ARGH Sears Portraits

Lily was in the 2009 From China with Love Calendar. Unfortunately, she will not be in the 2010 Calendar. I went to get them to sign off on the submission of the picture we wanted to send in. Sears wanted $25 just to sign a slip of paper. I wasn't even getting a CD or buying the pic.

Now, we could've paid the $. I am not about to spend $25 for a signature especially if there is no guarantee that she will even make it in the Calendar. There isn't time to take and print another as entries have to be postmarked by Friday. I have kept my eye open for photo ops, but they want a professional photo. If you know Lily at all, she just doesn't sit still enough for me to get anything remotely close to professional. I know it is my fault for waiting this long, but I just had to vent!

Wow, when's the last time . . .

I'm thinking!


Hammin' it up


My first try at authentic Chinese Dumplings


Confused about the clean-up process for dumplings


Assistance from G-ma R

I went this long between posts. Blogging is one of my lifelines in the crazy life that my family is living right now. Maybe that is why I am SO stressed, but probably not . . .

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Numbers for you:

9 days until Steve is done with the semester.
28 more school days (26 full days)
3 days in a row that Lily has been clean/dry except for nap/night

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I attempted dumplings for the first time. Wow, are they time-consuming. I knew that going in, but much more than I thought. See this link for videos of the process. Considering it was my first try, I think all went well. They could've looked a little better, but they tasted REALLY good!

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We went out to water our new grass tonight. I let Lily wear her swimsuit in case she got wet. I was watering the grass just inside the backyard. I turned around and she wasn't there. I went to the frontyard and she wasn't there. A few weeks ago, she took it upon herself to walk up the street to visit a neighbor without my permission, so I got a little concerned. I yelled for her and she didn't answer. I yelled in the house "Lily if you are in the house, you had better come to the door!" - NOTHING.

I wasn't too concerned, but heading that way when I thought I better check in the house. I found her in the bathroom. She had realized that she needed to go #2, let herself in, pulled her swimsuit down, and was finished already. I went to wipe and she was clean. "Mommy, I wipe already." I think we are really close to ditching pull-ups at "school" in favor of big girl underwear!

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I wish I had more Lilyisms, but I haven't written them down. Yes, there was a party and there are pics of it. But I thought the B-day pics deserved their very own post. Instead of lumping them in with this, mish-mash!

Happy Birthday, Lily!

Well, I attempted a breakfast in bed. I wasn't so sure how it would go. Her bedroom wall is the wall that the sink is on in the kitchen. She slept long enough for me to get it together. Nothing extravagant: biscuits, fruit, cheese, and juice. Fruit and cheese are her favorite part of breakfast. The party is tomorrow, but I wanted to try and make today special. Thanks Shannon for the idea. In the video, Lily is singing Happy Birthday to herself. I wish I had caught more, but I just got the last little bit.

Lily, I love you. You make mommy HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camera Phone Pics

Lily and her best bud, Micah

I took this picture (while I was driving) of Lily peeling her own tangerine.



Threading her own beads on her bookmark.

What a mess - remind me never to let her eat yogurt in the car.

I just purchased a micro SD card, so that I can get the pictures off my camera phone. That thing is SOOOO tiny. Mine is only 2 GB, but I have seen them hold up to 16 GB and more. It is about the size of the fingernail on my pinky finger. Ahh, technology!

Anyway . . . I thought I would post a couple pics that have been on my camera for awhile. Some are really cute. This is Lily's first time driving.

Dr. visits - Random stuff

Monday Lily had her well-visit and Tuesday she had a consult with an ENT to discuss the possibility of having tubes put in Lily's ears. First off, the well visit went fine. Here is the official update:

23.25 lbs and 35.75 in. tall

Using the US charts, that puts her in the <3% for height and 25% for height. Using the charts for Southern Chinese girls, that puts her in the 10% for height and almost 50% for height.

As for the ENT, Lily will be getting tubes put in her ears. She will be having that done the Friday of the week between Steve's Spring and Summer semester. I am relieved. At this point, I am tired of ear infections. I sure Lily is too. She is currently on her 5 round of antibiotics since January.
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One the way to grandmas house for dinner tonight (since grandpa is out of town with God's Pit Crew again and mommy doesn't have school tomorrow).

Lily: "What's that?"
Me: "Bird poop on the windshield."
Lily: "That's yucky! I don't poop there. I go poo-poo in the potty!"
Me: "Mommy is very glad that you do!"
Lily: "Bad poop. Bad bird."

