Spring at Fairytale Town

First, this picture captured the mood of our 2-year-old this beautiful Spring day at Fairytale town. Luckily, her mood improved :) Actually, she was sad in this picture because on the horse next to her was a crying little boy that didn't want to have to ride the horse. She's still a sensitive little one.

First stop...the pirate ship, where Lily took hold of the steering wheel (after we pushed off some 10 year old boy. Hello - Fairytale town is for LITTLE kids)!

Probably the highlight of the day - running the cooked mile. This is Lily at the little crooked house. This year it was pretty fun because we we could read all the fairytales together and Lily really got the stories. She was esp. excited to see "Mary had a little lamb" and ride on Cinderella's coach.

Sliding down the beanstock.

Driving the "little engine that could"...with ATTITUDE (and sound effects)!

Wow, Dad looks BIG on the little engine! Is this a preview of Dad teaching Lily to drive?

All in all it was lots of fun...Lily and I were just recovering from stomach flu so still not 100%. Earlier in the week we were supposed to go to Fairytale town with our good friends, Trish and Reece & Bryce, so I think Lily was a little disappointed that it was just Mom and Dad for this trip :) It was nice to spend time together - just our little family :)

Tiny Dancer

Lily started her 1st dance/gymnastics class last week with her friend Aubrey. We made tutus and everything...though Lily's tutu at least has not been worn to class...yet. Lily has loved dancing since she was a baby...private dancing at home. In public, she has been a bit shy to show off her moves.

Here is Lily practicing the dance moves she learned in class. She LOVES to wear dresses right now, especially this one from Gigi with princesses on it.

Practicing listening to teacher Allison.

Her FAVORITE part of class...the trampoline!

My 1st Valentine's Party

Happy Valentine's Day! Yesterday I went to my first very own Valentine party with my church playgroup friends. I was so happy when I saw Aubo especially. We had fun running up and down the basketball court and playing with the soccer ball (practicing for Daddy & Me soccer in the Spring!) Then we exchanged special homemade valentine's with all of our friends. Summer made us each a very cute Valentine mailbox (mine was a kitty!) to hold our Valentine's. Then we shared pizza and treats. We played the piano and danced. I also got to hold Mady again :) Whenever I talk to Mady I use this almost ethereal little sweet voice (definitely not my normal voice). Mom was so proud of what I big girl I was playing with the smaller kids. Mom says I will be a GREAT big sister someday.

Coming soon: My 1st Dance Class!!

Welcome Mady & The Wizard of Oz

One of Lily's favorite Christmas gifts was a Wizard of Oz dress-up box. Above Lily is playing the part of Dorothy. Below, Lily & I were lucky enough to meet and love Aubrey's new sister, Mady. This 1st pic is a little mischievious :)

Lily asked to hold Mady several times (like every 2 minutes while we were there) and was very loving to her, kissing her head and holding her fingers she would whisper sweet things to her. Maybe OUR BABY is ready to be a big sister. And now, over a week later, Lily talks about Mady daily. Tonight, she was walking around with "Mady" in her play carseat feeding her a bottle. Mady also went to bed with her tonight. One cool thing: Mady is so small that she fits in the palm of our hand, and we never misplace her because, well, she's invisible. Lily's imagination is in full bloom, and it sure is fun to watch! We have promised to go back to Summer & Aubrey's to get a real Mady fix soon though.

Snow Day!

First taste of snow (above)...YUM! On the bunny slope below...Lily had SO much fun. It was a beautiful sunny day in the mountains while it was cold and gloomy in Sac.

Riding the intermediate slope with Dad.

The "black diamond" sledding hill. Joe took this one alone. It was steep and had a nice BUMP at the end that gave him some air.

Joe gets air...(Warning! You must turn your computer on it's side to watch this one! Don't ask.)

Christmas at Gigi & Papa's

You wouldn't really know these pics were from Gigi & Papa's house because neither of them are in any of the pics!? After about an hour of avoiding eye contact (or face contact) with everyone at the party, Lily bloomed into her usual goofy self. She got this VERY cool horsey purse from Auntie Candie & Jenny. In the above picture that's horsey on Lily's head...where he spent most of the evening. Wait, there's Gigi's body to the right of Lily!

