Tree trimmings

Well I love to decorate for Christmas, and I used to spend a long time making everything perfect. Kids have a way of changing that, I no longer put the things that are special to me where little hand can reach. This year with all the stress and family stuff I only put up half of my crap.

When Brian and I where first married we would always buy a real tree, I loved doing this because growing up we never did real trees for Christmas. But then Brian didn't enjoy going from tree lot to tree lot to get just the right one like I did. So now we do the fake thing, I love it. I miss the smell of the real tree but not the hasel.
Brian's involvement over the years is down only to bringing the beast up from storage and getting the tree stand sturdy. That's it and that's all he likes to do or will do, then he politely excuses himself.

This year I had my mom here and I put her to work and I have to say that when you have help it goes so fast. I will usually put the tree together while the girls sleep and then let them help decorate, but this year they wanted to help. It turned out pretty good, the girls had a good time.

Evey year I get the girls a new Christmas ornament. We like to go to a store called the Christmas village at Gardner Village. I want to make this a tradition, the village has about sixty elves statues all around the shops. When the girls get older I thought it would be fun to do lunch and then walk the shops. but for now we go in and go. Olivia had a really hard time picking the ornament that was just right for her, Gracelyn on the other hand was done in minutes and both ornament fit the girls perfect. When they get married I will box up their special ornaments so they can put them on their own trees, just like my mom did for me. It is one of the special gifts that my mom gave me. Every year when I get them out the memories come flooding back and I love it

I hope you all have a fun holiday trimming your tree.

Love

Well for so many of you lady's who read my blog are all great friends of my Mother, No botox Allowed. So this will come as no surprise that my older brother Matt passed away, life has definitely been a world wind of emotions and we are all not sure what to do with ourselves.

My house is in the middle of Utah and close to where I was raised, so Brian and I opened our home to all and everyone that wanted to come and show their love and support for my family and Matt.
My mom was already planning on staying for a long visit for the Thanksgiving Holiday, While she is in town she likes to stay with me, and that's just how I like it.
So because of Matt passing away her and Berry got in the car and got their Canadian booties down here. So her trip became a long one for her, I don't think she minded, but I know Berry missed her very much.
There is so much to learn when someone passes away, about life, your feelings and how will you and your family recover. I am so glad that almost all of this discovery was I feel done as a family and in my home. I will treasure always the family and friends that stopped by and called to show their love. Thank you to all of you.

I am so glad to know that's family's are forever. I read this poem at the funeral and I think it fits so well.

Family Ties
Family Ties are precious things
woven through the years
of laughter, love and tears.

Family ties are cherished things
forged in childhood days
by love of parents deep and true
by traditions, by family ways.

Family ties are treasured things
and far though we my roam.
the tender bonds with those we love
still pull our hearts towards home.

I hope you all take the extra time this holiday season to remember the family members that maybe you hadn't talked to in awhile and let them know what they mean to you.

Happy day

Well it is official, I have been married Ten years!!!!! I love my man, he asked me the other day if I knew how it would all go if I would do it again, I said YES!!! I knew when I meet Brian that I would marry him. So here are ten reasons why.

1. caring
2. sensitive
3. smart
   
4. sexy
5. determined
6. funny
7. trustworthy
8. A great Dad
9. helpful
10. Then man of my dreams!!!!

I know the next years of our lives will be great, I say bring it!!!

Emma.

Birthday!

Olivia is my oldest and she just turned 6!!! The time has gone so fast and I now wonder how I will feel when she is off to college??? I won't worry about that right now, I will just love on this sweet little girl who worries about how people feel around her, and she is always wanting to have a good time..... kind of like her dad!

We didn't have a big friend party this year, we just did a family bbq and went to the mall to get her ears pierced. Olivia has wanted to get her ears done for awhile now but we said she had to wait until she was 6.... So when we asked Olivia what she wanted for her day, she said her ears pierced please!!!

So on her big day we headed of to the mall to brand my daughter for ever, It was kind of sad that know she would be marked and not all perfect. But I got over it and her ears look so cute. It was a little dramatic, and there were tears shed but all and all she did great. We even stopped on our way out of the mall for a big ice cream cone, and all pain was forgotten!

