Shark Experience aquarium in Vegas

The Jellyfish were Emily's favorite part.

More Vegas Baby!

More photos from our trip, including another in her funky new outfit (her Nana gave it to her), one with Daddy at the Shark Experience aquarium, and a big hug for Momma at the pool (the best thing ever!)

Sprinkles & Snapshots - Spring/Easter

We just got back from our long weekend in Vegas (April 2011). In honor of Spring and Easter, here's a photo of Emily dressed like an Easter Egg and one where she's dressed like a flower.

Tortoise Family

Today we went to the zoo. This may be the coolest animal family I've ever seen. The largest tortoise (I assume the daddy) is huge, probably over 4 feet long. The other large tortoise (I assume the mommy) was smaller, but still huge. And although the lighting wasn't good, you can see the baby to the right of the mommy.

30 Day Song Challenge

My sister is doing this cool thing on her Facebook page. On each of the 30 days there's a theme, and you pick a song accordingly. I'm doing it for Emily (she's 18 months old) and me, so I'm going to update this post everyday to include our picks.

Day 1: A favorite song. Emily: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Me: Sweet Emotion, Aerosmith.

Day 2: A least favorite song. Emily: Rock a Bye Baby. Me: My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion.

Day 3: A feel good song. Emily: Yummy Yummy Yummy I've Got Love in my Tummy, Ohio Express. Me: Always on my Mind, Pet Shop Boys.

Day 4: Song that makes me sad/emotional. Emily: I'm Gettin' Nuthin' for Christmas. Me: Father & Daughter, Paul Simon.

Day 5: Song that reminds you of someone. Emily: Elmo's Song (Elmo). Me: Our House, CSNY (Kent).

Day 6: Song that reminds you of a place. Emily: Baby Signing Time (Baby Signing Time class). Me: Last Dance with Mary Jane, Tom Petty (Spanish Fork Canyon).

Day 7: Song that reminds you of an event. Emily: Happy Birthday (Daddy's birthday last month). Me: Here Comes the Sun, Tom Petty (our wedding).

Day 8: Song you know all the words to. Emily: the ABC song. Me: Somewhere over the Rainbow.

Day 9: Song you can dance to. Emily & me: The Hamster Dance.

Day 10: Song that makes you fall asleep. Emily & me: Lullaby, Dixie Chicks.

Day 11: A song from your favorite band. Emily: Sing a Song, the cast of Sesame Street. Me: Fool in the Rain, Led Zeppelin.

Day 12: Song from a band you hate. Emily: Nap Song, Ricky Gervais. Me: Because you Loved me, Celine Dion.

Day 13: A song that is a guilty pleasure. Emily: Down, Jay Sean and Lil Wayne. Me: Sexy Back, Justin Timberlake.

Day 14: A song that people would be surprised you like. Emily: Free Falling by Tom Petty. Me: Smack My Bitch Up by Prodigy.

Day 15: A song that describes you. Emily: Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. Me: Video by India.Arie.

Day 16: A song you used to love, but now you hate. Emily: honestly couldn't think of anything. Me: With or Without You by U2.

Day 17: A song you hear a lot on the radio. Emily & me: Piano Man by Billy Joel.

Day 18: A song that you wish you heard on the radio. Emily: Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Me: Whatever It Takes by Michael Buble.

Day 19: A song from your favorite album. Emily: Doesn't have any albums. Me: In the Evening from In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin.

Day 20: A song you listen to when you're angry. Emily: Whatever Momma and Daddy start singing to try to calm her down. Me: When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin.

Day 21: A song you listen to when you're happy. Emily: It's a song she made up "I do I do I do. I you I you I you." Me: Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townshend.

Day 22: A song you listen to when you're sad. Emily: Whatever Momma and Daddy start singing to try to comfort her. Me: Let My Love Open the Door performed by Steve Carrell and Dane Cook in the film Dan in Real Life.

Day 23: A song you want to play at your wedding. Emily: She won't get married for at least 20 or 30 years, so the song may not be written yet. Me: L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole (I did play this at my wedding).

Day 24: A song you want to play at your funeral. Emily and me: Kind and Generous by Natalie Merchant.

Day 25: A song that makes you laugh. Emily: The Pets I Love from the Baby Signing Time videos. Me: You're a Mean One Mister Grinch.

Day 26: A song you can play on an instrument. Emily: Only bangs things on other things, but hasn't played a tune. Me: Many years ago I was able to play the main tune of Love Comes Walking In by Van Halen on the piano.

Day 27: A song you wish you could play on an instrument. Emily: Mary Had a Little Lamb (she sings it often). Me: Teach Your Children Well by CSN&Y.

Day 28: A song that makes you feel guilty. Emily: She's too young to understand the concept of guilt. Me: Don't Speak by No Doubt.

Day 29: A song from your childhood. Emily: Itsy Bitsy Spider (although to be fair, every song right now is from her childhood). Me: Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Day 30: Your favorite song at this time last year. Emily: Same as the answer to #1 above, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - her favorite last year and still her favorite now. Me: Same as the answer to #10 above, Lullaby by the Dixie Chicks. I have sung it to Emily as part of our bedtime routine almost since she was born.

Sprinkles & Snapshots - Your Choice

This post is inspired by my boss, Tom Loveridge. Earlier this week we were chatting and he said something profound and philosophical. He didn't intend it that way, and not until I pointed it out to him later did he even recognize the weight of his statement. And even then he didn't take credit, but was simply flattered that I'd perceived him this way. He said (to the best of my recollection) "I love my kids, I love my wife, I love to fly my radio controlled airplanes, I love to practice magic. If nothing changes for years and years, and then I die..." and then he gave the two thumbs up sign. Happiness. Simplicity. Contentment. The man is only in his mid-life and he's already figured it out. He's not commiserating about what he doesn't have or hasn't done, he's not constantly striving for more power, more money, more popularity, more, more, more. He's just happy with his life. If only more people could think like Tom.

Sprinkles & Snapshots - Your Choice

Getting ready for our Vegas trip - less than 3 weeks away. Yeah!