It's Coming Together!

Our dinning room

Dinning room

Kitchen

Kitchen

And new couch! Sorry, not a full room shot!

As most of you know, I love to decorate my house.. but I especially love when my house gets painted! This winter, a more than overdue project was getting our kitchen painted. If you remember, it was a bright, mustard yellow. I like it in some homes, but not in mine. It just didn't flow with the rest of my house. I've tried for the past 3 years to get it painted, but Ryan wasn't having it. Poor (cry, cry) Ryan spent countless hours prepping and painting so he wasn't giving up the fight. Usually, he doesn't care about decorating, but the kitchen he did! Well, I finally got what I wanted and we had it painted. I'm not done decorating, but here's what he looks like right now. We also got a new couch this past week! I am in love~ It just goes with the rest of our house. It's amazing how new paint and a new couch change the look of a house! Of course, there are a few more things I'd like to do, but for now... I think I can say that I am content!

Tea for Two

Lilly and Whitaker played "tea party" this afternoon. Whitaker is such a good boy, he laid there and let her serve him and he participated so nicely. Lilly said she was the mommy, because she was wearing her purple shoes, a bracelet and a "beautiful dress" (I know what you're thinking, Kelli dresses in a dress, purple shoes and a bracelet everyday- no.. but to her a mommy needs to look nice!) Funny, because she sees me in my sweats more than my nice clothes! Anyway, she enjoyed playing tea and we loved watching her!

Getting Ready For Valentine's Day

Lilly is having her valentine's day party at Miss Kelly's this week, so we thought we'd make her friends a goodie bag! We made crayon shaped hearts and homemade valentine's day cards. With those and a yummy box of conversation hearts stuffed in a bag, we felt like it was a perfect gift for her friends. Lilly and I had so much fun getting "crafty". Having her helping me was so much fun this year. I'm sure it's going to be like this from here on out, and I can't wait! It's fun having a little side-kick. Hope you have a Valentine's Day filled with love, laughter, family and friends.
Happy Valentine's Day~

Kensington Farm

Here's another one of Ryan and Lilly's adventures. This past Friday, they took on the freezing cold weather and visited the animals at the Kensington Farm. They were the only ones there... I guess I'm not surprised since it was one of the coldest days that we've had thus far. Lilly loved seeing the donkey and petting it, the pigs, and the ducks. She said some of the animals were there and some weren't. They also went upstairs in the barn and played with some of the toys.

Sledding 2012

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We actually got to go sledding this winter! Thank goodness we went because the next day was 40 degrees and the snow was melting. It's crazy how drastic the weather change has been this year. Lilly went sledding with Grant and Avery. We took them down the path behind our house and down a small hill behind Andrea and Dave's house (a few houses down from ours). We attempted to sled down the hill at the front of our sub, but the pond wasn't melted and we were nervous about one of us falling in. I'm glad we got to go out that day because who knows what the rest of the winter is going to bring. Someone around us wants snow though, there are snowman signs hung around Wixom saying Think Snow. I was on the same page as that kid a few weeks ago... but not anymore. I'm ready for Spring and it looks like the department stores are too!

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

Ryan and Lilly went to the hands on museum last week. If you are wondering if I was jealous when I left for work that morning, I was... I am always a bit envious of Ryan being off on Fridays especially because he's home with Lilly and they always have fun! On that particular day, they left in the morning around 9 and didn't get home until 4. They spent an entire day there. They left for lunch and then went back because they were having so much fun. As much as I'd like to be there, it does make me happy knowing that they get to spend the day together, just the two of them!

A Little Bit of this and a Little Bit of That

It seems like we've been doing more at home these days! The weather is so unpredictable, it's sunny, snowy or just cold! When we can, we'll get out and play for a bit. But, mostly we stay inside where we can be warm and cozy. We are known to be in our pajamas by 5 o'clock each day. We are all in the relaxing mood! Plus, I think it's the time of year!
Since Christmas, Lilly has loved playing with all her new toy's. She especially loves her new trampoline. I swear the girl is going make a good gymnast one day. Shes always been a monkey; so tumbling seems like it will be an area she excels in! Although, dance is a favorite (at home) not so much at the dance studio. We'll see... she's still young.
Lilly loves to take baths. She got bath tablets so that the water changes colors. She asks to take a bath everyday, sometimes more. She wants to see what color she can make.
Let's hope that this weather decides what to do, is it winter with snow or is going to be just cold and damp. Personally, I'd like some snow to stay so we can go sledding!

