Poppa's New resized ring

Dearest Emma,

 Poppa and Diva have been married for 38 years. When we got married we exchanged rings. I gave Poppa his ring and engraved inside of it it says JKW to CTB 7-14-73 . 

 Those were my initials and Poppa's initials and the date we got married. I never take off my rings. The only time I didn't wear them was when I was pregnant with your momma and my fingers were too swollen to fit.

 I took my rings off while I could still get them off. Poppa however has had to have his ring cut off, two times now. The first time he was in Haiti and his finger got a cut and began to swell because of infection. He cut it off so he would still have circulation in his finger.

 Last week Poppa cut off his ring again. This time because his knuckles have swollen from arthritis and started cutting off his circulation again. Poppa had the jeweler enlarge his ring two sizes to a size thirteen. 

 The engraving is gone from inside his ring now and I can wear his ring on my thumb (but it keeps sliding off). Poppa has big hands. My hands are very small compared to Poppa's. Poppa always has nice warm hands especially when I'm cold. I like to hold Poppa's hand. I always feel safe holding Poppa's big hand. 

 I hope you will always feel safe holding on to Poppa's hand too. Love and Kisses XOXO

Diva's Best Birthday Gift

a Princess Picnic

Dear Emma,

Poppa grilled outside tonight and we ate on the porch. Poppa had the twinkle lights on the porch because he knew you would like them.

He calls them Princess Lights. You wore your princess dress and earlier you had on your cape and crown and stood on the sidewalk and waved at all the cars that went by. I had to laugh because most of the farmers just drove on by but all the ladies smiled and waved back.

You have that effect on everyone. You make them smile and forget about their busy day. What a sweet girl you are. We watched Beauty and the Beast again tonight.

We went to Gypsy Hill Park but didn't get to stay for very long. We will have to go back tomorrow.

We love you Princess Emmalee!

Strawberry picking

Dear Emma,

Can you guess what we did today? Finally, we got to go Strawberry picking in the fields near Diva's and Poppa's house. The fields were still pretty muddy. I know my shoe got sucked off my foot while walking out to pick. You were very good at picking the big red berries and very good at eating them too. It didn't take us very long to pick two big flats of juicy red berries. Can you imagine what good things your Momma will make with these berries? My mouth is already starting to water just thinking about it.

I love this picture of you enjoying the sweet red strawberry. I'm so glad we were able to go picking with you and your sweet Momma. We would have been very disappointed if we hadn't been able to pick berries.

Look what your Momma made for breakfast when we got back home.
Yep, strawberry pancakes with extra berries and whipped cream. Yum! What a special treat!

It took us quite a while to wash the berries and put them in the refrigerator. We will take some back to Auntie Suzy (she loves strawberries almost as much as you do!) Won't she be surprised!

Now to make some strawberry pie!

What fun to have you and your Momma here at the Nest.

Looking forward to spending the day with you.




We love you Berry much!

Diva and Poppa

New Bird Bath Bowl

Dear Emma,

 One of the things Diva likes to do is to sit at my desk and watch the birds at the birdbath and at the feeders.

 JJ and Lucy love to sit on my desk and watch the birds too. Poppa calls it Cat TV. I especially like the red birds (Cardinals) and the tiny little Finch. 

 Poppa and I got tickled at you whenever you see a Robin you always say, "Look Diva, there's an American Robin". Do you have Canadian Robins?

Today we went to the hardware store to replace Diva's birdbath. The water freezes in the winter and the bowl cracked in two. I was very happy to know the hardware store sells the bowl part of the birdbath. It is made out of concrete so was really heavy.

 Poppa got a cart to put it in to take out to the car and bought me a really pretty red geranium. I love this picture of you and Poppa.

 You are such a good helper. I call this "Princess Power". Thank you for helping me take care of our neighborhood birds. Looking forward to going berry picking tomorrow. Love and kisses, Diva and Poppa

Ice Cream at Willies

Dear Emma, What's more fun than eating soft ice cream with sprinkles? Eating soft ice cream with sprinkles with YOU of course.

