Automatic Carwash

Recently I realized that my kids haven't had the opportunity to experience a drive through car wash... we usually just wash our cars at home. So one day while driving around with Lilli screaming hysterically I thought it might be a good idea to hit the car wash so that Lilli and I could both cool off a bit. As I was pulling into the parking lot I remembered going through a drive through car wash with my family when I was little and my sister screaming hysterically because she was so afraid of the spraying water and the spinning scrubbers. I began rethinking the effectiveness of my plan... but I was desperate, we still had one more stop to make and nothing was helping her to calm down... so we entered. I figured that it couldn't get any worse and thankfully it didn't. She stopped crying, although it wasn't because she was enjoying it she was just terrified into silence. Roy on the other hand enjoyed it thoroughly. Here are the pics to document this milestone in their little lives.

looking at the scrubbers

shock and awe

pure bliss

Happy 2nd Birthday Lilli!

Yesterday we celebrated Lilli's 2nd Birthday. Her birthday happened to coincide with my first day of work for this school year so I was bummed I wasn't able to spend the whole day with her but still had a lot of fun getting her cake, her outfit, and her presents together. This year her birthday party is all about ladybugs (hence the ladybug outfit and cake). I had no idea how fun and easy planning a ladybug party could be... it's amazing what you can do with red and black circles!! I'll have more pics to come after her party day.

For her actually birthday daddy took her out for doughnuts in the morning and then went to Barnes and Noble to let them play trains and read some books (which she absolutely loves). Then when I got home I finished up her party outfit, decorated her cake, and helped daddy put together her present from Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Russ in the 100+ degree heat. At 6 we 'talked' to my parents via webcam and let them see her reaction to their gift - a super cute playhouse. It's fun that even though we live so far away they still got to share in the joy of their present with her! After eating dinner we did the cake thing and then after cake she opened her presents.

Enjoying her new house with Roy and her friend Oliver.

A special birthday kiss from her big brother... you can tell she loved it :o)

What a cute little Lilli-Bug!!

A close up of the cake, yes there are some bald spots but what do you expect?- I'm an amateur.

What fun to celebrate yet another year of our crazy family!

Growing Up

Tomorrow is Lillian's birthday, she'll be 2 years old already!! I have found that in the process of growing up not much phases me. I don't get emotional when my kids get out of their tiniest clothes, or when they start walking, or give up their pacifiers. I don't cry when they become potty trained, or when they stop sleeping with their little butt in the air. I celebrate with them in all those moments and am as proud of their accomplishments as they are. But, the day before their birthday.... I am a mess. Everything becomes a last for me. The last time Josh will kiss her goodbye as a 1 year old. The last time I'll put her down for her nap as a one year old. The last time I'll get to hold and snuggle and smell her as a 1 year old. The last time I lay her down for the night as a 1 year old. Now granted when she wakes up in the morning she's still going to be my same feisty little Lilli, wrestling Roy to get her babies back, spilling food during every meal because she insists on not wearing a bib, asking to watch Kipper the Dog, Angelina Ballerina or Zoe, giving me lots of hugs and kisses and "I love yous" throughout the day. But someday she won't she keeps changing and the day before her birthday is when I look back and see how different she has become. Tomorrow I'll celebrate with her and be truly excited about her growing up, but for today I'm sentimental and teary eyed.

newborn Lilli