EmmaNation

As promised.  And let me go ahead and (1) apologize for the PJs and (2) assure you no toddlers were hurt in the making of this clip--despite the sudden tumble at the end of the performance. Also, you'll need some volume.

 

Meet Ashley

Rewind a few months ago.  Mom and I took Emma to Atlanta for a visit with my Aunt and I also got to steal some time with a great friend.  I'm just now catching up on posting about it.  So:

This is my friend Ashley.  She is, in a word, spectacular.

Actually, I don't think spectacular covers it.  Ashley and I have known each other since we were 5.  We enjoyed (and suffered) 13 years of The Academy together and lived together for a year in college.  She is super talented and has one of the coolest families on the planet.  She is one of those friends who can always make you feel great about yourself (and make you laugh), but doesn't blow any smoke--you know?  She is also the best task-master I know.  I mean, she will go through mountains of costume jewelry, meticulously untangling bracelets from necklaces, from earrings, and bag them to sell in your yard sale, all in under 15 minutes.  Honestly, she's pretty incredible.  So, I was very excited to spend an afternoon with her and see a little of her life in the Big City.

She lives here, in an adorable Tudor house in Virginia Highlands (incidentally, my grandmother lived in this neighborhood a LONG time ago...)

The house was divided into apartments and she lives upstairs.  It is SO cute and I just fell in love.  Here is the staircase:

It is full of character, like a pipe stove and high ceilings.

  

I'm sure it's not surprising to learn she is pretty creative.  She always seems to have a new "outlet" for her creativity. Below is a chair she restored, refinished and recovered.  Isn't it cool?

She also builds awesome things like this coffee table.

She EVEN has a green thumb. How about some edible window decor?

After showing me around her pad, she graciously took me on a guided tour of IKEA. Warning: you really need a tour guide if you've never been before. Overwhelmed is an understatement.  It is like a museum where you buy things. I was in search of a new toy organizer for Emma and we got this.  Ashley took me exactly where I needed to go--and showed me some other neat things along the way.  What more can you ask for?

Hope y'all enjoyed meeting Ashley! I've been reflecting lately on how great my friends are (and consequently how blessed I am).  Since I think everyone would benefit from knowing them, I'm considering continuing this trend and introducing friends to everyone in a blog mini-series, Lifetime style. Who wants to be next?

Something Old...

See this cute kid?

Now see this pretty dress? (sorry the pictures aren't great).

Well, my mom made it for me low these many years ago and Emma wore it to church this morning.  It was so special!  (and for anyone that knows my mom--the dress is flawless.  I'm serious).

Hope you all had a great weekend.  I went to Nashville on Saturday to see some good friends while Jason stayed home and had a "Daddy Day" with Emma.  Not to gush, but he is really such a good Dad and Emma is quickly becoming a Daddy's girl.  In other exciting news, Emma has almost finished choreographing her own dance to Yea Alabama.  I'm hoping to catch it on video soon, so check back.

And after being gone yesterday, I headed to Tuscaloosa today for a baby shower for Jason's cousin.  Emma and Jason braved more of the rain at home without me.  It is always good to see Jason's family and we are certainly excited about this brand new soon-to-be born baby and for his wonderful parents!

Roll Tide

We took Emma to tailgate on the Quad last Saturday before the first 2009 Alabama home game. Despite parking somewhere around McCalla, and walking the rest of the way, I think she had a great time.  Jason and I, Aunt Cece, and Grammy, enjoyed indoctrinating her into all the "traditions."  Like the Bear hat...

But some things seemed more puzzling.  Like this sweet cheerleader who stopped to take a picture.

Since the real Big Al wasn't available, Aunt Cece found some tailgaters with this:

And after so much fun, everyone needed to find a place to cop-a-squat before kick off!

And I guess no matter how much you talk up events and how important you try to make things seem to toddlers, they sometimes miss the magnitude of the moment (like a first tailgate or first home game) and focus instead on the mundane.  This phenomenon explains the shrills of delight and the urgent repeated requests for "JUICE!  JUICE!  JUICE!" when Emma spotted Capri Suns.  All the excitement of the Quad and Capri Sun stole the show.    

Shhh.  No one tell her Publix at home sells them.

We're back

Eight and a half driving hours later, we're back from the beach.  And even with a 3 hour traffic delay, I ask you, who would complain about getting to spend a little more quality time with this rock star? (I like to call her "Van Emma")

We had a fantastic vacation and I am still unpacking clothes, towels and sand--almost enough to fill an entire sandbox by now.  Instead of boring you with lots of semi-interesting details, I've uploaded several pictures. Emma was certainly entertained, and highly entertaining.  She is definitely in love with the beach--but then again, what's not to love? Enjoy the pictures!

Loving the water hose (meant of course to help rinse off sand).  (Clearly our efforts to rid the sand were less successful than I thought.)

No need for P90X.  Jason had a full workout routine just trying to keep up.

Cheers all around after Emma withstood the wave crashes.

Sometimes, the waves won.

One of the best parts of our trip was spending time with great friends, Stacy and Troy Fountain, their four kids and Stacy's parents.  Emma LOVED spending time with the big girls (I was so grateful for their help), and Jason and I of course loved seeing all of them.  Among other things, Emma was thoroughly indoctrinated in "ring around the rosy."

"We all fall down..."

Already looking forward to the next time we can get down there!!  Ok, back to my all too familiar (and beachless) reality.  Good thing football season has started!!

If the paparazzi followed us..

Jason Avery spends some quality time with daughter, Emma (20 months), 

while vacationing on the beaches of South Walton, Florida.

(Oh wait...we aren't famous).