A Daily Dose of Emily

Rain on your wedding day means good luck!

2009-09-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

Just starting to attempt to blog again about Emi's exciting life! Here are 2 adorable photos from July, when she and Mia were flower girls in Matt & Jacq's wedding. Such a great day!

Emi, Chloe, and Papi

2008-11-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Emi got a special package in the mail the other day from Great Auntie Carole! She was so excited because she got the two chihuahuas from Beverly Hills Chihuahua! Thank you Auntie Carole!

Emi's School Harvest Festival

2008-10-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Emi had so much fun on Halloween morning when Daddy took her to the Harvest Festival at her school. Daddy got a photo of her with Miss Krysti and Miss Michelle.

Emi hits the pumpkin patch

2008-10-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Emi had so much fun at the pumpkin patch with her cousins Mia and Luke. They watched a puppet show, went in the bounce house, went on the swings, and drove the John Deere! Happy Halloween!

Emi's signature pose!

2008-10-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

This is a photo from a recent photoshoot we did at the Gap Casting Call event! Go Emi!

let's dust off the ol' blog!

2008-10-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it's finally time to blog again! Don't even know where to start! Emily is still attempting to transition to her new 3 year old preschool class and is trying to go back to the 2 year old one. She really misses her old teachers. She's really growing and has accomplished and changed so much over these past two months! Look for more updates, hopefully daily. I'll try!

A small square of grass is NOT a lawn!

2008-08-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

It was nice to be at Auntie Ra Ra and Uncle Jack's house this week!Emily and Mia really enjoyed some old fashioned sprinkler play on a front lawn that is bigger than a square (a.k.a. a Southern California "front lawn"). They also had a picnic on the front porch!

The Max G. Fan Club

2008-08-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Emi and Mia started a new fan club this week! It's the Max G. fan club! They are co-presidents and co-biggest fans! Of course they also run the Matt B. Fan Club, The Mikey C. Fan Club, The Taylor G. Fan Club and several others!

Yay, they're engaged!

2008-08-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Emi would like to say Congratulations to her Big Cousin Matt (who she calls "Map") on his engagement to Jacqueline! She's so excited for them and can't wait to celebrate with them when she gets to Chicago.

We've officially had our "Britney moment"!

2008-08-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Well, we've done it, we've had our Britney moment! Believe it or not, Andy went along with it! To make matters worse, Grandpa Baron was also in the car! We were just trying to kill time while waiting for our photos in the park! It was just a big empty lot! But now, she doesn't understand why she can't drive EVERY day!

C'mon! Is Abercrombie & Fitch's Advertising Really That Controversial?

2008-08-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

Every time we walk by this store in the mall the booming music can be heard from outside. So, of course, Emily wants to go in and dance. She doesn't want anyone to actually watch her, so when there aren't any employees in the front of the store, she'll really get her groove on. Even though she tends to want to stay for a while, Mommy really doesn't mind! It's a nice "change of scenery". I remember a while back when there was such controversy with their catalogue. I don't understand? I can honestly say I was offended IN NO WAY by the use of advertising in their store. Who knows? Maybe the catalogue is different?

Does Anyone Watch That Show "Big Love"?

2008-08-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well, here we all are! Uncle Mike pointed out as we were all walking together in the mall, how much we probably looked like the perfect polygamous family! Three happy mommies, 5 little kiddies all ranging in ages and THE Daddy! NOT! But it made a perfect photo opp! What do you think?

"I want Katie!"

2008-08-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

Emi can't stop talking about Katie! She wants to see her! She wants to play "wif" her! She misses her! These are all things she's been saying all morning. I guess Mommy and Auntie Jenny better collaborate soon!

Happy Birthday Uncle Shawny!

2008-08-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

Emi wants to wish her Uncle Shawny a very happy birthday today! She can't wait to see him again and wrestle with him, since he's one of her many favorite wrestling partners. (a.k.a. he can actually handle her level of "energy")

She's Moving on Up!

