Family Ties

Yesterday Miguel and I met up with my family in downtown Duluth to take some family pictures. Miguel and I got there a little early so we goofed around a bit. 

They were setting up Christmas decorations! Yay!

So we took Emma to the park to kill some time. Emma conducted a train and went down the slides!

My sister and brother-in-law run a photography business the two sparrows. We are so lucky to have photographers in the family! I will post the pictures after they get back to Seattle and are done with the editing process.

When we returned home, Chester had gone to the store and picked out a bone. 

Emma quickly took advantage of Chester walking away for a moment and stole the bone. It was quite comical watching her try and move that thing around!

 This went on back and forth.

"But mommmm.... He STOLE my bone!"

 Eventually Chester tired of the bone and retreated to the couch where he was less likely to get picked on.

Scottie still found him though. These are Ken and Charlene, Miguel's Aunt and Uncle.

Vanessa! 

Tuesday Morning at the Amadors

So we made it to Atlanta safely last night. Emma did okay. She was seat belted in for about two hours before I couldn't stand her crying anymore. Then she spent the remaining five hours (yes, FIVE, we got stuck in horrible traffic) in the lap of Miguel, who, of course was driving.

We got to the Amadors around 11p.m. . Emma was happy to see Chester, Andy's dog, again. Chester was pleased to see Emma too, but wasn't in the mood to play. To try and distract Emma I gave her and Chester a rawhide. Emma finished hers in a matter of nano seconds and bounded back over to Chester to play.

Chester and his rawhide

 Chester, however, did not feel like playing, so retreated to a 'safe spot' between Juan and Miguel.

This morning Miguel and I slept in till 8:30! Miguel got up and took the dog out so I could continue to sleep a little bit. He is so sweet! No one else is up in the house yet. It's nice because then we fed Emma in peace. No other dogs trying to get to her food. It's rainy so exercise for the dog outside is out. So we've been playing with her in the house. She played keep-away with some of Scottie's toys. Miguel also got down on the ground and played with her. He's such a good puppy dad!

Look! Scottie has a duck toy too! Just like my favorite!

"Mom, why do you keep sticking this thing in my face?"

Even though we're on vacation, Miguel still has to work on grad school stuff... boo.

Emma likes to think she helps with his studies

But he takes breaks to play with Emma and the Amadors birds.

Rocky.... she's so mean. She only likes Teresa, Miguel's mom. Rocky fussed a lot while I was trying to get a picture of her!

Emma snuck in and found she likes to eat bird seed

Then she got put up and sadly wanted back in.

Hamlet is a little more friendly!

The rain let up a bit so I took Emma on a walk.

She got a new collar in an attempt to get her to stop pulling. The harness we had for her helped only a little... if she really wanted something she would pull so hard she would end up walking on her back two feet alone. This is called a Gentle Leader. 

Emma doesn't like it. She tries to take it off... unless she gets distracted. Like when she is actually walking. 

I love the weather outside this morning! It feels like fall to me! I'm getting really excited about the holiday now!

Fall weather!

Yay! Leaves on the ground!

The Amadors beautiful house!

Okay. Enough for this morning!

Thanksgiving Week!

We're headed home to Atlanta today! Yay for Thanksgiving and for family! This Thanksgiving marks a lot of firsts for our family.

This is the first Thanksgiving Miguel and I will spend together as a married couple! This is also the first time Emma will meet my sister and brother-in-law! And it's also the first Thanksgiving without my grandfather, Papa. =(

Last Thanksgiving my parents, Miguel and I went to have Thanksgiving day meal at the hospice Papa was in. I really cherish those memories now.

My Papa and Gramma

Miguel and I are lucky that both our families live in Atlanta. It makes choosing where to go for the holidays easy! The hard part is trying to find room in our stomachs for two HUGE and delicious meals in one day!

Thanksgiving at the Amadors is great! I really enjoy being part of a large family now! There are always loads of people around and the Amador's good family friends, the Kloers, come too! They are basically family anyways. 

Silly picture from the Amadors Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving 2009 at the Amadors

I love Thanksgiving at my parents! We usually eat in the early afternoon to accommodate my gramma. I love how my mom decorates the dining room table so beautifully every year.

Dogs wanting scraps... BAD for them! Look how chubby Bailey was before she went on her diet!

Least favorite part of big holiday meals.

This year I am so excited to see my sister, Sarah, and brother-in-law, Jared! I haven't seen Sarah since August and Jared since July! 

My beautiful sister, Sarah, and her YUMMY and pretty cake she made for Thanksgiving last year.  

As I was looking through old pictures to find Thanksgiving images, I ran across pictures of Miguel and his brothers from when they were younger! Feeling nostalgic for my childhood days here are some pictures of Miguel and his brothers...

precious

 Juan, Andy, Adrian, and Miguel

Juan, Andy, Miguel

We also got a new entertainment console this week! Thanks to the Amadors! It was a birthday present for Miguel.

And here is a picture of Emma... since this blog is supposed to be about her. Notice though in the picture above there is a tennis ball on the table... that is because Emma ate it's twin. Literally. She threw up for two hours straight. 

Also, check out my new blog about how I've started baking to fill my days.

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