The Holidays Continue...

Then we did presents with friendsWe also went down to San Diego to visit the Kelleys and meet Brandon, their new baby. Lilly was aware of him but didn't really pay much attention to him. She was, instead, caught up in some preterrible-twos behavior.He is so tiny. It is hard to remember Lilly being that small.Watching her sleep never gets old.

Balboa Park

Christmas Day

We drove up to Arrowhead on Christmas morning. Snow is falling in the background.

Creme Brulee
Lilly Eating a Snowball

Arrowhead got tons of snow.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Rene and Dinorah's.
I LOVE it when the mountains look like that.

Lilly got an Elmo Live from Jessie and Steve.

Jammin' on the 1

Sometimes it is good to just get in the car and hit the road. So that's what we did...

We drove up to beautiful Pismo Beach for some family time. The three of us went up with Rene's parents.

Lilly said, "Kitty!" "Meoooooow!"

Lawn Bowling at the Laeticia Winery

Then she got nuts on some ribs.
Ummmm?! That thing is huge! This is an oddly shaped jetty type thing off the coast in Pismo. You can hike down an head on out to the tip.

Temporary Renovation

I am only going to keep this background template until after the holidays. It is irresistibly festive but I know it is difficult to read with the darkness.

Happy Birthday Daddy

We kept it simple. Rene set up his little panini grill and we had Japanese Shabu Shabu (thinly sliced pieces of meat that you cook at the table) and a sakesbord (a smorgasbord of little sakes).

Boo-ti-fah!

Lilly likes her tree. She thinks it is boo-ti-fah (beautiful). We haven't decorated it yet. A friend suggested that we only use ornaments that we do not mind being mangled. One of the craftier teachers at my school has invited us over to make some playdough gingerbread people ornaments and some hand and foot print ornaments. I'm kind of excited about it.Nugget (Lilly) and I did some Christmas shopping today. She hasn't unwrapped any of them yet but she was definitely interested in them. She kept moving them back and forth from the couch to the tree.
She even started kissing them.
After about 30 minutes of sorting gifts, she finally tuckered out.

Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah (Like on Charlie Brown)

Recently Lilly has been amazing us with her responses to our indirect requests. Up until this point we have pretty much been blabbing at her just for the sake of talking. Not anymore though. Here is an example: Lilly was cruising around at my parent's house with a toothbrush in her hand. My friend Bev asked her where she had gotten it. Lilly walked her right into the bathroom and opened up the toothbrush drawer. Also, today she asked for a bath and I told her okay but that I needed to get a towel first. I turned around from running the water and she was standing behind me with the towel. She had gone across the house to get one.

She blows our minds. She has about a 50 word spoken vocabulary, but she is understanding much more than that.

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Birthday Noni

Lilly has decided that she is going to call my mom, "Noni." We recently celebrated her birthday. Lilly LOVES all of her grandparents a lot! We are so fortunate that all four of them live close enough for Lilly to have a strong relationship with them. They are all so patient with her and pretty much spoil her rotten.

We also recently celebrated Lilly's Great Grandpa Bob's birthday.

Pretty in Pink

This is her bear.  We didn't think she would end up with a security item.  But there is no doubt she loves on this bear.

Cheese!  She's still got those cheeks.

Lovely and Delightful

Each one of these pictures warms my heart. 

Over the Hills and Through the Woods

My grandpa, mom and Alan have moved from the desert to Arrowhead. It is awesome!

The house was built to the specifications of a wildlife preserve so their are tons of critters everywhere. My grandpa fills all of the feeders every morning. Then squirrels, chipmunks and all kinds of birds mob the back deck.

You can then go inside to the warmth and sit on these comfy, cozy chairs and watch the feeding frenzy. I think that my grandpa is really enjoying the simplicity and beauty in his new life.

In the far distance are the Pinnacles. This whole canyon and many of the surrounding houses burnt during the fires last year. That means that the area should not be subject again to fires, for awhile at least.

Shakin' a Tailfeather

She loves to dance!

This is her dancing in front of a juke box at King Taco. It is great how babies have zero inhibitions. For them, any time is a good time to be silly.