Lily's Field Trip to the Nutcracker

A couple weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get to go on a field trip with Lily's school to see the Nutcracker at the Baltimore Symphony.  The bus road to the even may have been the most challenging with restless kids and long wait to get the bus parked.  However, once we got inside and the ballet started they were quiet as a mouse for the next 45 minutes (it was a condensed version of the Nutcracker).  Seeing Lily's face light up when the first dancers came out was absolutely amazing.

Celebrating the holidays

While we are in fact getting exciting for our upcoming trip to Australia.  We are still trying to take time to enjoy the holidays.  Lily definitely seems to enjoy Christmas the most already.  Everything from the tree to the lights to marking down on her chalkboard how many days until Christmas.  On Sunday we made and decorated sugar cookies for Christmas.  Lily is a pretty decent froster and definitely an expert at the sprinkles.  OK, maybe just an expert at getting a LOT of sprinkles on each cookie.  She hung in there for three or four pans of cookies though.  What a trooper.

Then Sunday afternoon, she had her two best friends over (Lluc and Gianna) and their families for a play date.  We were planning to take the kids to Zoolights at the National Zoo, but the rain and inclement weather kept us from going gung ho.  Never the less we enjoyed dinner, gingerbread house making and the kids even sat down to watch Polar Express.  They even had hot cocoa to go with the movie.  She and her friends had a lovely time.  I won't mention the fact that we found them upstairs in her room with their shirts off.  They were all trying to put Lily's pajamas on before the movie.  Yes, I was slightly embarrassed.  And Chris refused to address the issue.  Hopefully the parents don't think we are teaching our kid bad habits.  I happened to think it a little hilarious.  O.K. a lot hilarious to find three kids on the upstairs landing dancing around with their shirts off.  So innocent.  Not for long I suppose.

Attaching some pictures of our wonderful weekend.

Lily with a Christmas present box on her head

Enjoying Chex Mix that she just took from her gift box from Aunt Nene & Uncle Dave

There is no getting this chex mix away from her...

Lily & Dad getting ready to frost cookies

Lily taking her baby for a ride on her pink car

Lily and her friends Gianna & Lluc

Lluc, Gianna & Lily decorating their gingerbread house

The finished product

Wrapping up time with Grandpa & Grandma

The time with Grandma & Grandpa visiting just flew by.  On Saturday we had to put Christopher on a plane back to Indiana to return to college.  Lily wasn't happy about this, but is starting to get used to it.  Then Grandma & Grandpa were able to stay for an extra four days.  We were able to hit the museums and see more sites.  Including a trip to Gettysburg for them.

Did I also tell you that Christopher went Black Friday shopping with me.  O.k. it was light in comparison to what I am used to, but still nice to have a shopping companion even if its a 19 year old young man who has way better things to do on his holiday break (including sleep).  What a sport.

Kim, Lily, Grandma Norma & Grandpa Cliff in front of the Botanical Gardens

(right next to the US Capitol)

The botanical gardens had a great holiday display complete with plant only replica's of the major D.C. landmarks.  Very cool.

A Fantastic Thanksgiving

I'm a little late with my posts, but I haven't forgotten.  Thanksgiving was a wonderful time this year.  We were lucky enough to have not only Christopher this year, but also had Grandma Norma & Grandpa Cliff join us.  We spent time being tourists and then headed to the beach for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The weather was fantastic.  Sunny days that allowed us to get out and see the beach, doing some walking, and a little crabbing.  Although the crabs were definitely not biting.  Or jumping in our crab traps anyhow.  None the less, we had a great time.

Lily at Rehoboth Beach

Grandma Norma, Christopher & Grandpa Cliff

Enjoying some pool time

Trying to crab, but coming up empty handed.  

At least the walk was great and we found five golf balls.

Back at home with Lily and Grandpa Cliff decorating the Christmas tree.  

They were really good at it.  And Lily was so proud of her tree.

Lily likes Thanksgiving

We definitely see a trend from our little Lily.  She loves Holidays!  And Thanksgiving has been no exception.  Her preschool class prepared for weeks on their outfits, hats and completed it with a Thanksgiving feast this week at school.  How lucky she is.

