Sunday, August 14, 2011

Emma at 12

Emma has reached the magical age of 12. She has been growing and learning and coming into her own for many years now, but it seems the things have really changed this summer.

Understandably, she doesn't always want to join in the activities I have planned for summer--hanging out in the chidren's room at the Y, park playgroups, and such. So she makes me a deal: she stays home and works, while I leave and play! I get to go to the gym, she does the laundry and makes cookies. Taran, Enoch, Calvin, Willa and I play at the park, Emma vacuums and washes dishes. It's like being in two places at once. We both love the arrangement I get work done without doing it and Emma gets the space she craves. WIN!

These pictures here are of the last Activity Day Girls outing. Activity Days for Girls is a program done by our church. In it they learn everything from the riduculous to the sublime. This last activity was at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The woman in the middle is the tour guide.

At the end of the tour, all the girls hurried out to the parking garage ahead of Emma and me. We were confused over the sudden departure until we got close and realized there was a small surprise for Emma, cupcakes and balloons and hugs goodbye.

This is Sister Emily Pernu; she has been Emma's Sunday school teacher since Emma was 9. She is an amazing person and a terrific role model for Emma.


Can you believe how grown up she is?



2 comments:

Tracey said...

Oh, Lisa she is a beautiful sweet girl. I'd love borrow her for some chores around my house :). I still can remember the colic she and all of you suffered together. We would take turns passing her around and BOUNCING her and patting her constantly. Another vivid memory was seeing her strapped in her car seat while David swung her back and forth up to the ceiling to calm her. Glad that she got it all out of her system and she'll be the most easy going YW for you, right ;)

The Churn Mistress said...

Happy birthday, Emma! We miss you guys!