Whistler, B.C.

Brandon and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary in Whistler without Lilly. She stayed 2 nights with Matt and Angie, Brandon's brother and sister-in-law, and cousin Nicholas. Then, she spent 4 nights with Nana and Papa. We went on a 4 mile hike up Whistler Mountain. We saw Lake Cheakamus when we got to the "Musical Bumps" - Piccolo, Flute, and Oboe. Since the 2010 Winter Games will be held in Whistler, there is much preparation going on. We took a picture by the Inuit statue at the top of Whistler symbolizing the 2010 Games. It was also fun to watch "Hell's Kitchen" in Whistler, as the winner of the show will head up the kitchen at Araxi, a well-known restaurant in Whistler. The head chef only uses food within a hundred mile (or maybe it's kilometers) radius of the restaurant. For our anniversary dinner, we ate at the Wine Room in the Chateau Whistler resort. After our meal, we were served a basket of white cotton candy.

Lilly loves to play this game. She dumps all of her Legos on the floor and puts the bucket on her head. She's also discovered her belly button and thinks it's wildly hilarious! Her belly button is a little red from all of her poking. We've also attempted potty training this summer. I'm sure you don't want to see a picture of this, though! She can now go sit on her potty and go by herself when we let her run around without her diaper on. Yay! She gets her favorite treat - a dried cherry - when she is successful.

4th of July

We celebrated at Lewisville Park. Lilly loved wading in the river. We enjoyed fireworks in Hood River with our friends, Bryan and Jenny. Lilly got to spend the night with Nana and Papa.

Lilly got to help this year with building the dam at Great Grandma Pettyjohn's home on the Little Washougal River. She loves the water!

Lilly loves to read! We like her to read because it helps her relax!

Sunriver

Nana and Papa bought Lilly a bike at the Second Tern Thrift Store in Sunriver. She's a little small for it, but she likes it already!

Mother's Day at La Botega in downtown Vancouver.

Lilly at 15 months

Lilly has really pretty curls now!

Lilly at Skamania Lodge

We had a lot of fun swimming at Skamania Lodge over Spring Break. We only spent one night. Despite the rain, we enjoyed the Friday Night Seafood Buffet and the scenic drive. Lilly is almost walking. She took 30 steps the other day! Lilly's first word besides "DaDa" is "Dog". She loves Sadie and Emma (Nana and Papa's dogs) and Winnie and Brady (Jenny and Bryan's dogs). After spending the night at Skamania, we spent the night at Bryan and Jenny's. Lilly slept great both nights, but not so well when we went to Sunriver a day later.

Brandon shoveling snow on our Driveway

Brandon has made it safely to work the past couple of days. Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive!

Lilly being WILD in her crib

Lilly's new favorite game is to toss all of her stuffed animals out of her crib and onto the floor. I guess I used to play the same game when I was her age.

Lilly made friends with a goat in the Petting Zoo at the Grotto!

Lilly and Pooh Bear

Lilly and Pooh Bear

Lilly got a giant Pooh Bear from Great-Grandpa Jim for Christmas. As you can see, she loves it!

Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hilton

It's a tradition for our family that every year, the Friday night after Thanksgiving, we go downtown Vancouver with my parents and brother and Brandon's brother and sister-in-law, Matt and Angie. We see the tree lighting, listen to the Vancouver Pops (Brandon's grandparents play), and see the Festival of the Trees. It was especially fun to take Lilly this year. She loved people watching and playing with her cousin, Nicholas.

Fall Leaves

Sauvie Island Corn Maze

We went on our annual Corn Maze trip to Sauvie Island. Lilly loved it and laughed the whole way through the maze. It was very muddy, so I think she liked slipping around a bit!

Lilly's Halloween Costume - She Won!

Lilly won the Halloween Costume Contest! The prize was a $50 gift card from giftcards.com. We chose to go to McCormick & Schmicks Fish House for a date night (where Brandon proposed!)

Lilly dressed up as Lilly Mouse from "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" by Kevin Henkes. She has a tail with a red bow, red cowboy boots with stars, and a purple plastic purse complete with 3 shiny quarters, movie star sunglasses, and a squirt gun "just in case". If you haven't read the book, it's a must! You can also vote for Lilly in the Cutest Halloween Baby Contest at http://www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/lilly-from-lillys-purple-plastic-purse-costume.html

Other costumes:

http://www.cutest-baby-shower-ideas.com/Halloween-costume-contest.html

Hanging out with Papa

Farewell Dinner with Grandpa Jim

Grandpa is moving to Green Valley, AZ for some sun. We'll miss you!