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We were singing "I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart" while we were waiting for the doctor at her well-check today. Lily was singing the chorus, "I'm so happy, so verdy happy. I have love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy." She stopped singing and very matter-of-factly placed her crossed hands over her heart and stated, "I want Jesus in my heart." Oh, how that makes my heart skip a beat! I'm not taking that as her profession of faith, but it blesses my heart that she is thinking that way at just shy of 3 yrs old!

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Mom surprised me with an early B-day present. Long story short, she had to return a couple pairs of shoes and let me pick out a pair. Lily was very patient. She tried on a couple of the kiddy shoes. She was just a little irritated that they only had one of each shoe on display. That didn't stop her from trying on two shoes though. She just grabbed two different sandals and then two different tennis shoes. She was so absorbed in trying on shoes that she forgot she had to potty. Yes, that resulted in an accident. Of course, I didn't have a change of clothes for her. I did have a pull-up in the car.

We were getting ready to leave, so I told my mom to just put the pants back on her since we were still in the store. She just couldn't do it. Grandma did what any good Grandma would do: head to the kids department to look for a new outfit on the clearance rack. I came away with a new pair of shoes and Lily has a new outfit. BTW, the outfit is actually a 3T and it fits her in the waist. I think that must be a mistake as most of her 2T stuff still needs safety pins!

Can you tell I am one Spring Break. I am trying to enjoy every minute and not think about the fact that every minute brings me closer to starting school again!

Easter Weekend

Pastor Stephen and Lily - Check out the coordination!



We were trying to get a picture of Nay-nay (sp?), Gavin, and Lily



The two girls stood in the same spot for what seemed like 10 minutes, but not Gavin!



Check out the Eggs - Lily has one more year of this age group too! Watch out next year!



Still looking for eggs after they have all long been found



Trying to climb in a long dress with her eggs



Nearly lost all her eggs!



"Tabba" reading a "Resurrection Eggs" story



Listening intently



All business



Where's the rest?






I didn't even have to tell her to do this!



Hunt #2



They nearly ran over a lawn chair!

I didn't get a good Easter picture. I let Lily wear her Easter dress yesterday to Brookhill's Egg Hunt. It was a pretty nice day. She instinctively knew to hold it up in the tall grass and to run. She was amazing! Great hunter!

After the Egg Hunt, we headed to the Zug's house for outside play time. I decided to fill the eggs that Daniel, Lily, and Micah got from the hunt with their afternoon snack - popcorn. I told them they needed to find their eggs again to have snack.

Lily was prepped and ready for the Egg Hunt this morning at our church with the two practice ones yesterday. Boy, did she rack up with no help from Mom or Dad.

I am thankful (though not often enough) for Jesus' sacrafice and resurrection. I'm not sure where I would be without him. Probably in a heap a bunch of trouble!!! I pray nightly that Lily will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus at an early age. I think things/thoughts of God/Jesus are starting to sink in. She is starting to ask for forgiveness without prompting, but kindness is still a work in progress for her.

As you can see from the following, she needs a little work on her theology:

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Easter discussion:
Me: "Do you know why we celebrate Easter?"
Lily: "Yeah, Jesus died cross."
Me: "But he rose again, right?"
Lily: "No, he fell and bumped his head."
Me: "What did you say?"
Lily (looking very sad): "He's sad."
Me: "Why?"
Lily: "He died cross."
Me: "Did he rise again?"
Lily: " No."
Me: "He didn't?"
Lily: "He rosen."
Me: "He rose again?"
Lily: "Yes!"

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Easter Morning
Lily: "You're pretty."
Me: A little surprised at first, because she has never said this before. Then I realize that I don't think she has seen me in a dress before. I usually go for comfort and pants. It blesses my heart that SHE noticed!

Children's Museum of Richmond

Too much fun



Slides are always a favorite



Very serious about digging





Lily required a change of clothing after this!

Driving a car



Gluing paper to her mask



The Art Room - Isn't it GREAT?



In the "hospital"



Taking her cashier job VERY seriously!

Lily raiding the bank vault



Go fast!



Changing out the muffler "like Daddy"



She checked all the fluids



Ready to race!

This was probably the highlight of our entire trip for Lily. She really could have stayed all day. She really enjoyed all she had a chance to try. She didn't have time to hit everything though. I can see a day trip to Richmond coming this summer!

The Virginia Zoo

Lily "roared" at the lion

Taking a picture for "Nana Susan"



Look carefully at the plant in the middle. Lily sat on it. I hope it perked up later!










Lily enjoyed the Zoo. The displays that they had were nice. It only took us about and hour and a half to see most everything though.