 What's a trip to the Nest without ice cream from Willie's with my favorite girl in the whole wide world. Isn't it amazing that out of all the little girls in the whole wide world....we got the best one? 

 I got the rainbow sprinkles and you got the chocolate ones. You wore your princess cape and crown and we tried to eat the sprinkles off before the ice cream melted and slid off. We like Willies because you eat your ice cream outside and if you make a mess the birds love it.

 What a fun day! Your Poppa and Diva

Fun Friday

Dear Emma, Today is day 4 and is picture day. One thing that Diva really loves is to take a yearly picture with you and your momma and daddy.  You are growing up so quickly and changing so rapidly.

 Today we are going to see Miss Vanessa who takes amazing pictures at our local Walmart. Your Momma has you in a very pretty dress with a beautiful daisy headband. Poppa has on a bright red shirt to contrast with the pink blouse I'm wearing. Your beautiful Momma has on a white blouse, now all we need is your handsome Daddy to make the picture complete. 

 Thank you for the beautiful smile on your face and for cooperating so nicely to take the pictures. I know you got tired and I want you to know how much I love seeing these pictures when I can't be with you. Always know that Diva and Poppa love you dearly and pray blessings over you every day. You are an extraordinary young lady and constantly amaze us.

You bring us such joy. we love you so very much. Your Poppa and Diva 

Your personal cheerleaders!

Making Cookies for the firemen

Dearest Emma,

One reason I love you so much is that you are very generous and like to help other people. Diva and Poppa live close to the New Hope Fire Department and you decided that you and I needed to make the Firemen some chocolate chip cookies. I loved baking cookies with you and you were so excited about sharing them with our local firemen.

We went over to the firehouse and you gave the cookies to the firemen. They let you sit on their big red firetruck and blow the siren. We discovered that firemen like cookies. Thank you for sharing with them.

After we went to the firehouse we ate at Chick-fil-a in Harrisonburg. Mommy wanted to do some shopping so we went to the mall.




Mom likes to go shopping and you were a very good girl. After several hours of shopping we shared an Auntie Anne Pretzel with cheese sauce. Your momma used to work at an Auntie Anne's Pretzel store when she was in college. I bet if you ask her she will show you how to make one.




You also enjoyed riding on the merry go round only the ride was over much sooner than you wanted it to be. You picked the prettiest horse to ride and patted its head when the ride was over. You liked the mall, it was a fun place to run, dance, and wiggle.

When Poppa got home we all went to the Green Valley Book Fair. It has lots and lots of books. Last year for Christmas I sent you "Llama, Llama, mad at Mama" book which you like very much. Your own sweet mama found two more Llama books for you. "Llama, llama, red pajama" and " Llama, llama home with Mama ".

Your Poppa and I are very glad you like to read and love books. Both you mama and your daddy love to read too. Diva likes to tease Poppa and tell him he would read the toilet paper if there was anything written on it.

We had a very busy and fun day. The week is going much too fast. Hopefully, we will get to pick strawberries while you are here.

We love you, little girl,

Your Poppa and Diva

Fun Time at Divas

Dear Emma,

Today we went to the Fishersville Library. You put on a yellow hard hat and built the structure you are standing next to. I think you had just as much fun knocking it down afterward. We brought home a big snack of princess books to read and also brought home Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. You brought along Tangled so we certainly had our share of princess movies.

I love that you can be a complete princess one minute and in the next you enjoy running, jumping, knocking down buildings, or working in the garden.



We ate lunch at Chick-fil-a. You like the fruit cup and the crinkle-cut fries. You especially enjoyed the kid's play area with slides and a pretend car. You made some friends with other little children and were sorry to have to go home.

We went to pick lettuce from our garden as well as a few tomatoes. It has been raining all week and you were disappointed that you couldn't go pick strawberries. The fields are too muddy. Maybe we will get to go later this week.

