Your Birthday

Your BIG day finally arrived!   
(This is also the day 3 years ago that we received a call from our agency saying they had found a little baby girl for us)  
We also spent this morning meeting with our social worker on our journey to your baby sister.

You wanted to open your presents as soon as your feet hit the ground out of bed.  When I asked you what you wanted for your birthday, you said you would like a big box.

While playing you told us that it was so nice for us to buy this for you.  You are asking WHY a lot these days.  Often you will know the answer and then tell us.  You asked us, why you buy this for me because you lub me?

  

The only other thing you asked for was a Mickey Mouse cake with sprinkles on it! You and I made the cake a couple nights before, but I told you that the decoration part had to be a surprise.  You loved that, but also stood on the couch in our family room trying to peek in as I worked. 

You were pleased with cake I made.  You said that you are going to be 4 forever because that's how it works

 We pray and know that God will continue to bless you, our sweet 4 year old!  We can't wait to see all that He has in store for you.  All of our love sweet thing!

Happy Birthday - You're 4 Today!

Happy Birthday little Miss 4 Year Old!

You're going to love being 4 and it sure does look good on you!  xoxoxo

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

This weekend, you and I celebrated a very special day

I know, can you believe it?  25 years together - wow!

Such sweet memories we have made together.

2.7 of these years have been with this little sweet heart.  Liliah helped Daddy & Mama celebrate by coloring a sign for our special occasion 

Our success is due to our commitment to God and each other.  Even in the hard times to realize that we are on the same team and that it's much better to work together than separately.  We truly like to spend time together and still crack each other up

I am so glad to be traveling this road together called life.  I love you , and baby......you still got it!

Swim Class

This is my first swimming class without mommy in the pool. I am practicing my ballerina moves while I wait my turn!

I was very calm and listened to the teacher.  I went underwater for the first time and didn't panic.

I love her expression and how intently she is listening to instructions. 

More ballerina moves

Liliah, I am so glad that you are not afraid and are loving your swim class.  Your mama was terrified of swimming as a child.  That's not the case now, but I love to watch you take on new things and challenges without fear.  If you hesitate, it is because you are observing to see how something is done.  Then, you are usually ready to jump in with both feet. 

My First Bikini

 Summer has finally arrived in the north and we are taking full advantage and doing all things outside.  As you can tell, she's having a ball.  I love that she still loves to play in her kiddie pool.

 I just knew Liliah's first bikini should be yellow.  It's a great color for her and well, she is itsie bitsie teenie weeny

This is her new pose when I say smile!

 We introduced her to the fun of water guns and balloons.

And . . . .the ho-pity horse

We had one of those perfect summer weekends. The weather cooperated, as we headed to the fireman's pancake breakfast at firehouse.  This is in conjunction with Aqua-fest that is held in our town every July.   We took Liliah to have her first experience on their kiddie rides. We went back in the evening for some good food and more rides at night.  It's good to just take some time off and spend time together with no plans.

Getting ready to ride the flying dragon

You can see here that she loved it.  She rode it twice.  I think we have a roller coaster girl on our hands.

Papa & Nana Came To See Us

Mama thought Nana & I looked so cute together . . .

Enjoying refreshments and each others company . . . 

Then it was on to a good game of catch.  Nana likes to play games with me.

Papa is always good for a horsey ride . . .

The wilder the better for Liliah

I entertained them with my hula girl moves . . . 

First, you swing it to the left . . .

Then you swing it to the right

                    Big finish!

Next I wanted to showcase my jumping moves . . .

I'm a big jumper . . . off the couch, the stairs, my bed...whatever moves me at the time

Here we are at the Point Defiance Zoo!  Dad & Mom, thanks for coming up every year to see us (13 and 3 of those w/Liliah).  We always have such fun and make wonderful memories - big kiss!

4th of July Weekend!

Dinner @ Maggiano's for Mommy's birthday.  The food was YUM!  I can't count how many stuffed mushrooms my Nanna & Mommy ate.  Papa & Nana were there to celebrate with us

Happy 4th of July.  In the morning, we headed to the strawberry farm. 

All aboard the tractor wagon and ready for a ride out to the fields!  It was a new adventure for us.

We were all busy bugs picking strawberries.  It was so much fun and our thighs got a good work-out!  "The family that picks together....sticks together....

Even my mom (a former farmer girl herself) who is a city girl now and was worried about getting dirty, couldn't resist joining us.  I loved hearing her farm stories as a little girl as we rode out and back.  Her and hubby picked the largest beauties.

I however, picked more lbs!  We went home with over 20 lbs of fresh strawberries

Enjoying each others company......and the fruit of our labors

Liliah also loved running up and down the rows to get to me.  I'm glad they didn't weigh her as she put some away.  She asked sweetly to eat every time she found one she liked.  I finally told her she could eat all she wanted.

It was such a beautiful day and I think we've found a new family summer tradition. 

We watched the fireworks around the lake with Papa & Nana.  Daddy didn't feel well so he stayed home.  Can you believe this picture was taken around 10PM....fireworks go off around 10:30 here and kept going for a couple of hours.