I LOVE FALL!

Fall has always been my very favorite season and sharing it with Lillianna this year has made it even more so. All of our walks, sitting on our front porch bench, talking about the leaves, collecting treasures, and crunching acorns and leaves...these are all the things I love getting to share with her.

Now that winter has suddenly rushed in and colds have settled in our heads and chests the past week, I wish I could have just a few more fall afternoons to spend like this:

Fun in the sun

We have been under the weather and also busy. I wanted to post some pictures I'm behind on for all those daily viewers (YA-YA) who need their Lillianna picture fix.

This was a couple of weeks ago, one cold, sunny morning when we had exhausted the day's events by 9am. We found ourselves dressed up and ready to go....play in the backyard!

So I can really go out in public like this?

I lub this necklace!

Hold this Mama.

Mind if I take a seat Boone?

Practicing my fake "Cheeeeese" smile.

Weeee. Here's my real one.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We wish we could be with ALL of our family and friends this Thanksgiving!

We are so very thankful for each of you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Who is this?

almost.....

almost.....

got it.

So as you can see, she looks like the same adorable little girl on the outside. But on the inside, something has changed. At first, I couldn't put my finger on it but over the last few days Brad and I have found ourselves saying, "who is this little girl?"

First, she walked right over to a little boy in a public place, waved her hand three inches from his face and said, "hi"

Then, she waved to everyone in the grocery store and answered one, if not two, questions to perfect strangers.

I really couldn't believe when she did NOT cry, whimper yes, but did not cry at the doctor's office for the first time in her short little life. And after he was done and backed away from her, she ran around the room, smiling, being silly, and offered him her stuffed elephant.

He said himself, "I never thought I would see her like this."

So, needless to say, we are very excited that she is coming out of her shell, sharing her adorable spirit with others, and showing the world what she has to offer.

But...

Along with these have come:

- Sudden urges to climb on furniture she has never even seemed to notice was there.

-Put things in her mouth! Even as a little baby she didn't do this but now she has her fingers, paper, and most shockingly, a painted styrofoam ball that she made into a spider at school. Just bit right into it.

-Scream and yell for no reason. Just a good ol' RAARRARARRRRHHHHRRAAAAH when she feels like it.

And I'm not the only one who has noticed this sudden change. Today, her teachers both commented that they had never seen her act the way she was today. Since they didn't have school on Monday, they said they couldn't believe how much she had changed. They said she even got in trouble for "being too loud" and for fighting with Bibby (not that new).

Maybe it's the time change or the cold medicine she's been taking the past week.

What I really think is Lillianna has just discovered how much fun it is to be two and that she really does have big plans for living a BIG life. All I can say is...I can't wait to be a part of it.

Caught!

I just have a nibble of cracker with my face full of peanut butter, thank you.

Fall fun!

Our neighbor's house has two enormous sycamore trees with enormous leaves.

Lillianna and I went over to kick, crunch, and throw the leaves the other morning.

Our neighbors don't live there - they are slowly renovating this house - so they are NEVER home. We (both) were rolling around in the leaves when Mr. Neighbor came driving up.

He thought we (specifically adult rolling around) were pretty funny.

We did have fun.

The white around her mouth is a dead give away to the glazed doughnuts we had as a special breakfast.

Wonderful Weekend

So this past weekend, we the Road Warriors, went back on the road to visit more family and friends. A good time was had by all.

After seeing Sue-Sue and Pops, Lillianna got to play with great grandparents Jean-Jean & Papa James all day Saturday. She had a great time!

They live on the lake surrounded by complete beauty.

This time of year it is even more beautiful.

Hey Mom, have you seen how pretty this is?

I love it here.

One gorgeous view from their backyard.

Lillianna also got to play with Keisha, their dog who is very tolerant of being fed acorns, sticks, and rocks. Much like our dog Boone who takes it one step further and actually chews on the rocks.

"Here you go."

Boo!

Halloween 2007:

We asked Lillianna for a few weeks what she wanted to dress up as for Halloween. She looked at us like "What are you all talking about?" We offered suggestions and still she said nothing.

Then all of the sudden, two weeks ago, she said...

a COW!

So one cow costume off of ebay later, she was the cutest cow ever.

I don't have the best pictures of all the festivities but we had a wonderful day full of fun and friends....

Remember in The Christmas Story when Ralph comes downstairs in the bunny pajamas? She has the same expression on her face as we walk to the first house.

Rehearsing her "Trick or Treat" line in her head

Lillianna saying Trick or Treeeeeeeeaaaaaat with Abby and Dawson

Waiting for some loot

Bibby having fun at our house after trick or treating.

Emma Hensely worn out from her performance as a carrot.

Pretty Maggie as the prettiest octopus of the evening.

Fall Festival - big whoop.

Last Monday, Lillianna had Fall Festival at school.

She really wasn't that excited about it, no matter how many times I told her that, "Mommy is going to come to school today and you're going to play games and get treats and prizes."

Key words in the sentence that I thought would spark some real enthusiasm:

Mommy at school, play games, treats, prizes. But nope, nothing.

Once we got going on the games, she got a little more into it.

She loved digging through the hampster shavings to find a buried treasure...

But then she was sort of hmmm. a snake.

She played along as her sweet teacher magically removed a treat bag from the "fishing pole."

And she shared her new prize with Bibby. That look on her face? That was there most of the morning....like, yeah, i'm trying to have fun, i'm going through the motions, but i just can't get there. She is so funny that atleast one of us was laughing.

where have we been?

Since our last post we have been on the move. Just going, going, going.

First, here are pictures from Kentucky.

Over a week ago now, we drove up to see Dandy and Wil and had a wonderful time!

Lillianna ran in circles inside their house, cheered for the UK Wildcats, visited a Wildlife Center to see black bears, deer, elk, buffalo, and bald eagles, and

enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather. We can't wait to go back!