First Pigtails!!!

For a very girly mama, today was a big day...first day with pigtail day!! I sweat a little and she got super impatient with me as I took out the pigtails probably three times before I was satisfied. I also learned from my mom that a girl's hair should be nice and neat. So even with my almost 19 month old, I had to do a good part for the piggies and most hairs had to be accounted for.
Needless to say, she was the cutest!! I told her that several times already this morning. Now let's see if they make it past nap time. :)

Organized Chaos?

Hmmm...I am not sure if an outsider would describe today as that, but we probably would.
Our PEPS group (well, Liz, Jen and I...and the ladies of course)painted pottery today. Yikes. If you have an 18 month old or ever have, you know that's putting your life at risk. And if you are a neat freak, clean-aholic like myself, this decision to partake in painting is even scarier.
But, you have to live a little, right? Especially with a very curious 18 month old daughter.
We borrowed one of Luke's old tees (so sorry Luke, it's now covered in light green, sunshine yellow, and peach paint)and the ladies went to work. I decided this time around (we painted an ice cream bowl for daddy last Father's day) that Lilah got to do it all: dipping the paint (her favorite, DIPPING!!), and slapping on that paint. And, that's what she did. Slap, slap, slappity, slap. Granny - bet you cannot wait to get your beautiful vase. :)
The other girls did most of the same, although they seemed to eat less than Lilah. She thought it would be good to mix up her slapping with a bit of tasting. She soon found out though that it was quite nasty. She smacked and smacked a few times and just couldn't make the paint taste too good.
I should have gotten a picture of little Rory (2 months). She just sat in her bouncy seat, happy as a clam. I am going to start praying that our 2nd baby (which is not even conceived or close to being conceived yet) is like Rory. She barely makes a peep, just hangs out and watches the chaos...organized and not.
Again, thank you to the St. Clairs for letting us destroy your house for the 100th time and then rush off and leave you to clean the mess. Ugh! Sorry!:( We owe you a day of messing and trashing and dashing out without cleaning.

The King Gals

Many of you know that Emily is one of my closest friends. She has been my friend for years. We both were teaching 1st grade in Bellevue when we met. You might think that we met at a district held class that we took to better our teaching and learn more about classroom management. No. We met in Vegas. Well, we met on a trip to Vegas. One that I actually invited myself to. It's a long story....but we've been friends ever since, with a few little bumps in the road, but we've withstood a lot.
She now lives in Atlanta with her two girls and husband, but is here (another long story) to finish up her phd at UW. So, this is again her home (off and on, since she goes "home" to Georgia for her school breaks) for the next 6 months.
I thought I should put something in here (no pictures yet, sorry) because we are so close and even when she's not here, we talk nearly every day. It's been a special treat for not just us, but our girls, to be all together - playing, jogging, going to Starbucks. Anyhow, not to get too sentimental, but it's really nice to have her back at her real home and I am thankful for this time (although I know her poor hubby sure does miss all his ladies very much).
Pictures will be taken soon - Lilah really, REALLY loves Belle ("Buh"), Luci ("Chi") and Emily ("May").

We Both Agree....

winter boots are the best. I had to get her a Target snowsuit and snow boots for our supposed upcoming snowy winter (our music/dance teacher actually told me that the squirrels have built their nests up high in trees to prepare for a lot of snow). And, she's in love with these boots too. As I type, she has them on (and cried about them as I tried to sneak them into her closet). I think winter boots are pretty wonderful myself though. ;)

Photo Session with the St. Clairs

Seriously the sweetest family is all I can say. All four of the St. Clairs (Luke, Jen, Leah- 19 mos, Rory- 2 mos) came out in the cold and rain to take some family shots of us. And, they could have backed out or done some photos inside of us, but Jen pushed a sleeping baby Rory around in the stroller and entertained Leah (who is not hard to entertain...such a good little girl) so that Luke could spend an hour getting some family photos.
Anyhow, we got some great pictures, even in the Seattle gloom. :) Here are some of my favorites, a few that will be included in our Christmas cards (created for us by Jen also, www.littlesproutcreations.com).
Thank you so very much to the St. Clair family for giving us some of your precious Saturday and for taking some great, memorable shots of our little family of three. xoxo

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving. I am very thankful especially for no family drama. It seems as though so many families we know and friends' families have so much drama on holidays and it's nice that our's was just normal. No crazy family members, no inappropriate comments, no horrid children. It was wonderfully uneventful.
We played in the snow earlier in the day as it snowed once again and then melted and rained as the day continued on. Lance built a snowman that barely lasted through our playing time and Lilah tried really hard to try to figure out who this strange being was.
We went and got my mom to join us at the Wileys. Like I said, it was wonderfully uneventful. Good food, good company, and relaxing times. The most eventful was our ride to and from Marysville, which for some reason our 18 month old still can't handle. She makes it a dreadful time and always makes me so thankful to finally get out of the car. Ever since she was a newborn she hates, HATES being confined. And, 18 months later, she continues to fight sleeping in the car and instead whines, cries, and is mostly never content. It makes the driver feel helpless and the passenger feel frustrated and anxious.
Other than that, it was a great holiday. Friday my mom and I did our usual Black Friday shopping, which we both always like. I get most of my shopping done (with a few little cheap treats for myself) and we both get to people watch and be in the mix with all the crazies. Shopping from 8-1 is very exhausting, but well worth the time together and the great deals!

So This Is Why She Doesn't Eat at Meal Time

I think I finally figured out why my child is in the 7th percentile for weight. Her favorite play activity is to take any cup, bowl, plastic container and her play fork or spoon and "eat" out of it. She does it all the time (and this includes trying to feed me, Lance, granny, and her baby).
She must tell herself that from all that "eating" she's full. Duh. Why did I not figure this out before? I guess if I was "eating" all day too, I wouldn't be too interested in food during meal times. :)