Cake-tastic!

Once again I decided I was going to be super mom and make Lilly's birthday cake and treats for daycare.  I don't know why I put myself through it, but it does feel pretty good to stand back and admire at the very end.  Lilly picked Ladybugs this year and I made her a shirt and skirt, which can be seen in the birthday post.  Since I couldn't find a ladybug cookie cutter we went with butterfly's for sugar cookies to take to Miss Theo's.

Lilly did a super job rolling and cutting out the butterflies.  I apparently didn't take a picture of the final product. Either way, they were yellow with purple outline/trim, you get the idea.

 After Lilly went to bed last night I went to work on her cake.  I made one emergency phone call to my friend Abby when I realized I couldn't find my piping tips and she came to the rescue with her giant tackle box full of cake tools.  Martha would have been jealous. 

The biggest problem with a lady bug cake is the frosting.  Bright red and dark black.  Get it?  The colors turned out great with the use of Wilton food coloring, guess it was ok I bought the expensive kind because it worked! Here is a sample of the red I used.   I managed to drip some on the floor without knowing it, step in it also without knowing it, and track it all over my kitchen.

 And here it is, the Ladybug birthday cake!

This thing took forever.  I stressed about it.  I made a horrible mess.  I worried if the frosting would slide off over night and lost sleep because of it.  The frosting stayed put, until Lilly's little fingers found it this afternoon, and the look of pure happiness on Lilly's face when she saw it made everything worth it!  Happy Birthday baby cakes.  I love you!

Happy Birthday Lilly!

Today was the big day.  Little Lilly is two.  It was kinda a mix of emotions for me.  When I got up this morning I immediately thought about where I was two years ago today.  I went to volleyball practice and kept looking at the clock.  11:12 rolled around and for some reason there was a new sense of calm.  Lilly is two, a big girl, no longer a baby.  I almost teared up.  She and I had a great day full of playing and an extra long nap.  Sure Lilly, we can get out playdough (which I hate) it's your birthday.  Sure we can get out bubbles (dislike, but not as much as playdough) it's you birthday.  Whatever you what kiddo!  Today is your day.  I sure hope she doesn't expect the same things to happen tomorrow.
John's family came over after dinner to help celebrate.

Here is Lilly modeling her birthday outfit, yep I made it!

 Gotta pose with mom!

Cousin Rae helping sing Happy Birthday.  She wanted to blow out the candles so badly.

 Digging in with lots of help from Raeghan.  Check out how excited Uncle Darin looks in the background.

 Lots of tissue in big bags!

 Opening Lalaloopsy

 Check out that tongue.  Man she is concentrating hard!

 Cake time. 

All in all it was a great day, which will occur again this weekend with my family.  Same cake, same outfit new presents!

Kansas Children's something or other

I should probably start by apologizing for not remembering the entire name of the place Lilly and I went to with a bunch of friends, and apologize for not having the energy to Google search it.  Anyway, Lilly and I, Abby, Brody, and Hayden, and Heather and Olivia took a little afternoon field trip into Topeka for some kiddy fun. 

Warning!  Lots of pictures to follow!

 Not sure what the giant "G" was for, but it was covered in lots of different textures and the kids looked cute posing with it.

 Rice table for sensory play.  I really feel bad for the poor kid who has to clean up this area at the end of the day.

 The vacuum tubes were pretty cool.  There was a little door at one end that you stuck a ball in and then watched it fly through the tubes and spit out another door.  Lilly and Olivia were a little scared of the suction at the first door.

 I think you were supposed to catch the balls in the butterfly net when they came out.  It looks like Lilly was trying to catch Brody.

 Not sure what this thing is technically called, but is was a big cylinder with some kind of gentle airflow that made the scarves swirl around and fly out the top.  Then they came floating back down for little hands to catch and stick back in.

 REACH HIGH!

 Here is a shot of the tube and the floating scarves.

At the doctor/dentist center, Lilly gave Heather a shot, in the cheek...not sure where she got that idea from

 Nurse Abby took Lilly's blood pressure. 

 Lilly and Brody checking out the blocks.

 Not sure what these things are called, but they were really neat.  Just fancy kid toys I guess.

 Brody changing a tire at the automotive center.  His daddy would be so proud.

 Cheese!

 Leave it to my kid to get in the dog kennel at the veterinarian center.

Another sensory table.  This one was filled with some sort of rock, or bean, or plastic, not sure what it was.  Either way, Lilly had a great time grabbing handfulls, running down the ramp

 and throwing it everywhere!  Another area I would not like to be responsible for cleaning. Luckily the floor was already covered with the stuff, so Lilly clearly wasn't the only mess maker.

 Our happy little group of kiddos on the way out.  Go ahead, tell yourself they all acted this good the whole time.  Honestly though, I think our group was the most well behaved in the entire place!

 Afterwards we made a trip to the new ice cream place.  It is serve yourself and you pay by the ounce.  I think I payed $4.00 for the one Lilly and I shared.  I can see people, like my husband, spending quite a little bit of money at this place.

Apparently Lilly was really ready for a bit, tongue out and everything!  All in all it was a great afternoon and we hope to take another group trip next month.

That Time of Year

The tractors are out and ready to roll, or bail that is.  The first alfalfa of the season has been cut and bailed with the help of little Lilly.  Here is what she said when she woke up this morning:
Lilly:  Where daddy at?
Me:  He went to work already.
Lilly:  Feed the cows?
Me:  Nope, he is driving the tractor.
Lilly:  Lets go, me drive tractor.
Me:  Ummmm...sure but you have to eat breakfast first!

Pool TIme!

It never feels like summer has begun until we hit the pool for the first time.  Lilly fits perfectly into her 12month swimsuit, the one that never fit her last summer, and new sun hat.  

 She was one tired little girl when we got home. 

Memorial Weekend...a little late

 Lilly and I went to Great Bend over the long weekend.  As usual we went to the park.  Lilly is finally big enough to actually play on the toys.

 She begged and begged to go down the big slide.  There was no normal ladder so we had to climb across these weird monkey bar things. 

 Little stinker went head first before I could get a hold of her!  Good thing Nana Bobbi was at the bottom!

 What goes up must some down!  That slide was not made for my big 'ole butt!

 We made a quick lap around the park on our way out.  Lilly was excited to get so close to a couple ducks.  She wanted to pet them :)

 Cheese!

All in all it was a great weekend.  We saw some family and did lots of playing.  Lilly low refers to my grandpa as "Grandpa Cracker" because he bribes her with crackers to get her to sit on his lap!

Deja Vu?

This summer.

 Last summer.

I think Miss Lilly might just be a cat lover!