A Decade of Emma

As I sit and write this at 2:58 p.m. on January 11, 2015, it is hard to believe that a decade has passed since Emma Louise Kasparek came into this world at 2:58 p.m. on January 11, 2005.

A decade of smiles, laughter, imagination, determination, and most of all, love!

Here are 10 pictures of 10 years of Emma 

Home for the Holidays: A Few Week 2 Highlights

A cold and sinus infection slowed this blogger down BIG TIME after Christmas.  I'm sad to say the camera stayed in its case most of our last week in Iowa.  

Emma in front of the Iowa State Capitol

Nana, Emma, Camden, and Grandpa

We surprised the kids with some special dinner guests: 6 of their fabulous Camp Adventure counselors from last summer

While hanging out at Grandma Rose's house, Camden, Cole, and Emma raided the candy jars

 This little lady is ready to ring in the New Year!

Our New Year's Eve fiesta dinner in Iowa City

Home for the Holidays: Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning in Winterset

2 excited kids, sitting at the top of the steps at Nana & Grandpa's house, waiting to see what Santa brought them...

 And they're off!

 A few of their priceless reactions

 Scooters and walkie-talkies on Christmas afternoon

 An after dinner game of Clue

 Touring the light display around the city park

I love my town square! 

 It was almost magical on Christmas night with no one around but us

Home for the Holidays: Christmas Eve (and SNOW!)

On Tuesday we made the trek to central Iowa. The kids were so excited when they woke up on Wednesday (Christmas Eve) and saw that it had snowed.  Unfortunately, this was their only day to play in the snow.  Dreams of sledding in Iowa did not come true, but they loved building a snowman.

Yum, snow

Assembling their little snowman

Snowball fight!

Happy girl in the snow

The finished masterpiece

The kids needed some fresh snow to play in, so we went over to the high school and let them roll some gigantic snowballs

Warming up in the hot tub

Dressed in our holiday finest before Christmas Eve Mass

Mom, this is what we really think off all your pictures

Home for the Holidays: Hawkeye Basketball

On Monday night we cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes Men's Basketball team at Carver Hawkeye Arena. The kids (especially Camden) loved it!

Towards the end of the game, we found Herky!

We also got to have an Italy reunion with our friend, Mark.  After cheering on the Hawkeyes on our computer a few times when Mark was visiting us, it was great to enjoy the game live.