Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day, Y'all! We all just got back from a fabulous family trip in Destin. You remember last year's trip, of course! A lot has changed in one year's time! This year we kicked off the holiday with a trip to Osaka. Yum. The night ended with this lovely prediction for Lily's future:

Lily's fortune cookie had this to share!

The next day we got up bright and early to visit Flipper and his pals in the gulf!

Note our nautical theme. Not planned, or anything *wink*

Waving at the dolphins!

Sunday was beach day! Lily didn't care too much for the sand or the sea, but was happy as a clam (ha ha) to hang out under the beach umbrella with snacks, water and a good book. That's my girl!

So excited, Daddy!

Watching the waves

Summer Reading

After the beacah we got in even more fun in the sun and rinsed off at the pool. Lily might not be too keen on the ocean but she'll morph into mermaid mode at the sight of a pool! Kicking and splashing, giggling and blowing bubbles, Lily loves this kind of water. She even got to show off her skills for aunt Lisa, who came to visit! Of course, I forgot to get pictures of this....my bad.

It was a great weekend with Jason's parents, Aunt Heather and cousin puppy Tally. Now we're off to pick up brother puppy Mowgli from the vet, and then it'll be time for dinner and aloe treatment. Luckily, the sun didn't touch Lily, but I got myself some lovely shades of blush and bashful ("one is much deeper than the other").

Happy Memorial Day!

Ballerina Babies!

I teach at a dance studio. Did you know that? This weekend was our spring recital. My students performed beautifully, Aunt Brenna rocked 5 dances including her senior piece and I even got to join the performance this year! Ending the show, all the teachers come out on stage for a final farewell and this year, Lily joined us! Never seen Baby Girl light up so much. She was grinning ear to ear and graciously accepting all of her applause. Looks like Lily has officially gotten the bug!
Great Grampa came to watch!

Kiki Love

The Cast

My home is now a garden with all of the beautiful bouquets received over the weekend. Through it all, however the real star of the weekend is Jason, who acted as a single daddy for the past three crazy days of rehearsals and preparation for the big show. We love you, daddy!

"She's Perfect"

It's true! The doctor told us today at her 14 1/2 month check up that Lily is exactly where she should be. At 22 pounds and 30 inches, Lily is in the 50th percentile for both height and weight. Her head, however, measures into the 75th percentile, but hey - that big and gorgeous brain has to fit somewhere! She took two more boosters today and will go back in September for her final vaccine before she turns 4. We're almost there! Big weekend coming up as it is recital weekend for my students, my little sister, and this year, I'm joining the show, too! I'll be sure to take oodles of pictures. So excited for Lily to see her mama dance.

Loving The View

Just another sign our little girl is growing up. The world is constantly changing for Lily as her point of view is constantly shifting. Big girl changes include towering over the coffee table, walking at an almost-running type pace and riding forward in the car in her new big girl car seat. Such a little lady!

Easter Greetings From Easter Lily!

Happy Easter, y'all! Easter Lily has had a fabulous day - and hopes you have, too! Now, last year, we were all still getting the hang of this "Lily" thing. We went to mass, ate a whole heap of goodness, and went home. This year, since we're all a little more mobile, we did it up right!

Monogrammed Easter Dress by Modest Me Designs

Beautiful!

Yesterday, we prepped for the Big Bunny by dying eggs for the first time! Yellow, Pink, Blue and Green.

Then we put out the decor. Mommy got to use her new silver coffee/tea service for the first time!Perfect opportunity to break it in, don't you agree?

Vintage foil bunnies are a must

Then the Big Day! This morning, I got up with the sun to finish making the goodies for brunch, and found this waiting for our Easter Lily:

Easter Lily checking out the loot!

Bubbles!

After mass, Kiki, Po, Aunt Brenna and Uncle Will came over for brunch. Looks like the Easter Bunny visited them, too. Look what they brought!

Easter Basket Deux

Easter Lily rockin' shades

Mowgli was especially thrilled to see Po!

Brunch was fabulous! Coffee and OJ, Sausage Casserole, Tomato Spinach Frittata, Cheddar Grits with Louisiana Hot Sauce, and Strawberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake!

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Perfection!

Happy Easter, Y'all!

Cheeseburger Meatloaf

We tried a new dish recently that went over so well I just had to share it. Part Paula Deen, part moi (read: the most fabulous combination ever), it's a different take on the typical meatloaf. Not pretty by any means, but so gooey and yummy it makes up for it! Here it is, y'all. Cheeseburger Meatloaf!

Grab a pound of ground beef, 2 eggs, half of an onion (diced), some minced garlic, a cup of grated cheddar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup sour cream (for real), 1 sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers, stay with me, y'all I'm almost done, 1/4 cup ketchup and 1/4 cup yellow mustard. You can also add bits of bacon, but let's not get too crazy. Just kidding. Let's. Add chopped up cooked bacon to taste.

Mix everything together (with your hands, bien sur, and form it into loaf and toss it in a pan. Pop it in the oven for 35 minutes at 350. Add half a can of french fried onions (the kind you put in green bean casserole!) to the top and return the beast to the oven for another 15 min.

While it's a cookin', mix one can cream of mushroom soup and one cup of milk and bring it to a boil in a sauce pot on the stove. Add a cup and a half of shredded cheddar and the other half of your onion (diced) and mix. Pour about half over the meat once it's done and serve! You'll have a good chunk of the sauce left over, but it's awesome to save and use on just about anything else. The next day I added some to our eggs for breakfast and then used it on baked chicken for dinner. It's amazing!

Enjoy!

Nakie Babies and Odd Faces

Now how's that for a title? So lately Tally has been hot as Hades - unusual this early in the year. But, we Floridians cope. Lily has a slight advantage, though:

I don't think I could get away with this solution! Nakie baby is a happy baby!

To wrap things up, we've also come across a new "I'm not happy" face to use in lieu of "shame on you" face. Attractive, non?