Sesame Street Live!

I am going to warn you in advance -- I posted a lot of pictures today!! Last night we went to Sesame Street Live and it was SO much fun!! My Mom came with us because she wanted to see Lily's reaction to the show and let me tell you it was totally worth the $12 + service fees!! Lily loved it!! She stood and danced and clapped and was just so into it the whole entire time. It was adorable!! All ready to go in her Elmo sweatshirt, with Elmo shirt underneath, and Elmo and Abby hair accessories on her pigtails!!

"Hurry up Daddy!"

Waiting for Chip at the bottom of the stairs

We finally made it!! It was 39 miles away -- not too different from going to Hollywood from our place in Fullerton. So we left 2 hours early to be safe and it was a good thing we did!! We hit some major back up in Downtown Dallas -- it took us 40 minutes to take the off ramp from one freeway to another! It was insane! The worst part was there was NO real reason for it -- no accident, no construction, nothing. It must be that bad at that freeway intersection all the time. I am never going that way again!! So we got there at 6:55 -- show started at 7!! Chip dropped us off at the front while he went to park. We walked in right as it was starting. Whew . . . I was getting really nervous there for awhile!

We had really good seats. We weren't in the very front, but we were towards the front of the second section. It was perfect!
At first Lily was excited, but still unsure what to make of the whole thing. She just kept pointing out all the characters!! "Look, Elmo! Abby! Cookie Monster! . . . ."

She was enthralled

Woo-Hoo! Elmo's #1

The cutest thing was that she would clap at all the appropriate times and either before or right with everyone else. She was so into it!

The story was "Elmo's Green Thumb" . I think it was about Elmo trying to find the perfect spot to plant his sunflower, "Sunny." Then Abby says the wrong spell and shrinks some of them. . . . eventually they found the perfect spot for Sunny; Abby recalled how to make them big again and all was well. Honestly, I was having so much fun watching Lily watch the show that I wasn't really paying attention.

Chip was hungry so he went to get some food. Apparently he was really hungry since he came back with pizza, nachos, a soft pretzel, pop corn and a coke. And then had the nerve to give me a funky look when I asked for a bite! :)

But he gave Lily a nacho

About 45 minutes into the show they had a 15 minute intermission and sold Elmo balloons to all the kids with nice sucker parents! Lily didn't really ask for a balloon, I don't think -- I went to the Ladies Room and for some cotton candy. But it was kinda neat to see all the balloons throughout the theater. It was odd to me that they sold them at intermission and then asked everyone to put them under their seats when the show resumed so people could see. Seemed stupid to me.

Not sure why she looks so sad (maybe because we didn't buy her a balloon?) she was having the time of her life.

Yeah! It's starting again!!

Go Elmo! Go Elmo!

She was a lot more animated and got into it a lot more during the second half. I think she had warmed up to the whole experience by then. She spent most of the time standing (it was nice that there was no one in front of us) and dancing and clapping. It was the cutest thing ever!!!

I really wish I could have gotten some of her dancing and cheering on video, but it was way to dark to see anything.

Taking a break from all the dancing. They started to sing a song about water and of course then she had to have her water!

Lily watching and cheering

It really was too much fun!! Chip said it was one of the best nights of his life and I think my Mom agreed. I highly recommend it. The whole thing lasted about an hour and a half and Lily did not get bored once. She was so into it the whole entire time. I wish we could back again tonight!! It was perfect!

Playdate!

This morning Lily's friend Ashley came over to play!! Lily constantly talks about Ashley, so it was nice for them to get a little one on one time -- verses always being in a large playgroup together. Ashely is only a little over 3 months older than Lily and lives in our neighborhood. So it is nice since they will go to school together. It was also nice for me to have time to hang out with Heather, Ashley's Mom! Of course the first hour or so that they were here Lily didn't really play much with her -- but right as it was about time for them to leave, Lily started playing and having fun! Hopefully we can do it more often!

Gymboree

It's Thursday again, which means Gymboree! I don't think I've posted any Gymboree pics in awhile -- so here ya go. But first some pictures before we left for class of Lily "on the phone." There is no one on the line, she just got a hold of the phone and started blabbering away.

Outdoor Fun!

The weather has been so nice the last few days, so we have been spending a little more time outside. Last night, in yet another futile attempt to get Lily to eat something I decided to offer her Cheerios alfresco. It was a beautiful evening. The weather was perfect mid-70s!

She had just woken from her nap and not yet taken her jammies off -- so we kicked it in the "Santy jammies"

I was having fun taking a zillion pictures of her. The sun was setting and the light was perfect for picture taking!

She ate about a dozen whole Cheerios and then decided it would be much more fun to run around and chase leaves.

After about 15 minutes of me constantly snapping pictures she had had enough and decided to put a stop to it once and for all by putting the lens cap back on. . .

Almost got it (she did succeed by the way, but there was no point in posting a black photo!)
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This afternoon, after being stuck inside on another beautiful 70 degree day waiting for the guy to come fix the TV, we went to the park for a quick visit before nap time!

Riding in the swing

And the slide

Then in an attempt to tire her out before nap time I told her to go run around the field -- she loves to run and dance in circles and she had a blast having the whole park to herself!

She looks so cute and tiny dancing and marching around the field

I know she is kinda hard to see, but I didn't want to crop these pictures because I like how small she looks out there.

Being silly and relaxing on the bench before we headed home for a nice nap!

Sharing With The Cats

Lily can be a total sweetheart when she wants to, and actually she is most of the time. She is especially sweet with the cats. She always has to pet them and give them kisses whenever she gets a chance. Lately, she has been bringing a new toy with her every time we go either upstairs or downstairs and dropping it off with the cats or leaving it for them in their beds. The poor cats have to sleep with books, balls, blocks, and other assorted toys. She has even been so nice as to leave her baby doll for Britney!! Yesterday, she gave Britney her water.

You can see how thrilled Britney is! But it is cute and nice of her to share. :) She did say once, when we were discussing the importance of sharing, that she shares -- "I share with Lily only". Um, yeah, not quite sharing! But still cute!

I snapped this picture on my way down from getting the photo of the cat -- she has bed head, as she just woke up from her nap.

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This morning we had another birthday party to go to -- this time it was Samantha's 2nd birthday!! Lily was so excited to go to the party. In fact, last night I used it as an incentive to go to sleep. Then, this morning at 7:45, I could hear her yelling in her room that it was time to "go party!". Argh, maybe that backfired on me a little since I like her to sleep till 8:30/9:00!!

Today, we had to bring her puppy dog and a graham cracker with us. She is silly. She also demanded that she wear the boots again today. I wasn't thrilled since I had shoes picked out that would have gone better with the outfit -- but she wanted boots. I have a feeling she will be wearing the boots everyday for awhile.