  Hopefully I find his snow pants soon!  I had so much fun making memories with the kiddos. This was Evangeline's first time on a sled!   The view from our kitchen window was simply breathtaking.   I still cannot believe how much it snowed last night and this morning.  We received around 4" of snow.  Honestly a big part of me doubted that it really would snow as much as was predicted.  I have zero memories of it ever snowing in November (though I am sure that it has once or twice in my lifetime)!  It truly was magical to wake up this morning and see the beauty of fresh fallen snow. It really did feel like Christmas morning and I had to resist the urge to break out our Christmas tree.  We did break out the Christmas music while I whipped...

I read these books in October.  I am so thankful that I was able to carve out some time to read this month.  Even in a busy season of life reading is so worth it.  As Lloyd Alexander says, "Keep reading.  It's one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have."   October Reads: Look and Live: Behold the Soul-Thrilling, Sin-Destroying Glory of Christ by Matt Papa:  This is my first experience with worship recording artist Matt Papa and I hope it will not be my last.  I am only about halfway through this book but oh my is it ever good.  Truly it is the glory of God that changes everything.  The answer to whatever is going on in our life is to look to the cross.  Do you desire to change?  Stop wrestling with that particular sin that you can't seem to conquer?  Papa writes, "When we look outside ourselves and see the kindness of God and what our sin did to Jesus, that begins to melt us.  That begins to change us...

A fun hand print craft I did with the kids.  (It's supposed to be a tree with leaves.)  This one was Eva's which didn't turn out super great but it was really fun!  Eli also made one but gave his away already.   October at our home has really been a crazy full month.  Our month started off with the Wool Fest (an annual tradition in our family) where we enjoy a festival that celebrates all things wool.  Honestly it seems so normal until I try to explain it to someone that doesn't live around here!  I think the happy hubby and I have been every year since we have been together.  We love walking around, enjoying the good food, buying scented soaps, and we ALWAYS purchase a Christmas ornament.  It really wouldn't be October without the Wool Festival.  We were also able to squeeze in a quick trip to visit family which is always such a treat!   Walking everywhere!  The majority of the month our sweet Evangeline...

Evangeline helping me study anatomy.  I have now reached the half way mark in my semester so I thought I would give an update on how my two classes are progressing.  I am taking a Nutrition class on line and Anatomy and Physiology I in person two nights a week.  One night is lecture night while the second night is just for the lab.  It's really the equivalent of taking three classes.  I spend about three hours a week studying for the Nutrition class and about ten hours studying for the Anatomy class.  On test weeks I try to squeeze in a few more hours but that doesn't always happen. I have been a student as a mama before so in many ways studying and balancing my various roles is old hat.  In other ways it is completely new ball game.  I now have two children and a lot less free time.  :)  I have a lot more competing for my free time these days.  I also don't think that Eli was ever sick while I was a student.  Having a si...

The cheery pumpkins I made at my mother-in-law's house.   The last two weeks have been challenging as Evangeline has been ill.  First she had croup, then she caught a horrible stomach virus which lasted 9 days, and the poor girl also had her first ear infection!  She was sick for over two weeks and took two trips to Children's and 3 visits to the pediatrician (and I'm not a mom that takes her kids to the pediatrician unless they are really sick).  We are so thankful that she is feeling better!  Here are a few things we did the last two weeks to save money and enjoy the simple life: I was so thankful that we were able to eat a few freezer meals that I had made last month.  We did end up eating out a lot more than we usually do but I am thankful that our budget didn't take a bigger hit than it easily could have.  I usually have a few freezer meals or at least some soup in the freezer at all times.  I would love to try to have more muffins, ...

I made Evangeline a sling for her birthday!  I have been wanting a baby sling for Evangeline for the last 6 months.  We have a number of baby carriers but I really wanted to have a baby sling that I could put on in just a few seconds for short episodes of baby wearing.  Originally I hoped to purchase a Maya Wrap Ring Sling but the money I had saved for that was needed to buy gas for a trip we just took.  Then I decided to try to make a Maya.  The company is so nice that they even put the instructions for how to sew one on their website!  When it came time to sew the Maya Wrap I could not find my special ring slings that a friend had given me years ago. Then I remembered the McCalls pattern I had purchased last year that included a Mei Tai and a sling pouch.  Ta da!  The sling looks very similar to a New Native Sling Pouch.  The happy hubby was watching the kiddos so this was the perfect time to get started on a new project just in time...

I realize that I mentioned last month that I was certain that I would still find time to read at least a few books each month.  Perhaps I was feeling crazy because I really don't have time to read right now.  On the flip side I am someone who just has to read.  When I haven't read a book in a while I find myself just yearning to read!  This month I will be tweaking my routine because I really want to squeeze in a little more reading despite my busy schedule.   Here are the books that I read this past month: One Pot: 120+ Easy Meals from Your Skillet, Slow Cooker, Stockpot, and More From the Kitchens of Martha Stewart: As crazy as this sounds I really enjoy reading cookbooks.  I don't just read them because I usually make at least a handful of the recipes that I find.  What is so neat about this cookbook is that every meal can be prepared in just one pot as the title suggests.  Easy cleanup and easy cooking which is perfect for this busy se...

Eva wearing her Mamaw's dress that I also wore!    It's hard to believe that Evangeline will soon be one year old!  As the weather begins to change I find myself remembering back to this time last year: the wonderful Babymoon we took to Columbus two weeks before she was born, the many walks we went on as a family, a good friend's wedding, the Woolfest, the final days of gardening, and the last week or two leading up to her birth. Eva is waving hello in this picture. Eva continues to be quite the little jabber jaws.  :)  She says mama, daddy, uh-oh, and hi.  Evangeline has also been trying to say Bekah and Brother which comes out kind of like Bubba.  I am often asked if Eva is as happy as she appears to be.  She has her moments but most of the time she is just an absolutely delight and a bundle of joy.  I love her giggles and how her face scrunches up when she gets excited.   Eva has started WALKING!  She took her f...

The beautiful wedding decorations which we enjoyed.  This picture does not do them justice. We are adjusting well to life with myself in school and looking forward to fall.  Here are a few of the things we did the last two weeks to save money and enjoy life to the fullest!    My husband had a great surprise for us Friday night.  The kids and I bundled up after dark and headed next door to our church's prayer garden with blankets.  When we got there the happy hubby had plugged in the lights that had been strung in the trees for an upcoming wedding reception (he had permission).  We laughed, giggled, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We also had a time of family worship.  Such a fun memory!  Just a great example that you don't have to spend money in order to have a great time.   Produce we picked from the garden last week included: lemon cucumbers, 1 golden zucchini, three tomatoes (including a Green Zebra variety), ok...