We are still here!

Hey there, everyone! This is Emma. Mommy has been really busy chasing and playing with me and Erin. She says she is sorry, but dishes and laundry have to be done before the blog. Anyway, she is still busy, so I decided to take over. I am good at doing that. So.....I don't really know where to start because it has been so long. Oh, I know! I am 2 whole years old now and Erin is one. She is getting big, but I am bigger! We had a big parpy, oh I mean, party. Lots of family came and we had so much fun. We were going to roast hotdogs and play outside, but the rain kept chasing us inside. Anyway, I had so much fun that it is still my favorite thing to talk about.
Erin and I are so big now that we got our own chairs. Look how grown up we look.
Thanks to my Grammy, we had a great Curious George cake. It looked so cool and tasted even better. Erin made a big mess, but I only made a little mess.
We had lots of presents and had fun opening them all. Mommy had to help a lot because we kept getting distracted, but, hey, that's what little kids do, right?

See, I told you Erin made a big mess. I think this picture says she has had enough cake!
See, and look how big I am being eating my cake like a two year old girl!
My grandpa and Aunt Valerie got me this cool car for my birthday and Papaw was pushing me. I like it a lot. I like to pretend I am going to the store and buying milk and cheese and crackers.
Here we are with Aunt Lucinda and Aunt Beth. I told you we had a lot of people at my party. I am so thankful that so many people love me and think I am so special. Oh, they think Erin is special too. That's ok, we can both be special at the same time.
Erin liked the tunnel on our princess tent a lot except she kept forgetting to crawl, which is what you are supposed to do. I know that because I am two and now I know lots of things that I didn't know when I was one. I am trying to help Erin learn too. Mommy says I am being bossy, but I am just telling Erin what she doesn't know and showing her how to do things my way, I mean the right way.
She may not know as much as I do, but she sure is cute. I also think she is the best friend I have.Erin always laughs at me even when Mommy and Daddy don't get my jokes. She can run and jump and wrestle with me. Well, I think she can wrestle. Mommy doesn't think it is a great idea, but it sure is fun!
Some people even say I am cute too. What do you think? I really like this pink hat. It is my favorite to play with.
A new friend of mine let me play with her dress-up clothes and that was a blast! How come we don't dress like this everyday? I think Mommy would look great in a skirt like this.
Well, just wanted to give you a little update! We are having fun as always. Maybe we will slow down some so that Mommy can update you more. But even though she is busy, I think she is having fun too. We hope your lives are fun and exciting too! Have a wonderful week!

Curious Emma

This is Emma. She is a good little girl and always very curious. Emma always likes to watch her Mommy cook. All kinds of good smells come from the kitchen when Mommy cooks. Mommy cooks all kinds of good tasting food like pizza, spaghetti, and chicken! Emma's favorite is always noodles. Emma especially enjoys noodles when they are completely covered in cheese!

Mommy uses lots of different pots and pans and spoons and spatulas. Sometimes, Emma gets to play with the pots and pans and she imagines cooking the most wonderful foods! Everyone loves to eat Emma's food. She holds the best tea parties her Mommy and Daddy have ever seen. However, her biggest fan and most often dinner guest is her sister, Erin. Erin thinks Emma is the best cook ever. She is even better than Mommy because imaginary food always taste better than the real thing, because you never have to eat your vegetables when you pretend.

One day, Emma was watching Mommy cook. "Wow! What are in all those little bottles?" Emma wondered. Over and over again, Mommy would pick up these little bottles and shake them over the pan. Emma was curious. What ever was in those bottles must make the food taste so good. "Maybe," Emma thought, "those bottles have a secret ingredient that makes the food taste yummy or maybe it is magic." She had to find out.

That afternoon when Mommy had to change Erin's diaper again, she told Emma, "You stay here and be a good little girl and I'll be right back. And don't be too curious." Emma remembered the magic bottles. She wanted to know what was in those make-everything-taste-good bottles. Quickly, she stretched up on her tippy-toes and reached her hand far above her head to the counter beside the stove. There! That was it! She had it! Now she would know the secret and really be able to impress Erin. Emma quietly made her way to the living room ottoman, which was her stove. How could she find out what was inside this bottle? It looked like red sand. How could red sand make food so special? She tried to do exactly like she remembered Mommy doing. She shook and shook and shook. Now the whole ottoman was covered with red powdery sand, but nothing was happening. Maybe if she tasted it. Emma covered her hands in the mysterious powder. She was really having fun now. She thoughtfully licked her hand. It definitely tasted different than usual but not like spaghetti or chicken.

Just then, Mommy came in and saw the red powder which was all over the ottoman and Emma. After washing Emma's face and hands, Mommy explained that the red powder was a spice called paprika. Spices go into the food to make it taste better. Mommy says there is no magic in cooking, but Emma is still convinced that something special takes place over that kitchen stove.
Just a side note! Erin will not be overshadowed or outrun by Emma, she is walking! She is also just as curious as her big sister. I'm sure this will not be the last episode of the Curious Barnett girls.

Vacation

We just got back from our travels to Toronto, Canada to see friends of ours, Daniel and Adina, and their daughter, Salome. We had a wonderful time. It was great to get away from the normal and do fun things with our friends and our little girls.
We went to a safari park and saw all kinds of animals and the girls had the most fun playing with the rocks, go figure.
Emma loved the elephants, but when they came this close she lost all interest. However, she did touch it even though it was kind of against her will.
The only thing that was keeping her this close to that goat was her Daddy's arm. The goats loved Emma though, but they liked Bryan's shirt better (they were eating his clothes).
Erin has no fear yet and just reached out and grabbed a hold of that goat's ear. The goat has probably developed a new fear since our visit.
Emma and her new friend, Salome played very well together. Emma really enjoyed having someone else around her size to run around with and imitate.
On our way home, we stopped by the Children's museum in Pittsburgh. The curious George exhibit was in and we had a blast! Emma loves George.
She splashed around in the water on the third floor, until we finally pulled her away.

One more stop at Stonewall Lake in West Virginia. It was hot!!!!! We braved the boat ride anyway and enjoyed retreating inside for dinner afterwards.
After all our travels and busy activities, the girls really had the most fun hanging out and playing with each other. Here Erin is playing in the entertainment center at the hotel and they also enjoyed playing in the shower! All in all, a good time was had by all and we are so grateful to Daniel, Adina, and Salome for their generosity and hospitality.