Baking at Granny's

This year our annual Christmas baking included Lilah. I thought really she would love to help, she loves helping in the kitchen. So, instead of doing it during her nap and trying to plan around Lance being home to help with her, us ladies just did it all together. And she sort of came and went. Granny's house is the most fun place on earth to her, so she'd help and then go play, and then come back to help a little more.
Mandi and her were in charge of frosting cookies. I don't think my mom and I have the patience for this, and Mandi doesn't mind to help do it. And I think she loves to sneak some frosting and cookies whiles she's doing her job (like auntie, like niece). :)
I think we baked for nearly 7 hours and we were so exhausted afterwards. But, had lots of yummy treats to show off our hard work as well as more memory making for the whole family.

Christmas Fun with Friends

We are so grateful to have so many great friends in the area. It keeps both Lilah and I busy often. I feel especially thankful for the girls that I have kept in touch with in my PEPS group. We began meeting when Lilah was about 3 months old, and we have continued some fun traditions and getting together every since. We really have an awesome group of mamas and kids. Still we bounce ideas off of one another and ask questions, share frustrations, and have a lot of good laughs. It's pretty wonderful that you meet some other moms that are different in so many ways, from different backgrounds and ways of living, but still come together and be unjudgemental, considerate, and always thoughtful.
Lilah and I got together one morning with Liz and Clara to decorate gingerbread houses. Lilah definitely liked eating the candy more than putting it on her house, and it ended up being a lot of work for us. I think in 2 years we let those two just do it alone and we can sit in the other room, have coffee and chat. They can handle the babies by then too. ;) It was great though to spend the time together and for the girls to have these memories for life.

Liz also hosted a Christmas party with some PEPS moms and kids and some of her other girlfriends. I think it seemed chaotic to Liz (being that it was at her house), but it was nice, low-key, and we all got to eat lots of goodies and treats. We did a small gift exchange among the moms and of course the kids. Lilah got Clara's gift - Thomas the Train Uno and animal stamps. Both TOTALLY up her alley. She loves them. What a fun way to start all the holiday excitement!

Lil Fish Pictures

My good girlfriend and mom of Mr. Samson has started her own little photography business. She does a great job and is very passionate about it. We are so fortunate that she has offered to take family photos for us and I can hardly wait for her to take pictures of our new little peanut when she arrives in March! Here are some of my favorites! You can check her other work out at: http://www.lilfishphotography.blogspot.com/

Toddler + Pregnancy= Tears

I am extra emotional obviously because I'm pregnant and my hormones are all wacky. But having a toddler makes my tears flow even easier. Many of you reading this knows our struggles with potty training (not with peeing, but with pooping on the potty). It doesn't happen, but unlike most kids, Lilah doesn't hold it in. Instead she poops, nearly on a daily basis, in her panties. I have tried mostly everything, nothing of which has worked. Some days I just deal with the cleanup, and other days I get so frustrated. So today the poop in the pants, combined with trying to get out the door on time to meet Lance for Santa pictures, combined with driving around the mall for 20 minutes trying to find parking= a lot of tears. I probably looked like I had been punched in the face by the time we made it to Santa's sled. Yikes. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little less hectic and there will be little or no tears from this mama. Jeesh.

Snowflake Lane

This year we actually made it (but barely). We went to church before, and then stopped for a little dinner before heading over. But it was great, even though it was super busy and packed. Lilah was mostly in awe the entire time. She was silent and her mouth just hung open most of the time. She loves to be on daddy's shoulders and she got the best view that way too. We got to see Rudolph and Frosty, both of who got high fives. The pretend snow is actually bubbles, which makes it extra fun. Lilah told us that she wanted to ask Santa for a drum and I am positive that the idea came from Snowflake Lane. They have high school students that play the drums to go along with the music, so this is what has inspired the musician in her. I'm afraid that Santa (aka: granny) is going to grant her wish. I am thrilled to have some drums in our house. :)

Friend's Holiday Get Together 2011

Our annual holiday gathering happened last weekend. It's so great to get us all together (it is such a task to get all of us together at once). And of course it's always like it hasn't been as long as it has. We have all stayed such good friends for so long because it's just so easy and we all truly enjoy each other's company and have a great time just hanging out, eating, and laughing. The kids have so much fun together and play so well with each other. The husbands watch sports and chat about work, football, and upcoming home projects.

Let the Christmas Season BEGIN!

This year it was just the three of us that headed out to get our tree. Lana just had hip replacement surgery and Erik had to work. We each always go our own way anyhow and look for the perfect tree. I think every year I remind Lance that no tree is completely perfect on all sides. We seem to search and search and search, until I start to just follow and not give my opinion since by then I don't even care anymore.
Lilah enjoyed stomping around and smelling the trees, touching their branches. This year when she got her candy cane she was successful at finishing it in probably less than 5 minutes. She was VERY quiet on the way home.
Even with the searching we have a good time and our tree is "perfect" and fits just right in our living room.

