Those Kasparek Cheeks!

In the past few weeks I've seen some pictures of Cole where I really see the Kasparek in him. It's all about the cheeks! I went back and looked at some pictures of Camden when he was a month old and here's one I found. Can you tell these boys come from the same gene pool? :)

A Little Bonding Time on the Trail

This morning I had an urge that I hadn't felt in a long time: to go for a run. I think Chris about fell out of the chair when I got back from the grocery store this morning and told him I thought I would take Emma and go run :) He always tries to motivate me to go for a jog, but I haven't had any interest. I'd like to think that this turn of attitude has something to do with this:Oh how I wish this was me on a sunny beach, but I actually did this yoga wheel yesterday in the Silverwood Commons. I love Friday afternoons because we have yoga class. Yes, it's not the most relaxing when you've got 11 crazy third graders surrounding you, but their cheers when I did the wheel just like them, made me feel pretty darn good!

So that leads us back to this morning and my desire to go for a run. I love Washington in the winter because of the mild temperatures, but there is also a lot of rain. :) Thanks to one fantastic jogging stroller and its handy rain cover, Emma or Camden (the rain cover doesn't work as well with the jump seat) can keep me company.

Emma inside the bubble.Who needs an Ipod when you've got a 5 year-old? She sings to me, points out all the wildlife, and knows that when I'm breathing hard, I probably won't talk too much! :)

Let's Hear it for the 3-Day Weekend!

They come around 5 times each year, and there's nothing like that feeling when you wake up on Monday morning and know it's just like another Sunday! :) We had a wonderful MLK weekend. Saturday we headed up to the mountains with the Warthen family for an awesome day of sledding. I think we had just pulled onto the highway when Chris and I realized neither one of us grabbed the camera :( Emma and Camden were both sledding rock stars and we can't wait for our next 3-day weekend when we get to sled the whole time!

Here are a few pictures from Monday. Camden has graduated to the BIG big boy bed (we flipped his bed so he is now sleeping in the loft). He loves his new play area under his bed. Our sweetest girl with her Lego car. Camden making a fashion statement with my fuzzy socks :) Emma got some skates for her birthday and has been begging us to go skating, so we created a little roller skating rink in our garage.

Camden "Speedracer" Kasparek

Camden took a spin on the skates, too!

Where has this little boy come from?!?! Camden seems so grown up lately!

A Mini Rhinehart Reunion

There's nothing like seeing a friend who you haven't seen in 2 1/2 years, but it seemed like just last week. We were thrilled to have the chance to see Geoff, Gavin, and Taylor in Seattle on Tuesday night. Despite an exhausting flight from Japan, we took advantage of our few hours together to have some fun. Gavin was Emma's first friend and it didn't take long for them to reconnect.

I had to flashback to one of my all time favorite pictures of Emma and Gavin. That's how she still hugs Camden! :) Ready for some dinner (poor Taylor was wiped out!)

There's nothing like sharing some Ben & Jerrys with your buddy!
It's a Yokusuka MWR Community Activities reunion! We were so glad that Bo, Hung, and Claire were able to surprise Geoff.Having a little fun at the South Center Mall playground. Geoff, Chris, and their tired boys.

The Dus, Kaspareks, and Rhineharts.

We all got a laugh out of the Hello Kitty store we just happened to be in front of!

We are sending continued prayers to Geoff, Renee, Gavin, and Taylor as they rally behind Papa Phil in Tampa. Get well soon Phil, we love you! :)

5

5. I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that 5 years ago today, Chris and I became Dad and Mom. Emma Louise Kasparek came into this world at 2:58 p.m. Japan Standard Time on January 11, 2005 and our lives changed forever.

Love at first sight is an understatement of what we felt and that love has grown even stronger over the past 5 years. Our little baby is turning in to a little lady and we couldn't be more proud of her!

Happy Birthday to our favorite girl in the whole wide world!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!

Good morning, Birthday Girl! It's your special day!A little Happy Birthday serenade from Camden...
The Kasparek birthday tradition: a donut for breakfast in bed.

After a fun day at school, Camden had to call Pops on his banana phone (the conversation was pretty hilarious from this end!)

Our fantastic five year-old!

Helen and Grace stopped by just in time for presents. Camden and Emma love playing with Grace!

"This was the best birthday ever!"

-The Birthday Girl

a.k.a. Emma Louise Kasparek

Birthday Wishes for Emma

One of the many things I love about Facebook is all the reconnecting and catching up with old friends I can do. On Friday evening, I posted that it was Emma's birthday weekend. She has received many birthday wishes, so I thought this would be a fun way to share all of them with her.

Here are a few people who saw Emma when she was just hours old:Kristin: Happy birthday Emma!!! It feels like just yesterday that you were teeny tiny!!! Time flies...Mishel: How fun! I'm sure you'll have a big party! Maybe Chris can do his Aussie impression. hee hee! (A little inside joke from our infamous White Trash Party)SuzAnne: Happy Bday, Emma

Here are some more greetings from friends Emma has made since then...

Jessi: Happy Bday Emma!
(A dear friend from college who surprised us when we were in Iowa for Emma's baptism!)

Nya: That's right, happy bday Emma! Aidan's is in two weeks. Can u believe it??

(Emma and Aidan were best buddies at the Ikego Child Development Center!)
Maggie: HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA-CHAN!!! We're heading to Nozawa Onsen this weekend for the fire festival!

(Playing in the snow in Nozawa Onsen in January 2007)

Shannon: Happy Birthday Emma!!!!

(Emma checking out baby Isabella, who was born just a few weeks before Camden).

The Sparlings: Happy birthday little Emma! You are one fun loving little girl! We are
sending hugs and sweet wishes across the Pacific pond. Did your dad go to sleep before you blew out your candles? (Another inside joke, and great jab at Chris, from a few Kasparek parties... Here's Emma with babies Camden and Avonlea all dressed up for the summer festival in the Sparling's neighborhood. Boy, it was hot that day!)

Kathleen: Happy Birthday Emma!!!!!

(Emma and Sydney during our last night in Japan.)

An extra special wish from one of Emma's favorite people:

Jessi: Happy Birthday, best buddy! I can't believe you are 5!!!

Princess Emma's Party

Last night we celebrated our favorite girl in the whole wide world! Emma's birthday party requests were as follows:

1. I'd like to have a princess party.

2. I want Daddy to make me a castle cake.

3. I want Mommy to make chicken noodle soup for dinner.

4. My friends and I want a pinata.

Here are Princess Sophia, Emma, Audrey, and Claire (with the court jester in the back).

All of the party guests lined up in the garage waiting their turn to take a whack at the pinata.

Are adorable "under 5" guest: Alison, Camden, and Hunter.
Emma taking the first swing at the pinata.
(I convinced myself that I was going to make a pinata. It was a little odd looking, but it worked!)

Emma and Claire ready for present time.

I don't think she could have opened the gifts any faster...

Chris's first masterpiece of the new decade: Happy Birthday, dear Emma

Prince Logan and his 2 favorite princesses.

Enjoying cake and ice cream.

The happiest princess on earth!