New year, new look, and another new blog

Yes, you are in the right place.

I figured out how to make some design changes, and then I did.

I also started a new blog, just for funsies. If you want to see it and find out why, click here.

To save you a little time, though, it's unlikely to be something you care about. It's just a little scrapbook-related project blog I made to keep myself motivated.

And now it's Wednesday again

What might a Florida tot think of the snow?

Let's find out.

First things first, though. She's dressed in snow gear from the fur around her hood to the double-socked foot in her snowboot. Grandma and Grandpa outfitted her in all the appropriate apparel.

Then we went outside.


The snow..ehh...well, she wasn't so impressed with that.
She just didn't know what to do with it.


So Grandpa suggested we try the sled.


Now that's a better way to enjoy the snow.

She went around the yard for a bit.





And then we went to the top of the hill (driveway) to use the sled for its intended purpose.

First she went by herself.

But then Daddy wanted to go, too.

Check out my eskimo baby.

I'm going to pretend it's Tuesday

And post a little "Tuesday in Translation" for you. I've given up trying to keep up with a list of her words; there are just too many now. Every time I make a list, I spend the rest of the day remembering/hearing words that I forgot. So from now on, I'll just share a little conversation with you, one-sided or not.

She's really taking off with repeating words, so yes, I have to be much more careful, but also I'm not sure what words she really ? knows and what's just a repeat. Today I was really pretty sure that she knew she was asking for a cracker when she said "kwacka? kwacka? kwacka?"

And so I gave her another mum mum cracker.

Then she brings her little watering can (that she brought in from outside) and said "kwacka? kwacka? kwacka?"

I thought, "no, little love, that's not a cracker," and looked inside the watering can.

Yup, there was the cracker she'd asked for earlier.

Another cute new word I hear? "Kiss." The best part? It actually now comes with a kiss.

Enjoy

It's a Target tradition

Most traditions are passed from one generation to the next. Others just happen, like our Target ornament tradition.

It started in 2005, which was our first year in our house and the first year we put up a Christmas tree together. We needed ornaments to fill our overpriced 5-foot tree, and where did we go? Target, of course.

We bought some glittery stars, some red ball ornaments, and some white icicles -- you know, lots of filler ornaments. Then we decided that we'd each pick one unique ornament for our tree. I think I got a peace dove, and Khan picked a photo frame.

The next few years went on the same. I tended to get bird or word ornaments, and Khan tended to pick photo frames.

When Lily joined us, Khan decided she "picked" a snow globe snowman ornament because she was smiling at it.

So the tradition continued, and this year, we went to Target to pick our Target ornaments 2009.

I picked a pair of lollipops. I have no idea why. I just thought they were cute. Or maybe I'm still stuck in a lollipop state of mind after the photo failure.

And Khan picked a photo frame. There are lots of cute photo frames, but he picked a chintzy, cheap metal frame. I looked at it with disapproval in the store and suggested he at least find a cute frame this year. Offended, he said, "I like this one. It has the year on it."

"They all have the year on them," I pointed out.

"Well, I like this one," he said and walked away.

Then, the other guy browsing in the same aisle said to me, "I like that one, too."

"You're not helping, " I told him.

"I have to take his side. It's a man-love thing," he told me.

Whatever.

Well then it was Lily's turn. We tried to focus her attention on some of the ornaments and see what she liked. I showed her an Elmo ornament. She liked that. But when she had a chance to look for herself, she went straight for this little dog, called it "Bubba," and held on to it while we were shopping.

Until she dropped it and broke a foot off it. Then I put it in the cart. When she found it at home, she said "Bubba!" and carried it around with her all morning.

So with our new ornaments selected, we started to decorate the tree. Lily was interested in the tree.

But she was fascinated by the ornaments.

It was okay until she started beheading them. You know that little metal or plastic part at the top of the ornament? Well, she loved to pull that off. (Don't freak out, baby-proofers, all of my ornaments have been plastic because I also have a tree-climbing cat.)

Hmmm..."I didn't know that would happen?"

She tried very hard to put them back together. You know, so she could take them apart again.

Before she could destroy them all, we moved on to the glittery stars. It was enough fun just to take them out of the bag and stuff them back in.

In search of more mischief.

Mmmhmm. She's like the cat. She seems to have very little concept of her size relative to the space she's trying to squeeze it into.

And a few pictures just because they're ridiculously cute.

Yes, I know that it looks like there's a tree branch in my husband's eye, but I'm willing to sacrifice that composition blunder so I can catch this cute little expression.

Couldn't resist!

Let's get caught up, shall we?

Yes, I know I've been away for a bit. So, as you can imagine, we've taken at least 1,000 pictures since the photo card fail. Here's a few for your entertainment. And because you really can't ever have enough Lily cuteness in your day, can you? I do wonder when Blogger is going to cut me off, though.

Not yet apparently.

Let's start with Thanksgiving. It turned out that it was just the three of us for Turkey Day so we went back to Bon Appetit, location of our wedding reception. They had a special buffet upstairs in the same room, and we saw Nancy, our coordinator. Cool!

It was a little crowded, though, and when Khan leaned in for a picture, Lily leaned in and posed. Cute!


As usual, Lily loved all the food. The chocolate pie was a definite hit.
After we ate, we went out to the park by the restaurant. She went down the slide once on my lap. Then Khan tried to take her down.

Nope. Little Miss Independent wanted to go by herself.

There was no helping her get up to the slide, either. She'd just flap your arm away and growl at you.

She liked to go down the slide backwards. Feet first, at least.

She loved the slide.Last Friday we tried to visit Santa. He came to a holiday open house in our community. She did not look thrilled to meet him.

We went in for a closer look.

Death grip. She just shook her head and said "no no no." So, we'll wait til next year on that one.

But she did get her very first cheese puff. Yum.

Then we went to see Ice in Orlando. It sounded pretty cool -- a couple million pounds of ice carved and sculpted to look like the North Pole. It's at a convention center in Orlando, and they keep the place at 9 degrees. Yes, 9 degrees in Florida.

Sounds intersting right?

Well, let's just say we were underwhelmed. It's going to take more than cold to impress me.

But since most Floridians don't own winter gear, they hand out parkas to anyone who needs one.

Lily in her parka was the highlight of the whole event. I honestly don't know when I laughed so hard. I couldn't stop laughing. Look at my poor baby in her "toddler" parka.

She can't find her hand either. At least she couldn't take her hat off, I guess?

She did enjoy looking at it, though. She was impressed by the colors and the lights.

And the ice tunnel was pretty neat. But next year, we'll just wait for Wisconsin to see some ice.


Speaking of Wisconsin, check out this sign. Quality Christmas trees from Wisconsin. We have your trees. Ha!