November Modeling

Here are some pictures from our Zulily visits in November. For me, Lilah can be quite the stinker. For complete strangers, she is an angel. She takes direction really well and puts on her best face for sure. They all love her there. It's pretty fun to go - for both of us.

Apple Cup Rivalry

With the Muchlinskis at breakfast....most of us decked out in our respective school attire.

The First Real Haircut

I broke down and took Lilah to a little kid's salon to get her first haircut. It was starting to look a little straggly (if that is even a real word) and needed to just be cleaned up a little. I loaded myself with snacks (fruit leathers and suckers) to bribe her if need be. But, she actually was totally fine. She did all the things the stylist asked her to and she was mezmorized by the Hello Kitty video playing. The stylist only took off a little and then put her hair in the front in a little braid and ended it with some "fairy dust/sparkles". Totally easy and she didn't even need my bribes.

Sleepovers are Awesome

As I type Lilah's at granny's house after an overnight sleepover last night. I really, really love this time almost as much as her and granny do. The last two days have been SO very productive. I got to run to about 4 places yesterday by myself, cleaned the floors thoroughly without being rushed, Lance and I went out to dinner (not just take-out), I sanded most of Lilah's new furniture we're going to paint, worked out (alone!), updated my blog, downloaded pictures on the computer, and have been able to catch up on emails and organizing projects. Yay! I am looking forward to seeing her this afternoon, but am loving all this time to get stuff done without my little shadow following close behind, or rushing during nap time. Now I plan on taking a shower and running a few more errands before hitting up a warehouse sale. Lovely.

Santa vs. Jesus

Thankfully at 2 1/2 Jesus is the clear winner. :) We have tried to talk to Lilah a lot about the true, real meaning of Christmas - Jesus' birthday. But I think to a 2 year old that is very, very confusing. There is all the big, commercialized, fun stuff (lights, Santa, a tree, decorations, cookies, candy canes, presents, stockings, etc) and then on a completely different note it's really come about by the birth of Jesus. And the two don't mesh and go together. Of course we all love all the Christmas stuff that most celebrate and that has been created through the years, but we want her to know that it goes deeper than how many presents you get under the tree.
So lately Lilah's been sharing with us that she is not going to be sitting on Santa's lap this year. She clearly remembers that last year was not fun and he was a big scary guy dressed in a bright red suit. Instead, she will sit on Jesus' lap and tell him "Happy Birthday Jesus!". I love it and it's so sweet and I would probably rather her do that anyhow, but there's not too many places that have Jesus sitting on the sleigh rather than Santa. I think we'll make cupcakes to celebrate Jesus' birthday and just have to accept the fact that this year she'll be crying again on Santa's lap. I'd really rather Jesus win in this battle anyhow. ;)

Thanksgiving 2011

We had already had our true Thanksgiving meal a few weeks ago, but still went over to my mom's house on Thanksgiving to be with her and my sister, Van and Kylee. We hadn't seen Kylee for awhile, so it was nice to see how she is growing and becoming so much more alert. Lilah got to hold her quite a bit, which she thinks is the greatest. She actually really doesn't want to share Kylee with anyone else when we're there. In the car ride there she kept telling us all the people that "couldn't hold Kylee", which included myself and my mom. So bossy these days! I also got a great picture of granny with her two girls - so sweet. Girls definitely rule at granny's house!

Maui Wedding

Dana and I took a very short trip to Maui last week to celebrate Annie's wedding. We were actually there for only 3 full days, so it really went by quickly. However, we did a good job at not doing much. We would work out each day, making up our own little interval/circuit training program along with walking (fast walking, mind you) along the beach walk path. It was beautiful while we were there - just a little bit of clouds in the sky and a few rain drops on Sunday. We would sit by the pool and besides that and dinner, we didn't do too much. But, that was wonderful. And luckily Dana and I get along great, so we had a nice time.
Annie and Joe's wedding was beautiful - you don't need many decorations when you get married just feet away from the beach. She was stunning and as happy as I've ever seen her. She was so thankful for all that traveled there to celebrate with them.
The highlight I think was her reception. The only time the weather decided not to cooperate was actually at the most perfect time - during the reception when everyone was dancing. The food had been eaten, toasts had been made, and it was close to the end of the evening. And we got downpours. Not just a trickle here and there, but it was a ton of rain. It would let up for awhile, and then come back with full force. But, it was still warm and who really cares what you look like at the end of the wedding...in Hawaii!?! It was great, and I think made for a perfect end to the evening. Who else can say that they danced in the rain at their wedding reception? :)
Congrats to my good friend and wishing her and Joe a lifetime of laughs, love and many blessings!

Our first evening there as we headed out for dinner

My lovely date and I

This was my virgin drink I had at the rehearsal dinner - same thing as what all the kids were having

Annie and her daddy

You can see how very happy she was!

Annie, Dana and I

This is us before the rain

Clearly this is us after the rain...I could have wrung my dress out and got a cup of water!