Country Girl

I love going to the country and spending time with my family.  I always look forward to seeing my friend, Papa G.  He is a funny guy, and he always has the pantry stocked for me with special things I don't usually get like Cheetos, and Hawaiian Punch (he always gets a couple treats for Mom, too!).

Today, we went out to feed the chickens and ducks.  We fed them some corn.  You throw it out there, and they come running

Papa, I think we are all out...I don't see any more in there

Bye-bye!  See ya next trip

Come on Papa...I think there is and ice cream cone with my name on it!

Birthday, Part II

This past weekend, we went to Hallettsville to visit all the relatives.  It was so cold.  The temp got down to 18 degrees in South Texas.  The pipes at my parents house froze and busted,  and of course all the cattle troughs froze over, and had to be broken up, so Shawn got a good taste of what it takes to live in the country, and go out in the freezing weather to take care of all the animals.  I took this picture of my windshield from the inside of my car...I thought the ice crystals were so pretty against the clear blue sky.

While we were there, we celebrated Lila's birthday (again).  Nana and Papa, Granny and Papa Greer, Granny Judy, Carol and Jay, Jeanette, and Lindsay all came.  Nana and I came up with the idea of a school bus cake, because Lila LOVES school buses (for some unknown reason).  She gets so excited when she sees school buses and is always on the look-out for them.  I think the cake turned out pretty cute for amateurs, and Lila was pretty impressed.

Of course, there were more presents.

She let us light candles this time, but she wouldn't get too close, and she wouldn't blow them out, but at least I got a picture with some candles.

Happy Birthday, Lila!

My Sweet Bug turned 2 today.  She is 32 inches, and 21 lbs, 5 oz of GIRL!  She is such a sweetie.  The other day, out of nowhere, she climbed in my lap and said, "lub ooh Mommy"!  Her favorite sayings are "No. No.  Not nice.  Behave", and "Lila do it".  She is a little shy, but oh so observant.  She loves jewelry, and Christmas lights, and she loves helping me do anything (how long do you think that will last?).  She is still not a very good eater ( but loves fruit, and raisins, and milk).   She loves all animals, and recently has started to play with her dolls, and likes to talk on the phone.   She is our answered prayer.  We have had an amazing two years.

So, we have been talking about birthdays and how you cake on your birthday, and blow out candles, and she would show me how to blow.  So, yesterday we did a practice run.  I lit a candle, and she ran off and said, "fire, hot!", and wouldn't come back.  This morning she was sitting on the couch, and she said "Lila bow out cannles", so we tried again...with the same result.  So, no cute blowing-out-candle pics this year, but she loved hearing the Birthday Song

Shawn bought Lila this little aquarium, and a blue beta for her birthday (and promised to take care of it). She named him Dolphin

Here are the Elmo cupcakes ready to go

Here is Lila on the morning of her birthday, ready for school in her new Bevo shirt and two ponytails

I took cupcakes up to school for snack.

After school, we came home and opened presents.  Here is Lila with her new infant seat for her babies.

Then we went to Chuy's with Gran and Jon.

**cute story...my brother asked his boss if he could work the early shift so he could go with us to Chuys for Lila's birthday, and his boss said, "your niece is 5, and she likes to go to Chuy's?", and he said, "No, my niece is 2 and she likes to go to Chuy's."

Thanks for all the phone calls, emails, gifts, and cards.  She had a great day.

2009 Christmas Adventure

***Super long post...I don't blame you if you skip the reading and just look at the pics

This year our Christmas "adventure" started on Tuesday, December 22.  Uncle Tony treated all the Williams family to a nice dinner at Perry's Steakhouse.  He had reserved a room, and we all got dressed up, and had an absolutely wonderful time, and the food was pretty wonderful, too (and the kiddos were absolutely fantastic!)  It was a really nice gift.  Shawn's uncle Brian took some pics of us before we left for dinner that evening; I will post one when I get the pictures from him.

Here is a picture of the cousins all dressed up

On Christmas Eve, I got home from work to learn that Lila had fever (again!! We had gone to the doctor earlier in the week for an ear infection).  But, we went to church, and then to Gran's house.  Lila looked beautiful in the black velvet jumper with plaid trim that Granny Greer made her.