Here's Lily opening her dress-up box from Unlce Dave & Heidi. That gift was (and is) a BIG hit. Promise to post pics of her as Dorothy and the evil witch soon :)

This picture captures part of Lily's outfit on Christmas. On top she wore her beautiful Christmas dress, but underneath she wore the jeans (and shirt) that she had refused to take off from earlier....maybe she is a tomboy at heart because she also refused (I'm not dramatizing, you should have seen her when I tried to take her jeans off!!) to wear her tights or dress shoes. That's G.G. Ma & G.G. Pa, some of her favorite people of the evening (may have a little tiny something to do with the Dora sweatsuit and Calliou & Dora DVD's they gave her).

Overall, it was a relaxing and fun time with family. The day after Christmas everyone joined in a friendly game of bowling (everyone except me, Jen. I took a nap :)

Christmas Morning

Let's go see if Santa came...

He did!!!! Lily asked for a bike, and she got her very own little pink and purple bike, just her size. She was SO excited!

Then she opened her gift from Mom & Dad next...as she opened part of the gift she exclaimed "oh no! Santa brought me pull-ups????" But no, it was just the food to go with her new little kitchen. Her favorite thing is to play Mommy right now. She loves to make us breakfast (donuts and fruit salad...in one bowl) or bake us pizza & fries in her little oven for lunch.

Here are a few pics of her 1st ride on Christmas morning. It was "OK". The poor child was pretty tired out by this point after being up sick the night before, but she wanted to try anyway. She road all the way up our neighbor Dennis' driveway to say Hi (? Maybe because he looks like Santa!?)

Bye Bye Crib, Hello Big Girl Bed

Lily's 1st Christmas present this year was from Gigi, Papa Joe & Papa Tom. Daddy Joe & Papa Joe set up her new big girl bed a few days before Christmas. I admit to a little tug in my heart when we took apart the crib (guess my baby's really growing up). She loves her bed though, and has slept very well in it so far (BIG fingers crossed to keep that going) even though she has been sick.

Every year we get new pajamas to open Christmas Eve & wear on Christmas. Lily got to open hers a day early. Actually, she got to pick them out at the store. She had a choice between princess, dora, snowmen, etc., etc., but what did she choose??? Bright yellow Spongebob Squarepants Santa pajamas! OOOKAAY.

Christmas Eve this year was mellow. Picture me, Joe & Lily on the couch watching Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation. Yep, I said Lily SITTING on the couch, yes for the entire movie. Why you ask? Because she was burning up with fever and alternately coughing/vomitting. No, we didn't get to Aunt Cherie's Christmas Eve dinner. We were sad, but also knew it would be hard to be at that party without my Grandma Mary this year. She was always the star of the show. Other than not getting much sleep that night, or the next one, it was a nice evening together.

Twas the night before Christmas...

And no, none of these pics were taken the night before Christmas, but blogger is REALLY annoying sometimes, so here are the pics I was going to add after my little poem. First, our Christmas card photo shoot and then Lily helping Dad with the Christmas tree.

Now really:

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house,
a flu bug was rumbling,

and there were peeps much louder than a mouse.

We missed our Christmas eve party but we're saving our strength,

for a full Christmas day of immeasurable length.

The stockings were hung on the entertainment center with cheer,

hoping that Santa would find his way here.

Lily and Dad are all tucked in Lily's new big girl bed,

in hopes that we'll all get sleep sometime this year.

Milo & Cosmo are curled up in their bed/chair,

and Mom is sitting on the computer, new Christmas pajamas she wears.

A little pink bike sits in front of the tree,

how did Santa slip that one by me?
I really hope nothing happens that causes a "clatter",
or makes me spring from my bed to see what's the matter.

Because I asked Santa for just one holiday wish,

a full night of sleep and a nice christmas kiss.

OK, that's 2 things, but if I'm lucky my Santa Joe will give me both :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!

Hi, Santa.

Now that Lily speaks English fluently (i.e., so that we can fully understand her) it just feels wierd to speak for her on this blog. So, for this post at least, I'm going to share a little story from the point of view of her loving mama, and as Calliou would say: that's me!

