More horses!

Papa hadn't seen Lily in a few weeks so we took her down to our favorite park. It is near the zoo and there are some pony rides outside the zoo. After our pony ride we went to feed some very lazy ducks who could not bring it upon themselves to get up and eat and didn't even want to move when little feet were near. So we got really up close and personal.


I love the picture below. Just stoppin for some chat time.


Lily and Papa have fun no matter where they go. Lucky for Lily Papa has endless energy when she is around. I think they both went home and had a nap.


Lily was really quite serious about this tree. Future tree hugger of America.

Fun at the Fair

We went to the fair today. We had a great time. We arrived at 9:30am parked in the shade and went straight to the pony ride. I must say 9:30 am is the best time for the fair. Cool weather, no lines, and one happy well rested kiddo. The whole reason for our trip to the fair just for the pony ride.
A real horse!

He's so softy.

Oh my goodness I'm so happy!

Hi Mommy

Pretty pathway

Our first fair ride. Pink elephants.

Whats the fair without some sugary goodness

FFF black and white randomness

Todays FFF theme is black and white photos. I had to cheat a little here. I did some editing cause I don't take enough black and white photos. These are just random photos I chose. The pumpkin picture is of her on her first birthday. I miss those chubby cheeks! There seems to be an inspecting grass theme here doesn't there.

Potty or not to potty

This is a picture of Lily going potty in the bathroom. Progress you say no such luck. This girl is hard headed. She is hiding in the bathroom that has no Lily potty and the only reason she has chosen this room is because she has sequestered the dog in the tiny room with her. Nowhere for the poor fella to hide in there. She is not tantalized to sit on that contraption we call a potty for anything. No bribery is good enough to get that bare bottom on the seat. No candy, no stickers, no toys nothin my friend is a tall enough order to get her there. I am taking a break for a little while and hoping we gain a desire next month. For now I will live vicariously through all those bloggin moms that have children who have decided to go diaperless. Sigh, we shall get there.

old firetrucks and some american spirit!

Really what is more American than fire people (I saw mostly women racers) racing with their ancient firetrucks. That is the entertainment in our little town that I am growing to love.

What do you think future fire fighter race car driver the skies the limit for this kid.

one ancient truck

one Guatemama and her guat tot

One must always stop and wave to the choo choo!

Rockstar Lily!

Did you ever wonder what happens when your away. Apparently I have a rockstar living under my roof. Daddy brings it out in her.
This is serious business!

Was it sweet as sugar daddy?

favorite foto friday

I have to make this short and sweet as I should be getting dressed. Todays theme is a stuffed friend. Lily's friend is not stuffed but a constant in our home since her arrival. He is called tags. We put him in her crib with her for her first nap in the hotel in Guatemala and it may have been love at first touch. Tags was handmade and the woman who made him gave us another when I told her how much Lily was attatched. Alas our other one tags was lost in the mall. So now we are left with only one. We are pretty upset when tags needs a bath which is more often these days cause at school it does not leave her hands all day! These pictures are from when tags looked lovely. He is a little worse for the wear these days. Why do I not know how to sew.

Super Nanny rocks!

I have been quite the blogger over the summer it has been nice to be able to record my life both the good and the bad. This blog has definitely transformed into a journal I did not imagine it would. Thank you to all who supported me during my trials. This message is sounding like I am ending the blog which is not the case I am starting work tomorrow so I imagine my blog won't be updated quite so often.

So as I get ready to start this new school year I must give a shout out to the Nanny. I have only seen about 5 minutes of one of her shows but this 5 minutes changed the course of Lily's sleep patterns over the summer. When Lily naps at Nonnies house Nonnie was being only the best of grandmas and lying down with Lily while she fell asleep and then sneaking out of her room. So when my summer began Lily decided this is how bedtime should be at out house too. Which posed a problem because bedtime became this game where she would sing and kick her feet and see if I was looking. Not conducive to sleep. So here's where the nanny comes in. The snippet of the show I saw the toddler would take hours to go to sleep and everyone in the house was a frazzled mess. So the mom was told to sit in the room and each night move closer to the door until wallah she was out the door and said toddler was putting herself to sleep. So for the better part of a month I did this. First I started out on the rocker and then the carpet and then in the door frame and then outside the door and then I closed the door. Little white lies must be okay cause here is how bedtime works now. Lily it is night night time. Mommy sit. Yes mommy sit. Mommy shut da door and sit ouside. Yes mommy sit outside. I love it. Do feel a little twinge of guilt cause mommy always shuts the door and says I love you and I'll be right here. Then I happily walk to the living room where mommy gets some grown up time. And the super part of the whole deal is that when she wakes up in the middle of the night I used to go sleep on her floor until she fell back asleep. Now I just have to tell her through the door that mommy is right here and go back to sleep and she flops her little body down. SO I AM LOVIN THE SUPER NANNY! In October we are buying her a big girl bed I guess I'll have to buy a book to work that one out.

