Welcome 2017

Happy New Year!!!  Welcome 2017!!!

We aren't so sure how 2017 can top this past year for the three of us! 

But nonetheless, we are still looking forward to a great year.  To think about the changes in Lily in the past 11 months is just unbelievable so I can only imagine another year and what we'll see.

Yes, I see this look often...Mommy, now what??

I gave Lily a little horn to play with during pictures.  She likes the sound it makes but when she tries, it doesn't really make a sound.  So now, when she tries, she makes a sound with her voice as she blows on the horn.  Too funny!

We are wishing you all a very happy year filled with love.  We know ours will be!

Christmas Recap

How can I recap Lily's very first Christmas?

Two words:  Family and Fun!

Our festivities began Christmas Eve and lasted for several days.  We had Karen and Gerald join us for Christmas Eve along with Bonny and "Bobert".  We were all eager to enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas through the eyes of Lily and she did not disappoint!  She loved opening her gifts but just as much was her enjoyment with having family here.

Gerald and Karen left Christmas afternoon and then the next day, David, Andrea, Jacob, Harrison and Riley arrived.  More family and fun!

I failed to take a single video of the days but did capture some pictures.  I really didn't take as many pictures as I thought I would.  I purposefully tried to "relish" in all the fun with Lily.  I decided the best way to share our Christmas with you was with a movie.

So sit back, turn up your speakers and enjoy a glimpse into our few days of family and fun.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone!

First up, a little singing to start your day:

Is that not the sweetest??

We are looking forward to celebrating Lily's first Christmas today.  She brings such joy and excitement to our family today and always!

Christmas Eve

Yea...it's Christmas Eve!!!

Lily is ready for her first Christmas!

The stockings were hung...

Handmade ornaments on our tree this year...yea!!

Awwww, such a cutie!

Sometimes it's hard not to take a peek at what's under the tree!

Cold Weather

Well, we had cold weather!  Low near 32.  For three days. 

 Now, we are back in the mid to high 70s.  That's Texas weather right there for you!

We had to take advantage of the cooler temps and bundle up in our hats and coats while we could.  Miss Lily can rock the winter look!

A little ride in the stroller

Bundled up and ready to go

This girl loves her books!

One cooler day, we all took "The Girls" for a walk.  Lily loved the cooler weather and decided to run almost the whole time.  Run and giggle and laugh - love hearing that sweet laugh.

Luckily I decided to grab my camera and boy, am I glad I did.  I couldn't decide on what pics to share so get ready...I chose almost all of them!

Stopping to give Daddy a quick hug

When your mitten falls off, Daddy to the rescue.  Everyone got a little tangled up on this stop!

Laying down for a quick rest

Love the hat

Run, run, run and laugh the whole time!

Pure innocence and enjoyment

Somtimes you just have to stop to look at the leaves

Yes, Mommy, you called?

Such a fun walk in the cold!

Lily's Daddy Turned 50!

So the other day this happened...

Can you believe it??
50!!!!!!!!!!

I took these a couple of weeks ago and posted these on Michael's facebook page for his birthday.  You're welcome honey.

Michael always wants the same thing on his birthday:  pizza and for me to make sugar cookies and Texas sheet cake.  I usually do pizza and a cake or cookies but for his big 50th, I did both the cake and cookies.  I can be nice like that.  Somedays.

Lily enjoyed helping to bake the day before his birthday:

She especially liked the frosting of the cookies.  She had quite a bit of frosting to eat so I told her not to eat too much because it would make her sick.  Listen in the video as she says Daddy will get sick!

All dressed up for her Daddy.  Boots and all!

Heading out for pizza

Helping Daddy with his candles

Happy 50th Daddy!

Jammy Day

Lily's class had a jammy day last week and made chocolate chip pancakes.  How lucky is she to have such an awesome first teacher??

A little reading before leaving for school

I'm pretty sure Lily thought I had lost it when we changed from her jammies she slept in to just another pair of jammies!

Her school has a strict policy on tennis shoes only for school.  So I had to get a picture with the shoes!

They stay busy at school and we are lucky that her teacher uploads pictures at the end of each day from their day at school.  I love getting these each day she goes and I know it won't happen every year so I'm enjoying it now!

Puzzle time

Helping to stir the batter

A little painting - I think she paints every day she goes to school!

The night before her jammy day, Lily was awake until 11:00.  She just wouldn't fall asleep.  I knew the following morning would be tough.  But, it wasn't too bad.  I did let her sleep as long as possible, then woke her up, had a quick breakfast and got dressed to go.  She seemed a little tired but OK.  I forgot to mention her late night to her teacher when I dropped her off.  

A couple hours after school started, I got a call from the nurse.  She explained that her teacher had asked the nurse to come down and check on her as she just wasn't herself.  She wasn't doing as much as she usually does and was laying on the teacher's lap having a hard time keeping her eyes open.

 The nurse checked her temperature, her oxygen saturation and listened to her heart.  They are always on the safe side with Lily's background and I love that!  The nurse said her vitals were all good and she just wanted to check with me to see if she had been feeling ok lately.  

After listening to what she had to say, I explained that Lily was probably really tired since she had been up since 11 the night before.  I had to laugh a little thinking how tired she must be and thinking to myself that if I could keep her up all day, I may have some luck at getting her to sleep at a normal time that night!  I wanted to call the nurse back and explain that she was not to fall asleep there at school.  But I didn't. 

On the way home - we talked and sang so she wouldn't fall asleep

All smiles at home with her Daddy taking her picture

Lily did stay awake all that day and did go to sleep at a normal time that night.  I did let her rest a little with her iPad when we got home from school.  She did ask for a pillow and a blanket.

Jammy day at school can be hard on a little girl