Sneak peek.

For those of you following at home, tomorrow is Emma's big "Night of the Notables" presentation. We're putting together the last-minute touches on her Frida Kahlo costume. Here's the hairpiece.

Now I need to work on the Pablo Picasso earrings. Thank you, Lolo, for the Sculpey!

I prefer Abstract Expressionism but ....

At least I'm not Thomas Kinkaid. Ugh. Sick.

You Are Impressionism

You think the world is quite beautiful, especially if you look at it in new and interesting ways. You tend to focus on color and movement in art. For you, seeing the big picture is much more important than recording every little detail. You can find inspiration anywhere... especially from nature.

What Art Movement Are You?

Ski Puppy!

Ugh. I've finally reached the point (age?) where it's becoming impossible for me to remember all the various passwords I have, even though I do my best to keep some continuity.

I couldn't remember my password for this blog and have been dying to upload some snaps from HSP Family Day last month at Winter Park.

So, at long last, and not in any particular order, here is Emma at Winter Park. The second one is with her beloved instructor, Stephanie. (Just today she said, "I want Stephanie again next year.")

Emma skied the "fun race" course that was set up for the kids at Marmot Flats. Her race name, by the way, is "Ski Puppy" - hence the title of this entry.

That was a wonderful weekend, I must say. That Friday Em and I went to a Nuggets game. And they won. Of course. They always win when Emma goes. She's got a completely skewed perspective on Denver sports teams' win-lose records.

Saturday I rode the bus with her up to the resort and then we met up with Pam and Matt. Actually, they met up with Em. On the mountain. They skied over from Mary Jane to Marmot Flats since that's where Emma always skies. They found a group that looked like HSP, asked if anyone knew Emma and they said, "Oh, Ski Puppy? You just missed her on the race course." But Emma skied the course again so they got to cheer her on. How completely cool.

After the skiing, the four of us loaded up into Hans (Matt's Audi wagon) and drove over to their "farm" near Parshall. Pics of those to be posted later.

OMG, though, their mountain home is incredible. Matt cooked. Emma and Pam got in the outdoor hot tub ... it was 22 degrees outside but they were toasty, of course. We stayed up and talked. Emma got altitude sickness during the night so I stayed up with her, back and forth to the bathroom. In the morning, Matt made breakfast. He went skiing. Pam, Emma and I played Life, and then we headed back down the hill. Emma and Rex, who went up to the farm with Pam on Friday, fell asleep together in the backseat of Greta (Pam's Audi ... his and her Audis ... ha!). Very sweet.

Oh, PS: Yes, I am an idiot for activating the date stamp on my camera but not programming in the correct date. Ack!

Haloween 2007.

A couple days late getting these posted, but ... we've been busy busy.

Took Emma early this morning to get evaluated and fitted for her ski equipment from HSP. OMG, her little boots and her little skis - and dayglo yellow helmet! - are too cute for words. She's going to have so much fun.

After that we went to Horseland, and then to Flatiron Crossing, where we dropped off several of her old old old coats for Coats for Colorado.

Now we're home. Finally. Whew. Where does the day go?

Anyhow, enjoy the Emma Halloween snaps. I tried to post just the non-blurry ones. :)

One Weekend.

We've all heard the old saw about Colorado: if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes? Well, we had to wait overnight to go from 70, sunny and gorgeous on Saturday to cold and snowy today. Emma got so excited a little while ago. I looked outside and said, "Wow," which brought her running. She gasped at the wintry scene and hugged me and said, "I love days like this - the first snowy days and we're staying home!" Awww.

It's been another nice weekend, though, setting aside the weather fun. Emma had a good session at CTRC. Her horse, Missy, was injured so she rode Pretty instead. Seemed to go well. She brought flowers to Shelby, one of her walkers, since her b-day was earlier in the week.

Then we came home and Pam picked us up so we could go to Boulder. I'd gotten an invitation a couple of weeks ago for a Defenders of Wildlife Wolf Awareness Week event at the Unitarian church there. We went and it was a really great, informative session. Emma answered several questions and asked a couple of others. Plus, we met a wolf-hybrid named Samantha, who is about 80 to 90 percent wolf, they estimate. She lives at W.O.L.F. in Larimer County. Beautiful animal. Emma was entranced. Samantha walked in and out of the room a few times (on a long lead) and twice she came over to Emma, who was sitting on the end of the room, and just sniffed and brushed on Emma. That child has definitely got a gift when it comes to animals ... though we joked that maybe Samantha wanted a little of the Slim Jim Emma ate on the way to the program.

After the program we headed back up the turnpike for Pam's birthday dinner. She decided she didn't want lobster this year ... just a big salad. Lo and behold, there was a Dave & Buster's at the Church Ranch Road exit. I love their "stinky" salad, the parmesan-crusted chicken Caesar. Emma was dubious but I told her to just go in the place. If you've ever been to a D&B, you'd know why. If not, just check it out. We played Centipede, a couple of horse-themed games, Emma played a motorbike game and did pretty well, and Emma and Pam tried the Dance, Dance Revolution game.

The motorbike pic is blurry but it's a little glimpse of Emma the Easy Rider. :) The funny thing is, as we were wrapping up dinner, Pam said, "Let's leave by 7:30 p.m." We just wanted to play a few games and get out of there. Ha. It's set up like an actual casino in that you just want to keep playing! LOL I got us one Power Card to share (you load the card w/credits and swipe for the games). Then I kept adding more credits. Then Pam went and got her own card so she and Emma could dance dance!

We left at 8:30 p.m.

Emma.

Just wanted to post a few more recent pics of Emma, CTRC and Missy, horse of the "energetic and lively trot."

Laura & Denny, y'know what?

Chicken butt.

Let's go to Horseland!

If you have a tweener daughter you probably know all about "Horseland." It's must-see TV around here on Saturday mornings, which leaves just enough time for Emma to eat breakfast, watch, and then get ready to leave for her Horseland.

Great session today. Her friend Hannah B. brought her a horse book to read, and then her lead walker, Shelby, gave her a present -- three miniature horses (the cute, plastic kind) and two packs of Bella Sara horse trading cards. Awwwww.

All this for the girl who whined last night that, "No one likes me."

On the way back into town today I reminded her she said that and she said, "Mom! That was last night. I'm over that now, OK?"

Anyway, here are snaps of Emma and her horse this session, Missy; her walkers, Shelby and Lee; and then Emma and Hannah, with Hannah's horse, Poco Dos, a former police horse, by the way.