Is there a light?

Could it be? Is there a light at the end of this long, dark, cold tunnel? Is spring in the air at last?
It isn't warm. But, it has made it above FREEZING for the past several days. And, we had two playdates this week! This is a miracle for us. All winter we have been making plans with friends only to have them cancel due to illness or uncooperative weather conditions. We have been a bit bored and lonely just the two of us, at times. I mean, we know how to have a good time, but we do run out of stuff to do in this house! (And, I think my kid gets sick of my mug )
Anyhoo, today we met my friend and her daughter at the mall. We went to "Children's Place" first and I bought some fun spring clothes for Lil. She kept picking this pink fluffy skirt off the rack and walking up to the front of the store with it, and when I would call for her to come back by me she'd say, "I gonna buy dis!" When I told her she couldn't cuz she had no money she reluctantly put it back. (But, this scene played out about 4 times). She really wanted this "ballaweena tostume". My friend's daughter stayed in her stroller for the majority of our jaunt around the mall. Lily lasted all of 10 minutes. Oh well, what can ya do? Chasing her around is the only exercise I get these days. At the end of our visit my girlfriend let her daughter get out and stretch her legs -- we let them chase each other around for awhile. They were having a blast! Screeching and squeaking and wearing themselves out. (They may have been annoying one of the workers at a nearby shop, as she came over to tell us that the mall DOES have a play area for kids) ... thank you, but no. I managed to get a couple pictures of the cuties together when they started to wind down. I knew when Lily laid down on the nasty floor that it was time for us to go. She took a 2 1/2 hour nap today. Woo hoo!
The pictures aren't meant to be an advertisement for that store -- that is just where the girls sat their bottoms. Oh, Lily did notice the mannequins in the window dressed in nothing but bras and panties. "Wook momma! boobies!" Lovely, eh? Must've learned that one from daddy.

Well, tomorrow is the first of March and things can only get better. Lily and I are ready to get outside and play.

To pee? Or not to pee?

Yes, THAT is the question! Lily is just gonna put her head down and give it some thought. This could take awhile!

Gimme a T!

OK, I decided to play along with Donna (over at Double Happiness) and list ten things that I love. Two catches, they all have to start with the letter T (that was my assigned letter) and they need a descriptive picture. This wasn't easy for me, nothing came to mind right away with that letter, so I had to really use my imagination at times. Now, I don't know how to neatly organize the pictures to go along with my list. I am not (yet) that compter savvy. So, you can view my pictures and see my list below them. GIMME A T!

1. Tigers. Well, one in particular. Hubby was born the year of the tiger and I love that guy.
2. Talking with friends. I can TALK!
3. Thunderstorms. As long as I'm inside looking out. I think they are so beautiful, and I love the sound of thunder.
4. Travel-mates. The wonderful people we traveled to China with. Love 'em all!
5. Tiger lilies. I love flowers --especially lilies...hmmm, wonder why!?
6. Tagalongs. It is Girl Scout cookie time, and I have been eating more than my share of them!
7. Tanning. (Not the fake n bake way). Out on the beach in the real sun.
8. Tunes. I love music, and I love to sing.
9. Tennessee. I've been there once, and it was amazing. I can't wait to go back in July for our Ping-Jiang reunion. How great it will be to see all the girls together again.
10. Tiny toes. SOOOOO cute.

That's all folks. If you wanna play along too, just leave Donna a comment and she will e-mail a letter to you. Let me know if you play so I can check you out!

Favorite Photo Friday -- Flashback

I can't believe it is Flashback time again! Seems like just yesterday...

Anyhoo, last week I honored my sister, Jody, and this week I am paying tribute to my cousin Michelle. She has always been more like a sister than anything else. We lived close, so the three of us spent all of our time together growing up. Went on all our vacations together, spent every holiday together, had sleepovers, etc. Michelle didn't have any siblings, so it was all about the three of us! Actually, when I mentioned last week that I may have been less than perfect to my little sis in the beginning...I had a partner in crime... and her name is Michelle! We, being the older and wiser(NOT) of the threesome, used to play some awful tricks on poor Jody. I remember being in Traverse City (our annual summer vacation spot), laying by the pool and telling Jody to go retrieve our "whatevers" from the room because we had forgotten them. When sweet Jody would ask "why me?" we would cleverly reply, "because you're the fastest runner. " Satisfied with that logic, she would run back up to our hotel room to get our stuff and return only to see that we has DISAPPEARED! Ha Ha! Hilarious, weren't we? I cringe just thinking about it now, because it was so cruel, but we thought we were the funniest gals around! All this to say, Michelle and I have always done A LOT of one thing, and that is laugh. We have both had our share of bumps along this road of life, but together we always manage to laugh about something or another until we're about ready to pee our pants. She, unfortunately, lives far away now. (In beautiful, sunny Florida!) So, we don't spend all of our time together anymore. We have to settle for weekly phone calls and vacations (which we still take together). But, one thing has NOT changed...when we are together, we are gonna be laughing. Side-splitting, tear spilling, hurts so good LAUGHING.