Later that night we asked Olivia if she had a good birthday, and she said how could I not it was the most perfect day ever!!!! So I'll end at that.... if only every day could be the most perfect day ever????

Emma.

All grown up.

Well it's official I am the mom, I am the one in charge. I know I should know this already but it takes a while for it to sink in. I always think of my self as young and can come and go as I please, but now that I have a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old my life is no longer my own! Yup it just hit me... maybe somewhere in between driving my preschooler to school in the morning mon. wed. and fri only to come home for half an hour to turn around and drive kindergartner to school to come home and hurry and put the little one down for a nap just as soon as I do that it's back to school to get the oldest.... then home and 2 days a week dance class. I know I'm tired just typing it.

When Brian and I started to talk about having kids I remember my mother in law would say to me just be prepared to put your own life on a shelf because it will no longer be about you.... man was she right. I love my little family and I am happy I have a girl house, growing up with all brothers has some draw backs, I'm sure you can imagine! It's just lately I really feel like the mom! I have know idea how my own mom did five kids..... THANKS mom! It's all worth it right?

WELL till next time

EMMA

Lost and found

Well life around here is getting easier since the lose of our little buddy, he was truly and amazing dog and will be missed for a long time. Question, why is it when you experience a lose the first thing people will say is you should get another dog????? I don't get it, For me their is no other dog Rambo was the man, I will have to wait until his charm is no longer in my head so that I won't compare him to a new dog, the girls haven't asked for a new dog. I think Olivia looks at it like a betrayal of Rambo if she got a dog. So for now we are a dog free house.

So how many of you mothers out there have lost you children, panic scramble only to have them back with big smiles on there faces and wonder what all the fuss is about???? Well yes it happened to me on Wed. Me and the family went to Sam's club to get some stuff, Dad came with. Dad always lets the girls run around and explore. I DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN ON MY WATCH!!!! but dad likes it. So the next thing I know is Gracelyn the 3 year old gone Brian and Olivia can't find her, Emma help!!!! OK OK OK ( I THINK I JUST TOLD HIM THIS WOULD HAPPEN) He and Olivia head to the back of the store calling GRACE GRACE, I went to the front because who knows maybe some weirdo decided my little sweetie would be fun to take home. Brain and Olivia came to the front and no Grace, so I grabbed Management and told them that we lost our 3 year old, he immediately got on his wokie talkie and says, Code Adam I repeat code Adam, Lock down the store I repeat we have a code Adam lock down the store!!!!! AHHHHHHHH
About 2 min later here comes Grace skipping up from the back of the store right to the place were her and Olivia were last playing. Thank goodness this worked out the way it should have and I think Dad learned his lesson too!!!! Thank you sam's club for the lock down to make sure my sweetie would stay safe!!!!!
Later when we came home and could giggle about what had just happened, and Gracelyn just gets done with one of her melt downs, we giggle and say if someone took her home they would give her back, as fast as they could!!!!!!


Happy weekend, I have couples league tonight if I can find a babysitter, wish me a low score and good weather!

Emma.

Good bye.

Wow life can be so hard and full of trials..... we have definitely been put through the ringer at the Lemke house. It started on Saturday with Brian going down stairs to the office to find that the carpet was soaking wet, then he looked in the window well that was half full of water!!!! Called the in laws who have a pump to get the water out and began the clean up, no fun!!! WE finally got that handled just for Brian to go down again yesterday to find it had happened again... EMMA call my dad we need the pump AGAIN, while Brian and his dad were getting the water out and me and Gracelyn were in the basement wiping up all the water, my father in-law yell Brian your dog was just hit by a car>>>>>> WE all ran, when Grace and I got up the stairs Brian and his dad were getting Rambo off the road and in the car to take him to get help.... Olivia was inside and didn't know what had just happened so I grabbed the phone and called my Mother-in-law because I wasn't sure what would happen. Brian and his dad came back about 5 min later.... Rambo didn't make it, he was already gone....NO NO NO so sad my poor girls why do they have to go through this and why do they have to loose their brother?????

So we brought him in and lay ed him on his blanket and loved on him and gave him lots of kisses and then we all said good bye to our little Buddie. We only had him for 2 years and he was such a joy to our family, kind and loved to cuddle. Gracelyn played with him every day, Olivia always called him her brother..

WE love you Rambo and hope you are happy in doggie heaven.