Happy Birthday Lilly

Hard to believe that this was 5 years ago already! We are all SO proud of who you have become Lilly! Yikes...Kindergarten Roundup next month!

Lilly walking through the wand tunnel at her birthday party

All dressed up like a princess for the party!

Celebrations!

December gave us so much to celebrate! Mom participated in the graduation ceremony at EMU for her Masters in Educational Psychology (although she finished her degree in June).

..and of course Christmas!

Santa brought little George a bike..the best gift...the helmet!

I love this picture so much because it captures Lilly's true self. She is so thoughtful and patient (even as a waitress taking orders for pizza).

Santa!

Santa came to visit at Daddy's Army Christmas Party today!!!

This is the first year that George actually sat on Santa's lap and didn't scream or run away!

For those of you that have seen George throughout the year, you know that he REFUSES to wear his sunglasses the right way. He always wears them upside down...apparently he felt it was "too bright" at the party today!

Lilly and Santa trading gifts...she really wanted to make him a picture this year...I'm guessing she things this will raise her chances of him bringing her exactly what she wants this year!

Lilly, Bubs, mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa made the trip in Mid-November to Chicago to the American Girl store. Lilly has had her eyes on Kanani all year and we were only in the store 15 minutes and she already had a Kanani in her hands...

Kanani even got to come to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe!

At the American Girl store...the cashier was nice enough to take her out of the box for Lilly.

The 4 of us at the hotel...the biggest fight of the weekend was who would ride in the $15 stroller...Bubs won right before pictures and WOULD NOT get out to have his picture taken for fear that he would have to give up the stroller!

Almost Halloween!

Lilly with her Rapunzel pumpkin on the right (it's a bit difficult inside to see the hair carved in the top) .

Scooping the goo out of her pumpkin...she still would not use her hands this year either!

Rinsing the seeds off was the most exciting part of carving pumpkins for each of them!

Good luck trying to get both kids to look with eyes open and smile at the same time..this is the best we got folks!

VERY excited to have my picture taken!

We had fun supporting the tigets through the post-season!

Frankensten at "boo at the zoo". I'm sure that at some point in his life Frankenstein's moster wore sunglasses right?!?

August Fun

This summer the kids got to experience thier 2 first baseball games! Last Friday was the Whitecapts (mom got to see her all time favorite player-Mickey Tettleton)!

Lilly got asked to help sweep the bases after the third inning! We were so proud of her!!!

Here she is on the big screen, making her debut!

Just had to throw this next one in for fun! I see a senior yearbook photo in the making! Yes, he is wearing Raggety Ann's shirt and a pullup as a bathing suit!

June

Here it is June already and I realize I haven't posted in awhile. Here's a quick update:
1. As of last Friday I (Jess) am DONE with my Master's Degree (in educational psychology). It has been a 7 year process chipping away, and it feels great!

2. Lilly got her first "big girl" bike this weekend. I know, I know, it's about time she graduated off the tricycle since she is 4, but It's tough to see them grow up! She took a pretty big spill tonight (yes, even with training wheels she still bailed off as she was headed into the weeds), so hopefully she'll be brave enough to get back on!


3. A couple of weekends ago we got to be "tourists in our own town" and take a tour of the capital building among other things.

Date night

This weekend George and I had the opportunity to spend the night at the Amway Grand Plaza for the Military Ball. We had an OUTSTANDING room, and a fantastic night!