Here is a picture of Gran's beautiful and bountiful tree.  We had all decided not to buy everyone gifts this year...of course, that decree was ignored (mainly by Ginger).  Can you imagine what is looks like when we all buy gifts.  Cindy and Toby's house is beautiful, but at Christmas it is a sight to behold.  It is like a Christmas wonderland, and you get a warm feeling just by being there.

I was so disappointed that Lila was not feeling good (and even shed a few tears on Christmas Eve) because I was so looking forward to seeing her excited on Christmas morning.

On Christmas morning, when I went into her room the first thing she said was, "Santa comes?", and I told her he had come during the night.  She walked into the living room and went, "Oh, a titchen", and just started playing.  I had worried for nothing.  She was so excited, and my heart just melted.

(this is her new cheesy picture face)

When anyone would ask Lila what she wanted Santa to bring her, she would say "eddings (earrings)".  Santa did not disappoint...in her stocking he left two pair of chandelier clip-on earrings, a birthstone ring, and a necklace.  We gave her a pair of play high heels.  Here she is in all her glory (and yes, I often wonder where she gets all this girliness from; it has to be from Granny Greer or Natalie)

So, on Christmas morning, we made a trip to the ARC clinic, and then to Walgreens for a new prescription.  Then it was on to Hallettsville.  We had a great time.  The Schneider family Christmas was at my parents house.   I do not get to see my extended family (Aunts/cousins) very much, and as I have gotten older I really treasure and enjoy our time together.

Lila and Aunt Jackie opening gifts

Natalie modeling the apron I made her

Uncle Frank and Natalie

Jon and Jordan

Lila and Kim

                        

On Saturday night, we went over to Granny and Papa G's.  Everyone had gotten together on Christmas Eve at their house, but we had not seen them yet.  We were all pretty tired by that point.  So, we ordered Dairy Queen and had a great time.

Sunday afternoon we headed back home, and went over to Cindy and Toby's to see what Santa had left in our stockings.  Brian, Sonya, Colby and Alex were in town, and the Reeds had come also.

Abbi had gotten a gigantic set of play food at Target, and the kids had more fun making everyone plates.   On Monday, Abbi and Lila played restaurant all night.

Here is a pic of Lila and Aiden watching a movie.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Even though it is always hectic, we always remember that we are so blessed to have wonderful families and friends to spend the Holidays with.

School Christmas Party

Last week was Lila's school Christmas party.  I got off work a little early and was able to be there with my camera in tow (of course)

Here is Lila and her friend Charli

Eating a cupcake (and then she had another cupcake!)

The kids did a stuffed animal exchange, and Lila got this Moose which has become her new bedtime friend.

Weekend in Hallettsville

Last week, I went to Hallettsville to spend some time with all my grandparents and great-grandparents

On Friday, I made cookie dough with Nana, and played trains with Papa

On Saturday, I decorated the sugar cookies.  Well, I actually only decorated about 3 cookies; my Mom did the rest.

On Sunday morning, we decorated Granny Judy's Christmas Tree, and on Sunday night we decorated Granny Greer's Christmas Tree

 

Here is a picture of Granny Greer and I "peeping" the birds.  See, she has this cabinet full of these beautiful glass bird figurines, and we go point to the birds and say "peep".  I love looking at those pretty birds when I am there.

My other favorite thing to do when I am at Granny and Papa G's is wear these big clip-on earrings, and then check myself out in the mirror.

Christmas Tree

We finally got around to decorating the Christmas Tree.  Lila is so much fun this year; she gets so excited about Christmas lights.  There are a few houses that have Christmas lights on very early in the day, so every day after I pick her up, we go look at lights, and every day so gets so excited, and says, "oh, no, more lights!".  She has a little Christmas Tree in her room, and the first thing she says in the morning is "lights on".  I didn't know if she would really participate in decorating the tree, but she jumped right in there, and seemed to know just what to do, and of course I grabbed the camera (and was able to get some fairly good shots, thanks to a little photography advice from my Dad.)