The reason to always look good no matter what

Well I guess you do just never know who you are going to run into where. Like today I wasn't expecting to meet anyone picking Lilly up from daycare. I went to her room and there was a note that they were in the gym. So I grabbed her bookbag and headed to the gym to get her. As I am walking in I hear someone mention something about Butler and I look up and there is Gordon Hayward ...you couldn't really miss him! I guess I should not have been in shock since the guy is from Brownsburg, but it was still a little strange after rooting for him on TV only a few nights ago! I got Lilly and sooo wanted to ask for a picture but realized I didn't even bring my phone in with me! So, feeling ballzy I went out to the car and grabbed my real camera and came back in just to ask for a picture! And really it could not have been more perfect. I walk in with Lilly and he missed a shot and the ball was bouncing right towards me!

So of course I scoop it up with my left hand and ask for a picture! He could not refuse miss adorable Lilly!

So here we are, Gordon Hayward, me, shy little Lilly and Ron Nored. Awesome.

I think I will work on the always look amazing even if you are headed out to Wal-mart from now on. At least I wasn't wearing my mom sweats!

Tubey Thursday

Well, Miss Lilly had her first surgery this morning. She got tubes put in both ears. She was only out of our hands for about 25 minutes, and the staff at the hospital was great, but it is still kinda hard just thinking of your baby going through that. She has essentially had an ear infection since December and the doc said they were puss filled today. It was kinda a rough morning, but by tonight she was back to her normal self. I have heard these work miracles, so we are excited to see a big change. Hopefully once her ears heal up we can stop doing these breathing treatments. We are excited for the warm weather to actually stick around and are hoping to stay out of the doctor's office for awhile. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!

Wordless Wednesday- Most people usually Eat the Ears first...

Wordless Wednesday- Just Like Mommy (except I tend to wear pants)

Cousin Fun

Well after the water park adventure we headed over to the in-laws and got to see my new nephew again and the kids got in some more good cousin time.

Baby James is getting big (and cute) pretty quick!
Lilly wanted to hold him, but also kept chomping on her carrot...already a multi-tasker.

And this is Lilly and Noah chilling out watching a movie. Too cute. I guess I would have to say it was definitely a cousin filled weekend...but can't beat that! I am glad they are all close in age, can't wait to see what it is like when they get older!

What happened...last weekend

Last weekend we headed up North to Decatur to go to Tim's uncles wedding reception. It was fun and Lucas and Lilly seemed to take over the dance floor for about the first half of the party! I was out there for awhile, which can be a little embarassing when you are trying to dance with a 2 and 4 year old and everyone is watching because they are so adorable...and I am sure I just looked like an oaf, and only about every 3rd song was really "danceable" if you know what I mean...but you do what you do to entertain (and show off) your children.Here is the happy couple. Congrats!

And here is Lilly with some dance moves. She would grab the edge of her dress and spin around and around. It was oh too cute...and good thing it had a built-in underskirt!
And thought this pic turned out cute although I look way cheezy.
We forgot our camera so I thought I would throw a shout out to Tamara for sharing the pics! Hope we get to see everyone again soon...hopefully before Easter!

Wordless Wednesday- Lilly found my lipstick!

Wordless Wednesday- The Chocolate Pudding Gotee

Oh Christmas Tree...or Lilly

Both Lucas and Lilly liked to help decorate the tree this year, but Lucas was into the ornamets and Lilly was into the beads...which she used to decorate herself! She treated them like giant necklaces and would just dance around in circles. I did manage to steal one strand from her and put it near the top, but decided that maybe I shouldn't put the other beads on anywhere where they could be reachable by a really cute two year old...or she might just pull the tree down on top of herself! Enjoy the dancing pics!

How did she get so cute?

p.s. Pretty sure I lost the contest...but thanks for voting if you did!! (And if you didn't...well the guilt is on your shoulders and I am taking back your christmas presents!)

The weekend...what a zoo

The crazy weekend began late Friday night picking up some special visitors at the airport and then Saturday morning we put one of them to work making the animal cakes for the party.

She had LOTS of help (as you can see) and did an AMAZING job!

Thanks cousin Kristin!

The cakes were the hit of the party! Kids were screaming "I want the lion!" or "I want the monkey!" I couldn't cut them fast enough!

I love this picture, not only b/c Lilly knew exactly what she was doing and was so excited but because the looks on the other kids faces just says it all.
She was an expert present opener and of course looked so adorable!

And the best part of the weekend was that we finally got to meet Miss Rita!! She was adopted in February from Russia by or cousins out in CA and we were so excited that they were able to come and visit us for the first time. She is a bundle of energy and fit right in with our little ones. We went to the Children's Museum on Sunday but I forgot my camera, so when I figure out how to upload pics from my new phone (or get some from someone else...hint hint), I will blog more about the great weekend. Thanks to all who came- especially the SanDiegoans!