Happy New Year!

This year for New Years, Ryan and I went to the Pistons game with my sister and a bunch of our friends. From there, we headed to my sister's house to bring in the new year! While we were out having fun, Lilly was home. We had our cousin Erika come over and play with Lilly.
Here's to a new year filled with health and happiness!
**Love**
Kelli

Christmas Day 2011

Malaina and Lilly playing with Lanies lip gloss.

Titi Lilly and my sweet, Lilly Marie- this is who Lilly is named after!(my mom's sister)

Daddy and Lilly

Papa and Lilly at my sister's house.

Princess Lilly opening gifts from Grandma Linda.

Lilly and Jordan

Christmas Day was spent with Ryan's family in the morning and afternoon and my family in the evening. We went to Ryan's sisters for brunch. Lilly opened presents, played with her favorite Jordan and we ate and relaxed! It was a perfect middle to our long day. From there, we headed to my sister's to be with my mom's side. We had a huge dinner, desserts and some wine! The kids played, danced and opened more presents! We were pretty tired by the end of the day (really before we even got to Ryan's sisters). Lilly was beat, she feel asleep on our way to my sisters. But, we managed to perk up. It's all about being with family ~ and that's exactly what we did. Christmas was perfect.
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

Christmas Eve, Eve and Christmas Eve!!

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Lilly had a cute top on, but she's always hot!!

Before she got hot!!

Christmas Eve
(do you love her pretty bracelets)

Unfortunately, we lost almost all of our pictures from Christmas Eve, Eve at my parents house and Christmas Eve. What you see is all we managed to save. I'm hoping my family has some pictures we can copy. This year, we went to my parents house to celebrate Christmas with my parents and us kids (and our kids too). Of course, my parents went above and beyond what they should do for all of us! The kiddies got tons of gifts and even us adults. We all loved everything! On Christmas Eve, we went to my dad's aunts house. This is a tradition that has been going on since my dad was a kid. Santa visits with a bag full of toys and stockings! This year Ryan dressed as Santa, I did have pictures but they're gone. He did awesome!! He mastered the "ho ho ho" over the past 3 weeks and the "Merry Christmas". He was a hit! I was hoping to get a picture of Lilly with Santa, but she was scared. Actually, the most scared I've ever seen her with Santa, go figure! It must of been the "ho, ho ho" she'd been hearing for so long... ha ha
Merry Christmas~

Christmas Morning

Lilly checking out her new trampoline from Santa and everything else hanging on it!

Christmas day began with Lilly beyond excited to see that santa really did come to our house. She went downstairs and saw her presents sitting there. In her morning voice, jammies and a huge smile on her face she says " santa really did come!" It was priceless. She was thrilled to see all her gifts sitting there.
Watching her open all her gifts from us and Santa was worth all the shopping and wrapping!! We had a great morning!

Santa Comes to Wixom

Waiting in line for Santa

Waiting to see Santa

Look, a new game!!

The Wixom Firefighters organize a morning to eat breakfast with Santa. So, we jumped on it and ordered tickets. Your way in was a food donation. When we got there, we were so suprised at how nice it was. One room was for visiting santa and the other was for eating. They served pancakes and juice. While waiting for Santa, they have it decorated so pretty with lights, trees and more. In line Lilly was excited to see Santa, but when it was our turn, she barely looked at him. I told her, I would hold her and go up there with her, which I did. Poor thing just doesn't like dressed up people at all. She gets nervous. So, we went up together and took a picture. Lilly got a gift, it was a nice gift too... again we were surprised. Thats a lot of gifts to buy for all of the kids! We will definitely do this again next year!