Silly Box Head

She's a silly tissue girl.

Doggy Party

Today we celebrated Lila's third Birthday with a little party for her friends. It was low key (I'm tired of party-planning), but they all had a good time.

She had McKenna and Brooke, Andrew and Lilliane, Ben, and Annie (the little girl that Becca nannies). She kept saying that she had to invite "my boys - Andrew and Ben", so it couldn't be a princess party.

They colored doggy pictures, made a foam sticker craft thing, and played toss the dog bone in the bowl.

We served doggy snack mix (dry puff cereal, popcorn, and "scooby snacks" - graham crackers that look like dog treats) and cupcakes with paw prints on them.
This is a rare, great picture of Lila. She must have been really happy to give the camera a smile like that!

The kids played nicely and relatively quietly. The moms, who happen to be most of my closest friends and my sister, drank coffee with peppermint mocha creamer. -Yum!

It was a lovely hour and a half. Lila was genuinely thrilled with each of her gifts. She squealed with joy, "Oh my goodness, Mommy!" as she opened each one. I told Emma that the kids at Lila's 3rd Birthday Party were much better behaved than the ones at Emma's 8th Birthday Party. Oh well, some day Lila's friends will be 8 year old screaming girls too.

So, the birthday party was a success, next I'm hosting the neighborhood house tour on Saturday. Relaxation is underrated.

NYC Girls' Day

Emma and I had an awesome mother - daughter day on Saturday! We went to Manhattan for the day with four friends and their eldest daughters. It was Emma's birthday gift and we've been looking so forward to our day together.
We took the train in, then the Subway to Times Square. We had a delicious lunch at Carmine's (with a reservation, so no wait!) and shopped at Toys R Us for a bit. Then we went to the BIG event - The Little Mermaid on Broadway! The show was amazing, and I loved watching Emma's face follow every detail. After the show we headed up to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and the American Girl Store. For dinner she and I shared a cheeseburger and fries. Can you get a better girls' day than this?!
I loved spending the time with Emma without having to concentrate on Lila. The group we went with was perfect because the girls' spent time with their moms, but also enjoyed hanging out with their friends - which made restaurant conversation especially nice.
I took a few pictures, but my friend Melynie's blog has more to check out.

Snowball Fight!

This site is too fun! Check it out!

Family Snowball Fight.

Lila's New Shirt

December Snowfall

How exciting! We had our first snowfall today. I love snow! -Especially in December! The best part was that it was kind of a surprise. That could be because I haven't seen TV for a week (I've been living in Christmas Banquet Land), but I didn't hear about the expected snow until this morning. Even then, the weather guy only mentioned it. We usually have to hear about the "Storm of the Century" for a week, and then it doesn't even snow!

Anyway, Lila and I decided to celebrate the weather by going in the hot tub - it's SO fun when it's snowing. You can barely see the snow in this picture, but it was coming down. When Emma got home, we bundled up and went out to play in our almost snow-covered yard. That was fun until Lila's socks got shruggilly and she took off her boots and socks in the yard.

Now we're really ready for a snowy Christmas in Washington!!

Mystery Spots

I've been out of the house for the last two nights and am trying to piece together all that's gone on in my absence. For example, yesterday morning, a sleepy Lila came stumbling in to where I was getting Emma ready for school. I nearly had a heart attack when I noticed bright red marks all along her part line of her scalp. I was panicked and asking what happened to her head?! Does she have measles? Did she have a head injury last night? Emma replied, "No Mom, she just wrote on her head with a Sharpie marker."

Oh, that's better - I guess... How long do you think it will take to wear off?!

Women's Christmas Outreach Banquet

Well, it's all over.... and I think it was great! I heard that the talk at the church office today is that it was the best one ever! We had close to 600 women attend in two nights. The place was beautiful, the program was even more beautiful. My good friend Melynie was the emcee for the event - and she was awesome! I heard people say she was like the "Christian Ellen Degeneres". We had music, skits, gingerbread houses everywhere, and the most amazing testimony I've ever heard. It was a powerful night, and pray that the memory of it is still touching hearts for the days to come. Someone took pictures for me, but here's a few from my camera.

Shruggilly

I've noticed lately that one of Lila's invented words has become part of our family's everyday language.

"shruggilly" - adj. uncomfortable or irritating due to wrinkled fabric.

She uses it to describe her socks (she hates wearing socks!), her shirt sleeves inside her coat (she hates wearing coats!), her footie pajamas (she hates footie pajamas!), or anything else that gets all shruggily. --Can you blame her?!!

In the past few days, I've noticed Emma, myself, and even Ryan using the word in conversation without even realizing it. And why shouldn't we be using it? It's a good word! I challenge you to try it for yourself.

Stressed Out

Here I am. I haven't posted in a while, but all is well. Our church Women's Christmas Outreach Banquet is tomorrow and Tuesday nights. I've been coordinating the whole shi-bang, so I've been a bit busy lately. Everything is done - I think. My car is loaded with gingerbread house centerpieces, favors, prizes, etc. Babysitters are lined up. Rehearsal was today, and it went really well. I've had so much help from everyone - it's been such a blessing. I've even made some new friends through the adventure. Of course, my friends and mom and sister have gone above and beyond to help and support this effort. I don't really have much to do except hold onto all of the loose ends - and it's stressing me out! What if there's something I'm supposed to be doing that even I don't realize yet?! I've never done event planning for 600 before with my Special Ed. Teacher/ Stay at Home Mom background. God has definitely shown me that if I give Him all that I can. He'll do the rest. I've done that. I've planned to the best of my ability with joy and enthusiasm, now I can't wait to see what God will do!

