Feeling Like Fall!

Lillian and I spent most of the morning in our pajamas yesterday, determined to have a relaxing day! By around 4:30, we were both getting a little cabin fever so, we took a walk to our local park to burn off some energy before settling down for the evening. Rather than sliding down slides, and playing on the steps at the playground, Lillian enjoyed playing with the tan bark and investigated several bushes that outlined the area!

Usually at this time in the evening there are several children at the park, but today, we had it all to ourselves!

After about 45 minutes, we were ready to start heading home. The sun had disappeared behind darker clouds and the temperature was steadily going down warning us that it was time to get back inside! Lillian hopped back into her little blue car (just like her daddy's!) and we made our way back home before dark.

A Long Day Indeed!

This is Lillian toward the end of our day... she's taking a much needed rest on the living room floor after a long and event filled day! It all began with a fun play group at 9:00... Lillian got up at 8:00, so that meant being showered and out the door by 8:30 if we wanted to get there in time. For those who know how time consuming it can be to feed, bathe and dress a toddler, 30 minutes isn't a lot of time! Needless to say, we were 25 minutes late, but we made it! After play group ended, we drove home and took an hour nap before driving into Livermore for her 15 month well-baby checkup. The check up went very well except that Lillian has developed a fear for the Dr.'s office and pretty much screamed her head off the whole time... She got another two shots: pertussis and flu/H1N1, which explains her extreme reaction... go figure... doesn't like being poked by needles... who does?! After picking up her fluoride prescription and dropping off some prenatal documents at the OB department, we went to Target to pick up some spill proof bowls for her snacks. Seriously, if you have a need for something, it's very probable some inventor has come up with the exact product to satisfy that need! I've been going months wishing for exactly what I found at Target today! Thank you, Jennifer, for letting me know about them! Woo-hoo, no more picking up spilled and crushed cheddar bunnies from the carpet! After Target, we dropped off some CD's at the library, went for a nature walk, drove home and proceeded to put together our new computer desk and chair, which took approximately 2 hours... Lillian helped out by sneaking off and hiding critical pieces, which made a boring chore more interesting for sure! Once finished, we ate some broccoli and pasta, took a bath, got our P.J.'s on cuddled with daddy on the sofa, read a couple of stories and went to bed... What an exhausting day, but the funny thing is, yesterday was only a little bit busier than usual, but enough to where we were both exhausted once it was over!

Pucker up! Lillian was like, "I'm too tired for this..."

"O.K., just one more picture! Smile... smmmiiiiiillllllee... all right, just look at the camera :)"

Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze!

We went to the local corn maze and pumpkin patch yesterday where we enjoyed many new experiences!

Lillian really enjoyed climbing the hay step pyramid and, with a little help, climbed to the top twice!

One of the hit attractions was a corn box!

Lillian explored the pumpkin patch with her friends and found the perfect Halloween pumpkin!

Navigating through the sea of pumpkins!

"I like this one!"

Like most kids, Lillian absolutely LOVES animals! She nearly ran to meet these goats when she saw them!

Our good friends Emily, Olivia and Camilla took in the festivities with us!

Abbygail is helping to put corn in Lillian's hand!

What a fun day we had!!!!

Livermore Library!

We stopped at the library after mommy's 28 week prenatal appointment on Tuesday! After looking through books, CD's and audio's, we got some tea at the cafe' and played on and around the beautiful literary mosaic. Lillian entertained bystanders as she ran around smiling, jabbering and squealing with joy!

Fun at Donley Park!

We spent a fun day in Turlock yesterday!! One of our favorite places to stop is Donley Park, which is the closest thing

to Sherwood Forest south of Caper Acers & Bidwell Park! There are big overgrown trees, a large pond with ducks and large catfish as well as the coolest playground I've seen in years!

The Jelly Belly Factory!!

On Friday, Lillian and I drove to Fairfield with the Rudnicka family and went on a tour of the Jelly Belly factory!! They wouldn't let us take any photos of the actual factory process (top secret!), but I got a couple of cute ones in the lobby. It was really fun and interesting :) Did you know that it takes 7-13 days to make a Jelly Belly jelly bean??

Lillian was fascinated with the floating Jelly's!

Senior Center Halloween Parade!

Since she's already a little monkey, climbing and getting into everything, I thought a monkey costume would be very appropriate this year!

Trick-or-treat!

Hi, mommy!

'Mommy was a zoo keeper!'

Gymnastics Fun!

We enrolled Lillian in a toddler gymnastics class, which we all just adore!  She's pictured here with one of her instructors on the long trampoline.

Lillian is being helped by one of he older gymnasts to navigate the uneven steps!

Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy!

Now, slide!!

It wasn't long before Lillian found the courage to traverse the long trampoline on her own!

Rock climbing!

Weeeeee!

Lillian with another friendly instructor :)

Hula hoops are fun!

I'm ready!  You can roll me now!

Watching Sesame Street With Daddy

After a long and exhausting strip to Costco, Lillian and Daddy relaxed and watched a little Sesame Street!

Spiders! Oh My!

While on our evening walk the other day, Finn was the first to spot the biggest wild spider we've ever seen!  

A wild tarantula!!!!  Yikes!!!!  Living in the country, we're used to spying deer, snakes, hawks and coyotes, but seeing one of these things always startles me!

Delightful October Days!

We stopped at the library on Wed. to take in some story time, drop off some books and pick up some new ones.  Afterwards, when we left the cool air-conditioned building, we were shocked at how warm it had gotten outside!  We stopped at a quant cafe and ordered a large lemonade to help us cool off :)

Daddy spent the greater part of the weekend building an A-frame swing set for our backyard!  Lillian is all smiles!

It was another warm one today!  We stopped at the Livermore fountains to cool off after mommy's dental appointment (yikes!).  Lillian was a total angel during the visit!

Refreshing!

Boyfriends and Blue Bugs!

With her boyfriend, Brock!

'What?  You're taking a break already?'

Livermore Art Walk!

Dancing an Irish jig with a buddy!

Yikes! Mommy Is Six Months Pregnant!!

A friend requested that I take a pregnant photo and post it for all to see!  Peek-a-boo, my babies!  

Play Groups and Fun!

Off to a play group in the park!  Yay!!!

Running to catch up with mommy!

My little country girl!

Hang'n with the boys at Mountain Mike's Pizza!

'Do you know how one could extract one of those colorful spheres?'

Lillian couldn't get enough of this game!  Even without quarters, she loved spinning the wheel and 'pretend' driving.