Christmas Cuteness

Helena had her first Christmas program on Thursday. I'm continually impressed with what preschool teachers can get a group of eight two-year-olds to do. Her teacher told me she was so nervous about one or all of the kids melting down that they totally forgot to sing one of their songs.



Here's the full video-- we got great shots of her but weren't able to get the whole group because it was packed in there! Helena's very enthralled with her hat and I think she was lip synching a couple of times. Oh, and she shows off her signature Galbreath dance moves at one point. She's the one in the the pink scarf.

Oh, and here's a little craft Helena made at school this week:

I think she thinks all holidays are Halloween.

Happy Holidays everyone! We leave for Kansas on Tuesday! Yay!

-Emily :)

Mini Break to Laguna Beach

Very last-minute we decided to join Ash on a work trip to California the week before Thanksgiving. Laguna Beach in November sounded stupendous...and it was. Even though Ash ended up having to work longer hours than he had anticipated we still made time for some family fun and seeing my long lost friend Tish!

Speaking of Tish, she's probably secretly mad at me that I haven't blogged about this yet...as she did herself so eloquently right after we were there. Tish & I worked at KU Endowment together for a few years when we were in college and then she moved out to California to pursue THE DREAM -- acting. We've kept in touch via blogging, e-mails and the occasional text and phone call but I haven't seen her for probably about 4 years. That's way too long! It's so nice to have those friends in your life that you can just pick right back up with no matter how long it's been and how many little life details you've missed in each other's lives due to long distance. I got the skinny on everything she doesn't write about on her blog and she laughed at me when I showed up towing a stroller. Helena loved her and told me later that she was 'nice and pretty'. I wish we would have had more time to hang out...but it was really so great to see her.

In Laguna Beach we stayed at a little bed and breakfast two blocks from the beach. Helena liked the beach, her first visit to one, but was a little scared of the crashing waves at first. Eventually she warmed up and was putting her feet in the waves and digging in the sand. It was a little too chilly to actually swim, but a couple of times we got in a little bit too deep, fell down, and got our clothes wet. It was good times.


I also took Helena to the Long Beach Aquarium-- such a neat place. We had a blast. Helena petted sting rays, watched sea lions play fetch and, her favorite part, got the play on this boat. Don't ask me why she thought this was SO FUN but I don't think I've seen her freak out this much ever. She was running back and forth and screaming and having a good old time.

Sheer delight on her face. So hilarious.

Anyway, Laguna Beach in November = awesome. Great mini break. Big thanks to Ash for stubbornly convincing me that it was OK to go.

-Emily :)

Turkey Day!

We had a great, more family-filled Thanksgiving this year. My dad, his wife Teresa, my brother Evan and my Grandma Millie & Grandpa Bill braved the winter driving season to come spend it with us.

We had a really good, relaxing time just chilling with everyone. And I was finally able to show Ash what a Thach thanksgiving is all about-- pie, football and NAPS! His family doesn't really nap at Thanksgiving and it drives me nuts and no one eats more than one piece of pie (love you guys!!). It's way too grown up and sensible. I think by the end of the day every Thach in the house had sampled one of each kind of pie.

Ash made the turkey and it was really fabulous. As a reward, he got to sit at the kids table with Helena.

After dinner, Helena & my dad went round after round of the game my family calls 'One More Time'. Basically my dad has a portfolio of flips that he can do with any kid aged 1 to 10. And when I was little I loved it so much I wouldn't ever let him quit-- hence the 'one more time'. :)

And finally, we got in a group shot thanks to the auto timer on my camera. Not too shabby. Thanks for coming to visit everyone!! :)

-Emily :)

Whirlwind

Hello everyone! I'm alive! Exciting, huh? We've had a busy couple of weeks with Ash working in California, then us going out to California to hang with him while he worked, and then it was Thanksgiving with family visiting and then things got really crazy.

Oh, and did I mention I'm pregnant too. :) Hence the lack of blogs for about a month. I'm exhausted. I try my hardest to make it until 10 each night...and most nights I fail miserably. Other than tiredness and some nausea and being a picky eater (all plagued me last time as well), I'm feeling OK. We're due June 16th and no, we're not finding out what we're having...again (I know, people, I can hear the sighs from here). Come on, it'll be fun! My next doctor's appointment is on the 15th, so here's hoping things continue to go well.

Anyway, when I get my energy up a bit (crossing fingers) I'll blog about our California mini break and Thanksgiving. Other than me growing a placenta and a baby, there's really not a lot going on around here.

-Emily :)

I am not...!

So this afternoon I'm walking Helena out of school and this other lady stops and holds the door open for us and says "Oh, she is so cute." I say thanks, walk a couple of steps and Helena yells "Mom, I am NOT so cute." The other lady heard it and just starts cracking up.

We've entered into the official 2-year-old 'no filter' territory, folks.

The other day she told the rental car guy that she had to poop, too.

-Emily :)