2008-08-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today was Emily's last day as a "Blue Allie"! On Monday, she will officially be moved up with her friend Rachel, to the Purple Caterpillar class. I didn't expect to cry because the way that her school is set up, it goes all year round, so it seemed like it would be an easy transition. Especially because in the mornings when she gets there early, all of the kids are in one room, which is the Blue Allie room, until the teachers all get there and start taking their own classes. When I walked in, we put her things away and I started to talk to Ms. Alma and Miss Krysti, 2 of her 3 teachers, except that I got this HUGE lump in my throat and my eyes welled up with tears. Then I think I made Ms. Alma get a little teary. They finally talked me through it and got my mind off it, but then had to tell me that Emily's portfolio was on the counter for me to take. They basically advised me NOT to open it any time soon since it would probably make me start crying again (it did). I know it's not goodbye because I will see them all, all of the time (especially because Miss Krysti has come over to babysit Emi). Of course, when I went to pick up Emily, the eyes welled up again because when I walked in to get her things out of her cubby and her paper slot, THEY DIDN"T EXIST ANYMORE! Her name had been removed and her picture had also been removed and put in her backpack. It was very sad. And it's only preschool! Oh well, we said goodbye to Ms. Emanuela (the third teacher) and said that we'd see them all on Monday, because we will. It was a happy-sad!

Emi Hits the Orange County Fair

2008-07-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Well, finally something to "blog" about. Emi and I bravely headed out to the O.C. Fair on a hot July day. It was wristband day, so for only $20.00, she could ride all the rides she could handle. She went on the pirate ship, the jeeps, the dragon kiddy roller coaster, the Survival maze, the train, and the water bumper boats. We met up with Emi's friend Taylor. It was a fun time. Emi seems to have a slight obsession/fascination with the fair, so she already went once this summer with Grandma Laraneta, but that time we only ate lots of junk and looked at animals. This was the time for riding rides. Next stop...Arizona State Fair this fall with Grandma and Grandpa Baron!

Happy Birthday Auntie Cami!

2008-07-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Mommy is going back and filling in birthdays that she may not have done posts for since the blog started. So...Emily would like to wish her Auntie Cami a Happy Belated birthday! (we did send a birthday message that was on time, the blog is just belated!) Can't wait to play again!

Have you serenaded your doggie lately?

2008-07-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Emi continues to play her guitar day in and day out. She was trying to serenade Bear this morning.

Nope she's not at Woodstock!

2008-07-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Emi really looks like a natural here the way she's walking around strumming her new guitar from Auntie Carole! I'm not sure how she knows how to hold it and strum correctly? Hmmm!

Mr. Luke's Rockin 1st Birthday Bash!

2008-07-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Emi had so much fun at Luke's Rockin' 1st birthday bash on Saturday. Her favorite parts include playing music with Ms. Elena, eating her own personalized cupcake, running around with Mia (see matching hawaiian dresses), strumming her new guitar from Auntie Carole, and playing ball with Grampa Baron. It was a great day! We hope you had fun Luke!

Emi's Trip South

2008-07-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Emi had a little trip South last week. First she went to Legoland, then the San Diego Zoo, and finally Sea World. She had so much fun sleeping at the hotel and especially going on the waterslides at the pool with Daddy.
When it was time to check out, Emi INSISTED on pulling her own suitcase! She's a very "do it myself" kind of girl!

Happy Birthday Mr. Luke!

2008-07-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

We would like to wish our little Mr. Luke a very happy 1st birthday! We love you!
Thanks for always hanging in there and being cool with all the girls!

Happiness is snuggling with your twin sister!

2008-07-06T14:13:00.001-07:00

This was day 3 in the hospital. Little Fiona likes to snuggle up to her big sister Stella.
(That may have irritated Stella.)

Later on the girls had their first professional photos taken. First they put on their hats. Then they moved on to little pink bows. I think it's Fiona smiling in the pink bow picture.

The Longest and Best 4th of July ever!

2008-07-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday we had a very long and adventurous fourth of July. First we headed down to Balboa Island, where our neighbors' parents have a home right on the waterfront. Emily got to play on the beach and in the water with her friends Macy and Reese. She had fun getting buried in the sand and getting nice and dirty. Then, we all went out on their Duffy boat and Emily also got to help drive the boat. It was very difficult (emotionally for Emily a.k.a. meltdown) to leave our fun outing at the beach, but we had to do it so that we could head down to Ladera Ranch for nighttime fun. So we finally made it down south for a BBQ and then to watch fireworks with Mike, Aqua, Mia, & Mr. Luke. It was a great day full of celebrating!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! So grateful for our freedom. Also grateful for those who are risking their lives for our country!
Red, white, and blue...what does it mean to you?

The Vardiman Twins Have Arrived!