We've also had a great week with Grandma Norma, Grandpa Cliff and cousin Christopher visiting.  Last weekend we headed to Annapolis & Baltimore.  And while Lily went to a fantastic choo-choo party at a friends house, the family hit Mt. Vernon for a tour.  Today we are off to the beach to spend our Thanksgiving holiday with some sand, swimming, and hopefully sun too.

Halloween 2012

I can't believe I'm actually posting something the same day it happened.  Wow.  Feeling really on top of things.  I'm sure it will only last for a little while.  Lily thoroughly enjoyed her Halloween.  After two days off from school due to Hurricane Sandy, she was definitely ready to go back to school today.  And boy was she excited to wear her octopus costume for Halloween.  They had a parade and a song at school during the morning hours.  After school we rushed home and ate so she could join her friend Lluc for trick or treating.  She definitely got the hang of it very fast and brought home a big bucket of candy.

Lily & Dad are spending quality time together frosting Halloween sugar cookies.  They take their jobs very seriously but still seem to have a lot of fun.  Until more sprinkles end up in the mouth than on the cookies that is.  

Lily's school parade

She was definitely a cute octopus

Singing a Halloween song with her friends at school

Lily's good friend Gianna

Good friends Lluc, Gianna & Lily

Fall Trip to Shenandoah National Park

We had a fun filled (pre Halloween) weekend.  Friday night was movie night at the Dixon's.  Complete with some good old Disney movies.  On Saturday we hit Lily's dance class and then a birthday party for one of Lily's friends at the little gym.  Then on Sunday we figured Lily would wake up early as usual and we would get an early start, but the one day we actually planned for it... she slept in until 7:30.  Wow.  Too bad the parents couldn't sleep past 6:00.  Despite this, we headed out for the Shenandoah National Park for the day.  It was a beautiful drive along Skyline drive.  We saw some deer (no bears, but they are plentiful in the park).  We had a great time stopping for pictures and the vistas.  I think we may have nearly caught the fall colors nearly or just after their peak.  Wow.  And it was only a short 70 miles from D.C.

Only one picture from our last weekend with the grandparents

Lily was very sad to see Grandma Merry, Papa Ronnie (pepperoni) and Andy leave.  It was an exciting weekend in so many ways.  A little too exciting with the ambulance visit but luckily everyone was fine and Lily let everyone know at school the following week that her grandparents are fine and back in Illinois.  What a great trip.  We are looking forward to them visiting again already.

Lily's International Dinner

At Lily's new preschool they have an international dinner each year.  Complete with the kids preforming some great international songs (Ethiopian, Spanish, Thai and a few others).  Lily was going around the house singing songs for weeks that we didn't have a clue what she was referencing.  After a while we put two and two together and figuring out that she was speaking languages we had never before heard.  How great for her.

The night was a wonderful success.  She was dressed up and looking beautiful.  She was the life of the party and all her friends wanted to sit by her.  We had a chance to meet some parents and have some wonderful food from all across the world.

Then it was a late night as we headed off to the beach to spend our final weekend with Grandma & Grandpa.

Enjoying fall from our deck...

Friends Lluc, Chance & Lily

Alexia, Sasha, Lily & Lluc

Josiah, Gianna, Logan & Alexia

Logan, Alexia, Sasha & Lily

Weekend 2 with Grandma & Grandpa and Birthday #2

This birthday thing is beginning to seem like a month long affair.  Party one weekend, real birthday the following weekend, then party at school.  Wow!  Lily finally told me that her birthday was "over"!  Until next year of course.  We had another great weekend with Grandma & Grandpa... this time at the beach house.  Saturday the weather was a beautiful 80 degrees so we headed to the beach and had a lovely day.  Only to wake up the next day to a high of 55.  Wow!  A great excuse for some chili however.  It turned out to be a fantastic weekend, hanging out with the grandparents.

Lily was very excited about the pizza set her Dad bought her

And the awesome fairy puzzle from Grandma & Grandpa

Flying her new kite on the beach with Mom

Grandpa, Grandma & Lily

Laying in the hole Dad made for her (she really is goofy)