Quick Update

I think the barrette thing is a success. Last night while eating oatmeal (you can see she has some on her face) she wanted all 4 barrettes in her hair and she wanted to brush and style it herself. Perhaps I have created a monster! :)
Then about 10 minutes after these pictures were taken, Mommy had all 4 barrettes in her hair. Fortunately, I did not get a picture of that!
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In other news. Lily is catching a ball! Grandpa and I have been working with her to try to get her to catch a ball. She is really good at throwing balls (and other thing not supposed to be thrown), but we have been working on catching. This morning she caught the ball quite a few times. And the times she didn't catch it she made the effort, but didn't get her arms out there fast enough! I didn't get any pics since I was busy playing catch! Grandpa is coming back this week for 2 days so hopefully he'll have time to see her catch -- and hopefully she'll cooperate.

The Traumhaus

Yesterday once Lily woke up from her nap, we headed out on a mission to find ashtrays for the new patio area my Dad built at the golf course. It is amazing how difficult is it to find an ash tray these days! I bet 50 years ago they would have had a whole ash tray aisle at Target! I am sure it would have been easiest to find some online, but they needed them asap, since we recently got the patio furniture all set up and people are utilizing the outdoor area to smoke and leaving a mess behind. Chip suggested I try Michael's and look for a galvanized pail or something similar we could fill with sand to use as an ashtray. That way it would look nice, be functional, and hopefully hinder the ash and butts from blowing away in the wind. Who am I to pass up a trip to Michael's?? Since Michael's is like a 12 minute drive and the Hobby Lobby is only 3 minutes away (and a lot nicer, believe it or not, than Michael's) we started there. I didn't find anything to that could function as an ash tray, but I did spend a good 20 minutes drooling in the Christmas aisles (I can't wait to start buying decorations and paper and ribbon!!) and I got some needed stuff for the Expo, so that was good. I then thought I should try my new favorite store, Garden Ridge. They have everything!! Seriously. Everything. I didn't find any pails (probably more of a spring/summer item) but after another 20 minutes browsing Christmas decor and Halloween stuff, I did find some cute ceramic pots that would work perfectly -- normally $7.99 for a set of 2, but on sale for 75% off! So each pot was only 98 cents!! I figured since we only needed 10 we could start here and eventually search the Internet for something else. Anyways, I am rambling to get to the point of this entry . . . while at my favorite store, Garden Ridge, I also found for 75% off (normally $39.99 -- only $9.99 for me) this: The Traumhaus!!
OK, the other side of the box says Dream House, but I think Traumhaus sounds cooler. What kid doesn't want a German (?) castle?

I probably wouldn't have spent $40 bucks for it, but for $10 I couldn't pass it up! The directions were not in English -- actually they weren't in any language, just 3 photos with a bunch of arrows pointed every direction. But I'm smart, I figured it out. Eventually.

Lily LOVES it -- she spent the first 10 minutes, just crawling in and out of the door. But eventually settled inside. I brought Elmo, Big Bird and her phone in thinking she'd just hang out there and play all night -- which she did. But I had to be in there with her. She just wanted to "pie Mama" (that means play with Mommy -- I think). So who was I to say no to that?? We spent like 2 hours straight in Traumhaus! We were in there when Chip got home from work. I later asked if he was surprised to find us inside a pink castle in the living room. He just kinda shrugged and said, "No, not really". I thought that was funny!

Just checking things out
We love our Castle!

Peek-A-Boo


She would kick the floor and bounce up and down. It is just a thin nylon on the carpet -- but apparently it felt neat to her.
She was so happy and smiley the whole time
Discovering she can still watch Elmo from inside her castle! Thank goodness for the air vents, because it does get kinda hot in there -- even in the air conditioned house!
Lily peeking out




It is pretty roomy inside. Lily can stand and her head barely grazes the top. We both fit easily and I even laid down a lot of the time. I could so nap in there!

Daddy's home! It's Chip's turn to sit in the Dream House for awhile
Taking an important phone call! :)

Banquet Facilities

You're not gonna believe this, but I almost forgot to blog today!! I know, crazy huh?? I put Lily down for a nap and then started working on the wedding menu and banquet info for the golf course and I completely forgot about my beloved blog!! I have been super busy getting all the info ready for the Bridal Expo in 2 weeks. I am tired. Lily makes it nearly impossible to get anything productive done while she is around, so all my precious free time is spent working on this (but I suppose it is better than cleaning!). Here are some pictures of the banquet room and course that I am looking to get enlarged for our booth:

In Lily news, we joined another playgroup -- this one is in our neighborhood! I didn't realize the subdivision had a playgroup, so it will be nice to meet some neighbors and kids Lily will go to school with! That is on Tuesday. So far (in case you are keeping track) we have MOMS Club playgroup on Monday, neighborhood playgroup on Tuesday and Gymboree on Thursday! Whew, but I am just gearing up for dance classes and sports practice! I also exchanged info with a Mom and Gymboree this morning and we are going to try to get together and hang out and let the kids play. It is hard to meet new people, but I am proud of myself since I am usually the wallflower!