Thanksgiving Preparation

We're hosting the dessert portion of a Progressive Thanksgiving Dinner. What a fun chance to make lots of fattening desserts that I'd never normally make! As always, my girls both love to help in the kitchen. Emma makes the Pumpkins Pies all by herself - this is her third year reading the recipe and being in charge of it, and she's very proud. Lila woke up in time to add the coconut to the Coconut Custard. She was quite proud too. I also made: Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Cake, Swedish Apple Pie, and a Pumpkin Brandy Cheesecake. We can't wait to taste them!!!

Fairy Mystery Birthday Party

We survived. I've never been a big fan of a room full of 7 and 8 year old girls, and I recently had that notion confirmed. Kids can be so loud and wild and obnoxious - especially at night, and if you give them sugar. Anyway, Emma and her friends all had fun. We did a mystery party that I found at host-party.com. The girls all had fairy parts. They came in costume, played fairy games, and did a scavenger hunt (that was already made up) to solve a mystery. It was cute and simple, but for the volume level. The cake was a fairy house - it turned out very cute. Emma finished out the evening with Hailey sleeping over. I can't believe my little Emma is eight! Another 8 years from now, she'll be 16! I guess the only thing for me to do is enjoy her as my 8-year-old.
We celebrated with the other half of the cake at my parents house on Sunday. That's one happy girl in a Birthday Hat!

Midnight Mopping

It's 1:00 a.m. and I just finished washing my kitchen floor.

Why?

Because it's the only time I had to do it. Emma's birthday is tomorrow. So is her party (at home and very creative, of course). And her cookie cake for school. And we just got home from vacation. And I'm hosting the dessert portion of Thanksgiving for 17 people. And I had to make a gingerbread house today (long story). And I'm coordinating a church banquet for 500 people in two weeks.

Anyway, tomorrow I will be a much, much happier mommy because my floor is clean, and I may even have time to drag my Halloween-candy-enlarged butt to the gym before my newly 8-year-old daughter returns home from school.

Phew!

More Disney Pictures

Vacation Happenings

Lila's new game is to ask, "What's your name again?" to all of us, and then wait for a silly answer. At dinner the other night, we asked her and she replied, "Hi, I'm Kitty." - Not sure were she got that one.

Lila, at the restaurant asked if she could have more broccoli instead of ice cream.




Dad told mom she talks too loud on the cell phone. If you know my parents at all - that's hysterical! My Dad is the loudest talker on the planet. He literally keeps his cell phone on speaker phone all the time so he can hear it better. Ever hear of the pot and the kettle, Dad?

Gaston at the Beauty and the Beast show looked like Uncle Chris. This sent all of us into fits of giggles - especially when he sang about how much he eats and how well he can spit.

Cotton candy incident: We were at Fantasmic, a huge nighttime show at MGM Studios. I was walking Lila out of our row to go the bathroom. Before I even knew what was happening, she reached over and grabbed some cotton candy out of the bag from the people in front of us! As she was munching away, I apologized profusely. The people were so nice. They said, "That's OK honey, we have plenty, take as much as you want!" Not exactly the lesson I was looking to teach Lila. Needless to say, I didn't let her take any more. She's just so fast!

We had great time at the Princess Breakfast with Aunt Becca, Gappy and Grammy. The girls were both thrilled to meet the princesses. It was a great way to break Lila in to meeting the characters.

Emma loves being Aunt Becca's ride partner!

While Lila was napping in the parks, we lost one of her shoes. We checked guest relations, but no luck. It was early in the day, so she is now the proud owner of very fancy Mickey Mouse crocs. They'd better fit her next summer!

Ryan and Emma played mini golf at the hotel one day. They also went to the gym together - Emma though the stairmaster was really cool (whatever!). Then they went swimming and a family at the pool gave them a fishing pole because they were checking out and didn't want to pack it. I foresee some resort fishing in the future.

Lila was sick yesterday. She had a fever and a sore "froat". She rode in her stroller and napped off and on. This morning she's better. We're staying at the resort for some down time. I asked her if her throat still hurt, and she said, "No, Just my barker." I couldn't make this stuff up!!! Stand up comedy is in her future!

It's been freezing at night! Last night I wore a thermal shirt and capri pants and my teeth were chattering. I know, I know, most of you are in much colder weather, but I'm in Florida!

Today Emma is at a water park today with Uncle Rob and Aunt Meghan. She was SO excited to get to spend the day with them by herself! They were really looking forward to it too. Emma is so good most of the time, that I feel like she doesn't get enough attention. When your sister demands such constant attention, you get a little bit ignored. I've really been trying to spend extra time with just her, even if that just means walking with her and holding her hand. She's so sweet!

Lila thought we were eating at "Steak and Ill". She coughed until she gagged at dinner and then threw up at the table. At least she hadn't eaten anything yet - just water.

The girls both enjoyed the parade and the castle show on our last day at the parks. You can never see too many princesses - even when you're almost 8.

Emma enjoyed the American Association of Chalk Artists display at Downtown Disney. She even got to participate.

The most fun was had at the pool when about 8 kids (our two included) went in the hot tub with their crocs on. They splashed with them, tossed them, and had boat races with them. Who needs amusement parks?!