FFF #10

It is not often that I can choose just one favorite foto friday shot but my oh my this week was easy. This shot was purely accidental and so breathtaking.

Lily's first day of school

Lilyana started preschool today. I prepared her the best I could. I told her that mommy was going to go have fun at work and Lily was going to have fun at school. She repeated these things back to me and would say okay. And then she would tell me mommy stay. So we would have the same conversation again. This very circular conversation happened many times over the last few days. Today on the way to school she said Lily ride school bus. I told her I was taking her to school. We got to school and I stayed with her for about 20 minutes. She wavered between unhappy to be there and explorer. Then the time came. I took a deep breath gave her tags (her blanket) and told her goodbye. She grabbed my leg and screamed mommy mommy. Miss Wendy carefully peeled her from me and I fled the scene. I got in the car tears in my eyes and heard the last Mommy as I closed the door. I felt horrible but knew the scene would not last for long. Here are the pictures I took before we left this morning.







When I came to pick her up from Nonnie's house today here is our conversation. Lily what did you do at school today. I crying. I stop crying. I eat lunch. Did you get to pet the kitty. She pointed her little finger at me and said very sternly no touch kitty. Learned her first school rule today. I am a proud mama

brilliant blog award

So here is how this thing works: 1st I have to answer a little questionnaire, which is pretty much all about ME! Get excited folks--this is big stuff! Then, I have to choose 7 bloggers who I feel are BRILLIANT (see list below) and I give them the award. They will post their own answers to the questionnaire on their own blog and they will choose 7 more recipients. And so it goes! Here is the questionnaire (drum roll please...):





A. Attached or single? Attached
B. Best friend? Monica
C. Cake or pie? pie
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? flatiron
F. Favorite color? Purple
G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummy bears
H. Hometown? A small town named Grass Valley
I. Indulgence? Shopping
J. January or July? July I have the whole month off
K. Kids? 1 (and 1 furbabies)
L. Life isn’t complete without? My family, my friends, my blogger buddies
M. Marriage date? June 22, 2001
N. Number of brothers & sisters? 2 older brothers
O. Oranges or apples? Oranges
P. Phobias? Spiders
Q. Quotes? Never forget for a minute.........You didn't grow under my heart but int it.
R. Reasons to smile? Seeing Lilyana's smile
S. Season of choice? Summer
T. Tag seven peeps! (see below)
U. Unknown fact about me? both of my pinkies are crooked they just grew like that so did my great grandmothers pinkies.
V. Vegetable? Artichokes
W. Worst habits? Worrying excessively about EVERYTHING (I second that)
X X-ray or ultrasound? X-ray of the teeth usually nothing wrong there
Y. Your favorite food? Mexican, Italian, any meal with bread. Have I mentioned the no carb diet I've been on. So once again anything with bread.
Z. Zodiac sign? Taurus--I'm definitely stubborn like a bull

Here are 7 other BRILLIANT bloggers:
1. Sophia http://momtomaya.blogspot.com
2. Meredith http://growingupquick.blogspot.com
3. Angel http://thevoiceofadventure.blogspot.com
4. Debbie http://debinorton.blogspot.com
5. Ruthie http://godspreciouschild.blogspot.com
6. Jenn http://shimabukurofamily.blogspot.com
7. I usually don't tag anyone so 6 was pretty good for me :)

Dancing for Isaac

Angel from Voice of Adventure introduced this little man Isaac on her blog he is seriously one brave boy. He has lost his ability to dance so we are all sending him our dance until he can once again shake his groove thang. Here is my little miss dancin' her heart out for Isaac. If you would like to read his inspiring story go to the link under my favorites called Jocelyn and Isaac. If you would like to send him your own groovy dance go to the voice of adventure link. I seriously neglected my motherly duties this morning and read almost the entire blog. I want the courage of this boy and his mama.

Fun Wedding

Today we went to our friends wedding. It was in this absolutely beautiful cliff overlooking a valley. It was one of the most breathtaking ceremonies I've ever been too. The reception was also a lot of fun!!!!!!!
Me and Pete

Mama and Lily all dressed up

We met Anthony when he was 5. He's the blond on the right he was the best man.

Look at that view

Dress up

Just some dress up fun and look someone is posing for the camera.


Cousin Sophia made lily this hat she is posing and for some reason she looks really grown up.