Happy Birthday, Emma!

Emma was 4 years old on July 18th. We had a super fun day at the indoor waterpark in Shipshewana. We went to the Blue Gate for lunch and Grandma Kass surprised Emma with a princess birthday cake. It was really cool looking--crown, magic wand, and a sash that said Princess Emma on it. The Blue Gate was having an ice cream social and pony rides later in the day and we were able to get a pony ride early on our way out. We headed back to the water park and swam some more. It was a perfect day and Emma was a perfect little girl.

Emma really enjoys girly stuff now. She got a tinker bell purse for her birthday that she had to put "purse stuff" in. So I had to come up with a wallet for her and some other "purse stuff". She loves to be

pretty and anything that makes her pretty she loves. We made her a jewelry box for her birthday that she can put all her little jewelry items that make her pretty in. It was fun to make it rather than buy one. She loves anything princess, but she still likes trains and cars too. She's doing really well riding her bike. They have bike days at school, which has given her lots of practice riding her bike this summer. She loves "school" and she has had lots of fun activities going on this summer at school. Last week, it was dress like a clown day and a couple of weeks ago she had a whole week of camping in a tent in the

classroom. She's doing really well with her letters and numbers. She can recognize all the letters and write most of them too. She can count to 100. We will work soon on letter sounds and starting to read. She loves to draw and color. Her favorite colors are pink and purple of course, but she says she likes any color that is in the rainbow. The other day she asked me if yellow was in the rainbow and when I said yes, then she said "ok, then I like it"! One of her most favorite things to do are puzzles. She is really good at puzzles. She got a Little Einstein puzzle for her birthday and had to together in no time.

Emma's behavior is improving, but of course she does have her days. Timeouts are not over in the Furlong house for Emma yet, but they are getting fewer. She's getting better at voicing when she's mad and frustrated, however I'm not sure if I like this either! But we have been telling her to use her words and don't whine, so I guess that is what we get!