Exciting news

Yes, you read my shirt right! I am going to be a big sister. My new baby still has a lot of growing to do and it will be coming on or around March 28, 2009.

As you can see, I am very excited to have a baby sister or baby brother. My prediction of which it will be depends on the day. Here is a picture of the new baby, almost 9 weeks old.

And for those of you keeping track at home, this makes 4 pregnant Plums. By the end of March when A2Plum2 arrives, Grandma Gail and Grandpa Gary will have 10 grandbabies. 0-10 in 3 & 1/2 years!

Weekend at the lake

We visited Coldwater this weekend and stayed with Gi Gi Amy at her house on Rose Lake. The weather was perfect and we had a lot of fun. I took my first sailboat and canoe rides. It was fun to be in the boats, but I don't quite have the patience to wait for the wind when sailing. I also enjoyed running and playing in the yard. We went into town and had a doughnut break with Gi Gi Helen. Also, I got to meet cousin Makenna. Here are some pictures.

Water play with Ga Ga & Daddy

First time sailing

Snacks with Gi Gi Sally

First canoe ride

Playing with my purple "yoodle"

Trying to roll in the inner-tube

California Day 7 - 8/20/08

This was the day after the wedding and our last day in California. We went to IHOP in Pacific Beach for breakfast. After breakfast, we went down to the beach and did a little wave hopping. After that, it was back to the resort to pack up and go for one last swim while we watched Aunt Mary and Uncle James open presents. I love that almost everything was done poolside! After posing for a picture with Aunt Mary's bouqet, we loaded up in the car to drive downtown to our new hotel. Since I fell asleep almost immediately and our hotel room wasn't ready, Mommy and Daddy took a drive out to Coronado Island. They tell me it is very beautiful.

Finally, our hotel room was ready. Thanks to Grandpa Gary for using his points and getting us a room at the hotel that still has it's original elevators from 1913. I was pretty obsessed with elevators (aggigators) this trip so it was very fitting. We took some time to relax on the rooftop patio.

Toasting a successful trip

Toasting a successful wedding

The view up top was really cool. We could even see both of Aunt Mary and Uncle James' apartments from up high. It seems like everything in San Diego is close to the airport. Here is a picture of a plane coming in for a landing.

After relaxing on the roof, we went for a delicious dinner at Buca di Beppo. I especially enjoyed eating the Cesar salad and using the tongs that came with it. Following dinner, Daddy went back to start trying to pack to beat the airport scales. The rest of us walked down to Seaport Village. When we got back to the hotel, I was ready for some wedding cake. Yummy!

After waiting for it to be dark, Mommy and Daddy took me back up on the roof to see the lights of San Diego. I could have stayed up there all night watching the planes come in and land. It was awesome. But we had to be up early so it was back down to bed for all of us.

The next morning I was raring to go when the alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. We returned our rental car and rode the yellow Hertz bussie to the terminal with plenty of time. However, when we arrived, the Northwest line was down the hallway! We were in line behind the California Ambassadors of Music and all of their instruments. Seeing as how our seats weren't together and I hadn't had breakfast, we asked the lady monitoring the line what she could do for us. She was super nice, pulled us out of the line and took us up to an agent. She said she was a grandmother so she knew how it was. After that, Gi Gi & Ga Ga took advantage of their first class status and also moved to the front of the line. Our flight back to Michigan was uneventful. Gi Gi & Ga Ga did fly home with an extra suitcase from Aunt Mary, but we managed to get everything and everyone into the Tribeca.
I had such a fun time on my trip to California. I can't wait for our next adventure!

love,
Emily

California Day 6 - 7/19/08

The big day for Aunt Mary and Uncle James finally came! In the morning we woke up to San Diego rain, which is just a fine mist, not a huge downpour. The locals assured us in was only marine layer and would go away by lunch time. After having delicious sausage for breakfast (a flower girl needs her protein), I went with Daddy and Ga Ga to pick up "The Dress" (Aunt Mary's dress). After coming back from our most important errand, I relaxed in the pool and took a nap to get ready. After my nap, it was show time. Here are a few pictures from the ceremony.

Uncle James seating Gi Gi

Me and Mommy

Aunt Mary & Uncle James

After the ceremony, I changed into my reception outfit. I had a fun time eating the M&M favors, checking things out and getting a hug from my new friend Austin.

After dinner, I was more interested in going to the pool than listening to the toasts (Sorry, Ga Ga - I know you like to talk!) so Daddy and I left the party. Here are some pictures from the dancing.

Aunt Mary & The Jimmer

Dancing to "Fins"

Aunt Rusty & The Sal

Aunt Mary and Uncle James had the wedding of their dreams. If you would like to see their wedding pictures, go to http://gallery.me.com/drflash
There are many, many wonderful pictures from the wedding weekend. However, if you are mostly looking for the cute flower girl, check out Part 3, pages 4,5,6,9 and Part 4, pages 2,3,4.

California Day 5 - 7/18/08

For the first 4 days of our trip, we stayed in downtown San Diego at The Westin Gaslamp. "Emmy's hotel" was fun and I really liked riding in the elevators and pushing the buttons. But it was getting close to wedding day, so we needed to move out to Paradise Point, the resort where all of the wedding festivities would be. After nap time, it was time to practice for the wedding. The dress code for the event was "just off the beach." We all had to pay close attention to the directions of when to walk and where to stand. Mommy and Daddy were very busy so they didn't have a chance to take pictures with our camera. Thank you to James from San Francisco (Uncle James' Godfather) for all of the great pictures he took over the wedding weekend. Here are a few:




After learning what to do at the wedding, it was off to the Cheeseburger in Paradise party. I was ready to hit the pool! Thanks to Marlene (Uncle James' mommy) for hosting such a fun party. I really like that I got my own swimming tube and lobster cup. I also thought the chips and dip and kiwi were quite yummy.

California Day 4 - 7/17/08

Boats were the theme of the day. In the morning, Mommy and Daddy took me and Gi Gi to tour the U.S.S. Midway, which is docked in the San Diego harbor. This was one of the first aircraft carriers and it is VERY big.

It was cool to see the different parts of the ship. For it being such a big boat, there are a lot of tight spaces. The most exciting exhibit were the planes and helicopters you could sit in. We all got to have our "Top Gun" moments.

Mommy

Gi Gi Sally

Emmy

The A2 Plums

We were having a good time on the Midway and we wanted to see the flight deck. There were a lot of stairs and I was holding hand with Mommy and Daddy who were helping me up by lifting me. I think I tweaked something in my arm because it hurt quite a bit when we got up to the flight deck. We took a break and listened to a talk about how they land the airplanes on the boat, but it was still hurting and Mommy and Daddy were worried so we decided to leave. On our way out, the first aid crew took a look at it and then it felt much better. This was our only medical drama for the whole trip and by the time we got to In-N-Out Burger for lunch, I was fine, much to everyone's relief.

Later on in the day, I was able to have some quality time with Gi Gi and Ga Ga while Mommy and Daddy went to the bachelor/bachelorette party. They went for a harbor cruise, dinner and drinks. Here are some pictures:

Aunt Mary & Mommy

Daddy, Mommy, Aunt Mary, Uncle James

Auntie Jack & Mommy

Daddy & Mommy