Emma

It's been so long that I've posted what we've doing, I thought I'd focus on one child at a time. Today, it's Emma. My millenium baby turned 9 years old last week. First, we celebrated by inviting a friend to come with us to Chuck E. Cheese. They had so much fun playing games that they didn't want to eat any dinner.

After we came home, it was present time. Everyone had to crowd around to get a good look and ask why they didn't get any presents.

Emma's favorite presents were her new Webkinz hedgehog,

and a locket with pictures from Disney World inside.

We topped off the night with a cake holding NINE candles. It's hard to believe.

The day after her birthday, Emma had a fashion show at the church for her Activity Night. The girls were each able to walk the runway in three different outfits that reflected the modesty standards. They also had a little demonstration of these standards. For example, Emma came out holding two baseball hats on her shoulders and we had to guess the standard. (Cap sleeves) It was a lot of fun and Emma really liked walking along the pink runway.

The fall ball season has begun. Emma is on a combined team for the fall that includes girls from two different elementary schools. They are called the Battitudes and it says "Miss Banegas" on the back of her uniform. It's really cute.

We had a ward talent show last week and Emma was chosen to come up on stage to help with a magic trick. She picked out a card and showed it to the audience. It was the 2 of hearts. After returning the card to the deck and shuffling, the magician picked out the 7 of hearts and asked Emma if that was her card. She laughed and said no. The magician then flicked the card, making several hearts fall off and revealing the 2 of hearts. It was pretty neat and Emma liked being up on stage.

We've had some beautiful weather this month and we spent a day outside at the Farm Park. Emma found a bunch of pawpaws and the kids had fun throwing them at a huge set of wind chimes, trying to make them ring.

School started on the 17th (yeah!). Emma is in 3rd grade and LOVES it. Her teacher is Mrs. Jones, who also taught Caleb a few years ago. Emma was chosen by her classmates to be on the student council. Only one boy and one girl from each grade are chosen so it's a pretty big deal.

The first day of school was rainy so I couldn't take our traditional pictures out front by the tree. You can see how excited Emma is to be back with her friends.

Earlier in the month, Emma's Activity Night group hosted a drive-in movie night for the Primary and their families. Each child brought a cardboard car. Here, Emma helps with Spencer's car.

Caitlyn helped Emma design a car that looked like Herbie.

There were all sorts of games to play like Red Light, Green Light.

We topped off the night by sitting in the cars, eating popcorn and watching "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo." It was lots of fun.