It is so nice to have someone like her in my life. She is my family, and a true friend, and a blast to be with. She is also someone whom I respect and admire for her ambition, work ethic, and dedication. She is a terrific mom (of 2 wonderful kids), and a very successful career woman.

Lily also knows and loves her Aunt Michelle. We bring her name up in conversation on a regular basis, and they "chat" on the phone quite frequently. I believe Lily already understands (in her own way) that those near and dear to one's heart don't necessarily live near to one's home.

We love you, Michelle, and miss you like crazy!!!!

I also want to give a shout out to her son Harrison today. It is his 6th birthday...

Happy Birthday, Big guy! Wish we were there to celebrate with you, but we'll party next time we're all together in June!

This one's for Stef!

I just had to do this for my good friend Stef, over at Never Too Many, cuz she had a great day! Her paperwork prayer was answered (for adoption #2), so Lily and I were celebrating over here!
YAY!!!!!!!! We are doing the "Happy Dance" for you guys tonight. Woo hoo!!!!!!

Can't seem to get enough coffee!

I am a serious coffee lover over here, and lately I just can't seem to get enough of the stuff. I don't know if it is because I am so cold all of the time, or I am so TIRED of spending such a ridiculous amount of time indoors (avoiding freezing my tail off), or if spending my days with an extremely energetic toddler has just taken its toll. But, I want coffee ALL OF THE TIME! I am actually wishing I had a nice, steamy cup in front of me right now and it is going on midnight. So, I will refrain. I go to bed thinking about the cup I will enjoy in the morning. I make a pot for Jay and I when he gets home from work in the evening, and it is (sometimes) a real highlight of my day. It has to have flavored creamer, and lots of it, so I have switched to FAT FREE french vanilla(I haven't been getting much exercise lately). Jay is a huge fan of the coconut cream. Truth be told, I love them all.
Lily loves "toffee" too. She is satisfied with a sip...unlike her addicted momma. She is much more interested in making it. She gets the coffee out of the fridge, retrieves the filter, counts the scoops, pushes the button, etc. Loves it. Every evening it is the same: "Lily help momma make da toffee!" And , when she is in the mood, she will ask for her own cup, and she will join us for a cup of joe. Good to the last drop!
See, Becky, if only we lived closer...we could have so much fun together! We could drink soooo much coffee!!!

Random cuteness

I am devoting this post to random cuteness that emerges from my daughter on a daily basis. There will be no rhyme or reason to it, but I hope you find it entertaining. I sure do. This kid cracks me up!!!
- Her imagination is amazing. She, as of late, has been looking in our warm mist humidifier at her fishies. Yes, apparently it is an aquarium in her mind and in it swim her pet fishies. One of them even has a name...Ned.
- Since momma is a meanie and rarely takes her outside to play, she has been making "carpet angels" in the house. It seems to make her happy, so it is a win-win.
- She keeps me on my toes! Last week she tried to ride her tricycle down the stairs. I heard a thump, thump, thumpity, thump...then her tricycle landed upside-down at the stoop, followed by Lily (head first). She cried for a nano-second and said that her mouth hurt, but was completely unharmed. (Thank the Lord)
- She thinks it is hilarious to call me "Aunt Nikki" and hubby "Uncle Jay", but when we give her a nasty look she will quickly change her story and say "Logan and Braden call me Aunt Nikki and Uncle Jay"..."I momma...I daddy".
Hey! We waited a long time for these important titles. Got it, kid?
- Is extremely amused with her bodily functions. Loves to announce loudly when she hiccups, burps or passes gas. Although she has recently added a new one to the bunch..."passing poop". Not sure if that is for more serious gas, or if she is just keeping it interesting.
- Loves to imitate everything we do. She "rocks out" to daddy's horrible music and even knows some of the lyrics to his songs. She has been heard singing "White and nerdy" on more than one occasion. (Oh boy!)
Her imitation of me looks more like this: One hand on her hip, the other hand pointing a finger (tsk tsk)..."You stay wite hewe momma. I be wite back. WITE NOW!"
HMMMMMM...I don't do THAT!
I think she is just the funniest, most beautiful, and most interesting girl on the planet. She is my little pal and we have so much fun together. Hope you enjoyed a sneak peek into some of the cuteness that happens around here.
To be continued, I am sure...