We bought groceries at Walmart and your momma was excited about buying some foods you don't get in Canada like Crackling Oat Bran. We bought some food to grill out when Poppa comes home tonight. We had California Turkey Soy burgers and lots of salad from our garden.

That evening I got to watch Beauty and Beast with you. It was the very first time you had ever seen it. It was so much fun watching you experience the same movie that I took your momma to so many years ago.

I thought you might get sacred when the Beast was on the screen. But not you, you squeezed my hand and said, "It's alright Diva, the beast is really nice." I love that you can see the good in people even when they are acting like beasts. You are quite an amazing young lady Emma.

Your Poppa and your diva love you very much.

Off to Diva's hours in the country

Dear Emma, Here we go....off to Diva's and Poppa's house. It is an 8 hour car ride but you handle it like a champ. You really enjoyed the portable DVD player so you could watch movies with your head set on.

We also stopped in Easton , Pennsylvania and went to the crayola factory. What fun it was for Poppa and I to watch you color, and make a hat and draw with chalk on a big side walk.

Poppa and I had been before but it wasn't nearly as fun as it was going with you and your momma. You really liked the giant crayons and your mom let you pick out all kinds of pretty color crayons to take home with you.


Poppa bought you a tied dyed shirt from the factory. On the way home you and I played crazy pretend animal games in the back seat while Poppa and your Momma talked. We both laughed and laughed and were so silly. I like being
silly with you. You always make me smile with silly faces or animal noises.

You were one tired little girl by the time we got to Diva's and Poppa's house. We are so glad that you are here with us for the whole week. We have so many things we want to do with you.

Tomorrow we are going to go to the library. We can check out 100 books at a time. Wow, we will certainly be reading lots of princess books. Maybe we can take out Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

So glad you are here with us at the nest,

Your Diva

Our first Diva Camp

Dearest Emma,

You probably don't know this but all my life I've wanted to be able to keep all my grandchildren for a week of "Diva Camp." This is our first Diva Camp with your cousin Oscar and Baby Charlie. You and your momma flew to New York from Canada in a big airplane. Your daddy had to work so he was at home missing you.

Your Auntie Suzy and your momma went out to lunch together. They rarely get any sister time so Poppa and I held our first Diva Camp. Oscar loves cars and trains and most anything with wheels.

You both played with cars on Auntie Suzy's dining table while baby Charlie watched and tried to chew on the toy cars. I was so proud of you as you shared toys and helped with Baby Charlie. You were very gentle with Charlie and made him laugh.


Poppa and I love that you are kind to smaller children. You make them feel loved and special. We are so proud of you . Thank you for helping make our very first Diva Camp a fun day for all of us.


Love and Kisses,

Your Diva

Happy Birthday Princess Emma

Dearest Darling Emma, Today you turned four years old. Where has the time gone? I remember holding you as a baby, singing to you, sharing secrets, and reading stories. 

 You look so beautiful in your princess dress and crown. You, momma, tells me that you love the story of Sleeping Beauty and like to watch the movie every day.

 Poppa and I love to hear you sing the songs from the movie. We wish we could be at your party with your friends.

 What fun to have Princess Aurora be the hostess at your party. I'm sure all your friends will enjoy dressing as their favorite princess. We want you to know that you are the queen of our heart and we love you dearly. Save a cupcake for me. xoxo Your Loving Diva

Emma's Halloween Costumes

Dearest Emma Bug,

You are growing up so quickly.  I love you and your costumes!

Here's our baby girl in many stages, from Bubble Bee, Raggedy Anne, Wild Thing to Cowgirl!
she just keeps on getting cuter!

Halloween Costumes

Dearest Emma Bug,

It's Halloween and you have been blessed with crazy relatives that like dressing up in costumes.  I miss you so much, especially during happy times and celebrations.  Your precious Moma is so good to send us pictures since we can't be there.  Just thought you might enjoy a look back at Halloween 2010.  Can't wait to see you.