On Lilly's actual birthday (Tuesday) she got to open her present from us...a HUGE doll house! Hopefully this will last for years to come! She was very excited and Lucas thinks the elevator is pretty cool and has already taken his hot wheels for a ride! I am sure that Barbies and Superman will get along well in the house. Everyone is welcome to come on over and play!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

1 week old
6 months old

12 months

19 months

2 years old

Miss Lilly turns 2 today. It doesn't seem that long ago, but looking back through all of the pictures and seeing how she has turned into such a beautiful little girl is amazing. I was pretty convinced that I would have all boys, and that would have been ok too, but so glad God has blessed us with this little one who always keeps us laughing. She is our little lillybug and we love her very much. (Will post pics of the party tomorrow).

Bad endings can happen to good people...

So, after all this time, patiently waiting for the world to come knocking at my door. Quietly living out in the country, so close to civilization but so far away. A beautiful view, a walking trail with horses, a great deck, a firepit, only one neighbors in view, and many other blessings that come with living near the great outdoors. We were really only missing one thing. One thing that would make everyday life and work a little bit simpler. One thing that could either give back hours of my day (or possibly take them away). There was only one thing that I longed for at my fingertips, that I thought would bring joy and excitment all at once. And then all of the sudden something started to happen! This spring there were strange people in my front yard. The possiblity started to become something that maybe, just maybe could really come true. Can it be? But I asked and no one could give me an answer. Spring came and went, still no answer. Summer flew by with only a hint in the air. Then small signs started showing up, small wonderings began to dance in my head.

I called again...can it be true I thought?

The phone rang...I talked happily through the automated lady (instead of yelling at her)...and then finally! A real voice!

Is it true I asked?

Is the fiber optic for high speed internet really available??

Will I no longer have to wait hours to refresh my email??

There was a pause that seemed to last forever...and then the small little word seemed to change my negative thinking...YES!

Ballads of the Hallelujah chorus from high school choir rang in my head.

I talked to Tim, we got our plan figured out, set up the date and began to wait with such high anticipation. You could feel the excitement in the air and the thought of only taking one second to check my email or 5 seconds to attached an Autocad file had me bursting at the seams. Life would be so easy, so much time would need to be filled and such glorious ideas of what I would do with all that time swirled in my head.

So Tuesday I waited, patiently for someone to show up between 8 and 12. And even though he didn't arrive until 11:40, that was ok. I couldn't wait for the work to begin!

And then it happened, the wind shifted and the mood began to change. The hope started to dissipate. He comes back to my door and states, "I have bad news."

NO! NO! I wanted to shout!

"The box is too far away, I do not think we can get a signal here."

What? NO!! Please! Anything but that!

The look on his face was not a good sign. And even though despair began to fill the room, there was a small glimmer of hope. Someone else was on their way to see if they could get the signal to work. We will just have to wait. So I took a deep breath, pretended to blow it off like it wasn't a big deal and then closed the door. If I was 1-1/2 I might have melted down and looked something like this...

(that is marker on her legs, not poop...she is an artist you know)

So I held it together, the first guy on the way, his truck broke down. So we waited some more, it wasn't looking good. The more time that passed made the light grow dimmer. The workman tired of waiting and had somewhere else he could be useful. Somewhere else where a lucky man or woman would be blessed with high speed internet.

About 3:00 yesterday, I recieved the "final word" via phone. "I am sorry to say mam, but until we add another box or somehow increase our signal you will not be able to join the 21st century. But, don't lose hope mam, we are always working to increase our services blah blah blah blah. I really don't think I heard what he said after that. I was in shock. The reality had set in. My hopes were dashed and my dreams for fast surfing had come to an end. It was kinda like thinking that you were a nerd and now you were going to magically join the cool kids at school. But then you got beat up.

This picture explains my feelings perfectly.
Life will go on, other time saving aspects will have to be saught, I will continue to work and amaze people with dial up. I will continue to fight the fight.

Heros come in all sizes...

We hit the children's museum on Friday with some friends from out of town. Lucas and Jacob hardly ever get to see eachother and they have so much in common...and kinda look alike too.

The boys had a blast in the new comic book heros section.
Two peas in a pod...or superheros in a cab.

Jacob and Lucas out fighting crime!

Captain America to the rescue!

Lilly was just content being a cowgirl.

Wordless Wednesday- Peek-A-Boo!

Well...

...in the last three weeks I have been "dieting" and suppose to have been excercising like a mad woman with my cohort Aunt Michelle. We were at the wedding shower discussing how we both needed to lose some weight in the month before the wedding and decided on the South Beach diet. I have done pretty well most of the time, but cannot say I have been hardcore. Honestly with all the drama it has not been easy. I wish I was one of those girls who didn't eat when they are stressed...but I am the opposite. Food doesn't tend to complain to me or talk back and at the same time that single piece of chocolate melting in my mouth makes me feel happy for at least that 30 seconds. Excercise has been steady, but I definitely could be working harder. I have lost 5lbs and gotten past the plataue that I hit when I lost weight before so that should be motivating me more right? I think I just need a vacation. Long walks on the beach and no deadlines. A little R&R so that I can sleep like this...