2008-07-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

They're here and they are nice and healthy. "The girls" were born on Andy's birthday, July 1st. Stella Michelle (she's the big one) was born first at 9:09 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. Fiona Michelle (yep they have the same middle name) was born at 9:10 a.m. and was 5 pounds 9 ounces and was 18 inches long. Check out the view from their hospital room. Some people go a lifetime and NEVER have a hotel room with a view like this one!I'm not sure which baby Shelly is holding but I'm sure she could tell you! So cute!

Happy Birthday Da Da!

2008-07-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Emi would like to wish her Daddy a Happy Birthday! She got to give him the Woody card today. It probably wasn't surprise. (for the full story, see yesterday's blog)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2008-06-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow's is Daddy's birthday and Emily has been very excited. She was so excited that when I had her sign his birthday cards, she went running towards the shower, where Daddy was taking a shower, so that she could show him the card she got him. (Luckily I caught her before she got too far)She also said something to Daddy about the Toy Story card that she got him but he didn't "get it" luckily. Tonight we went to Olive Garden for dinner. As we were leaving, Emily told our waitress that her Daddy was going to have a birthday. Then she said "and I got him a Woody card for his birthday". Daddy just laughed. As we walked out I said to Emily, "Emi you aren't supposed to tell Daddy about the card you got him, it's supposed to be a surprise for his birthday". Her reply...'But Mommy I didn't tell him, I told the lady!".

They're having a baby! Oh wait, they're having 2!

2008-06-29T13:58:00.001-07:00

Well, two more days until "the big day"! It'll be the day that the Vardiman twins arrive to meet us all. After many months of anticipation, Brian and Shelly will finally get to meet the girls, and we all just cannot wait to as well. It's kind of strange to think of Uncle Bwian and Aunteee Shelleee as parents. I don't think Emily is going to ease up on Uncle Bwian though. He'll still have to play hide and seek with her no matter how tired he is! Think pink times 2! Here are some photos before they were parents. Now just picture TWO babies in each one of these.

Happy Birthday Gwamma Corky!

2008-06-28T20:17:00.001-07:00

Emi would like to wish her Gwamma Corky a very happy birthday!

PJ Day at School

2008-06-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Emi had pajamas and movie day today at preschool. She was very excited to wear her new princess pjs and her tiara to school.

Our 1st summer outing

2008-06-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Well, today Emi and Mommy went to meet Auntie Aqua, Cousin Mia, and "Mr. Luke" at the free family film festival. (a.k.a. the free kid movies that everyone brings babies to and where it is really noisy). We saw "Clifford's Big Movie". Afterwards, we walked around the Irvine Spectrum, ate lunch, and then rode the little train two times. It's was really fun, when the two cousins WEREN'T fighting with each other or whining. Yes, they were both very sensitive today and were feeding off of each other! Of course, Mr. Luke just sat there and smiled or let us carry him around. He really never gets upset and definitely doesn't fight with the girls. It was very challenging and we had TWO mommies there. I can't imagine being one mommy with 3 kids like that! I admire those women.

It's never too hot to play dress up!

2008-06-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Do Disney costumes go with tea hats? Can you guess who is who?

It's only 8:00 a.m.!

2008-06-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's only 8:00 a.m. and it's so hot here that Emi is already sporting her bathing suit! Isn't this California? Isn't it supposed to be cool here? And "they" say there's no such thing as Global Warming?

Off to the recital!

2008-06-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big day for Emi, it was her first real dance recital! Of course it seemed like the hottest day of the year. Here she is getting ready to go with her ballerina 'do and dance bag in tow.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa Bayan!

2008-06-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to wish Grandma and Grandpa Bayan a Happy 35th Anniversary! We hope they had a great day! We love you!

Happy Father's Day Da-Da!

2008-06-15T08:00:00.001-07:00

Emily wants to wish her Daddy a Happy Father's Day! She'd also like to wish all of her Grandpas and Uncles a Happy Father's Day too!

Happy Birthday Cousin Katie!

2008-06-11T05:27:00.000-07:00

Katie (Katherine Charlotte) is one of Emily's cousins that lives up north. It's 'Baby Jack's lil' sister, except Baby Jack isn't so baby anymore. Since Emily is the big cousin, she has tried really hard to show Katie the ways of the Disney costume, as well as introduce her to our new tradition of eating at Goofy's Kitchen amongst all of the characters. Well, today is Katie's 2nd birthday! Emily had so much fun recently when Katie came down for a long weekend. She wishes she could be there to celebrate but sends her love and birthday wishes north!