Lily met Santa today for the 1st time! It was AWESOME!

But first...ever since the day after Thanksgiving, we had talked about taking her to meet him at the mall, but to be honest, after envisioning waiting hours in line, with our VERY active toddler, knowing that the big red man would make her cry, just didn't sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon. We don't get a lot of afternoons together lately; I would much rather stay home! SO, Cosmo had a vet appointment today (Lily: WHY mommy? Me: Because we go to the doctor once a year to make sure we're healthy. Lily: WHY??? Me: Because...we DO?... In my head: Exactly when WAS the last time Joe or I went to the doctor for a check-up???)

So Joe, Lily, Cosmo & I piled into the car (Oh, pink baby was strapped in her seatbelt in the backseat as well) to drop Cosmo off at the vet. As Joe was signing Cosmo in, Lily got this really funny grin on her face. Then her mouth opened VERY wide and she said "Hi, Santa." I didn't think much of what she said because anyone that knows 2-year-olds knows that they have a lot of conversations with, well, anyone or anything. But, I soon caught a glance of a big red suit and a white beard. Santa was across the room setting up for the big "Bring your pet to sit on Santa's lap photo op" (huh?)

Lily began to flirt with Santa in the only way she knows how: by giving him her silliest grin with a finger hooked in each side of her mouth and her tongue stuck out. So, we really lucked out because Santa had just arrived and the animal parents hadn't even started lining up. As we exited the store, we went to say a close-up hello. Lily wanted to take her sweatshirt off to show Santa her reindeer t-shirt (she stuck such a proud chest out to Santa :) Lily was showing off by not answering Santa's questions, avoiding his gaze, and twirling around in circles for him. He finally asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She said "a bike!" Then he said "OK. I think I can fit one of those on the sleigh." She beamed.

Now THAT is Christmas.

I wrote this to remind myself how sweet this season can be...it's not about the cold rain, the long hours of work, the gifts, the food, the lines at the mall or the traffic outside. It's about the joy on my little girl's face. Merry Christmas my tweetie pie. Mama loves you more than you know.

Exactly how old is Lily?

Evidence that Lily is going to be an AWESOME mommy someday: pushing stroller with one hand while holding baby in carseat (with one hand & over her shoulder, no less), beautifully accessorized with cool hat and necklace, cell phone in stroller for easy access, backpack with mommy essentials on her back, and a BIG smile still on her face. Wow! Where did she learn that juggling routine???

Trick-or-Treat, Smell My Feet :)

I had so much FUN trick-or-treating with my friends from the block. We were all princesses! I loved going house to house and getting free candy. What could be more fun??? Contrary to my normal behavior, I was not shy at all! I ran up to each door, knocked on the door and said "TRICK-OR-TREAT!!!"

Somehow, Nana got my hair up in a ponytail (actually, it involved the promise of some M&Ms).


























Nana & I right before trick-or-treating. Check out Dad's masterpiece of a pumpkin beside us! Oh! Mom didn't take a picture of MY pumpkin!! I'll have to have Mom post that pic later because it was very beautiful.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

It was a VERY Happy Halloween!!!

We've been a little bit busy this October, so we didn't get a chance to get to the pumpkin patch until Halloween day. But it was worth the wait! We picked out 2 pumpkins: a little one for me and a big one to carve for Halloween night.






















We also climbed to the top of a hay bail tower, and I played in this hay bail house. I started the day with my princess costume on, but it got a bit hot with all the running around, so I stripped down to this.
















We met (and I kissed!) some VERY cute baby goats and their mamas. I even talked to them in their own language-- maaaaaaaa.


















We also got some exercise running through the corn maze. It was cool to see where corn comes from, and to play hide-and-seek with Mom & Dad.

Fall is in the air!

The first raking of the season. Mom raked and I knocked over her piles...teamwork!

Apparently, my Daddy is quite the photographer! I've been spending lots of time with Daddy lately; I LOVE my Daddy. He takes really good care of me. We have lots of fun too.

This is the "Los Feliz Way Marching Band!" We walked up and down the street playing some very special songs. We went "touring" too and signed autographs. I love playing with the friends on my street.