Happy 2nd Birthday, Lila!

Lila a few weeks after birth and at 1 year old.

Stats: Height 33 3/4 inches, Weight 32 pounds

Happy birthday to our precious Lila Grace.  She is such a spunky little girl.  Cooperation and sharing come in her own time.  Every morning when she wakes up she says "I had a good night sleep."  And when I pick her up from mother's day out/church/bible study she always says "I had a good day, Mommy!"  She recognizes when I have on my gym clothes and asks, "You go excercising?" She still loves her little pink baby and her "boppy" (pacifier which she will part with over Christmas break).  She likes to watch Max & Ruby, Dora, and Elmo.  She LOVES to sing and has a pretty funny "Stevie Wonder" dance.  Lila is extrememely active and loves to climb and swing.  All of her little classmates at Mother's Day Out love to say her name and her teachers just don't know what to do with her.  For example, one day she turned herself over in her chair and began to cry.  The teachers consoled her and then began to remind her how dangerous it is to lean back in her chair.  She continued to cry and her teacher asked, "Lila, where do you hurt?"  She replied, "I hurt all over."  As it goes daily with us at home...just when we are trying to get through a serious teaching moment, she looks me in the eye and says, "I lu zu (I love you), Mama."   God has given her a quick little mind.  She loves puzzles and books and stickers and babies and cooking.  She loves anything "pank" including her new pink Crocs.  Her hair is uncontrollable and she seems to always have ketchup on her face.  Lila loves her bubba, Andrew, and tries hard to keep up with him.  She must run to give her Daddy one last kiss each morning before he leaves.  I am blessed to be Mommy to such a unique little girl.

My prayer for you, Lila, is that you will grow to love God with all your heart at a very young age and that He will not simply give you what you desire but give you what to desire.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Andrew's Thanksgiving Feast

Today Drew and I had the pleasure of eating with our little turkey at his preschool's Thanksgiving Feast.

  Andrew - age 3 1/2

Costume Parade

Andrew and Lila had a costume parade at their preschool today.  The kids dressed in their costumes and walked around the school collecting candy and goodies (which their mommy will consume most of).

Lila as Little Miss Bumblebee

Andrew as Bumblebee the Transformer

What's on my table

I feel like I've been slacking on my domestic duties.  While I do not mind ordering out or going to the grocery store, I like to do so as part of a planned routine and not a necessity because of the lack thereof.  So last night I went back to one thing that makes life easier for me -- meal planning.  Here are our next SEVERAL meals.

Creamy Chicken & Pasta Bake

The kids ate every bit of this dish I put on their plates.  It was a little bland for my taste.  I think next time I'll add some cracked pepper and sea salt to the chicken.

Tilapia, quinoa (finally giving it a try), & frozen steam in bag veggies

Slow cooker roast with carrots, baby red potatoes, & onions

Make your own (whole grain) pita pizza w/ red & green peppers, onions, tomatoes, & mushrooms

Green salad w/ sauteed shrimp (from frozen seasoned with Emeril's Bayou Blast)

BBQ Mini Meatloaves (prepared in muffin pan) w/ mashed potatoes & green beans

Hamburger steak in cream of mushroom w/ twiced baked sweet potatoes & peas

Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing

(this will be my first)

Chicken Quesadillas w/ spanish rice & corn

Pepper Steak by Christa with brown rice

Ok - that should do us for a while.  I feel so much better having the fridge and freezer stocked for meals.  Makes my life MUCH easier.

First day of school 2009

Today was the first day of school for Andrew and Lila. At their school, the 1s and 2s program is all about having fun and is called Mother's Day Out. This is Lila's first year of MDO. The 3s and 4s program is a little more focused and is called preschool. This is Andrew's third year of school, and it is his first year on the "big" hall.

I had to bribe them with bananas to get them to sit for a 1st day of school picture.  Andrew picked out this shirt at the store.  We tried several short sleeves, but he insisted on the red one with a fire truck. 

First we dropped off Andrew in his Monkey room.  He walked in, found his name on the table, put it on the wall under the "gangs all here" sign and went to playing.  He gave me a kiss and did not look back.  This year I have the (very great) option of picking him up in the car pool line.  When I picked him up, he told said, "Mommy, I took turns."  That was a relief!  He just seems so grown up lately.  I cannot imagine how I will feel when he is starting junior high!

Lila was a little tentative when we walked into her Cow classroom.  She warmed up quickly.  She sat at the table and began playing with a puzzle.  I took the opportunity to sneak out to avoid any tears we might share if I stayed too long.  When I picked her up, she was up from her nap and loving on Ms Penny.  Her teachers said she layed right down on her nap mat and went to sleep.  She is going to have such a fun time at school this year!