Mr. Wonderful as "Home Boy" and me as "The Bearded Lady"

Suzy (7 months pregnant) decided to use her baby bump to her advantage and dressed as the galaxy. Tim made the planets on her sleeves. Suzy dressed Tim as Galileo (since he discovered the Milky Way!

Uncle Andy and sweetheart Rachel went as the famous picture of the sailor and nurse kissing at Times Square when World War II came to an end. They were only too glad to reenact the famous scene for onlookers.

Oscar went as Handy Manny. I put the cartoon character so you can see how realistic his outfit is. Handy Manny is Oscar's favorite program.

I love Emma's Costume as Jessie from Toy Story 3. It reminds me of my 4th Birthday when I got a cowgirl hat, toy guns and a holster
( cause I wanted to be Dale Evans, Queen of the Cowgirls.)
I love this pictures of Becky and Emma together! Aren't they the cutest?

Missing my Emma

Dearest Emma,
 
I was going through my blog and found several entries about you.  So I thought I would put them on your blog so you can find them.  Please know you were always in my heart and on my mind.

This cute spider is made from Emma's handprint. Happy Halloween!

This is my newest favorite picture. Wish I could be playing Tea Party with her.

Emma is taking ballet lessons. She was a reluctant ballerina at first but seems to really be enjoying the teacher and the experience now.

Our Emma is a school girl. She attends school for a half day. She is growing up way too fast for this long distance diva.

Happy Birthday Emma

Dearest Emma,

I can't believe that you are two years old now. It seems like just yesterday your Poppa and I were anxiously awaiting your arrival into the world. Now we can't even remember what life was like before you.

We loved watching you with your cousin Oscar this past Christmas. It is hard to get our family all together

Emma turns two

The Divine Miss Em is two years old now. She had a Blue's Clues Birthday Party with her friends. For those of you who have forgotten or never knew...Blue is an animated dog that leaves paw prints (or clues) to her owner Steve. (Yes, gentle reader we prefer Steve videos to the current host Joe.)

Blue has animated friends.....Magenta (a pinkish version of Blue only with glasses) Periwinkle (a bluish cat) , Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper and their children Paprika and baby Cinnamon, Tickety -Tock (yes, a clock), Green Puppy, Mailbox, Shovel and Pail and many other friends. Em knows all the songs, and motions and loves to watch the show.



Her very talented Momma fixed a Blue's Clue Cake. A big blue paw print. Emma loves cupcakes so you know she enjoyed digging into the blue iced cake. I have to laugh at this picture of Emma with blue lips!

Happy Birthday To Our Sweet Girl Emma!

Coolest Uncle Ever

Dearest Emma,

This is your Uncle Andy. He lives in New York City and comes over to Auntie Suzy's and Uncle Tim's whenever you are in town.

He wants to be the coolest uncle ever so he has started a new tradition with you. He started bringing you a Gerber Daisy. He says, "Beautiful girls should be surrounded by beautiful flowers."

Not a bad start for a bachelor Uncle, eh? He's also the one that gave you your first introduction to the Mets baseball team and your first Mets outfit and hat. He may even take you to a Mets game when you are older.

Be kind to Uncle Andy, he doesn't have any experience with how to entertain a toddler so you will have to teach him. Give him sweet smiles and I bet he will sit down and watch "Blue's Clues" with you.

Emma's First Christmas

 Dearest Emma, Your Poppa and I are so excited that we will be able to spend Christmas with you and your Momma again this year. It should be lots of fun with baby Oscar too. You practice being gentle and I'll count the days till you are back in our arms. We love and miss you. Your Diva

Your Second Halloween

Dearest Em,

I love your Halloween costume. You make the cutest Raggedy Ann I have ever seen. I'm sorry I wasn't able to see you all dressed up. I love your pictures.   You made your Diva and Poppa smile and giggle. We love you very much and can hardly wait to see you.

Your Diva