Survivor 2011

Well, we are starting again.  Planting season.  Who will survive?  Who will become mulch first? 

Our contestants:

My herb garden.  We have chives, basil, dill, lavender, lemon balm, and spearmint.  In my defense, the really sad looking ones were given to me free and they looked that way when I got them.

My orange tree.  Hopefully we'll get some fruit on it this year.  Also, there's Riley's nose!

Two tomato plants.  The topsy turvey worked really well last year.  But when we opened the one on the very right up,there was a nest in there.  Apparently a bird has a sweet house.  We left it alone and planted the tomato in the garden.  We'll see how it goes.

I have beans and peas and squash and peppers and the tomato plant.  They are starting to really thrive.  Unfortunately, I can't remember which is which.  I'll find out when they produce though!

My apple trees.  There are two here.  The one on the right is looking pretty rough.  I think it may be the first one to go. 


The one thing that is surely thriving:

See her little hands on her legs?  She just loves her dad!

Her newest skill

Lily's newest skill is sitting in the shopping cart without her carseat.  We went to Target (of course) and she just thought she was hot stuff in her seat.

I decided to get a Diet Pepsi from the cafe so it had a straw.  Lily was just chilling, looking around, and enjoying her new sights.  Then she saw my Diet Pepsi with the straw.  She scooted over, grabbed the straw, and started trying to drink it.  I let her chew on it, but she was getting angry because she couldn't get anything up from it.  Now that she's learned to drink from a straw she thinks all straws are fair game.  I'm getting a teensy tiny glimpse into the future, and it is scary.  She is going to be a handful.

Sitting up

Here's a video of Lily sitting and playing.  Its a minute long, but I love watching her facial expressions.  She crinkles up her face when she smiles sometimes. 

Our little cutie pie!

Random Church pictures

We had a busy month at church, with an outdoor service and a Mother's day fashion show. 

The outdoor service was great.  Friends of ours from Chicago area were visiting his parents and came to church with us.  Lily took a little snooze while cuddling with Paul Ramsey, one of our church elders:

Lily decided to feed herself some puffs.  They got a little sticky on her:

Jason, Lily, and I modeled for a church Mother's Day luncheon.  Lily stole the show.  Here is what her and Jason looked like:

Then I snuck in there:

Our little cutie pie is loved by many.  And that's an awesome thing.

Trip to Minnesota

We had a great time in Minnesota. Jason, Lily, and I drove to Atlanta Wednesday so we could get to the airport on time for our 11 am Thursday flight.  Lily decided to wake up in the middle of the night at the hotel.  One of just a few times she hasn't slept through the night (as far as we know).  So after about an hour, Jason wakes up and tells me to turn off the bathroom light and she'd go to sleep.  I grumpily agreed, knowing that I know my baby girl and that was not going to help one bit, but I humored him.  So 1 minute later, she was snoring again.  I hate it when I'm wrong.

Jason wore Lily in our Baby Bjorn carrier through the airport and we got a TON of oohs and aahs about her.  She's darn cute, that's why.  Security was a breeze and then we got on the plane.  She started drifting off to sleep as we were taxiing for takeoff but then popper her peepers open for the rest of the trip.  Jason and I were exhausted passing her back and forth for 2 hr 45 min.  She wasn't bad, but wasn't quiet either.

We made it to Sandy and Jesse's (and passed so many McDonald's that I lost count) and got to relax.  Sheena, Nevaeh, Kahylen, and Barrett were staying there, and Grandma Nancy (GG) was there too.  It was just great!  We spent time out on the patio, enjoying the 70 degree weather with low humidity.  Jenean came by after work to see us.  Sheena and Sandy made enchiladas and beans. So delicious!  We ate so well, and so much, this weekend.

Friday we went to Como Zoo, the free zoo in MN.  It was a really nice zoo, and Lily did great.  When we got home, we had Lily practice scooting in the grass.  Sandy and Jesse have gorgeous grass.  Here's a video of Lily, with Kahylen and Zach the dog running through.

Jason, Nevaeh, and GG were playing baseball.  I played it too, but I am really bad.  It was so wonderful to sit out back and watch the kids play.  I loved it!  Friday night we had pork chops, cheesy potatoes, and salad, again made by Sheena and Sandy.  Yummy!

Saturday we went to Jenean's house after spending a relaxing day at Sandy's.  She made this amazing stuffed meatloaf, with potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and gravy.  Can you tell I focus a lot of my life around food?? It was very yummy.  Lily was getting a little cranky by then.  She held up for as long as she could, but we were pretty lax on keeping her on schedule.  She didn't want to sleep and wanted to be held.  So we did.  Jenean and Mark have a gorgeous property; I'd love to live there.  They have gardens galore, a pond, and a chicken coop with about 6 chickens.  Jenean also has a couple of ducks she's raising.  Self sustaining is the way to go!

Sunday was church and Mother's Day.  Again, good eats, including French Silk Pie, my favorite.  I ate about a third of that thing.  Jesse rocks since he made it.  Before everyone left, we took some pictures.

 

Lily here with GG (Great Grandma Nancy)

Mark, Jenean, Jason, Grandma and me.  Lily was getting a diaper change.

Same people, but adding Sandy and Jesse and Lily.

Nick and his girlfriend, Jeanette.  She is quite a good singer!  And Nick really is great with kids; Lily was in a mood.

Lily and Nevaeh.  The "god sisters" as Nevaeh says.  Nevaeh is a very talented singer and rapper too!

Sheena, Lily, Leah (Mike's sister) and Nevaeh.  Leah is a great dancer. And Sheena is one of the best mom's I've ever seen in action. So kind, loving, but firm.  A perfect balance.

 Sheena and Lily again.

We had such a great time.  It makes me miss being around family but it sure makes it special when you get to see them.  Now people, remember to come down to South Carolina.  We got a lot of air conditioning here!!