Emer Turns 11...officially a pre-teen!

This year we decided that with Emer heading into middle school in the fall, parties would probably be changing. We could no longer invite her whole class b/c that would mean inviting the entire 6th grade! So, to celebrate and embrace this change, we hosted the War to End All Wars...the whole class was invited...the swim team was invited...we set up bunkers...we set up water stations...we told kids to bring their best water guns...then we let them loose!

Who won the war, you might be asking? No one knows. Is there ever truly a winner in war anyway?

Here's the whole crazy gang: 

And the cake we got from DQ b/c I didn't have time to make one, sorry Emer!

Now let's backtrack - we went to the lake, as usual on the actual 4th of July and celebrated both America and Emer. This is now officially a family tradition and I'm not sure how many more years, if ever, before it changes. Emer just loves being at the lake on her birthday!

 BTW, I did decorate this cookie cake! We spent time fishing, swimming, hanging out on the boat, driving around in the golf cart, and playing. It was a very nice holiday away from home!

Happy 4th of July, Everyone!!!

A Heart of Gold

Have you ever met one of those people who just loves others? Who just feels what others feel? And they are only 10?! That's my daughter. Yes, I'm bragging a bit, but it's more b/c of how much she amazes me.
Let me back up a bit - Emer is not perfect. She's a 10 year old girl w/ friends who are sometimes besties and sometimes on the outs. She's experiencing the joy of having 1 best friend and 2 really good friends who don't always get along. Her circle changes daily, as it does for all 5th grade girls. One thing I hope to hang onto is her love of venting to me. (Parents of older kids, don't laugh! I'm realistic and know I have only a short time frame left, but I can dream that she'll always love talking to me about her friends!) I learn so much just by listening to her.

So here's what I've learned lately:
Emer holds compassion in her heart. She will randomly tell me about kids at school or on the bus. Maybe I know these kids, maybe I don't. But it really doesn't matter when she is talking. She is open to talking about everyone w/ me.
Recently some friends from swimming ganged up on another girl and were not so nice. Let me explain, lest you think poorly of my sweet little daughter. I am raising her to accept all religions and practice Buddhism, if she chooses. Her dad is a bit anti-Christian-establishment. OK not really a bit...he really is against organized religion of any kind but it makes sense b/c all you have to do is look at the world and see how messed up it becomes when religion is the central focus. I digress.
One of her friends is a Christian and had a rock that was apparently painted w/ the words "Jesus Love You". One of my daughter's friends thought it would be funny to smash the rock and Emer agreed. A group of them took turns throwing the rock into the ground until it broke into 2 pieces. Emer then found out it belonged to one of her besties from swimming and she felt bad. She didn't say anything to this friend, who apparently just thought she had lost the rock. But she (Emer) told me about it, which means she was still thinking about it hours after practice.
After discussing how her friend probably feels and talking about how she would feel if someone smashed one of her Buddha drawings, she came up w/ the idea to paint a new rock and give to her friend. I was proud that she came to this conclusion after a relatively short conversation but saddened at how easy it was for her to destroy the friend's rock in the first place.
I have to remember:
* Emer has compassion for most people.
* Emer is still 10.
* Emer likes all her friends and struggles, just like everyone, to make the right choice while still fitting in w/ her friends.
* Emer will come around to the most kind solution in the end.
* I love Emer no matter what.

You may read this differently than me, but I feel this demonstrates her heart of gold perfectly. No one is perfect. But for a 10 year old to feel bad about something she did and then come up w/ a solution...well that's saying something, right?!

I 💚 my 10 year old child...

Party Time!!

Before we delve into the Halloween extravaganza that was October, and the Holiday fun in December, let's take a peek back at Emer's 10th birthday. Yes, I said 10th. This Tiny of mine has been around for 10 years! I can't believe it's been so long. Lately I find myself thinking back to when she was much smaller - a toddler who I brought along everywhere...a preschooler - one of only a handful of girls in her classroom w/ a very kind teacher...a kindergartener who cried nearly every day...a second grader who never shed a tear at a brand new school...a fifth grader excited for middle school but loving her teacher and all that they do. So to celebrate this 10th year of life, of course we had a party! Here are a few pix from that fun day:  The theme was balloons - 

Hot Air Balloon cookies

Water Balloons

Balloon Races

"Balloon" Ice cream

It was a "ballooning" success!!

Happy 10th Birthday, Emerson Rachel Cripe <3 a="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOwcBiA5Ndogw4M9sjiowg4Av94Wo1sQOducUEwnI2NIF08CEtTMjUcWXyeUdeLjF1utmZIEahWvT1Big0I59e3kgzj_GOp8HbeXbCUYMBCesdPQuVh_CI3ktIpXSevQXD5TVEfWW3xM/s1600/IMG_20180630_134120_906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">

Every year, since she was old enough to walk really, Emer and I have been enjoying Halloween fun. This year was no different. We had our annual Halloween party for everyone in her class and swim team. We figured this was probably the last big party we'll have a for a while as she can't invite the entire grade next year! So, of course, we went ALL OUT! 

We had a '60's Murder Mystery Halloween Party!!!

Emer was Blissity Lovewell who was hosting a party for her friend, Nutmeg Van Zant who had just returned home from being stranded on  a deserted island!

Here's the whole gang!

A little action shot as the kids mingle and learn more about each suspect:  In the end no one figured out who killed Billigan (portrayed by George) but they had some really god theories and loads of fun was had by all!

On Halloween Emer invited some friends over to go trick or treating w/ Sam and Alex. Here are all of her friends: Tootsie Roll, Greta the elf, Jordyn, dead Hope, and Minecraft George!

Just a side not from Emer's parties, I held an Ugly Sweater Beautiful Drinks party at Christmas time. Friends from all my groups attended and we shared some delicious drinks, played pool and ping pong and gossiped all while wearing our best Christmas/holiday sweaters! Emer helped set up and prepare by decorating sweaters for all the Colts players pictures in the lower lever :)

And now I will finish this blog entry (months after beginning it!) while sitting at home waiting for our flight to NYC. We are trying to kick off 2019 in style in our fav city but the flight has been delayed by 3 hours and 20 minutes. Ug! Emer and I could have slept in (b/c you know we made it to midnight last night!) but we were up and ready to go by 7:30 when the text came through. That's OK, we will just roll with the punches. Nothing else we can do, really, and I'd rather be relaxing at home finishing a blog than sitting at a crowded airport w/ nothing better to do.

Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Much Love!