Colyer World

Max & Emily in the matching turkey outfits in Los Gatos before taking off to Florida for Thanksgiving. Check out Emily’s pinecone turkey with 8 eyes.

Brynn, Kedryn, Max & Emily reunited in Florida

Papa Dave takes Max, Emily & Jazzy out on the row boat named “Ms. Brynn”

Max & Emily became fast friends with Jazzy

Jazzy & Emily enjoying the lake together

Max tries out fishing for the first time!

Thanks to The Q (a.k.a. Suzy Q), Uncle Scott, Brynn & Kedryn for the adorable dresses & gorgeous hot pink jacket for Emily’s 4th BD!

Here Emily is modeling the fuchsia butterfly one piece tutu dress

Next up is the pretty classic tailored white & hot pink carnation dress

Third up is the stunning sparkly crown one piece black & white polka dotted tutu dress

Princess Emily knows she looks good in this one!

This black & white tutu is perfect with it’s soft flouncy ruffles

Last, but certainly not least is a gorgeous, incredibly soft, hot pink faux fur jacket. Perfect for those chilly California evenings. She is less than thrilled to be modeling this particular item since it’s nearing 88 degrees here this afternoon!

THANKS TO SUZY Q, UNCLE SCOTT, BRYNN & KEDRYN!

You know Emily

and Max,

and Kedryn

and Brynn,

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You could even say it glows.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah …

We had a wonderful Christmas in California this year with my dad, sister Suzanne, niece Brynn & nephew Kedryn. This was the third Christmas without my mom and the first Christmas with us all together since her passing. The chaos & craziness of 4 little munchkins running around certainly provided diversion and prevented us from sitting down for a minute & dwelling on it. No time for sitting with these crazies. Nonetheless, her presence was there and she certainly was on our minds during the holidays as she is every day.

One of Emily’s requests from Santa was nail polish! Boy was she thrilled to find it in her stocking and Papa Dave was happy to paint her fingernails and toes!!

She also received a pretty lavender long sleeve Ariel shirt from Aunt Denise, Uncle Paul, Kyle & Alexis

And a beautiful doll named Marianne from The Oma & Grandpa Dale which Brynn quickly took an interest in

Another highlight for Emily were princess & castle decals for her room from Auntie SuzyQ & Papa Dave. SuzyQ & Brynn took the time to put them up for her and she was thrilled to walk into her new Princess Room!

Max’s only request from Santa was a marble track!!! He was over the moon to receive not only one, but TWO marble tracks!!! He couldn’t get enough of playing marbles!

Papa Dave showing Max & Kedryn how to use the new race car track. The boys loved it!

Brynn was happy to receive a pink Hello Kitty purse and a pretty scarf from The Oma! She actually wore the scarf while ice skating in Tahoe! It was more of a designer, decorative scarf than a winter scarf, but Brynn didn’t seem to care! She wore it with flare!

Brynn with her new panda pillow pet from Emily & Max which she named “Oreo”

Perlar Beads were plentiful and also a huge hit with the kids! Kedryn with a fish that I made for him which he named “Q” after his mama! Ahhhhhhhhh!

Papa Dave, Max & Emily with a gift of Petit Fours from Uncle Frank. The kids were anxious to try their first petite four.

We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family & friends. Here’s to a fun & fabulous 2011!

Suzanne & I took Brynn, Kedryn & Emily to ice skate @ Squaw on New Year’s Eve Day.

Brynn loves ice skating & is very good at it. This is only her third time on ice skates! She’s a natural!

She even met a friend, Brent, on the cable car up to the ice skating rink. Turns out Brent’s BD is January 18th and Brynn’s is January 19th. They thought that was “totally freaky” and started chatting away for the next 2 hours!!

Emily fell asleep on the cable car ride up to the Ice Skating rink and remained asleep for almost 2 hours straight. She missed the entire ice skating session! Glad she didn’t know!

Emily happily awake on the way down on the cable car

Beautiful view from the cable car at Squaw

Gorgeous Tahoe View

Brynn

Max

Kedryn

Emily

Emily

Emily with icicle

Brynn & Emily

Max, Emily, Brynn & Kedryn

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We went sledding in Tahoe City twice while we were there. The first time was a blast! The second time was a bust!

Emily enjoying sledding

Again and again and again …

Max excited to be pushed down the hill by Auntie SuzyQ

Brynn having fun

Brynn & Emily going down the hill together

Kedryn completely enjoying himself and I would say that he was the most successful sledder! Never had an injury and always had a smile! GO KEDRYN!

Suzanne coming down the hill just seconds before she took a tumble off the sled! Ripped her jeans and cut up her leg! There were a few minor injuries during our sledding!

