Missing Dad...And Posting

This blog started as my "Waiting for Lily" journal, and then sort of morphed into Lily's baby book, and now is more or less our family scrapbook.  I have a TERRIBLE memory and I love having this blog as a way to look back and remember things.

It seems like since Dad died I'm having a really hard time posting.  I can't explain why, but it's true.  I think it's partly because it's proof that time marches on - and part of me hates that.  It's also partly because I miss talking to Dad and sharing with him about my life.   A day rarely went by when Dad and I didn't speak.  We talked about everything and nothing.  Some days we'd be on the phone forever.  Other times it would just be a quick, "Hey, how're you?"  Either way I miss those phone calls and Dad desperately.

What I also know is if I stop posting I'll miss that, too.  Years from now I want to be able and look back at all the fun we had and how much our sweet Lily has grown.

Speaking of fun and how fast time is flying, a few weekends ago Tony, Lily, and I went to Deep Creek to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary.  We had a wonderful time!  We are participating in Park Quest again this year and loved hiking, canoeing, swimming, and "questing" in several of the different parks in Western Maryland.  We also ate in great restaurants, stayed in a friend's beautiful home, and enjoyed some much needed family time.

I hope to start posting more regularly again.  Taking time to write about all the wonderful, happy moments in our lives will be good therapy!

A Glowing Alligator

A few weekends ago Lily had her end of year dance recital.  What fun!  To be honest, I never saw myself as a "dance mom", but it's impossible not to get caught up in Lily's excitement.

In Lily's world, recital day ranks right up there with Christmas and her birthday and, no, I'm not exaggerating.

It's hard for me to believe that this was Lily's third dance recital.  More specifically, I can't believe Lily has been dancing with Miss Jen for 3 years!  Miss Jen is wonderful.  She is kind, patient, and loving and all of her dancers adore her.  And, as you will see in the videos below, Jen is far more concerned with the girls enjoying themselves than with them being perfect!

Here's Lily's first number:

And her second:

There are few things in life Lily enjoys as much as dancing.  You can literally catch Lily pirouetting almost anywhere.  Lily absolutely LOVES her recital costume and puts it on at least once a day - our house has the sparkles everywhere to prove it!







Who knows how long Lily's love affair with dance will last.  What I do know is that we will enjoy it...sparkles and all...as long as it does.

All I Want For First Grade...

is my two front teeth...my two front teeth...my two front teeth!

For what seemed like weeks and weeks the last of Lily's two front teeth was hanging on by barely a thread. It was awful! Lily could literally turn the tooth sideways! I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but loose teeth and ticks are this mama's kryptonite. Seriously. I hate, loathe, and detest them. Oh, and did I mention I don't like them one teeny tiny bit????

Lily had babied that nasty tooth forever. She practically became a contortionist to eat and begged us to brush that tooth with a feather-light touch. I was beginning to think it would never fall out. Apparently, I wasn't the only one.  On the last day of school two boys in Lily's class let her know in no uncertain terms that they did not want to see her back in first grade with that gnarly old tooth still dangling. If only J and N knew that their wish would come true that very night!

To celebrate Lily's last day of kindergarten we let her choose where she wanted to go out to dinner. Wait, I know what you're thinking - we ALWAYS go out to dinner. That used to be true. However, in an effort to prove you can teach an old dog new tricks, I have been cooking more and we don't eat out nearly as often as we once did.

Wait a minute. What was the point of this post? I'm sure you're wondering the same thing! Oh, that's right. So anyway, Lily chose a little Italian place near our house. Our little sweetie could eat her weight in pasta...and that's not an exaggeration!

We had finished our dinner and Tony ran next door to pick up a prescription. Lily and I were sitting there chatting when that darn, gnarly, awful tooth just gave up and fell right out of her mouth! You should've seen the look on Lily's face! It was priceless.

I honestly don't know how that tooth had stayed in so long. It must've had some kind of gravity defying magic. Anyway, there wasn't a drop of blood and when all was said and done Lily was thrilled to have the tooth in her hot little hands.



Lily looks precious without her two front teeth. Don't you agree???

A Rising First Grader

Today was Lily's last day of Kindergarten.  I truly can't believe it...and I was there!!!  It feels like just yesterday we were taking Lily to school for her very first day.  So much has happened since that first day.  Some of the days were terribly long, but the months really flew by!!



Lily had a wonderful experience in Kindergarten.  At the risk of sounding completely obnoxious, Kindergarten did not challenge Lily academically...and that's okay.  More than once Lily came home completely exasperated because someone in her class didn't know how to spell their name or write their numbers or read their sight words or whatever.  With time Lily learned that those same friends might be able to jump rope or hula hoop or draw better than she can. It was a wonderful lesson for Lily to learn that different people have different gifts.



Lily's class had a great group of kids and they really seemed to gel.  Lily made several really good friends and one "Best Friend".  Lily and K have a blast whenever they're together.  Their friendship is very sweet.  When they're together they enjoy every minute and giggle non-stop.  There is very little  bickering and no drama...just lots of fun and laughter.  If they have a problem they work it out without a parent or teacher refereeing.  It's wonderful! I know it may not always be this way, but it sure did make for a wonderful and fun filled year!





Lily's teachers call Lily and K, "Q and U - Stuck like glue".  This little nickname really stuck and I imagine it will follow them through the years. Lily and K have decided that K is "Q" because she's the "scaredy cat" and always wants "U" by her side.  Lily is "U" because she loves to be with "Q", but she can also stand alone!  I tell you these two crack me up!!

Lily made these little choker necklaces for she and K as end of the year presents. K absolutely LOVED her necklace and Lily loves hers, too!







Lily received 3 awards today: Perfect Attendance, Best Manners, and the Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness award. 

The only award Lily cared about was the Perfect Attendance award.  Our little girlfriend is borderline obsessed with NOT missing school.   Seriously.  I have no idea where she gets this from.  Perfect attendance is not something that is on either Tony or my radar or anything we have ever even discussed with Lily.  That doesn't matter.  It is SUPER important to Lily.  In fact, this afternoon when Lily and I were discussing her different awards she said, "I'm NEVER ever going to miss a day of school and I do mean NEVER. So, I guess I'll be getting a lot of these awards!"

Lily is really looking forward to First Grade and has been since about the second week of Kindergarten!!  Lily's First Grade teacher is AMAZING and I know she'll have another wonderful year.

For now, I'm looking forward to the summer!! We have quite a few fun things planned, but what I'm looking forward to the most are the days we have nowhere to go and all day to get there!!