The Furlong Family: Catching up...

I decided that I really wanted to start blogging again for several reasons. I want to keep family and friends updated on our family's latest and greatest, as well as have a virtual scrapbook to look back on one day. I hope this way, I can maybe remember some of Harvey's milestones because let's be honest, I'm basically a walking zombie these days and I have a bad feeling that in a year or two I will look back on this time and just see fog. The last time I blogged, Emma was just over a year and I was pregnant with Luke. A LOT has happened, I don't even know where to start! I debated on trying to get everything updated on this blog, and trying to make it look pretty before sharing, but if I do that, you may never see it so I am going to start by posting an update on each kiddo one by one.

Let's start with Miss ~~Sassy Pants~~ Emma Grace. (She has recently decided she would prefer to go by Emma Grace for the record.) She is officially 4.5 and is already planning her 5th birthday party. (Doc McStuffins swim party at the club.) I am hoping that I can convince her to change the theme because… Doc McStuffins? Sigh. She is in her second year of preschool at Spanish Schoolhouse and goes 3 days a week. We have been very impressed with the teachers, curriculum, program as a whole, etc. However, after much discussion and a lot of prayer, we have decided to put her in an English speaking preschool next year for a transition kinder year. She will be attending St. Andrew UMC preschool in Plano. I toured it for Luke a month or two ago and fell in love. She will be going 5 days a week and will be in a pre- k5 class specifically for children with summer birthdays who need an "extra" year before beginning kindergarten. The plan is that she will go on to start kinder in public school the following year. However, due to the fact that Kinder isn't required in the state of Texas, if we decided to go ahead and send her to first grade the following year we could (most likely we won't, but it is a possibility.)

Emma is in her second year of ballet at The Texas Ballet Theatre School in Richardson. As much as she loves to dance, she isn't super into it. I think this will be her last year, unless she requests to resume at some point.

Emma is in her first year of gymnastics at Woga in Plano. She LOVES gymnastics. I'm pretty sure she would go every day if she were given the chance. We have had a wonderful experience at Woga, I highly recommend for anyone looking for a gym! (Side note: Luke just started too and after his first class, he cried because it was over! Ha!)

She is also about to do a small fry soccer league through the YMCA. I had to convince her that girls do indeed play soccer too (shout out to Aunt JoJo for inspiration here.) It is a 6 week program where they have 3 practices and 3 games (I believe- I'll let you know more on that later.) She starts at the beginning of March.

She is counting down the days until summer because she is DYING to try out for the swim team. Is that a thing? What is the age for that?! Haha! Last year I was told if they turned 5 over the summer, that they would be allowed to try out. I haven't decided how I feel about this one yet. What time are practices? How often? Because I'm tired just thinking about getting 3 kids to the pool. Brian would love for her to do this though, since he was a swimmer as a child. We were impressed with her swimming ability last summer. Thanks to Emler, she was swimming all over the pool, even going off the big slide and diving board into the deep end without her puddle jumper… Emler is worth every penny, no question.

Let's see what else can I say about Emma. Her favorite colors are purple and pink. (Purple has officially taken the lead over pink.) She sings and dances all day, every day (anybody else feel like they live in a musical?) She will pretty much watch any show, but has managed to watch the movie Trolls about 6 times since Valentine's day so I think that is a recent favorite. Her favorite food is macaroni and cheese. Her favorite restaurant is "The Pig Place" aka Ten 50 bbq (they have a pig out front if you have never noticed.) She wants to be a "painter" when she grows up. She loves to be read to, and has too many favorite books to list. Her daddy recently taught her the Lord's prayer so that's pretty neat to hear her recite. I cannot believe that she will be 5 this year. Where has the time gone? I am so grateful every day that God gave me this sweet and sassy angel. Now I'm tearing up… okay, let's find some photos.