let them eat cake

After getting dinner prepped, Bug and I picked up the other girls, and headed to Gran-ma's house to put together her cake. Gran-ma had an idea in her head of a big cake that all the girls could help decorate with icing, cut outs of shapes, and just make it their own.



All the girls got to put sprinkles on the top tier, which looked like a cupcake, even Cooper got in on the action!

When it came time to ice the cake, we realized just how much like her Daddy Jilly really is! They are both chocolate monsters, but Jilly makes a much cuter monster than Jeff does. (Sorry honey!)

The cutting of the fondant was a trip. Think of cutting out cookies, that's as close an experience as I can think of. Jilly was concentrating very hard, but not cutting very hard. Turns out she had the face, but wasn't pushing hardly at all. That made the faces that much funnier!

Let's Dish

I was telling my Mom about how Courtney and I were going to Let's Dish to put together some dinners for when baby brother arrives, and while going over what we had chosen, she decided that for her b-day dinner it might be nice to try the Sesame Apricot Chicken. So I added more of the chicken to our menu and Courtney and I set out to prepare 8 dinners. For the most part I stood back and let Courtney put everything together, she LOVES to cook, and doing it this way all the prep gets done quickly and easily, with the added bonus of me not having to wash any dishes after!! Not only did Bug put all the dinners together, but she took them to the freezer, and even put them into the coolers when it was time go.

It was a great way to spend 2 whole hours with just my Bug, no distractions, just some Mom (we have decided we are too old to be calling out parents Mommy and Daddy anymore!!) and Bug time. I only wish we could do it more often! Love you Bug!

Party time

Sunny was nice enough to throw us a baby shower for "baby brudder" as Jilly calls him. Courtney was my personal paparazzi (which I think she really loves) and Jilly was my "present time helper". We were joined by friends and family, and had a great time.

Thank you again to all in attendance, baby brother really appreciates not having to wear pink and purple!!

Crab dip

For the baby shower that Sunny threw for us, the girls and I made some crab dip. Just another of the things we get to enjoy as a family.

The show

The only time we are letting Jilly show right now is when Fay has a show at SCF, logistically it is just much easier. Jilly is in the very first class of the day, so she goes in the ring at 9am. This was her second show, and her second blue ribbon. Not that it matters what color she comes out with, she just wants a "pretty" after showing.

Bug and Moose seemed to have an off day. It seems that some ponies do not show well "at home" because they are too familiar with the surroundings, and we think that Moose might just be one of those ponies. Bug did a great job staying on him when he refused a jump and wanted her off. All in all, many good lessons were learned, so it was a great day!

Show prep

Before the last show at SCF, I had both Jilly and Courtney clean their boots, figuring the sooner Jilly learns that there is responsibility involved with riding the better. Again, Bug was great at showing Jilly how things were done.

The funny thing was when Cooper (who LOVES shoes and knew at one year what to do with them) picked up Jilly's boots and started

putting them on. At almost 14 months, this girl is surely going to be our little fashionista...she loves the shoes, and purses. But what she really loves is to be just like the big girls!

Summer crafting

Over the summer the girls and I would sit and enjoy doing crafts. They love to paint, and we were able to find little ceramic ponies (their favorites!) to paint. I love to see Bug instruct Jilly, and of course anything Buggy did Jilly had to do too...right down to the using the same colors. It was very precious.

Before I forget...

The other night Jilly (who has found new and improved stall tactics at bed time) marched herself down stairs after being tucked in. I had my "grumpy Mommy" face on, ready to rebuff any attempts on Jilly's part to stay awake. She hits the bottom of the steps, looks at everybody and asks "...Mommy. Do you see this sock? (me still with "grumpy Mommy" face on) This sock, Mommy...right here in my hand...do you see it?!?" And that's where I lost it...although who could blame me? Between the look on her face, and both Jeff and Courtney cracking up, I didn't stand a chance. These are the moments I live for as a Mommy.

Thanks Jills!

my appologies

With Jeff's broken hand, Bug's busy riding, trying to keep the kids entertained, and trying to stay sane while seeming to grown an inch a day...things have been crazy hectic around here. I promise that in the next week or so I will get everyone caught up with all of our goings on.

Much love to all.

Jealous much?!?

We have a little "breakfest in bed" tray that lives in the living room that the kids get to eat snacks off of. Tonight I was bringing Jilly a bowl of ice cream (Dibs are a wonderful snack for toddlers!) and Jilly pulled out her table and sat her excited little self right on down. I wasn't even half way accross the living room when Cooper looked at me, then at Jilly, and in no time had thrown herself down on the floor and started wailing!

It was amazing to me how quickly Cooper processed what was going on, and seeing as how she had no way of saying "Hey Lady, how about me too?" I went back to the kitchen got her a bowl of her little "Cooper candies" (which are the little puffs that Coop and Jilly fight over all the time).

And suddenly, all was right with the world.