Lily is adjusting to life with hair accessories. These pictures are from this morning. That barrette stayed in place all the way to Babies R Us, through Gymboree class, and back home again! I am shocked!!
Don't I look lovely? :)

Lily's 1st Barrette . . .

Or should I say, Lily’s first barrette that lasted more than 5 seconds on her head. I have always been a little weary of putting barrettes or rubber bands in Lily's hair because I was afraid she would eat and choke on them once she ripped them off her head (which is usually what occurs). Headbands presented the same sort of issues, what if she strangled herself? Yes, maybe I am crazy but the other day she did get wrapped up in an elastic headband of mine and snapped it back like a huge rubber band right in the face. Needless to say, she is not playing with my headbands anymore. So I just let her hair be free and enjoy the baby mullet that she has going on. I actually think it is pretty cute. But her bangs are getting long again and I am realizing that if I keep cutting the bangs she has, she is always going to have a mullet and really thick bangs. It may be cute now, but probably not in a year or so. So yesterday while we were at the market I saw the Goody StayPut barrettes with a little rubber core inside so they don't slide out as easy. Plus they are larger than other barrettes, so while still a choking hazard (says so right on the package) hopefully not as likely. I decided to give them a try and put one in her hair right there in the store. To my surprise she did not try to take it out immediately. She felt it and said "head, hair." I told her she looked pretty and to leave it alone and I think she actually listened to me. So when we were ready to check out and she still had it on her head I figured I better buy the pack! It also came with rubber bands, but I am afraid of ripping out hair when trying to get them out and I want to ease into the hair accessories -- not traumatize her.

Here are pictures and her new barrette. She wore it for awhile after we got home, but then wanted it out. I put it in again this morning, but it didn't last as long and then I caught her putting it in her mouth. So we'll work on this and see how it goes . . . she may be the coolest kid in preschool with a mullet afterall! :)

Just home from the market -- she still has chocolate on her face from the cookie sample we got in the bakery section!


The hair-do is not very neat, but it is more about getting use to the barrette on her head more than anything else at this point. And I didn't want to keep playing with it trying to make it perfect because I know that would just piss her off.

Pa, Ga and Playgroup

Grandma and Grandpa went back home to CA last night. Lily was sad at first and I was a little apprehensive about how it would go this morning when she woke up and "Ga" wasn't here. But (no offense Mom) she was fine and didn't really ask for her Ga. All last week the first thing she'd say in the morning was "Ga". I guess she understood last night when I told her they took the airplane home?

We had a lunch playgroup with the MOMS Club this afternoon. There were more Moms and kids than usual so it took Lily a little while to unwrap herself from me. She is SO shy! But once they busted out the goldfish crackers she quickly made new friends! :) They had a play kitchen and Lily was loving that. I had already planned on getting her a kitchen for Christmas, but now Christmas can't come fast enough for me!! I did get to meet some more of the moms in the group, so that was nice. One lives here in our subdivision and said that there is a neighborhood playgroup for kids Lily's age that meets on Tuesdays, so I am going to try to get more info on that too! She knew exactly where we lived and said that we have 2 kids on our street Lily's age! How sad that I have never seen them. I know when we first moved here people were out and about a lot more, but I think people are staying indoors more during the heat of the summer because everyone kinda disappeared! She agreed with that assessment. So hopefully once it starts to cool down some we can find more friends within walking distance! I also got to meet another mom who is from Downey!! How crazy is that? She graduated from DHS in '92. So we reminisced some about Downey. Such a small world! But it is hard to really get to know anyone in the playgroup setting because once you start a conversation someones kid starts crying in the other room and you get interrupted. I don't have that problem since Lily won't go farther than 6 inches from my side. We are having the group here at the end of Sept, so it should be interesting to see how Lily acts when they are in her house. It could be really good or really bad.