Completely passed out and unaware of the world around me. Maybe in 17 years huh?

Well, the wedding is this weekend. I have two different dresses to choose from, neither of which depend on weight, and both are black. So thought I would take a vote...

A. Halter style, sexy, A-line with flowy skirt

B. Shorter Baby doll style with large straps

Votes must be in and counted before Friday afternoon at 4:00.

How does your Garden Grow?

Oh Lilly Lilly, Quite so Silly

How does you garden grow?

With water here, and sunshine there,

And a lots of love and a little cheer...

That's how my garden grows.

I thought this picture was just too precious not to share.

Lilly is such a great helper...not sure if it is the girl thing or just a different temperment, but she is much more interested in trying to help do most things than Lucas is. Although not everything is always as helpful as she thinks it is (like "folding" the laundry that I have already folded), most of the time she is just too cute to stop. The garden has been prosperous this year, really thanks to the God's rainy weather earlier in the summer since I tend to forget about it sometimes out on the back acre. We have had lots of cucumbers and squash. The tomatoes are beginning to turn red and pretty soon I will have them coming out my ears...so if you want some please come on by!
Thought I would share our favorite garden recipe this year:

BABA'S CUCUMBER SALAD

3 cucumbers, quartered and sliced

4 roma tomatoes, quartered and sliced

2 green onions, chopped

generous salt and pepper

sprinkle of sugar

1 cup of light mayonaise

Mix all together and Eat!

I am guessing this would only serve 2-3 people since I am pretty much guessing on all of the amounts b/c it is kinda one of those eyeball recipes. So just keep adding stuff until it tastes absolutely perfect! Eat healthy!

Oh Silly Lilly

Well, as I have said before...Lilly likes to eat. I guess she takes after her mommy in that regard, except for the fact that she will eat just about anything which comes more from her daddy. I am glad she is an eater unlike our other child who is not, but she is definitely the messiest eater I have yet to encounter. And even if you think that she can't make a mess of the lunch you have given her...think again. I think she is just really creative and right now this side of her is best shown in her "food art" as I like to call it. No matter how many times you tell her to use her spoon she always resorts to her fingers...

or just the entire fist. And I think there is some confusion to her about the difference between something like yogurt and her other love...LOTION. She loves lotion and if she finds a bottle she will bring it over to you to put some on. Well, what she will also do is take the yogurt (or peanut butter) and smother that all over herself as well. Makes for lots of baths and lots of clean-up duties...ALL day long.
Here is the peanut butter incident. And YES...that is peanut butter smothered all over her legs. So let me tell you the story behind the picture. Lucas and Lilly were both sitting at the peninsula counter eating pbj's for lunch on their stools. Lucas was having poop issues (a whole other blog) and needed to go and sit on the potty. Thinking Lilly was content with her pbj, I went in the bathroom with Lucas to read some books to him. When we came back out (after no success) this is what I encountered. Lilly was now sitting on top of the counter and was covered with peanut butter. There was one bonus to this...it had not yet been coated into her hair (which use to be her favorite thing to do with food). She looks so innocent doesn't she? I had left the pb out so I could eat some celery and pb and obviously she found the open container just too tempting. Let me just say that peanut butter is not something that comes off very easily...and by the end of the wash down in the kitchen sink, I was pretty much covered in it as well. Ahhh...good times.

I will let you in on a tip though; One good use of peanut butter other than eating it is to remove gum from hair. Seriously...it works. My mom had to do it with me and my sisters a number of times when we were little. For some reason pb greasiness works great at working the gum out hair, it isn't a quick process but better than having to chop your little girls hair off after her sister put gum in it! Right Tiff?

Three Beautiful Girls

Well, when I was up North we tried to get a picture of the three girls in their matching dresses. Let's just say it is hard to get three kids that are 3 and under to all smile at the same time...or even be happy at the same time for that matter. But thought I would share my favorite ones with you!

This one is my favorite.
And I have to brag on my beautiful nieces!

This one is just too funny. Hannah is trying to share the love which you can tell Allie is use to but Lilly is like "Why are you touching me??" This one was almost perfect. And if you love the hairbows, my friend Jamie makes them and you can buy some for you little girl...or niece or friend. She even does customs to match certain outfits, or at least that is what I always do!

So pretty. Gotta love little girls.

My little happiness

This girl just makes me smile...

She's cheezy...She's giggly...

And she's also got an attitude. Hmmm...wonder who she gets that from?

Hope she will make you smile today too!

My little baby mama

Two at once?
Oh Miss Lilly is really getting into her baby dolls. It is Oh too cute. This week I taught her how to wrap them up all snuggly like I use to do to her...oh so sad my baby is soooo big!!