My how she's changed!

2008-06-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

The first photo is Emi at 6 weeks, so 3 years ago, the second one is 2 years ago, the third one is 1 year ago, and the last one is this week! My how she's grown and changed!

GOT CHOCOLATE?

2008-06-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

Emi's Tahoe Cousins

2008-06-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

Well, Emily had a great time on Friday night playing with her 2 cousins that live in Tahoe, Rowan and Ezra, and Auntie Mandi and Uncle Joel. She has only met them once before, so she was very excited to see who they were and what they liked to do. Although she attempted to bring out the dress up costumes for them (because that's what she always likes to do with all of the other cousins) to dress up in, they weren't exactly interested in playing princess. Luckily the boys kind of grasped the concept of Hide and Seek (see closet photo) They had tons of fun and all were exhausted by the end of the night.

Oh where oh where has Great Grandma gone?

2008-06-04T21:28:00.001-07:00

Well, she's gone to Arizona, that's where! When Emily called Grandpa Baron last night to wish him a Happy Birthday, she learned that Great Grandma was being taken out to a movie and was actually waiting in line for one of Emi's favorite movietime treats...POPCORN! Mmmm! Sending our love to Arizona! Hope you're having fun with all of the kids and the dogs Great Grandma!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Bayan!

2008-06-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

Emily is fortunate enough to have 6 grandparents and 1 great grandparent! She loves to spend time with each one of them and acknowledges the different things she likes to do with each one. Today is Grandpa Baron's birthday! Grandpa Baron is most known to Emily for pulling her in the wagon, taking her to the fair to feed the animals, driving her in his truck while playing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", riding a horse with her, taking a nap with her in the backseat while Grandma is driving, and taking her out to play with all the dogs (she's partial to Skip Skip and Ruby but there are 7 dogs altogether). Emily just loves to go on the airplane to visit "Grandpa Bayan"!
Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you!

Mommy was feeling "sick" today!

2008-06-03T15:25:00.001-07:00

Well, it wasn't the kind of "sick" like ill, it was more like the I'm-so-burned-out-on-my-job kind of "sick"! Emi and I decided to head out to the Happiest Place on Earth with Auntie Aqua, Cousin Mia, and Cousin Luke (a.k.a. Mr. Luke). LOTS OF TEENAGE KIDS THERE TODAY ON SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS! We did have some great photo opps though with some of their favorite characters. I don't get how people think that just because they are sitting in a double stroller in the same dress, that they might be twins? One is petite and shorter, one is taller and "buff", one has brown eyes and straight hair, one has blue eyes and a curly mop! I guess it's kind of like those times when you would go out with your friends to a bar and drunk people would ask if you and your friend were twins because you both had a black shirt on! A little sun, a lotta food with no nutritional value, and a whole lot of "touch your nose if you're listening"! (it's a long story, but that's Aqua's infamous discipline line and it actually works with Emily). All in all, a fun day!

Her 1st recital's coming up soon!

2008-06-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

Well, there's just so much going on around here lately, that I figured it would be easier if I "got with the times" and finally started blogging! That way people could keep up with me (and Emi and Andy) when they haven't talked to me.
Yesterday I had to get Emi all dressed up in her first official recital costume so that she could take professional pictures in it with her dance class. Of course I had to locate some new PINK ballet shoes and pink tights the day before, of course at the last minute! We finally found some at her old dance studio and thanks to my dear friend, Paula, we were all set for our photos! The only "challenge" was having to put Emi's hair in a bun with no bangs. She really didn't want to cooperate, but once she saw her other friends with their hair like that, it was much easier for me.
I was excited for her photos but after they did their actual dance that they'll be performing, I was kind of disappointed at how short it was! It couldn't have been more than 1 minute. How do you ask people to travel on a Saturday night, to the WORST part of Santa Ana, to come and watch a dance performance that will be over before they even get their bottoms in the seats? Yes, the dance studio is having the recital at Santa Ana High School. I'm not pleased! When I say "worst part" I mean like unsafe! Well, I'm sure my big strong husband will be there protecting us with his array of pepper sprays and pocket knives! But still! You'd think for all the money we pay for tuition and the costume, they could find a decent venue to hold the recital!
Oh well, either way, it will be adorable! Besides, she's only 3!