Here are some pictures from the last 2 days when my parents were here. Lily has really warmed up to my Dad. It took her awhile since she doesn't see him as much as my Mom and he is a guy. She is always a little more shy around men. But the last few times he has been here she is immediately comfortable with him. Finally!

Breakfast with Elmo

This is from this morning when we were leaving for the playgroup. I was getting my purse together and I turned around and she has her Elmo purse (it is actually an Easter basket) and is on her way out the door! It was cute.

Whipped Cream and Cookies!

Last night when Lily woke up from her nap we went to the golf course to see the banquet room all decorated for a wedding. I needed to take pictures since I am currently in charge of getting things ready for the Wedding Expo in September and we are looking to advertise on theknot.com and weddingchannel.com. We have a beautiful banquet room, we just need to let more people know that it is available. I am supposed to be working on some stuff for the wedding expo now, but I am procrastinating by blogging instead!
On the way home from the course, I had a major sweet tooth. The day before we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and my mom had mentioned that she has never actually had their cheesecake since she is always so full from the big meal. Since it is so close by, we stopped and picked up some cheesecake for dinner!! Chip would never let me get away with that -- my mom is much cooler! :) Of course Lily wanted to try some and she stole my fork away.

Mostly a fork full of whipped cream, but YUM!


Lily doesn't eat a whole lot of pure sugar like that, so she was a little hyper afterward. It was fun and cute until she had a meltdown after I refused to carry her around the house so she could flip each and every light switch on and off. Not sure if it was the sugar or just a coincidence.


Story time with Ga
Lily loves to point out people's noses, mouths and eyes. She probably says those words more than any other. She points to pictures, people in books and magazines, her toys, and even people on TV. Here she is pointing to Pa's nose.


Grandpa's pockets were fun for Lily to go through. It held an endless supply of non-child friendly items, cigarettes, lighter, screws. She kept finding stuff. It was kinda funny.
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Lily got dressed up in her Texas A&M dress that Grandpa bought for her. We went to brunch at the course this morning and everyone commented on her dress. I would have preferred a USC, USCB or even a CSULB dress. But she looked so cute!
Eating left over cookies from brunch. She loves the cookies they have!
Cookie face!

More Food Adventures / Progress On My Parent's House

Lily has been making some major progress with food this week. She has still been eating a lot of baby food since it is the only way to make sure she gets her fruits and vegies, as well as a variety of other foods. I posted earlier how she ate a banana, and on Wednesday while Chip and I were at Texas Stadium Lily ate almost an entire frozen baked ziti dinner! I buy myself lean cuisine and smart ones frozen meals to eat for lunch and dinner when Chip works late. It is just so easy and I am not about to cook just for myself. Since my Mom and Lily were here alone, my mom just decided to have one of my dinners. Apparently, Lily was more interested in the dinner and feeding herself with the big girl fork, so my Mom let her have at it! They stained a pair of pajamas, but Lily ate so it was well worth it. My mom didn't take any pictures on Wednesday, but last night Lily was being terribly fussy (so much so that Lily and I stayed home while my parents and Aunt and Uncle went out to dinner) and I could not get her to eat anything. So I heated up a baked ziti and she ate most of it! Maybe our days of baby food are almost over. That is kinda bittersweet. There are two forks because I was getting one fork loaded with food and then she was feeding herself. We had a whole assembly line thing going on!

She even picked it up with her hands when it fell off the fork! That is a big deal since she normally hates to touch slimy things and hates when her hands are dirty!
She kinda made a mess! :)

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This morning she ate strawberries! Another breakthrough for food-fussy Lily!

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In other news, my Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob left today. I was so glad that they were able to come and visit! It meant a lot to me that they extended Bob's work trip and my Aunt decided to come too and see us. I probably spent more time with my Aunt Karen in the last few days then in most of my life total! We always saw them around the holidays and at family events here and there. But with the invention of blogs and e-mail we have been able to stay in touch and become closer. So that is really nice. I just wish Lily warmed up to them a little more. She was such a little booger the whole time they were here. I am not quite sure what her problem was -- teething maybe? But it was nice to hang out, I hope they had a good time while they were here. I feel badly that we didn't do much more than hang out. But I was hoping Lily would come around and play more. Maybe next time!!

This morning before they headed to the airport, Lily let Aunt Karen get close enough for a picture!

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We also all walked down to my parent's house and took a look inside. It is coming along, they may actually be done by October!

Inside the office

Standing in the kitchen looking out

I had to post this picture -- this is the scared look Lily had on her face the whole time Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob were here!

My parent's house from the outside, they are working on the stonework!