1-30, Impromptu Emalie

These last few weeks have been really busy.  The kids are back to school after the holidays, and we're getting used to a new schedule of activities for the kids (new karate days for Nik, violin lessons for Emalie and swim lessons for both kids).  The turn of the new year brings about episodes of House Hunters and Property Brothers and the urge to improve our home.  The realization that Sven retires from the Navy next year brings about a whole list of things to do if we move (save money) and things to do if we don't (fix up the house).  What do I do when faced with situations like these?  Busy hands are happy hands-- I pick up a paint brush and go to town (literally, Home Depot.... repeatedly.....).  Over the years, I have painted most of our house with the exclusion of the main living areas.  So, I got to work painting our kitchen (my neck is still trying to recover from painting the ceiling with the recessed lights), dining area, living room and all the halls.  Thankfully, our neighbor Mark (a painter by trade) hired on to paint our front living room with the 17 foot ceiling!  Now that the front room is void of furniture (and every other room on the main floor is BUSTING with furniture), we decided to revisit the whole "boy this carpet looks terrible" issue (thank you, by the way, previous owner for allowing your dogs to pee their way around this house and so cleverly staging the house to disguise the damage.....).  Our house has looked like this for a week now-- a state of confusion and contemplation.  What, may you ask, does this have to do with "Impromptu Emalie"?  Well, as I was vacuuming the front room (I do this each time hoping that somehow, miraculously, the stains have disappeared.....), Emalie was running around me with her bear enjoying the big, empty space.  It was the opportunity I'd been waiting for:  natural light photos in this room (and with no furniture in the background!).  I love how they turned out.  Hmmm.....maybe this room should be my studio.......

"Bear" is still her best friend.

Note the Spiderman slippers which match the Spiderman outfit.
She's ALL Spiderman!

I don't know what's up with her and her open mouth,
but this is what you get if you tell her to smile.
LOL......

She loved posing bear to match her pose.

This was my favorite moment:  "Mom, I can't stop laughing!"

Emalie and I don't have as much time home alone together as we used to, so I love days like these when it's just us girls!