Kissing Cousins (Part One)

So like I said in the last post, Emily's cousin's, Sarah and Amy stopped by last week for a visit. Emily had a whirlwind week, which was so much fun that we will have to split it into two separate posts. This will be the first of those posts, I had considered doing the second one first, but I felt that might be more than a little confusing.

The week started very early on Monday morning with the arrival of Sarah and Amy. Emily was not able to meet them at the airport so she waited at work with Grandma, while Grandpa picked the girls up. When they finally made it to Grandma's office, there was much joy to be had by all. Emily thought Sarah tasted great and loved the fact that she provided such excellent handles on the side of her head in the form of braids. After having her braids tasted, and held hostage, Sarah quickly learned to keep her hair in the back when around Emily.

After celebrating the girls arrival they all went to Grandma and Grandpa's house to take naps. The girls also spent some time attempting to teach Emily how to roll over and finally named the bunny that she received on Easter, it was dubbed with the name "bunny".

Tuesday meant a trip to the park to play in the creek, and Emily's favorite activity...SHOPPING! Everyone was having their picture taken on Thursday and Sarah and Amy wanted new outfits. While out shopping Amy discovered a lovely trench coat which everyone loved, and proved to become a key element in being sneaky so as to kidnap Emily. You just can't sneak around without a trench coat.

Wednesday was spent apart, as Emily spent the day with her Grandma Kathy and the girls went to Coco Key, a new water park in Arlington Heights. A good time was had by all. Emily loves her Grandma Kathy and could not fathom spending a whole week without seeing her. She spent the morning driving her Aunt Mandy to the airport for her boondoggle to Orlando. Sarah and Amy (heretofore called Saramy cuz it's easier to type) had the run of Coco Key as everyone in Illinois was in school. Saramy spent seven hours in the water and were difficult to recognize later in the evening as they were understandably pruny.

Thursday was the big day. The morning was spent visiting two of Emily's favorite people, her Great Grandpa Bob and Great Grandpa Ray. I think that it is the "Great" that she finds fascinating (Have I mentioned that Emily has NINE grandparents! Four "regular" and Five "Greats.") After a "Great" morning it was time to get our picture taken. Everyone went to the mall and started posing. Saramy and Emily were all very cute together, and the photographer was really impressed with how well everyone got along. After posing with Emily, Saramy took a couple shots together as we needed a more updated shot of the two of them. They were last photographed many many years ago.

I will let the pictures tell the rest of today's story. The second part will come soon as Emily adventures were about to reach a crescendo!!!

(PS: Thanks to all who donated to our WalkAmerica Team, we more than doubled our goal!)

After having woken up on Monday, before the crack of dawn, to board their airplane during the Nor'easter that hit the East coast, Sarah and Amy were exhausted!!! Emily did not oppose the nap with her cousins, and her green cow.

Feeling refreshed after their nap, a little tummy time was in order. Amy and Sarah tried to "coach" Emily to roll over.

After a good workout with her cousins, Emily had worked up a powerful hunger. Mmmmmm, milk, it does a body good!

On Thursday, Emily paid a visit to "the Grandpas" with her cousins, and Aunt Kristi. Before leaving the house, it is always necessary to check that Emily is safely in her seat.

Great Grandpa Bob was the first stop of the day. All of the Great Granddaughters greeted him with a "Great" big hug.

Emily loves her Great Grandpa Bob, he always gets the best smiles from her.

Emily had an unexpected event while visiting her Great Grandpa Bob. She spontaneously rolled over. This was her first time rolling over, but we are not counting it since she did not purposely propel herself.

After her accidental roll, Sarah got down on the floor to demonstrate to Emily how to repeat this exciting feat. It didn't take.

Before leaving to go visit Great Grandpa Ray, everyone got together for a group picture with Great Grandpa Bob. Amy, Grandpa, Emily, Sarah & Kristi.

Amy tried to make a break for it with Emily. She thought that no one would see her sneaking into the elevator with such precious cargo.

Both Emily and Sarah decided that a nap was in order upon arriving at Great Grandpa Ray's. We're not sure if Sarah knocked Emily out, or vice versa.

Great Grandpa Ray finally got in on the Great Granddaughter hugging action, however, Emily was still a little groggy from her nap and her lunch. She wasn't really smiling for the camera.

Thursday night, we went to Burlington Coat Factory to visit their Baby Depot. Emily wanted to test drive the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo that we have been checking out recently.

She seems to like it . . .

Yep, I'd say that she likes it, she really really likes it!

Emily in all of her Jumperoo glory.

When we got home, Emily needed a little snuggle time with her green cow. Like her new bunny named "bunny", this cow has an equally impressive name, "cow".

This is our favorite picture of the day. Emily chomping on her cow's ear. She made this maneuver just as the photographer was snapping the smile that she had been making just moments before.