Auntie Suzy Q, Brynn & Kedryn arrived today!!!

Max & Kedryn

Emily & Brynn are all smiles

Emily & Brynn doing a crazy photo

Kedryn, Brynn, Emily & Max excited to open their presents!

Brynn & Emily in their new matching red smiling snowman nightgowns designed by Sandy!

Kedryn & Brynn

Kedryn & Emily

Emily, Brynn & Kedryn

Max & Brynn

Max & Brynn in a cousin embrace

Max, Kedryn, Emily & Brynn

Crazy Cousins!

Kedryn & Brynn acting as horses!

Max as the horse didn’t work so well.

I remember my mom every day, but on this day in particular.  This was the day, two years ago, that she was freed from the pain of ovarian cancer that inevitably took her life.  Although I feel immobolized at times with sadness, it also brings back incredibly strong wonderful memories of a person that lives on through me, my dad, my sister, her sister and many many others.

Mom & Dad

Mom & Suzanne

Mom, Brynn & me

Grandma Jane & Brynn

Grandma Jane, Kedryn & Suzanne

Nana & Max (she asked for my kids to call her “Nana”)

Meeting Emily Luisa for the first time (July 2007)

Mom, her sister (Margie), niece (Kim), & nephew (Jeff)

Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Lake City, Colorado

Emily Jane celebrating Emily Luisa’s 1st Birthday (July 22, 2008) in Los Gatos, California

She traveled from Pennsylvania to California even though she wasn’t feeling well and put up a good front

In memory of a wonderful mom to me & Suzanne, a loyal & loving wife to my dad, a generous & giving Grandma/Nana to Brynn, Kedryn, Max & Emily, a kind & caring sister to Margie, a special Aunt, an honest, true friend to many and a best friend to those lucky few.  Today and every day you remain a strong presence in my life and will always remain in my heart. 

Papa Dave & I took the 4 cousins to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo on Sunday after Emily’s BD party for their last afternoon together.  Uncle Wallace had to go to work.

Emily & watchful cousin, Brynn, on the lily pads

Kedryn on The Frog Hopper

having a blast!!!!!

Emily & Brynn on The Frog Hopper

Emily’s adorable outfit compliments of Christian & Olivia for her 3rd BD

Girls just wanna have fun!!

Princess Emily eating a pringle!  Tiara compliments of Abby.

Brynn trying out a seated foot scooter

Princess Emily riding the police car

Keddie going nuts on the swings

Beautiful Brynn

Kedryn goes in for a hug

Kedryn & Brynn

Brynn & Kedryn argued over who would push Emily in the stroller so each of them were allowed to hold half

Brynn tried to give Em Em a kiss, but she would have no parts of it

Kedryn & Emily take a bath after a hot, dusty afternoon at Happy Hollow

Emily loves her cousin, Kedryn.  She said, out of the blue, on numerous occassions, “I LOVE YOU, KEDDIE”

We celebrated Emily’s 3rd BD yesterday with friends & family

The main event for Emily’s 3rd BD was “Happy Birds”, a performing parrot show

Seven beautiful & friendly parrots entertained us all and Emily even got a kiss from pretty “Piper”

This particular bird is a trainee to the show.  Emily is feeding him an almond.

The bird show consisted of various birds riding a bike, riding a scooter, singing songs, making other animal impersonations, skateboarding, opening water bottles, etc.

Max was an active participant in the audience with lots of questions for the “Bird Lady”.  He loved it!

Piper wants to give Max a kiss,

but Max holds back …

Piper gives Max a kiss on his cheek

Piper riding a scooter

Max and his friend, Cameron, intently watching the bird show

Sean & Zack

Zac & Megan

Zac & Cameron

Zac & Max

Alex & Zac

Brennan & Zac

Riley & Forrest

Papa Dave, Brynn & Kedryn with Zac & Forrest

Kedryn (my nephew) & Zac

Brynn (my niece) & Forrest

Papa Dave, Brynn & Kedryn with Zac & Forrest

Forrest & Christian (Kathy had to bribe Christian to get near this bird!)

Michael, Kathy & Olivia with Zac & Forrest

Brynn flaunts her muscles by holding these two fairly heavy macaws

Sweet Samantha with Zac & Forrest

Max & beautiful Forrest

Max was totally enthused by the birds

Cute Keddie with Forrest

Emily with Forrest

Emily enjoyed watching & participating in the bird show

Emily & her friend, Megan, with Forrest

Ready to blow out her candles.  Notice the pretty red fingernails!  Brynn gave her a manicure before her party!

Princess Emily

Happy 3rd Birthday Emily!!