Emilie and I braved the cold weather to take Anna Kate to swimming lessons on Monday night. 

out and about with Auntie Emilie

Of course, we had to ride the carousel at the museum with Aunt Emilie! Especially after being sick on Friday! That's right, Emilie arrived late Tuesday night. We had great days on Wednesday and Thursday (gymnastics on Thursday), and then, Anna Kate and Emilie woke up sick! What a gift, right? 

There's little Samantha, with her beads and favorite hat, walking in and out of the subway car. Look at that tummy! I'm so glad she is so visibly healthy after her health issues early in life! I look at her tummy, and I just thank God for modern medicine and her little life!

Aunt Emilie steals a snuggle with Lucy on the subway car.
Anna Kate loves to hang on the handles. She was even dressed as a UTEP cheerleader for these stunts . . . 
Aunt Emilie got to hold Samantha! It takes Samantha a couple of days, but when she warms up, she is all there!

Isn't it beautiful? We rode twice! 

One time, Emilie stood between the big girls. (Their rules, not ours!)
And I rode with Samantha. She has ridden before but not in a while. She was not so sure this was a good idea. 

Lucy still loves stripe tights! (me, too) Seriously, she wears them a few days a week, at least.

Aunt Emilie comes to visit!

"Good Morning, Aunt Emilie!" Aunt Emilie arrived late, so the girls had to wait until the morning to see her. Anna Kate asked me, when I put her to bed, if I would ask Aunt Emilie if they could wake her up in the morning. Aunt Emilie said yes, and this became a daily routine. 


I was delighted when Aunt Emilie was available and willing to come to Albany for a week, while Dave was in the southwest working on our support. What a way to make it through that week without him! 


Samantha is still in the "beads" phase. She wears LOTS of them - as many as she can find - all the time, everywhere. People must think I'm nuts. At least they know the truth now. 

We had to have a tea party, since Aunt Emilie was in town and Daddy was out of town. A house of girls! Tea parties are our favorite way of "coping" when Daddy is gone at dinner time. They elevate a boring, easy meal to "fun!" The girls and Emilie decided our tea cozy, which is covering our tea pot and keeping it hot, needed a name. So, she is now called, "Marigold."